Articles tagged with Bacterial Infections
A University of Queensland-led project combines old antibiotics with a new compound to revive their effectiveness against drug-resistant bacteria. The goal is to combat the growing threat of superbugs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers aim to combat antibiotic-resistant infections by developing new therapeutics, utilizing antibodies and artificial intelligence. The team targets bacteria such as Burkholderia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, causing severe respiratory and other infections.
Scientists identified how harmless E. coli gut bacteria in chickens can acquire genes to become life-threatening infections, highlighting the potential for horizontal gene transfer and increasing antibiotic resistance. The study warns of the risk of such infections crossing over to infect humans.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a new effective antibiotic to combat resistant bacteria, which are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. The substance, from the pleuromutilin class, fights multiple types of resistant bacteria via a unique mechanism of action.
A recent study found that a specific fungus infecting frogs disrupts their skin microbiome, leading to long-term changes. The frog's microbiome fails to recover even after the infection is cured, highlighting the need for further research on microbiome dynamics and disease resistance.
Researchers have identified a novel phage called ES17 that can specifically locate and destroy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The phage's ability to bind to mucins and heparan sulfate enables it to target bacteria in high-mucin environments, potentially preventing infections.
Researchers found that walnut extracts may create protective proteins and anti-inflammatory actions in the gut to safeguard against H. pylori infection and resulting cancer. The study suggests a promising non-bacterial approach to reduce symptoms of H. pylori infection, warranting further clinical trial investigation.
A unique peptide found in Australian finger lime has been shown to destroy the deadly bacterium causing citrus greening and activate the plant's immune system to prevent new infections. The treatment is safer for the environment than current methods, using a stable anti-microbial compound that remains effective even in high heat.
Researchers have identified stable antimicrobial peptides as a potential solution to address citrus greening, a major threat to the global citrus industry. Multiple SAMP injections into infected trees increased tree growth, reduced bacterial levels and prevented disease symptoms.
Researchers have discovered that toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems play a crucial role in plasmid replication and bacterial antibiotic resistance. The presence or absence of plasmids significantly impacts a bacterium's ability to cause infection.
Research by Michigan State University finds that livestock workers are at high risk of acquiring antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The study highlights the importance of good hygiene practices and policies in minimizing the spread of livestock-associated MRSA.
A Rutgers study reveals widespread antibiotic overuse due to misconceptions and pressure from patients, leading to drug-resistant bacteria and harm to the microbiome. The study also finds that older physicians are more likely to prescribe antibiotics, while misinformation among the public perpetuates unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Extracellular vesicles, secreted by the cells lining the airways, carry iron bound to transferrin and supply bacterial cells with essential nutrients, promoting bacterial growth. This mechanism allows bacteria to exploit the host's defense system against pathogens.
Scientists discovered that taurine helps the gut recall prior infections and kill invading bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae. Taurine, found naturally in bile acids, triggers Deltaproteobacteria activity to fight off infections. The study suggests taurine may offer an alternative treatment for bacterial infections.
Researchers have developed a DNA test to identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients with severe cases, who are at double the risk of developing pneumonia on ventilation. The test allows for faster diagnosis and targeted antibiotic treatment within hours, reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Researchers discovered that mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria are less susceptible to widely used pesticides. The study found that the bacterial species naturally infecting mosquitoes makes them resistant to three types of pesticide, potentially reducing their use and environmental impact.
Researchers at the NIH identified a key protein, McpC, that enables Salmonella to swim straight towards infected cells. This discovery may lead to the development of new antibacterial therapies to combat intestinal infections.
Research suggests that COVID-19 severity may be influenced by the composition of the gut microbiome, with certain bacteria contributing to inflammatory responses. The study found that patients with COVID-19 had altered gut microbiota compared to healthy individuals, including lower levels of beneficial species.
Researchers at Rice University have created a lab tool that simplifies simulations of the human intestine, allowing for more practical studies on diseases like infectious diarrhea. The device enables the real-time growth of bacterial infections and provides a mechanical model for studying how invading bacteria cause disease.
Shiga toxin, produced by enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), is thought to be a killer of host cells, but new research suggests it may actually be designed to dampen the immune system instead. This unexpected role could lead to breakthroughs in treating deadly kidney disease and bloody diarrhea caused by EHEC infections.
Researchers develop peptide that disrupts protective outer coating of TB pathogen, making it susceptible to antibiotics and die. The peptide specifically targets the fatty acid on the pathogen's surface, allowing it to effectively kill the bacteria without harming good bacteria.
Researchers developed a new imaging method to track antibiotic distribution in infected tissues, revealing that some antibiotics only partially penetrate infected cells. This discovery could lead to more targeted treatments and reduced risk of antibiotic resistance.
Scientists at University of Colorado Boulder develop new compound JD1 that targets Gram-negative bacteria by exploiting innate immune response, reducing survival and spread by 95%. Further studies underway to explore compounds like JD1 for commercialization.
Patients with severe COVID-19 who developed secondary bloodstream infections were more likely to be severely ill upon admission, have longer hospital stays and poorer health outcomes. The study found that these patients were also more likely to require intensive care and had higher odds of mortality.
Wildfire smoke aerosolizes bacteria and fungi from burning materials, potentially infecting people who breathe in the plumes. Researchers argue that public health sciences must expand their focus to include the impact of microbial cargo on human populations
A preclinical study by researchers from the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville found that a combination of imipenem and meropenem may be effective in treating infections caused by carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii. The study showed promise for treating severe infections, including pneumonia and bacteremias.
This atlas of S. pneumoniae and host gene expression provides a comprehensive understanding of the pathogen's adaptation to different body locations and the host's response. Certain bacterial genes are highly expressed across all anatomical sites, making them ideal targets for new treatments.
Researchers have created a comprehensive gene expression database to study pneumococcal infections. The database reveals that the bacteria behaves differently depending on the site of infection and the organs respond accordingly. This could lead to new treatments, such as anti-inflammatory therapies.
Researchers have developed an efficient method to study phage-microbe interactions, which can reveal bacterial receptors exploited by phages and cellular mechanisms used to respond to infection. The approach has implications for understanding microbiomes, developing new medicines and addressing antibiotic-resistant infections.
Researchers analyzed gut composition and DNA to identify key factors for successful fecal microbiota transplants, including the donor's microbiome and recipient's pre-transplant gut community structures. The study suggests that preparing donors' and patients' gut ecosystems prior to transplant may increase the likelihood of success.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has updated clinical recommendations on evaluating symptoms to diagnose infections in nursing home residents. The guidance emphasizes that subtle non-specific signs and symptoms should not automatically prompt a work-up for infection.
A study published in eLife journal reveals that a specific strain of lung bacteria, Lactobacillus murinus, can inhibit the growth of pneumococcal pathogens and prevent colonization. The findings suggest that probiotics could be a potential treatment alternative to antibiotics for respiratory illnesses.
Researchers found that infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis causes skeletal muscle metabolic dysfunction, leading to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The study also discovered a link between periodontal bacteria and altered gut microbiome, which contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome.
A study by Anglia Ruskin University found that COVID-19 can cause various eye symptoms, with 16% of respondents reporting sore eyes as a symptom. The researchers argue that sore eyes should replace conjunctivitis as a possible COVID-19 symptom due to its differentiation from other types of infections.
A recent study published by North Carolina State University researchers has identified a significant association between Bartonella infection and the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The study also found that many patients with Bartonella infections exhibited skin lesions, wh...
A new technology uses light to manipulate various liquids, reducing the risk of infection and contamination in medical testing. The device has great potential in fields like DNA analysis, proteomics, and clinical diagnosis, with applications in COVID-19 research.
Researchers identified coral GSDME as a pyroptosis-inducing protein in reef-building corals, revealing its role in pathogen-induced coral death. Activation of coral GSDME triggers rapid cell swelling and cytoplasmic content release, leading to necrotic tissue damage.
Scientists have created a method to expand lipids in cell membranes, enabling the imaging of proteins and organelles with unprecedented resolution. This breakthrough allows for detailed insights into bacterial infection mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers have developed new compounds that kill bacteria responsible for diseases in rice, kiwi and citrus. The plant-inspired alkaloids work by increasing levels of reactive oxygen species in the bacteria, causing cell death.
A new study published in Scientific Reports confirms that common house spiders carry harmful bacteria and can transmit them through their fangs when biting. The study found that some of these bacteria are multi-drug resistant, making infections difficult to treat with regular medicine.
Researchers at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have developed a method to produce customisable engineered lysins that can selectively kill specific bacteria while leaving others unharmed. This discovery presents a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating existing drug-resistant bacteria.
A new method for detecting bacteria and infections has been developed using fluorescent nanosensors. These sensors can track down pathogens faster and more easily than traditional methods, allowing for improved patient care and rapid diagnosis of sepsis.
Research reveals slow-moving bacteria can outcompete fast-moving counterparts due to efficient invasion strategies. The study uses genetics, experiments, and physics to understand the behavior of bacteria on an individual and collective level.
A Canadian team has developed an inexpensive molecule to fight antibiotic-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, two bacteria responsible for gonorrhea and meningococcal meningitis. The molecule's specificity allows it to target pathogenic Neisseria while leaving other types unaffected.
A new lung-on-chip model has provided insight into the body's response to early tuberculosis infection. The study revealed that alveolar epithelial cells play a crucial role in controlling bacterial growth by producing surfactant, which reduces surface tension and prevents uncontrolled bacterial growth.
Researchers found that slower-moving bacteria outcompete faster-moving cells in densely packed groups, allowing them to spread across surfaces. This discovery sheds light on how bacteria spread within the body during infections.
A team of researchers has unpacked the bacterium Francisella tularensis' toolbox, revealing the shapes and interactions of its infectious machinery. The insights point to a way in which the bacteria's unique infectious machinery might be blocked, potentially preventing it from infecting over 200 animal species.
Scientists have discovered how a common virus infects and takes over bacterial cells, enabling targeted manipulation of the gut microbiome. The crAssphage virus uses its own enzyme to produce RNA copies of its genes, similar to human enzymes involved in RNA interference.
Researchers found that PBT2 disrupts metals in polymyxin-resistant bacteria, resensitizing them to treatment and boosting survival rates in mice with sepsis. The compound may offer a solution to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, which poses a grave danger to patients with bacterial infections.
Researchers have discovered that coinfection with cytomegalovirus and Aspergillus fumigatus triggers synergistic interactions between the two pathogens and human cells, leading to increased risk of complications.
Researchers have discovered that an experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment, PBT2, is effective at disrupting and killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study shows that combining PBT2 with the antibiotic polymyxin successfully tackles superbugs like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Researchers find that Staphylococcus aureus thrives in glucose-rich diabetic conditions, triggering virulent features and unchecked infection. Understanding this mechanism could lead to treatments targeting the bacteria's glucose hunger.
A single clinical laboratory test has been developed to detect any infection from any body fluid, without special handling or processing. The test employs powerful DNA-sequencing technology and relies on specially developed analytical software to compare DNA sequences in the sample to massive genomic databases.
Researchers repurpose an antirheumatic gold drug, auranofin (AUR), to revive the potency of 'last-resort' antibiotics against multi-drug resistant superbugs. The combination therapy shows promising results in eradicating multidrug-resistant bacteria in animal models.
Researchers at Temple University Health System found that bacterial biofilms in the urinary tract can trigger autoimmune reactions in lupus patients. The study identified a link between chronic bacterial infections and increased frequency of lupus flares, suggesting a potential new approach to controlling flare-ups.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science reveal retrons, hybrid structures found in many bacterial species, are 'guards' that prevent viruses from spreading. These retrons activate a programmed cell death mechanism to protect the bacterial colony.
A new study has uncovered DNA evidence of Bartonella quintana, the bacteria responsible for trench fever, in civilian remains dating back thousands of years. The discovery sheds light on the complex history of trench fever and provides insight into the lives of Christian citizens in Roman Syracuse.
Researchers are exploring three approaches using the Wolbachia bacterium to control the buffalo fly population and prevent its spread southwards. The methods include artificially infecting adult flies or pupae, releasing sterile males into overwintering areas, and blocking transmission of nematodes closely related to Stephanofilaria.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Communications have discovered that some phages can stop bacteria from sharing genes for antibiotic resistance by attaching to and disarming pili on bacterial surface. This discovery may lead to new treatments for infections, reducing the need for antibiotics or gentler alternatives.
A study found that hospital floors are quickly and frequently contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria within hours of patient admission. The researchers observed a significant transfer of pathogens from the floor to patients' socks, bedding, and nearby surfaces, highlighting the need for improved infection control measures.