Research on infections caused by bacteria and how to fight them. Covers antibiotic resistance, biofilms, congenital syphilis, Lyme disease, and precise treatments.
Researchers developed a microbial detection technique that can reveal previously undetectable bacteria in various environments. KatharoSeq detected bacteria on surfaces at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a neonatal intensive care unit, and an endangered abalone rearing center, revealing new insights for improving environmental health.
A study found that gut microbes influence parasitic worm infection severity and recurrence in developing countries. The researchers identified specific gut bacteria associated with increased inflammation, which may make it harder for worms to establish themselves.
TB, a bacterial infection that infects the lungs, is a leading cause of death worldwide. The NIH calls for modernized TB research using new diagnostic and vaccine approaches to cure people infected with any strain of Mtb.
A recent study found that transfusing older stored red blood cells can lead to adverse effects in critically ill patients. Free heme, a breakdown product from degraded red blood cells, is thought to be the key culprit behind this toxicity.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have discovered a way to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) without using antibiotics. By targeting specific sugar-protein interactions, they found that decoy molecules can trick E. coli bacteria into releasing their grip on the bladder and kidneys.
A study found that laboratory mice exposed to the outdoors developed a greater number and size of parasitic whipworms than those in the lab. The longer they lived outside, the more susceptible they became to infection. The researchers suggest that the environment's microbiota may contribute to this increased susceptibility.
A Kaiser Permanente study found no association between multiple vaccines and non-vaccine targeted infections in infants. The research examined 193 children with non-vaccine targeted infections and 751 control group children, concluding that vaccination does not damage the immune system.
Researchers at Emory University have discovered heteroresistance to colistin in already carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, making it harder to monitor and treat. The findings pose a significant threat to public health, highlighting the need for novel diagnostics to rapidly detect colistin resistance.
Researchers found that nerve cells in the lungs suppress immune response during infection with Staphylococcus aureus, leading to poorer outcomes. Disabling these neurons improved immune cell recruitment and cleared bacteria from the lungs, boosting survival rates.
A study in house finches reveals that immune systems can inadvertently help bacteria become stronger over time, leading to a catch-22 situation. Researchers found that birds with stronger immunity to more virulent strains were more likely to exclude low-virulence strains from future infections.
Scientists have discovered that the CRISPR-Cas9 protein can also cut RNA, expanding its potential uses in gene editing and virus detection. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for genetic diseases and improved food and energy crops.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is supporting clinical trials testing monoclonal antibodies as preventive therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections. The trials aim to prevent pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two bacteria posing a significant threat to human health.
Researchers are developing synthetic antimicrobial materials that target toxic bacteria while being biocompatible with healthy mammalian cells. The goal is to create new therapeutic platforms to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Researchers found that two red wine polyphenols, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, effectively cut back on the ability of oral pathogenic bacteria to stick to cells. When combined with an oral probiotic, the polyphenols were even more effective in fending off these bacteria.
Researchers have found four bacteriophages effective in eliminating Yersinia enterocolitica from food and kitchenware. The study's results suggest phage treatment could become a routine method in food production to prevent foodborne infections.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are investigating whether menstrual cup use reduces bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections in girls in Kenya. Studies have shown that menstrual cups can significantly reduce these infections by up to 52%.
A new study finds that species adapted to colder waters are more vulnerable to withering syndrome, and that rising water temperatures lead to greater susceptibility. The research also suggests that genetics may play a role in the disease's impact on abalone populations.
Researchers at Newcastle University have identified how lysozyme and penicillin work together to cause recurrent infections, shedding light on why some patients become resistant to antibiotics. The study also reveals the formation of L-forms, bacteria that can grow in human tissue without cell walls, leading to recurring infections.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have unraveled the immune cascade driving complications and tissue damage in chlamydia infections. The study reveals two distinct immune pathways: one clearing bacteria and another fueling inflammation, offering a roadmap for vaccine development and precision-targeted treatments.
Patients in low income nations are more likely to develop surgical infections and are infected with bacteria resistant to medicines. The study found a significant link between antibiotic use and infection, highlighting an urgent need to tackle surgical infection globally.
A new clinical trial aims to determine if low procalcitonin levels indicate a viral lower respiratory tract infection that won't improve with antibiotic treatment. The study will enroll patients with suspected LRTIs and low PCT blood levels, and test whether they respond differently to azithromycin or placebo.
Patients in low-income nations have higher rates of surgical infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Infection complications can prolong recovery times and be fatal, highlighting an urgent need for global healthcare action.
Researchers found a significant association between opioid use and the risk of laboratory-confirmed invasive pneumococcal diseases. High-dose opioids, especially those classified as high potency and long-acting formulations, were most strongly associated with invasive pneumococcal diseases in humans.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that opioid users have a 1.62 times higher risk of invasive pneumococcal diseases, which can cause meningitis and other severe infections. The study suggests that high-dose opioids, particularly those with long-acting properties, carry the greatest infection risk.
Researchers found that impairing Paneth cells allows gut bacteria to invade the small intestine, causing major inflammation. Normal autophagy in Paneth cells is required to regulate bacteria, keeping it at bay and preventing disease.
A new study suggests that a re-evaluation of fosfomycin's dosing regimen may be effective in treating systemic multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections. Researchers found that a higher dosage schedule is required to combat these infections, offering a potential alternative to developing new antibiotics.
Research suggests that e-cigarette vapour can increase susceptibility to lung infection with pneumococcal bacteria, similar to traditional cigarette smoke or particulate matter from fossil-fuel pollution. Long-term vaping may raise the risk of bacterial lung infection.
Researchers discovered a protective mechanism in the immune system that shields against recurrent bacterial skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Gamma delta T cells, which account for less than 1% of lymph node cells before infection, multiply and provide protection against subsequent infections.
A study of 30,000 patients found that narrow-spectrum antibiotics performed equally well or better than broad-spectrum ones in treating common respiratory infections. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics had fewer adverse events and disruptions to family routines, while treatment failure rates were not significantly different.
Researchers found 457 novel phage sequences in bacterial genomes from the female urinary microbiome, suggesting a common set of phages that reside in the bladder. The study also indicates that phage may contribute to urinary health and offers potential alternative treatment for urinary tract infections.
Scientists discovered clues to disease risk lie in molecular switches controlling genes, not just the genes themselves. The study used human induced pluripotent stem cells to model immune response variation between people, revealing that genetic effects are often hidden if not thoroughly searched for.
A study by University of Oxford researchers reveals that bacteria approach conflict in a coordinated manner, responding to threats with collective retaliation. The research shows that different strains exhibit varying levels of aggression and can even detect incoming attacks to warn other cells, enabling sophisticated defense strategies.
Researchers at MIT and Albert Einstein College of Medicine isolate and study a new group of viruses that lack tails and can infect dozens of different types of bacteria. The Autolykiviridae provide key insights into viral evolution, bacterial populations, and the ocean's ecosystem.
A new family of viruses, Autolykiviridae, has been discovered that kill more marine bacteria than previously known tailed viruses. These viruses may also be present in the human gut and could play a role in maintaining the ocean's ecology and influencing human health.
Research connects preterm birth to adult heart disease by showing that fetal infection and inflammation disrupt genes crucial for normal heart development. This study uses a preterm animal model to demonstrate how inflammation can lead to incomplete heart development, increasing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure.
A study found that pediatric cancer patients' microbiome diversity can predict the risk of developing blood infections, suggesting a link between gut health and bloodstream infections. The researchers argue that prevention and treatment strategies may depend on the source of infection, rather than relying solely on central line hygiene.
Researchers found seven percent of Austrian hunting dogs tested positive for the disease, highlighting a potential new vector for tularaemia transmission. The study suggests that asymptomatic dogs may pose an additional risk of infection for people.
Researchers found that lung bacterial infections and inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients start much earlier than expected in childhood. Therapies to break up mucus may offer the best route to a longer life for CF patients, as early intervention could dramatically increase quality of life.
Researchers developed a method using next-generation genomic sequencing to isolate infecting organisms after joint replacement surgery. The technique identified pathogens in over 80% of cases that previously went undetected, revolutionizing treatment for patients with joint-replacement infections.
Infections with MRSA bacteria appear to permanently compromise the lymphatic system, impairing its ability to pump lymphatic fluid. This impairment may contribute to frequent recurrences of MRSA infection in patients.
A recent study at Tampere University found that an eNose can identify the most common bacteria causing soft tissue infections without prior sample preparation. The device differentiates between MRSA and MSSA with high accuracy, reducing treatment times and costs.
A new study found that different strains of the same bacterial species can trigger vastly different immune responses in humans. Researchers discovered that distinct genes in each strain contribute to this variability, and may help explain why individuals respond differently to the same pathogens.
Research suggests that different bacterial strains can provoke varied immune responses in humans, contradicting previous studies that used a single strain. This variability is contributed by viruses infecting the bacteria, and may help predict disease outcomes and tailor treatment.
A team of scientists has developed SAAP-148, a compound that effectively targets and eliminates drug-resistant bacteria in biofilms. The peptide-based treatment shows promise in treating MRSA and Acinetobacter baumannii infections, with plans for a clinical trial in 2018.
Researchers at the Babraham Institute have discovered that good bacteria in the gut can control gene expression by producing short chain fatty acids, which increase crotonylations and affect gene activity. This process may help prevent cancer and fight infections, highlighting the importance of a healthy diet and gut bacteria.
Researchers found that SOBER1, a plant protein, removes acetyl groups added by bacterial proteins, preventing the plant's immune response. This discovery could lead to strategies to boost plants' natural immunity or contain infections threatening agricultural crops.
A new radiotracer, 18F-FDS, has been developed to identify and track bacterial infections in the lungs. The tracer was tested on mice with live bacteria or dead bacteria to induce inflammation, and it successfully differentiated between lung infection and inflammation.
Researchers at University of Queensland developed a new supercharged antibiotic called vancapticins that target bacterial membranes, potentially revitalizing old antibiotics. The rebooted vancomycin has the potential to treat MRSA and VRE, addressing the growing threat of multi-drug resistant bacteria.
Researchers found that dietary trehalose enhances the virulence of epidemic C. difficile lineages, leading to increased disease severity and mortality in animal models. The study suggests that trehalose may be a key trigger for the predominance of these lineages, contributing to hospital-acquired infections.
Researchers propose alternative therapies for mild infections to slow antibiotic resistance development, maintaining effectiveness for severe infections. This approach involves targeting milder bugs that can indirectly hinder the spread of resistant strains.
Bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics in small infections, which can drive superbug development; alternative treatments for these small infections could preserve antibiotic effectiveness
Researchers found that Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes exhibited reduced dengue virus transmission potential by up to 50% compared to uninfected mosquitoes. Laboratory conditions underestimated this effect, suggesting improved vaccines and disease management approaches are needed.
Researchers found that repeated low-grade bacterial infections can lead to severe inflammatory disease and potentially life-threatening colitis. The study also identified a link between Salmonella infection and an acquired deficiency of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, which accelerates inflammation.
A new study reveals that platelets actively migrate to sites of infection, collecting bacteria into aggregates and facilitating the activation of neutrophils. This active function has significant implications for our understanding of immune defense and potential therapeutic targets for inflammation reactions.
Researchers at BIDMC used AI to develop an automated microscope system that can quickly and accurately identify images of bacteria, reducing the reliance on human clinical microbiologists. The system achieved nearly 95% accuracy in identifying three types of bacteria, paving the way for a future diagnostic platform.
A recent study by Tara C. Smith, Ph.D., found a higher-than-expected prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at beaches around Lake Erie. The study revealed that MRSA levels were more than 40% higher in the summer when beaches are most heavily used.
Researchers at Lund University developed a specially designed protein that targets and kills multiple bacterial species, including Gram-positive bacteria. The fusion protein works by removing Factor H from the surface of bacteria, activating the immune system to kill them.
A study found that lactic acid bacteria can protect against different subtypes of influenza A virus, resulting in reduced weight loss and lower amounts of virus replication in the lungs. The researchers used a heat-killed strain of Lactobacillus casei DK128 to pretreat mice before infecting them with the virus.
Scientists have developed a noninvasive tuberculosis test that can detect active infections in HIV-negative patients using urine samples. The test, which traps sugar molecules found on the TB bacterium's outer coat, has shown increased sensitivity and accuracy compared to previous methods.
Research from UIC suggests that antibiotics' ability to kill bacteria depends on their bond duration, not binding tightness. Bactericidal antibiotics, which can cure infections better than bacteriostatic ones, work by dissociating faster from the ribosome.