Articles tagged with Bacterial Infections
A new study identified a population of monocyte-derived cells that play a significant role in destroying Legionella bacteria. These cells respond to the infection within 24 hours and can control the bacteria, with researchers hoping to develop new treatments to strengthen the immune system.
Researchers used genome sequencing to determine when TB outbreaks ended by analyzing genetic mutations and transmission patterns. The method helped public health officials declare the end of an outbreak in January 2015, after no disease transmission occurred since mid-2012.
A virus has been found to use a 'stolen' CRISPR system to hijack its host's immune response, allowing it to fight off other viral infections. The Cyanophage N1 virus uses a CRISPR sequence typically used by bacteria to defend against viruses.
A new clinical trial shows that drinking 8-ounce glasses of cranberry juice daily reduces recurrent UTI episodes by nearly 40%. Cranberry consumption may help alleviate the burden of antibiotic resistance and improve quality of life for women suffering from recurring UTIs.
Researchers successfully treat deadly MRSA infection in animals using the combination of antibiotic TXA709 with cefdinir, reducing potential resistance and side effects. The new treatment approach aims to develop a new class of antibiotics to combat rising antibiotic-resistant infections.
A new method enables rapid isolation and concentration of infectious bacteria from complex clinical samples, accelerating bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. This breakthrough uses an engineered pathogen-binding protein to capture live pathogens from joint fluids, allowing for faster and more accurate diagno...
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have discovered that a narrow wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) light, known as far-UVC, safely kills drug-resistant MRSA bacteria. This finding offers a potential solution to reducing surgical site infections, a major public health concern.
Systemic glucocorticoids increase risk of life-threatening staph infections by 2.5 times, with higher doses associated with greater risk
Scientists compared 64 Staphylococcus aureus strains' genomes to develop a comprehensive understanding of the bacteria's virulence and antibiotic resistance. The study revealed that 19% of genes are essential for life, while dispensable genes offer advantages in specific environments.
Researchers from Tomsk State University have discovered that bats can act as transmitters of infections, including those caused by bacteria and nematodes. The study found gamasid mites in bat samples, which are common among rodents, indicating close contact between the two species.
The Wyss Institute aims to discover why some individuals tolerate infectious pathogens while others exhibit life-threatening responses, which could inform the development of novel therapies. The project will search for and identify examples of tolerance across several species through experiments with clinically-relevant pathogens.
Researchers at University of Oxford have identified two long intergenic noncoding RNA genes associated with an increased likelihood of developing bacteraemia when infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The genetic variants carry a doubled risk, highlighting the importance of diverse population studies.
Researchers discovered a bacteriophage virus in Connecticut that targets multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, making it susceptible to existing antibiotics. This 'phage' therapy has the potential to treat life-threatening infections and preserve medical options against deadly bacteria.
Scientists have identified a novel metal scavenger, staphylopine, produced by the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics targeting the bacteria's addiction to metals.
A study suggests that amyloid-ß peptide can ensnare invading microbes, halting infection in mouse and worm models of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers also found that mice with overexpressed amyloid-ß showed greater resistance to bacterial infection.
A study published in mSystems found that Burkholderia multivorans bacteria evolve and adapt in bursts to survive in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The bacteria target adherence, metabolism, and changes to the cell envelope to evade antibiotics and persist in the host.
EPFL scientists have described the atomic-level mechanism of bacteriophage infection using state-of-the-art tools. The breakthrough reveals how the baseplate coordinates attachment and contraction of the viral tail, shedding light on a complex process that has major implications for medicine and research.
A University of Oklahoma team has developed a new antibiotic formulation that combines traditional antibiotics with polymer BPEI to revive efficacy in obsolete drugs. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce economic burdens by treating MRSA infections.
Researchers from USF have isolated a natural product chemical from an Antarctic sponge that can eliminate over 98% of MRSA cells. The extract, named darwinolide, has shown promise in treating biofilm-based infections, which are resistant to current antibiotics.
Researchers at Monash University discovered a potential novel way to treat antibiotic-resistant superbugs by targeting the E. coli cell membrane's anchoring filaments. The 'anchors' are crucial for the bacteria to latch onto the urinary tract surface, and blocking them could lead to effective treatment.
Researchers have identified a specific gene mutation in Staphylococcus aureus that reduces the bacterium's ability to destroy human immune cells, making it more likely to cause life-threatening diseases. This discovery provides new insights into the complex relationships between bacteria and their hosts.
Scientists have created a synthetic molecule that mimics the sugar coating on C. difficile bacteria, triggering an immune response and protecting against infection. The potential vaccine could be cost-effective and used to boost the immune system in patients.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have discovered a new molecule that can potentially prolong the life of individuals with cystic fibrosis by improving airway hydration and mucous clearance. The treatment targets the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), preventing chronic infections and inflammation that cause progressive lung damage.
A study found that pathogenic bacteria use Opa proteins to bind human CEACAM proteins on mucosal cells, making them stickier and less likely to detach. This prevents exfoliation, allowing the bacteria to gain extra time to colonize or penetrate the mucosa.
Antibiotics disrupt gut microbiome communication with the immune system, impairing immune function. New approaches aim to restore balance by targeting infectious bacteria or modifying the microbiota, such as using bacteriocins, CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing, or fecal material transplants
A potential drug therapy developed at the University of Pittsburgh has proven effective against bacterial biofilms and a deadly respiratory virus simultaneously. The eCAP was 50 times more effective at fighting the biofilm than traditional treatment, and reduced viable virus particles by over 150-fold in RSV-infected airway cells.
Researchers have discovered a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that looks susceptible to colistin, but actually ignores treatment. The strain, called R/S, has a genetically identical subpopulation of resistant bacteria lurking within it, making diagnosis challenging.
A new study from McGill University Health Centre finds that newborn screening for cystic fibrosis results in better nutrition, fewer hospitalizations, and lower rates of infection. Children diagnosed through newborn screening are also diagnosed at an earlier age and benefit more from new treatments.
Researchers at Washington State University and Harvard University have discovered a critical mechanism that enables bacteria to efficiently infect the gut. The 'type III secretion system' directs bacterial traffic, controlling whether bacteria become trapped inside vacuoles or break out into cell fluid.
Researchers found that topoisomerase 1 inhibitors suppress inflammation in mice, potentially treating sepsis and other immune disorders. These drugs have shown promise in rescuing mice from a lethal inflammatory response caused by bacterial infections, suggesting a new approach to controlling acute infections.
Researchers at Lund University have found a promising new therapeutic target to treat bacterial infections, regulating the immune response and avoiding destructive inflammation. The discovery of IRF-7 as an immunotherapeutic target holds promise for non-antibiotic therapy.
A Boston College research team, led by biologist Tim van Opijnen, is developing new technologies to predict drug resistance in certain bacteria and identify effective treatments. The five-year study will use cutting-edge genomics research tools and techniques to understand how bacteria interact with the immune system.
A study found that gut bacteria can predict the risk of life-threatening blood infections following high-dose chemotherapy in cancer patients. The researchers created an algorithm that uses bacterial DNA sequencing to identify good and bad bacteria, predicting infections with around 85% accuracy.
A new catheter infection alert system could prevent serious infections in millions of hospital patients and elderly people. The system changes the color of urine to detect bacterial blockages before they cause kidney failure and death.
An intervention at a Canadian acute care facility screened and isolated asymptomatic C. difficile carriers, leading to a 50% decrease in health-care associated infections. The study estimated that the intervention prevented approximately 63 cases, suggesting a cost-effective strategy for preventing C. difficile infection.
Researchers found that combining great willow herb extracts with antibiotics can reduce antibiotic doses and minimize side effects in treating multi-drug resistant infections. The synergistic effect of the herb's phenolic acids and flavonoids with common antibiotics has potential to influence antimicrobial activity.
Researchers found that polyandry in house mice does not enhance immune resistance against Salmonella infection. However, male mice showed surprising resistance to the disease, with lower bacterial loads compared to females.
Parasitic worms, or helminths, have been found to beneficially influence the composition of gut microbiota in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. By infecting mice deficient in a gene that models Crohn's disease, researchers discovered that these parasites restore a compromised layer of mucus and intestinal cell morphology.
Researchers at Wayne State University are developing novel aminoglycoside antibiotics with reduced toxicity and decreased resistance, aiming to combat multidrug-resistant diseases. The project, led by David Crich, will evaluate synthetic compounds in vitro and animal models for efficacy and antibacterial activity.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine are establishing an interdisciplinary center to define the systems biology of antibiotic resistance, a pressing global medical challenge. The program aims to develop new strategies for treating antibiotic-resistant infections by combining experimental and computational methods.
Scientists have discovered a new way to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using modified cholesterol as an energy source. This breakthrough holds promise for the development of new treatments for tuberculosis, a highly infectious lung disease that kills one person every 21 seconds.
Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) has shown protective effects in mice with burn injuries, stimulating G-CSF production to bolster immune cells' ability to fight bacteria. Increased neutrophil levels mediate this protection.
A new method has been proposed to detect bacterial infections in preterm infants by monitoring serum procalcitonin levels. The study found that PCT levels take longer to return to normal in preterm infants, providing a potential early detection criterion.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have discovered a method to disrupt cell-to-cell communication and latch-on ability of bacteria, making them vulnerable to antibiotics. This breakthrough offers new treatment options for chronic bacterial infections and may help extend the lifespan of existing drugs.
A new study found that nonpathogenic viruses can be transferred during fecal transplants, but these viruses appear to be harmless to humans. The researchers analyzed fecal transplants from a single donor to three children with chronic ulcerative colitis and found mostly temperate bacteriophages were transmitted.
A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston finds that higher rates of breastfeeding and vaccination significantly reduce the incidence of ear infections in babies. The study also suggests that lower smoking rates contribute to this decline.
Researchers have identified 122 new types of RNA bacteriophages in diverse ecological niches, providing an opportunity to define their contributions to ecology and explore them as novel tools. The study suggests that RNA bacteriophages likely play a much larger role in shaping the bacterial makeup of worldwide habitats than previously ...
A new study reveals that bacteria in biofilm form are stronger than single-celled bacteria and outcompete them for nourishment. This challenges the traditional view of bacterial infections and highlights the importance of treating biofilms as a distinct entity.
A study found that contact lenses alter the natural microbial community of the eyes, making it more skin-like. This shift in bacterial composition increases the risk of eye infections such as giant papillary conjunctivitis and keratitis.
The emm59 clone of group A Streptococcus has been identified as the cause of a deadly outbreak in Arizona and the Southwest. This hypervirulent strain is directly related to a previous Canadian outbreak, which evolved into the current southwestern US epidemic.
A study led by the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Inflammation Research discovered a mechanism to keep bacteria in the gut. The researchers found that PGE2 activates innate lymphoid cells, which help maintain the gut barrier and prevent body-wide inflammation.
Scientists at Umea University have discovered chemical compounds that attenuate Listeria monocytogenes virulence without killing the bacteria, reducing resistance risks. The findings provide a promising platform for developing new antimicrobial strategies against this foodborne pathogen.
Researchers identified uropathogenic E. coli as the E. coli type most strongly linked to pre-term infant mortality from necrotizing enterocolitis. The study suggests that early identification of this bacteria could help physicians make informed care decisions for vulnerable infants.
Researchers found that viruses opt for 'piggyback-the-winner' strategy, integrating into hosts to reduce replication and avoid immunity defenses. This model better explains virus-host dynamics during microbial population booms.
A global review of 58 studies involving over 77,000 E. coli samples found a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in children's urinary tract infections, particularly in non-OECD countries. Previous antibiotic use increased the risk of resistance for up to six months after treatment.
A study by Pavel Kovarik and his team at the University of Vienna reveals that type I interferons play a crucial role in regulating IL-1β levels, preventing excessive inflammation and balance in the immune system.
Researchers identified two synthetic compounds that can restore the effectiveness of antibiotics against MRSA by blocking an enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall production. When paired with existing antibiotics, these compounds significantly improved survival rates and reduced infection severity in mice infected with MRSA.
A team of researchers is using computational models and data from actual patients to understand C. difficile colonization and infection. They aim to develop tools to prevent and treat infections that kill thousands annually.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in the fetal brain, leading to changes in cognitive functioning and increased risk of autism. Treatment with antibiotics like ampicillin may exacerbate these effects.
E. coli bacteria attach to the surface of the urinary tract via protein FimH, binding more tightly under flow conditions. This discovery could lead to development of FimH antagonists, reducing antibiotic use and resistance.