Research on infections caused by bacteria and how to fight them. Covers antibiotic resistance, biofilms, congenital syphilis, Lyme disease, and precise treatments.
Researchers discovered significant differences in immune-related genes among patients with and without E. coli symptoms, indicating innate resistance to infection. The findings could lead to new ways to boost the immune system and predict susceptibility to infections like E. coli.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed light-activated therapeutic nanoparticles that successfully killed 92% of drug-resistant bacterial cells in a lab-grown culture. The quantum dots, which can be tailored to specific infections, offer a new hope for combating antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued advice for prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections in adults. Inappropriate antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic-resistant infections, posing a public health threat. Guidelines recommend symptomatic therapy fo...
The grant will explore various dosing regimens of daptomycin, a lipopeptide antibiotic, to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) bacteria. The research aims to prevent resistance development and improve treatment outcomes for patients with life-threatening infections.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified a virulence factor secreted by the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, which is resistant to traditional antibiotics. The discovery could lead to the development of new antivirulence antibiotics that can suppress pathogen growth without eliminating susceptible bacteria.
A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals that monocytes, immune cells central to inflammation, contribute to age-associated inflammation and impaired anti-pneumococcal function. Lowering TNF levels may be an effective strategy to improve host defense against pneumonia in older adults.
Researchers found that short-term exposure to different outside host resource types and concentrations affects Serratia marcescens' virulence in Galleria mellonella-moth. This suggests that even genetically similar bacteria can differ in their virulence depending on the source of nutrients.
UC Davis researchers discovered an enzyme, LesA, that plays a key role in the bacterial infection of grapevines with Pierce's disease. The enzyme triggers the process causing leaf damage, unrelated to previously thought mechanisms. This finding opens new avenues for understanding and combating the disease.
Researchers have revealed the unique spring-like structure of E. coli pili, which allows it to withstand strong urine flow and infect the urinary tract. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for UTIs.
A study found that frozen fecal transplantation (FMT) was noninferior to fresh FMT in treating recurrent or refractory C. difficile infections, indicating its potential as a reasonable treatment option. The use of frozen FMT offered advantages such as reduced cost and increased availability.
The NIH has awarded funding for 24 research projects developing non-traditional antibacterials, including therapeutic bacteria and phage therapy, to combat increasing antibiotic resistance. The grants aim to provide new treatment options for deadly infections.
Researchers at Arizona State University have identified the natural environment of formation for toxic clay antibacterial properties. The discovery reveals how chemically reduced iron tricks bacterial cells into opening their walls, followed by aluminum, which propels the cell wall open and poisons the cell.
Research from North Carolina State University finds that antibiotics kill off bacteria that alter bile acids, allowing C. diff to germinate and grow in the large intestine. The study sheds light on how antibiotics can promote C. diff infections by disrupting the gut microbiota.
New research reveals that skin bacteria toxins can advance cancer cell growth by manipulating the immune system. The study found that certain staphylococcus bacteria produce toxins that enable cancer cells to override the immune defense mechanism, leading to more aggressive disease progression.
A harmless bacterium found in the nose can inhibit a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections. The study provides evidence that Corynebacterium accolens releases antibacterial free fatty acids from human nostrils and skin surface triacylglycerols.
A new computer program, Mykrobe Predictor, quickly analyzes bacterial DNA to predict antibiotic effectiveness and detect drug-resistant infections. The software streamlines genome analysis, detecting resistance in over 99% of Staphylococcus aureus cases, with faster results for tuberculosis.
Researchers at Rice University have developed time-released gel-filled implants that deliver antibiotics to the face, reducing the risk of infection during facial reconstruction. The innovative material protects tissue from bacterial invasion for several weeks.
A team of researchers has successfully inserted the gene for Bt into a harmless bacterium, which can be used to deliver the protein to people afflicted with roundworms through dairy products or probiotics. This could provide an inexpensive treatment option for millions of people worldwide infected with intestinal nematodes and roundworms.
Candidiasis is a life-threatening fungal infection requiring early treatment. New guidelines update recommendations for its diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of consulting an infectious diseases (ID) specialist to ensure a good outcome.
A Stanford University School of Medicine team identified a distinctive pattern of gene expression that distinguishes people with a viral infection from those with a bacterial infection. The meta-virus signature is present even before symptoms appear and can predict up to 24 hours before illness onset.
Researchers discovered how Qβ bacteriophage uses its host cell's proteins to replicate its genetic material, highlighting the importance of selectively replicating one's own genome. The study's findings may pave the way for novel treatments targeting viruses that struggle to distinguish between their own and host genetic material.
Children with childhood leukemia benefit from prophylactic antibiotics, reducing serious bacterial infections during the first month of treatment by approximately 60 percent. The use of antibacterial prophylaxis appears to have made a profound difference for patients.
Individuals with depression are more likely to experience preventable hospitalizations for common chronic conditions, such as diabetes and congestive heart failure. Researchers found that those with depression were 2.35-times more likely to be hospitalized for preventable conditions than without depression.
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered a new immune mechanism that begins working even before interferon is produced, helping to prevent illnesses. This breakthrough sheds light on why some people are more prone to viral infections than others.
A pilot study reveals clinical workstations can be a reservoir for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in hospitals. ATP testing identified MDROs on high-touch objects like chairs, clipboards, and keyboards more effectively than microbial swabbing.
Researchers have identified a new way in which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) exploits the body's own immune system to persist in infected tissues. By understanding this process, new treatments may be developed to reduce complications from infection after prosthetic surgery.
Researchers at Georgia State University developed novel antimicrobials targeting SecA, a key disease-causing component of bacteria. The study found that these inhibitors can overcome drug resistance and reduce toxin secretion, offering a promising alternative to existing antibiotics for treating MRSA infections.
Researchers identified highly resistant bacteria in 23 of 500 acute care hospital admissions from nursing homes, with a feeding tube associated with gastrointestinal carriage. This study emphasizes the importance of hospital and nursing home infection control measures to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A network of immune cells helps the appendix maintain digestive system health by preventing damage and inflammation during bacterial attacks. This discovery suggests the appendix may be more relevant to our health than previously thought, potentially even serving as a natural reservoir for 'good' bacteria.
A study found that postoperative Clostridium difficile infection rates were 0.4% per year among over 468,000 surgical procedures at the Veterans Health Administration. Patients with CDI had higher rates of postoperative illness, death, and longer hospital stays.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute researchers are using a $1.3 million NIH award to model the use of copper in bacteria to gain advantages in the arms race between bacterial infections and antibiotic drugs.
Researchers have created a detailed image of pneumolysin, a toxin linked to deadly infections like pneumonia and meningitis. The structure reveals how the toxin assembles on cell surfaces, enabling the development of novel therapeutic approaches to block its formation.
Researchers have found that infertile animals appear to be protected from neurodegeneration in a study using C. elegans worms. The study, which appears online now, showed that infected worms display hallmarks of neurodegeneration similar to those seen in humans, but infertile animals resist this process.
A new study reveals helpful bacteria living inside the Asian citrus psyllid affect its ability to spread the citrus greening disease pathogen. The infection alters the insect's metabolism and triggers an immune response, potentially increasing the pathogen's transmission.
The new guidelines aim to prevent the spread of MDRGNB in healthcare settings, which are already present in the UK. They provide practical advice on identifying patients with these bacteria and preventing their spread.
Researchers develop a new technique to prevent dangerous biofilms on catheters by coating them with an activator that hinders Staphylococcus aureus from forming biofilms. This approach could lead to a major reduction in hospital-acquired disease and death, saving thousands of lives annually.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of antibiotic stewardship in reducing Clostridium difficile infection rates. Key components include careful prescribing, early diagnosis, isolation of infected patients, and adequate cleaning of the patient care environment.
Researchers identified how Salmonella infections trigger thrombosis through inflammation regulation and platelet activation. Thrombosis persisted even after bacteria were cleared from the blood, highlighting a previously unknown pathway involved in sepsis complications.
A pre-clinical study reveals that treatment with first-line antibiotics can make MRSA skin infections worse by inducing a harmful inflammatory response. Newer tests are being developed to quickly diagnose and treat these infections, but caution is needed before extending the findings to humans.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that certain antibiotics used to treat MRSA can worsen the infection in mice. The study suggests that these antibiotics may induce inflammation and damage tissues, making patients sicker.
A recent study published in Microbiome found that controlling the levels of specific gut bacteria, such as Escherichia, may help prevent severe diarrhea. The research, led by Michigan State University, discovered that patients with certain microbial community profiles had more severe disease.
Researchers at Washington State University have developed an antibiotic-free alternative to treat bacterial infections, using electrical stimulation that kills 99.99 percent of bacteria in 24 hours. The method involves passing an electric current over a film of bacteria, producing hydrogen peroxide as an effective disinfectant.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute have discovered a gene in wild tomato species that imparts resistance to the bacteria causing speck, a devastating disease affecting NY tomato crops. The gene, qRph1, has been mapped and is being used to develop resistant varieties of cultivated tomatoes.
The University of Leicester has been awarded £1.5 million to advance knowledge in three key areas that impact on health. Three groups have won awards led by Professor David Lambert, Professor Marco Rinaldo Oggioni, and Dr Shaun Cowley, investigating sepsis, infection spread, and cancer mechanisms.
Researchers have identified specific immune cells that could be targeted by a new MRSA vaccine. These 'T-helper type 1' cells play a critical role in the immune response and are elevated in patients following MRSA infection. A model vaccine targeting these cells has shown improved infection outcomes.
Research suggests that cranberries can help reduce the incidence of symptomatic UTIs, potentially reducing antibiotic use and mitigating antibiotic resistance. Cranberry's unique blend of polyphenol antioxidants may also assist in preserving heart and cognitive health, protecting against oxidative stress.
Researchers have discovered a new technique that can prevent biofilms on catheters and medical implants by coating them with tissue plasminogen activator. This method has the potential to reduce hospital-acquired infections and save thousands of lives annually.
Researchers at the Salk Institute identified a strain of E. coli bacteria in mice capable of improving tolerance to infections by preventing muscle wasting. The bacteria activate the IGF-1 pathway in fat tissues, maintaining normal levels and preserving muscle mass during pathogenic infections.
Researchers found that intestinal worm infections can increase short-chain fatty acid production, activating receptors that influence the immune system. This discovery highlights the microbiome as a new pathway for helminths to modulate host immune function.
A new phage treatment has shown strong anti-microbial activity against Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can kill up to 40% of infected infants. The treatment, CR5, killed the bacteria quickly and effectively, without producing toxins or virulence factors.
Researchers discovered plague has been endemic in human populations for over 3,000 years, with evidence of infection dating back to the Bronze Age. The bubonic form of plague spread through flea carriers after genetic mutations allowed Yersinia pestis bacteria to survive in human guts.
Scientists have identified a human cell protein called PLEKHA7 as a key modulator of Staphylococcus aureus virulence. Mice lacking this protein showed improved healing from skin infections and pneumonia, paving the way for potential new therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant strains.
A nationwide study found a significant increase in CRE infections among US children aged 1-5, with rates rising from 0% to 4.5% between 1999 and 2012. The greatest increase was seen in intensive care units, where isolates of CRE in the bloodstream increased from zero to 3.2% during the study period.
Researchers found invasive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) caused more infections and deaths in hospitalized infants than methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The study suggests that measures to prevent MSSA infections should be included in addition to MRSA, alongside hand hygiene as a primary prevention strategy.
Garden-variety staph infections are just as deadly for newborns as drug-resistant strains, according to a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nonresistant bacterial infections affect more than twice as many babies and have the same high mortality rate as their drug-resistant cousins.
Researchers developed a new material fortified with nanodiamonds that can combat bacterial infections in teeth. The nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha showed promise in preventing residual infection and promoting healthy tooth regeneration.
Researchers discovered M1 strep's ability to inactivate antimicrobial peptides, a key component of the immune system's defense. This finding highlights the need to fortify or optimize antimicrobial peptides to improve the immune system's odds of fending off infections.
A recent study found that ESBL-producing E. coli infections are on the rise in community hospitals, posing a significant risk to patient safety and quality of care. The incidence of these infections increased by 100%, with nearly three-quarters occurring after exposure to the healthcare system.
A study found that patients with persistent Coxiella burnetii infections, which cause Q fever, are at a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The researchers discovered that these patients often have overproduction of interleukin-10, allowing the cancer cells to evade immune detection.
Hospitalized children are three times less likely to contract C. diff after implementing antibiotic stewardship programs, which also result in significant cost savings. The programs involve reviewing antibiotic use and providing feedback to physicians, leading to a more than three-fold reduction in C. diff rates.