Articles tagged with Bacterial Infections
Researchers discovered that chitosan, derived from insect and crustacean shells, can effectively destroy up to 90% of pathogens in selected cell cultures. This biopolymer has been found toxic to pathogenic microorganisms, disrupting their membranes without harming healthy cells.
A Lab-on-a-Disc platform developed by German and Irish researchers detects bacterial species causing urinary tract infections in 70 minutes, significantly reducing wait times compared to traditional methods.
Researchers analyzed 80 studies to identify best cleaning practices, but found a lack of evidence on most effective methods. Studies showed mixed results, with some agents and methods reducing hospital-acquired infections like C. difficile.
A recent study found that endoscopes can harbor residual contamination and viable microbes even after thorough cleaning and disinfecting. The study tested 60 encounters with 15 colonoscopes and gastroscopes, detecting contamination on 92% of devices after bedside cleaning.
Researchers developed a model to project number of CRE infections when hospitals work together to enhance infection controls, showing a 74% reduction compared to independent approach. The model highlights the importance of coordination and communication among facilities in preventing antibiotic-resistant infections.
A recent study by IU biologist Farrah Bashey-Visser found that microorganisms are constantly evolving due to competition with other microorganisms, leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This can catch humans off guard, requiring them to play catch-up in treatment efforts.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found that aminoglycoside antibiotics increase susceptibility to hearing impairment due to inflammation from bacterial infections. The study suggests that targeted alternatives are needed to treat life-threatening infections without sacrificing patients' ability to hear.
Researchers used fruit flies to discover that groups of genes working together, rather than single genes, influence gut immunocompetence. They found that variations in these gene clusters can make some flies highly susceptible or resistant to infections, with implications for chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
Researchers found that ethoxzolamide inhibits TB's ability to detect acidic environments, effectively blinding the bacterium and allowing the immune system to attack. This compound could help shorten treatment duration and slow the emergence of drug resistance in TB.
A study found that certain combinations of gut bacteria, such as those from the Porphyromonadaceae and Lachnospiraceae families, resist colonization by C. difficile in mice. The researchers developed a computer model that accurately predicted C. difficile's success rate for other mice based on their gut microbiome composition.
Researchers discovered a messenger molecule that encourages bacteria to colonize catheters in mice, forming biofilms. The study highlights the importance of understanding biofilm formation to develop more effective therapies for infections like those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Researchers at Duke University discovered that tapeworms in babies' guts can shield their brains from long-term learning and memory problems caused by newborn infections. Expectant mothers who had tapeworms passed on protection to their worm-free offspring, suggesting the benefits began early in life.
Researchers have discovered that iron regulatory proteins play a crucial role in fighting off infection by controlling iron levels. The study found that mice lacking these proteins died when infected with the Salmonella bacteria, highlighting their importance in immune defense.
Scientists have discovered a new variant of Group A streptococcus that produces more toxin and has lost its outer capsule, leading to increased severity of infections. The new variant is spreading globally, with reports from Japan, Canada, France, and Sweden, raising concerns about periodic upsurges in disease cases.
Cystitis affects half of women at least once in their lifetime, causing 1% of UK GP consultations. Women should be allowed to access safe treatment, like nitrofurantoin, without a prescription to improve autonomy and reduce healthcare burden.
A study published in mBio reveals that multiple species of gut bacteria collaborate to protect against Clostridium difficile infections. The research used mathematical modeling and machine learning to identify key bacterial species that confer resistance or susceptibility.
Research found that bacteria shapes changed from sticks to spheres to evade the immune system, revealing a key gene responsible for this transformation. This discovery could lead to new tools for preventing and treating respiratory infections.
A UTHealth researcher has received a $1.9 million NIH grant to study Clostridium difficile infections, which cause diarrhea and inflammation of the colon. The goal is to prevent toxins from being released and make them inactive in the gut without killing good bacteria.
A team of researchers has identified the first known exopolysaccharide receptor gene in plants, allowing them to distinguish between beneficial and harmful bacteria. This discovery has significant implications for agricultural research and medical science.
New antimicrobial material could be used as a topical antibacterial treatment and disinfectant, effectively killing biofilms and promoting healing in chronic wounds.
Researchers found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. Regulatory T-cells play a key role in this process, acting as a 'brake' to prevent other immune cells from targeting the second transplant.
Research shows that Wolbachia-infected male fruit flies fight less aggressively than their uninfected peers. The infected flies took three times longer to initiate fights and started fewer battles, but their bouts lasted as long as those of uninfected counterparts.
Dr. Jian-Dong Li is developing novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics against middle-ear infections, a major childhood bacterial infection causing conductive hearing loss. The goal is to suppress overactive inflammation and improve middle-ear hearing function.
Researchers found that a single small genetic change enabled Yersinia pestis to transition from causing gastrointestinal infections to respiratory diseases, including pneumonic plague. This discovery may have helped explain how the plague spread globally, leading to devastating pandemics like the Black Death.
Researchers found that human urine's unknown factors interfere with bacterial FimH protein's ability to adhere to cells and switch off pilus production assembly. This exposes a crucial weakness in pathogen's ability to infect, making potential non-antibiotic treatments more effective
Researchers found that applying benzoyl peroxide to the skin before and after surgery significantly reduced P. acnes bacteria, potentially lowering the risk of postoperative infection. The study suggests using BPO as a tool to improve skin preparation and reduce bacterial contamination during shoulder surgery.
Indigo-Clean, a light fixture using Continuous Environmental Disinfection technology, kills harmful bacteria linked to hospital acquired infections. The technology, developed by University of Strathclyde, is now commercially available in the US and Canada, offering hospitals a safer environment for patients.
A pilot program at a pediatric long-term care facility achieved significant reductions in antibiotic use, with a 59% decrease in topical antibiotics and an 83% decrease in orders without proper documentation. The program improved antibiotic prescribing practices through increased staff support and electronic medical record system changes.
A recent case study reveals that infection preventionists spend an average of five hours and eight minutes per day collecting and reporting hospital infection data, leaving little time for hands-on patient care. This finding highlights the need for adequate staffing and resources to ensure effective infection control practices.
Researchers found that urine samples with higher acidity actually hindered bacterial growth due to the presence of specific compounds called aromatics. On the other hand, samples with less acidity showed increased activity of siderocalin, a protein that deprives bacteria of iron.
A new approach to diagnose pneumonia in critically ill patients has been identified through a breath analysis method. The study found that chemically analyzing breath specimens can reveal bacterial infection in ventilated patients at risk of developing pneumonia, providing a potential game-changer for clinical practice.
A new study suggests that vaccinated people who are infectious but symptom-free may be transmitting whooping cough multiple times throughout their lives, exacerbating the outbreak. The research highlights the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for children, as the primary source of protection against severe disease and death.
A team at Harvard's Wyss Institute discovered that bacteriostatic antibiotics slow down oxygen consumption, reducing cellular respiration and making bacteria tolerant. This can explain why certain antibiotic therapies fail. The findings provide a new strategy for developing urgently needed therapeutics.
Research reveals that legume plants selectively regulate access to symbiotic and endophytic bacteria, maintaining competitive symbionts in the soil. The study provides insights into genetic mechanisms controlling compatibility and identifies layers of accommodation for these microbes.
A new vaccine has been developed that generates double protection against chlamydia by teaching the immune system to recognize and remember the bacteria as a threat. The vaccine uses charge-switching synthetic adjuvant nanoparticles to bind to the bacteria, targeting mucosal surfaces and inducing an immune response.
In a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found that disabling the production of NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps) can speed up wound healing in diabetic mice. By preventing neutrophils from producing NETs, wounds healed more quickly and tissue repair was improved.
Peter Greenberg and colleague Bonnie Bassler's work on quorum sensing has far-reaching implications for medicine and agriculture. Hundreds of bacterial species use quorum sensing to control various things, and the researchers aim to develop novel medicines targeting this process.
Pediatricians may do more harm than good by prescribing acid-reducing medications to children with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms. The study found a seven-fold increase in C. diff. infection risk among children who used these drugs.
Researchers found that H. pylori infection causes distinct DNA damage patterns in human cells, resembling those seen in gastric cancer. The study suggests a causal link between the bacterium and cancer development.
German researchers uncover a novel mechanism by which the innate immune system combats rotavirus infection through the interaction between interferon-lambda and interleukin-22. This discovery has implications for the design of future immunotherapy concepts, including the treatment of chronic viral infections such as hepatitis.
Researchers found that growing bacteria in mammalian tissue culture media instead of standard bacteriologic media makes them more sensitive to azithromycin. The drug is also effective when paired with colistin or antimicrobial peptides produced by the human body during infection, reducing bacterial counts by up to 99% in mouse models.
A study published in Nature Medicine found that enhancing a specific immune response can kill infection-causing fungi, such as Candida albicans, which causes life-threatening bloodstream infections. The researchers discovered that stimulating the transcription factor HIF-1α with L-mimosine led to increased production of natural antibio...
Researchers used whole genome sequencing to investigate a bacterial outbreak in a neonatal unit, finding all but one baby were infected with the same strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The technology enabled rapid response infection control protocols, stopping the spread of infection and protecting vulnerable patients.
A $10 million grant from the USDA will support a 5-year research project to develop treatments for citrus greening disease, which threatens the US citrus industry. The project aims to use systems biology approaches to block the transmission of the disease-causing bacterium and develop resistant citrus varieties.
A Twin study led by TGen researchers found that a person's environment is more important than their genes in determining nasal bacteria. Some common nasal bacteria may even protect against MRSA colonization, according to the study published in Science Advances.
Researchers at the Institute of Food Research discovered how Salmonella bacteria synchronize gene expression for invasion. They found that RpoS, DksA and ppGpp work together to coordinate the deployment of SPI1 and SPI2.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified an enzyme involved in protecting the body from pathogens that senses Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study found that modulating cGAS activity could be a novel approach to therapy, and cGAMP may be used as a biomarker for active disease.
A multifaceted intervention targeting MRSA carriers significantly reduced complex surgical site infections (SSIs), with a modest decrease in rates of 36 vs 21 per 10,000 operations during the pre- and intervention periods, respectively.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have found that prolonged exposure to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria causes insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in rabbits, mirroring the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Anti-bacterial therapy or vaccines may hold promise for preventing or treating the disease.
Researchers discovered that the protein NFAT plays a central role in the host's inflammatory response to strep infections. This finding suggests that targeting NFAT activity could be useful in treating severe streptococcal infections and limiting antibiotic use.
Researchers at NYU Langone found that contact lens wearers have a diverse set of microorganisms in the eyes that resemble those on their eyelid skin. This study suggests that improved eyelid and hand hygiene may help prevent eye infections
Research published in BMJ Open found that many UK patients with gonorrhoea are being prescribed outdated antibiotics. The study analyzed electronic health records and found that between 2000 and 2011, nearly 17,000 people were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, accounting for 6-9% of all cases in England.
Researchers discovered that bladder cells can physically eject bacteria that invade the host cell, similar to vomiting. This finding may help treat recurring UTIs by eliminating bacterial reservoirs in the bladder cells. The study also identified a potential way to accelerate and amplify this expulsion mechanism using chemical targets.
Researchers at University of Toronto designed a diagnostic chip to test for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in just one hour. The chip uses electrochemical detection to analyze the effects of antibiotics on bacteria, allowing doctors to quickly prescribe targeted treatments.
Researchers at Georgia State University found that an existing anti-stroke drug, Vinpocetine, is effective in suppressing mucus overproduction and improving bacterial clearance in animal studies. The study could lead to a novel, non-antibiotic treatment for otitis media, potentially reducing hearing loss and enhancing host defense.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have created a second-generation antibiotic that effectively combats common bacterial infections resistant to commonly used antibiotics. The spectinomycin analogs block the growth of strains and demonstrate increased antibacterial activity against various pathogens.
E. coli O104:H4 acquired genes through horizontal gene transfer, increasing virulence and antibiotic resistance. The bacterium's genome comprises prophage elements involved in Shiga toxin production.
Research reveals that diverse bacterial communities in healthy South African women's genital tracts are associated with elevated levels of inflammatory proteins, increasing the risk of HIV infection. The study found that these communities were more than four times as likely to have elevated genital inflammatory cytokines.
A study by University of Liverpool researchers reveals that pneumolysin released during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection causes cardiac injury and death. Liposome therapy has been shown to neutralize the toxin, mitigating damage to heart muscle cells.
Researchers developed a gel filled with toxin-absorbing nanosponges that effectively treat skin and wound infections caused by MRSA without using antibiotics. The treatment keeps bacterial toxins under control, allowing the immune system to kill the bacteria more easily.