Articles tagged with Microbial Infections
Researchers discover medusavirus undergoes four stages of maturation within host cells, with unique particle structures and DNA-protein exchange mechanisms. The findings provide new insights into giant viruses' biology and behavior.
Researchers analyzed nearly 100,000 pregnancies and found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and poor birth outcomes. The study provides further evidence on the safety of mRNA vaccines for pregnant individuals.
A review article by MedUni Vienna researchers reveals that micro- and nanoplastics can alter the gut microbiome, leading to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and chronic liver disease. The study also highlights the potential carcinogenic effects of nanoparticles in the human body.
A new study led by Kelly Monaghan at West Virginia University suggests that interrupting the immune response may improve multiple sclerosis outcomes. The researchers found that targeting a specific protein called CCL17 can prevent the disease from attacking the central nervous system, leading to milder symptoms and delayed paralysis.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found a new approach to impairing antibiotic resistance in deadly bacteria by inhibiting the protein DsbA. This method could potentially restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, addressing a global health crisis responsible for millions of deaths annually.
A new study found that almost half of all publicly available human microbiome samples come from the US, despite it representing only 4.3% of global population. This raises concerns about the applicability of future microbiome-based medical treatments to countries with limited resources.
Researchers discovered a key growth factor protein, HB-EGF, produced by immune-regulating cells that protects the gut against inflammatory bowel disease. ILC3s produce HB-EGF to counteract TNF-induced inflammation and maintain gut barrier function.
A study published in Nature Microbiology reveals that a class of microbial enzymes contributes to ulcerative colitis. Researchers identified an overabundance of proteases from the gut resident Bacteroides vulgatus in nearly 40% of patients, which can exacerbate the disease when not treated with protease inhibitors.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago identified changes in the gut microbiome that can lead to gestational diabetes. They found a specific metabolite, kynurenine, that is increased during pregnancy and contributes to insulin resistance.
Researchers created a novel molecular diagnostic platform that can detect COVID-19 genes after only 8 cycles of amplification, significantly reducing the time required for diagnosis. The new SERS-PCR platform uses gold nanoparticles to produce high-sensitivity signals, providing an important tool in the fight against the pandemic.
Scientists have discovered a new layer of regulation in plant-microbe interactions using peanut studies. An antisense long-noncoding RNA, DONE40, was found to bind to a protein involved in epigenetic control, suggesting a conserved function across plants and animals.
The £10m Leverhulme Centre for the Holobiont aims to map associations between microbes and higher organisms to understand how they support each other. This knowledge can help manipulate the relationship to save species from extinction, grow crops more efficiently and restore habitats.
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a different microbiome composition in their lower airways than those with COPD or healthy individuals. The study found that IPF patients share similarities between their oral cavity and lower airway microbiomes, suggesting microaspiration as a potential cause.
Researchers have created a new approach to edit genes within specific bacteria in a community using CRISPR-Cas9, enabling targeted genetic modifications. This technology could be used to track edited microbes and potentially treat diseases like digestive issues or create more resilient crops.
The University of Ottawa's CoVaRR-Net has received a $9 million grant extension to continue its rapid research on COVID variants, including the Omicron variant. This renewed funding will allow researchers to accelerate their work and keep policymakers informed of their latest findings.
The Wilderness Medical Society has developed clinical practice guidelines for reducing tick-borne illness, emphasizing low-risk interventions in resource-limited settings. Lyme disease accounts for nearly 70% of reported cases, with other TBIs like anaplasmosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis also on the rise.
A study found that long-term cannabis smokers have increased levels of Actinomyces meyeri in their saliva, which correlates with the length of cannabis use. This bacterium was shown to decrease activity and increase beta-amyloid production in mice, suggesting a link between oral microbiome disruption and brain health.
Researchers have discovered that certain microbes can prevent Clostridioides difficile infection by consuming nutrients essential for its growth. This new understanding challenges existing approaches to probiotic treatment options, which focus on restoring secondary bile acids.
Researchers have developed a comprehensive Lyme disease dashboard to define hotspots and map the disease across the US and Canada. The dashboard provides valuable insights for public health awareness and research collaboration.
Researchers have identified specific bacterial interactions in disease-resistant children that protect against chronic middle ear infections. This discovery could lead to new treatments and preventative measures for Indigenous communities, which are disproportionately affected by the condition.
A recent University at Buffalo study found that patients using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for heartburn had smaller probing depths in their gums, indicating less severe gum disease. The researchers suggest that PPIs' side effects may be linked to reduced periodontitis severity.
Researchers at CRG and Pulmobiotics have created the first 'living medicine' to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria growing on medical implants. The experimental treatment successfully treated infections across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo testing methods.
Researchers found that complex mixtures of microbes isolated from closely related plant species increased the resistance of endangered Hawaiian plant Eugenia koolauensis to myrtle rust. This microbial treatment may be an important tool for combating disease-driven declines of endangered plants.
A study found that gut microbiome profiles in children from the Democratic Republic of Congo reveal high glucosidase and low rhodanese microbes, which could increase susceptibility to konzo. The researchers plan to further investigate sibling pairs to confirm their findings.
Scientists found that rain-borne microbes can successfully colonize plants' aboveground microbial communities, protecting them from stressors. The study suggests that rain is a potentially important reservoir for phyllosphere bacteria, which could be used to improve plant health.
A new UCLA-led study reveals how gut microbes can worsen cognitive impairment in mice by targeting the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for memory and learning. The researchers found that Bilophila wadsworthia bacteria increased in mice fed a ketogenic diet under conditions of oxygen deprivation.
A longitudinal study of infants found substantial microbial changes in the intestines months before celiac disease onset. The study's findings suggest that these preclinical alterations could inform novel strategies for diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease through microbiome manipulation.
A longitudinal study of infants at risk of developing celiac disease found increased microbial strains and metabolites associated with autoimmune conditions, while decreased protective effects were observed. These preclinical gut microbiome changes may serve as early markers of disease progression.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a probiotic yeast that can target inflammation, tissue scarring, and balance issues in the gut. The 'Y-bots' probiotic successfully suppressed intestinal inflammation and restored a balanced gut microbiome in mice.
A new nematode species, Cryptaphelenchus abietis, has been discovered inside bark beetles emerging from a dead log in Nagano, Japan. The species is cultivable and may become a useful model for studying the physiological and ecological evolution of nematodes.
A Rutgers-led study found that C-section babies can be restored to healthy bacteria through exposure to maternal vaginal fluids. The study's results suggest a normalization of microbiome development in the first year of life and may offer disease protection against obesity, asthma, and metabolic diseases.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School analyze the genetic makeup of gut bacteria and find links to various diseases including coronary artery disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver cirrhosis. The study identifies groups of bacterial genes that can predict disease risk or identify presence, paving the way for developing tests.
Researchers found that a Western diet high in fat and sugar impairs intestinal immune cell function in mice, leading to increased gut permeability and chronic inflammation. Switching to a standard diet reverses the impairment.
Parasites produce gametes through a unique cell division process that differs from traditional biology. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of sexual reproduction in microbes and its potential impact on disease-causing strains.
A recent study analyzed 124 dental biofilm metagenomes from various primate species, revealing 10 core bacterial genera that have been maintained throughout African hominid evolution. These microbial groups played a key role in oral biofilms for over 40 million years and adapted to starch-rich diets early in human evolution.
Experts warn that rewilding the modern gut microbiota without careful consideration of microbial evolution could lead to health problems. Restoring the preindustrialized microbiome may not necessarily improve health, but rather reflect adaptive responses to industrial society.
A two-week dietary intervention increased fiber intake, altering gut microbial composition and short-chain fatty acids production. Researchers found a significant increase in Bifidobacterium abundance despite no detectable shift in fatty acid levels.
Researchers have confirmed histoplasmosis, a fungal infection transmitted through bat and bird droppings, is now found in Alberta, extending its known range northwest from the central United States and southern Ontario. Locally-acquired cases were primarily found in rural areas in central Alberta.
Researchers found that Debaryomyces hansenii promotes chronic inflammation and impairs wound healing in Crohn's disease patients. The fungus preferentially colonizes inflamed intestinal tissues, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic agent.
Researchers found a type of yeast called Debaryomyces hansenii elevated in areas of unhealed wounds in Crohn's disease patients. The study suggests targeting this infection may be a viable approach to treat or prevent the disease, and further studies are needed.
Researchers found that gut microbes in anorexia patients are less diverse and more abundant in 'harmful' species. Transferring fecal samples from anorexia patients to mice resulted in similar symptoms, suggesting a link between gut bacteria and anorexia symptoms. Targeting the microbiome may be a viable treatment for anorexia.
A large-scale international study found strong associations between specific gut microbes, dietary habits, and cardiometabolic disease risk. Participants who consumed a healthy, plant-based diet had higher levels of beneficial gut microbes.
A new study suggests that sea star wasting disease is caused by a lack of oxygen, as elevated microbial activity depletes the water's oxygen levels. This creates a hypoxic environment that surrounds the starfish, leading to respiratory distress and ultimately, their death.
Scientists discovered that metabolites from a wild potato relative inhibit the production of enzymes and communication in the pathogenic bacteria, leading to increased disease resistance. The findings offer insights into how to improve crop yields by studying wild relatives of food plants.
A European study confirms that altered intestinal microbiota increases the production of imidazole propionate, a molecule that prevents insulin's blood sugar-lowering effects. Elevated levels of imidazole propionate are also found in prediabetes, suggesting it may contribute to disease progression.
Researchers aim to explore the link between gut microbes and metabolites in childhood celiac disease pathogenesis. The study will analyze pediatric celiac disease samples and compare them to healthy matched controls, shedding light on environmental triggers of the chronic disease.
A rapid and simple method for testing the efficacy of antibacterial drugs has been developed by Penn State researchers. The technique uses dynamic laser speckle imaging coupled with machine learning to predict whether bacteria are alive or dead, allowing for accurate determination of minimum inhibitory concentration values. This could ...
Researchers created an index that distinguishes between healthy and diseased gut microbiomes based on a biologically-interpretable mathematical formula. The Gut Microbiome Health Index predicts the likelihood of having a disease independent of clinical diagnosis, with high accuracy rates.
Fecal microbial transplant has been shown to reduce cravings for alcohol and improve psychosocial quality of life in patients with cirrhosis and AUD. Altering the gut-brain axis through microbiota manipulation may alleviate AUD symptoms, while changes in gut microbiota also affect hepatocarcinogenesis.
Researchers discovered a type of long-lived immune cell that can provoke chronic inflammation in IBD patients, leading to abdominal pain and damage. The inflammatory T RM cell subtype may also escape into the bloodstream, affecting other parts of the body.
A recent study from Okayama University found that bacteria from families Prevotellaceae and Veillonellaceae, as well as genera Alloprevotella and Dialister, may contribute to dental caries. This suggests a shift in research focus away from mutans streptococci.
Researchers at Rutgers University found that antibiotic exposure soon after birth can disrupt gut bacteria, affecting immune system maturation and increasing the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. This study provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that disrupting early-life microbiome is a contributing factor to modern epidemics.
A new study found that children with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes have a distinct gut microbiome composition associated with poorer blood sugar control. The researchers used machine learning analysis and genetic analysis to identify this link, highlighting the importance of gut health in disease development.
Researchers have found that an individual's gut microbiota can predict and treat type 2 diabetes, with altered gut bacteria linked to reduced butyrate production. The study suggests potential for personalized dietary changes or probiotics to prevent or treat the disease.
A novel microbiome-based diagnostic tool has been developed to quickly and inexpensively identify liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients. The non-invasive method analyzes patient stool samples and achieves an accuracy of over 90% in diagnosing cirrhosis, with potential implications for improving treatment outcomes.
A new study finds that e-cigarettes cause a proinflammatory response in the oral microbiome, coating commensal bacteria with slime and disrupting healthy colonization. The glycerol/glycol vehicle in e-cigarettes appears to drive these changes, according to researchers who analyzed bacterial genes in plaque samples from e-cigarette users.
A new study found that ketogenic diets significantly changed the proportions of common gut microbial phyla in human participants, with a particular decrease in Bifidobacteria. In mouse experiments, ketone bodies directly impacted the gut microbiome, reducing Th17 immune cells and promoting anti-inflammatory effects.
Researchers found that specific disease-severity scores, including the Denver and Marshall scores, can accurately predict susceptibility to multiple independent infections after trauma. Early prognosis could guide antibiotic administration and implement prophylactic measures to protect at-risk patients.
Researchers examined the oral mycobiome, discovering 139 species of fungi that live in human dental plaque, with nine strongly associated with healthy teeth. These beneficial fungi may produce compounds like xylitol, which inhibits cavity-causing bacteria.
Research from George Washington University and National Institute of Standards and Technology reveals that nutrition has a profound effect on the gut microbiome. The authors found that dietary fiber serves as fuel for gut microbiota, while protein can promote harmful byproducts that increase the risk of negative health outcomes.