Articles tagged with Virulence
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A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that closely-related fruit fly species show similar levels of virulence when infected with an RNA virus. The team's findings suggest a simple rule of thumb: if a pathogen causes high levels of mortality in one host, it may also be deadly in closely-related hosts.
BioServe Space Technologies will launch state-of-the-art hardware on SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, including petri dishes with infected nematode organisms, to study bacterial virulence in low gravity. The experiment aims to understand how pathogens behave in space and has implications for human health.
Researchers found that critically ill ICU patients lose almost all of their gut microbes and those left are mostly pathogenic, leading to life-threatening sepsis. The study suggests that minimizing antibiotic use and stabilizing remaining microbes could improve patient outcomes.
A laboratory study found that e-cigarette vapor increases the virulence of drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA, making them more resistant to human cells and antibiotics. However, e-cigarettes also decrease the ability of human epithelial cells to kill these bacteria.
Researchers have fully sequenced the Cryptococcus neoformans genome, providing a playbook to understand its pathogenesis and develop methods to combat its evolution into deadlier strains. The study reveals genetic changes that occur after laboratory handling, making the fungus more susceptible to stress and less virulent.
A special focus issue on sepsis investigates the complex interplay between pathogens and host defense mechanisms that contribute to septic shock. Key findings highlight the importance of early recognition and improved therapies for managing multi-organ dysfunction.
A recent study by Arizona State University researchers found that spaceflight alters the global gene expression of Candida albicans, a fungus commonly found in human bodies. The results indicate changes in cell aggregation, biofilm formation, and resistance to stress and antifungal drugs.
Researchers found that certain mice develop IRG proteins, a resistance mechanism that prevents the parasites from killing them. This balance between parasite virulence and host resistance allows the infected mice to survive long enough for the parasites to complete their cycle.
Scientists discover that Pseudomonas aeruginosa modifies elongation factor-Tu to mimic phosphorylcholine, enabling it to adhere to and invade human cells. This modification could represent a new strategy to inhibit the bacterium's virulence.
A Wayne State University researcher is using zebrafish to study the spread of cholera and develop new treatments. The bacteria, Vibrio cholerae, can cause severe diarrhea and death if ingested by humans.
Researchers found that Salmonella cells use a beta form of amino acid lysine to cause illness, making it an attractive drug target. Deleting genes involved in this process or inserting alpha lysine instead renders the bacteria non-virulent and sensitive to antibiotics.
Researchers identified a rare O104:H4 strain that combined Shiga toxin-producing ability with enteroaggregative E. coli adherence, explaining its high virulence and unusually severe HUS cases. The strain also showed extended-spectrum ß-lactamase resistance, making it resistant to penicillins but susceptible to carbapenems.
Researchers discovered a strategy for disrupting bacteria's ability to communicate and coordinate virulence factor expression through compounds that bound to LuxR type receptors, rendering them inactive. This finding may lead to the development of new antibacterial therapeutics aimed at inhibiting bacterial communication.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a new screen to isolate virulent parts of pathogenic bacteria, enabling quicker identification of key areas for vaccine development. The technique has been used to study Burkholderia pseudomallei, a deadly human disease-causing bacteria.
Researchers elucidated the basic principles of bacterial transport channel assembly, a mechanism used by pathogens to deliver virulence factors. The discovery opens doors to developing anti-infective drugs that can target this process before antibiotics, offering a major advantage in infection treatment.
A new study found that parasites evolve to be less aggressive when scattered among isolated clusters of hosts, favoring the survival of the group. This discovery suggests that as human activity makes the world more connected, natural selection will favor more virulent and dangerous parasites.
Researchers found that USA300 and its forefather USA500 are nearly identical in virulence and have similar levels of virulence gene production. They also discovered that alpha toxin and alpha-type phenol-soluble modulins play a crucial role in determining the severity of community-associated MRSA infection.
Scientists identified a highly conserved type IV secretion system in Rickettsia, linked to virulence, and discovered gene duplication and additional contributing genes. The study provides insight into the evolution of Rickettsia virulence and sheds light on its potential as emerging infectious agents.
Researchers have identified three genes from the 1918 flu virus that enabled it to replicate in lung tissue, a key factor in its lethality. The discovery could help identify potential virulence factors in new pandemic strains and inform the development of new antiviral drugs.
Researchers have discovered that manipulating salmonella bacteria in space can reduce their infectiousness. The study found that microgravity alters the expression of genes related to virulence, with pathogenic cells displaying a significant increase in disease potential.
Researchers have identified a key chemical, bicarbonate, that signals Bacillus anthracis to become lethal, offering a potential target for new antibacterial treatments. The study builds on earlier observations of the bacterium's response to host conditions, confirming bicarbonate as the essential component for virulence gene expression.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have identified a region of virulence proteins that enables them to enter the cells of their hosts, suppressing the immune system and allowing infection to progress. The discovery may lead to new approaches for blocking infections by both oomycete and malaria parasites.
A study by Emory University researcher Jacobus de Roode found that higher levels of replication within the host result in both increased virulence and greater transmission of parasites. This suggests that natural selection selects for harmful parasites, prioritizing their fitness over host health.
A study by VBI Professor Brett Tyler and colleagues reveals that the Avr1b virulence protein in Phytophthora sojae suppresses programmed cell death in plants, disabling their immune systems. This finding has significant implications for understanding plant-pathogen interactions and developing effective disease management strategies.
Researchers will study how germs change when exposed to space, potentially leading to new strategies for prevention and treatment of diseases. The experiment aims to confirm earlier results on Salmonella's increased virulence in space.
Scientists at NIAID identified a key factor contributing to the severity of community-associated methicillin-resistant staph infections. Novel proteins in drug-resistant strains of S. aureus attract and destroy protective white blood cells, ensuring the bacterium survives and causes severe disease.
Gene deletion study shows Candida parapsilosis growth and virulence reduced without lipase activity, suggesting enzyme's key role in pathogenicity for immunocompromised individuals and premature infants
A single gene, ROP18, accounts for 90% of Toxoplasma gondii's virulence, making it a key target for identifying and treating the parasite's most dangerous strains. Researchers hope to develop new treatments using existing kinase inhibitors.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified two proteins, ROP16 and ROP18, that are critical to Toxoplasma's ability to infect and reproduce inside human cells. The study found that changes in these proteins can ramp up damage to the host by 10,000-fold.
Researchers have exonerated Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) as the primary virulence factor for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) disease. The study found that CA-MRSA strains are equally effective at destroying human white blood cells with or without PVL present.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute successfully silenced two additional virulence genes in amoebae, rendering them harmless while preserving surface antigens. The disabled amoebae may serve as a live vaccine to combat life-threatening amoebic diseases.
Researchers found that a bacterial parasite, Pasteuria ramosa, produces intermediate levels of virulence to maximize spore production and host fitness. This tradeoff between host and parasite fitness has important implications for public health strategies to contain emerging parasitic diseases.
UT Southwestern researchers found that a Yersinia outer protein called YopJ cripples host enzymes, preventing the immune response and allowing the bacteria to survive. The study presents a new paradigm for how cells regulate signaling and could lead to a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
Researchers have identified the genetic sequence of the USA300 strain, which has incorporated parts of another bacterium's genome, enabling it to evade host immune responses and survive. This discovery provides a diagnostic tool to monitor the spread of the strain in hospital and community settings.
Two studies found that CO2 senses are crucial for fungi C. albicans and C. neoformans to adapt to different environments. The enzymes adenylyl cyclases mediate CO2-dependent filamentation and capsule biosynthesis in these pathogens.
Researchers at Duke University identified a novel virulence factor in Yersinia pestis using the C. elegans worm model, which mimics mammalian infection mechanisms. The discovery could aid in developing strategies to protect humans from plague and improve understanding of innate immune responses.
Researchers found that parasite costs and virulence depend on the infection status of competitors, with infected individuals doing better when paired with an infected competitor. High prevalence of infection in a population means healthy larvae face less competition, leading to improved development and survival.
A new study found that light therapy, combined with anti-fungal treatments, can effectively combat various fungal infections, particularly those affecting the skin or nails. The research also sheds light on early fungal evolution and the role of light in fungal development.
Researchers have sequenced the genomes of two closely related strains of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that causes life-threatening infections in people with impaired immunity. The study revealed surprising similarities between the two strains, despite their different levels of virulence.
A laboratory-based study suggests that inadequate vaccines could lead to the emergence of more virulent malaria strains, potentially making them more dangerous to non-immunized populations. The research found that immunity accelerates the evolution of virulence in malaria parasites, even after mosquito transmission.