Articles tagged with Bacterial Genetics
Researchers at KAUST have isolated a desert microbial strain that enhances drought resilience in Arabidopsis and alfalfa, promoting water use efficiency without affecting crop yields. The microbes modify epigenetic status of drought stress genes and actively change plant root architecture.
Researchers at Penn State discovered that bioluminescent bacteria use a small RNA molecule called Qrr1 to coordinate their behavior and colonize the squid's light organ. This mechanism is likely widespread among bacteria, enabling them to exploit quorum sensing pathways.
Researchers found that antimicrobial resistance emerges from selection for pre-existing resistant clones, not new mutations. Infections with multiple pathogen clones show increased resistance to antibiotics, but also potential for faster loss of resistance when no antibiotics are present.
Researchers have discovered how Golden staph, a common bacterial infection, hides inside human cells to avoid detection. The study used InToxSa, a new methodology that enables the study of Golden staph behavior on a large scale.
Researchers found genetic similarities among strains of Mycobacterium abscessus that cannot be explained by direct person-to-person transmission. Instead, they suggest the pathogen is acquired from environmental exposures, with implications for hospital precautions and public health.
Bacteria have found a way to survive stressful environments by producing microscopic syringes called Streptomyces phage tail-like particles (SLPs) that are located inside the cell. These SLPs interact with cellular systems involved in cell wall synthesis and protein translation, providing resistance against osmotic stress.
A UNLV study found a significant correlation between 10 specific types of gut bacteria and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, with certain bacteria identified as protective or risk factors. The findings suggest that an imbalance of gut microbiota may play a role in the disorder's development.
Researchers identify OmpU protein variants associated with antimicrobial resistance in Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Understanding the evolutionary origins of AMR can inform the development of effective therapeutics against resistant infections.
The new CALANGO software helps untangle genetic factors associated with shared characteristics, such as antibacterial resistance and agricultural improvements. It enables scientists to explore vast amounts of genomic data across thousands of organisms.
A study published in the journal Cancer found that long-term pancreatic cancer survivors have a robust immune response and enriched gut microbiome species, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. The research suggests that these bacterial species may promote immune response to pancreas cancer.
James Chappell, a Rice University bioscientist, has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to create RNA programming methods for microbial communities in natural habitats. His research aims to improve human health and the environment by genetically manipulating microbial communities.
The CoDe tool enables precise edits to genetic codes, making vaccines safer and more effective. It can also modulate gene expression in small sections, aiding vaccine design and basic research.
Scientists create modified E. coli bacteria that cannot be infected by viruses while minimizing gene escape into the wild. This breakthrough technology has implications for reducing viral contamination in biotechnology production, such as insulin production and biofuel manufacturing.
Researchers at Rice University aim to create genetically encoded antibiotics that selectively kill pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial microbes. The goal is to develop targeted, tailored RNA antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
Bacteria can survive antibiotics without acquiring new genes or mutating existing ones by maintaining high electrochemical energies. These high-energy cells exhibit a wide range of energy levels despite being in a state of arrested growth, enabling them to adapt and spread rapidly.
The study reveals unexpected mechanisms that enable Aromatoleum aromaticum EbN1 T to adapt to changing environments. By analyzing its metabolic network, researchers developed a model to predict growth under diverse conditions.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health and the University of Toronto have developed a new AI tool called ZFDesign, which enables customizable protein editing for treating genetic diseases. The tool promises to accelerate gene therapy development on a large scale, offering a potentially safer alternative to CRISPR.
A new Legionella species, Legionella bononiensis, has been identified in a hotel facility in northern Italy. The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Bologna using genetic sequencing and mass spectroscopy techniques.
Researchers discover how E. coli bacteria manipulate the immune system to cause ileocolitis in susceptible individuals. The study reveals the key role of agr2-associated ER stress in promoting dysbiosis and triggering CD103+ dendritic cell IL-23-dependent inflammation.
Researchers identify unique chemical signal allowing ancient TB bacteria to evade immune system and spread beyond lungs. The 'mobile factor', called EsxM, allows the bacteria to infect macrophages more easily, leading to bone infections in six people.
Researchers have found that hypermucoviscous K pneumoniae strains carry higher rates of virulence genes and are less responsive to conventional drugs. These strains are thicker and stickier than previous strains, making them more challenging to treat with antibiotics.
A collaborative team at IGB discovered 30 new compounds, including three with antibacterial properties, using the Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing. The platform allowed for rapid screening of hundreds of genes and pathways, enabling the researchers to identify potential anti-microbial compounds.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new optical tool called homo-FRET that allows them to observe the real-time activity of two-component systems in bacteria. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the behavior of deadly pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, shedding light on their mechanisms and potential targe...
A study by the University of the Basque Country detected Arcobacter species in 22.3% of analyzed food samples, with A. butzleri being the most abundant. The bacteria were found to possess virulence genes and could cause gastrointestinal disorders. Biofilm formation on food contact surfaces was also observed.
Researchers successfully engineered E. coli collected from human and mice gut microbiomes, showing potential to treat diseases such as diabetes. The engineered bacteria retain their activity for the entire lifetime of the host and positively influence diabetes progression in mice.
A newly published framework outlines steps for administering probiotics to wildlife, prioritizing native species, effective dosages, and delivery systems. The goal is to restore beneficial bacteria and protect key symbiotic relationships, while considering potential risks and side effects.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center identified a human gut bacterium that makes a protein mimicking the insulin peptide targeted by the immune system in type 1 diabetes. The presence of this bacterium accelerates the onset of diabetes in a mouse model and is linked to its development in children at genetic risk.
A new study uses machine learning models to predict cancer patients' responses to immunotherapy based on their gut microbiome features. The research identifies common gut bacterial taxa associated with responders versus non-responders, providing a potential tool for distinguishing and predicting immunotherapy responders.
A new study suggests that a unique gene variant supporting cognitive health in older humans may have first emerged to protect against infectious pathogens like gonorrhea. This variant, linked to CD33, allows brain immune cells to break down damaged brain cells and amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.
A heat-loving bacterium's Cas13 protein enables specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in a one-pot assay. The technology has been patented and clinically validated, with the aim of mass production and commercialization.
Researchers used artificial intelligence to discover a new family of sensing genes in enteric bacteria that work together like VtrA and VtrC. This finding could help fight GI infections, particularly those caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other related bacteria.
Researchers explore the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes in bioaerosols, including sources and detection strategies. The study highlights the need for monitoring and understanding the relationship between human, animal, and environmental microbiomes to counter the spread of AR.
A recent scientific review suggests that the oral microbiome may hold key answers to pancreatic cancer development, diagnosis, and treatment. The study found a distinct association between oral microbiome patterns and pancreatic tumors, with certain disease-driving bacteria identified in both.
A study found that Pseudomonas bacterium rapidly develops resistance to Colistin due to a gene called pmrB, which mutates at an extremely high rate. This allows the bacteria to adapt to changing immune system conditions and survive antibiotic treatment.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba discovered a mechanism for the transfer of antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus aureus bacteria through natural transformation. The study found that biofilm formation promotes horizontal gene transfer, which can lead to the spread of methicillin resistance.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered a gene essential for siderophore secretion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a key process for acquiring iron. The discovery validates siderophore secretion as a drug target for tuberculosis treatment and reveals a new mechanism for putative drugs.
Researchers at San Diego State University have identified rare genetic markers in M. tuberculosis that could improve early detection of drug-resistant strains of the disease, helping prevent their spread. These markers may help block common TB drugs from interfering with the pathogen's ability to synthesize proteins.
Research finds that intestinal inflammation liberates chemicals that nourish E. coli's growth and promote inflammation, highlighting new treatment targets for Crohn's disease. The study identifies key compounds that feed E. coli, such as phospholipids and amino acids, and shows that these compounds can enhance the bacteria's virulence.
A recent study by Japanese researchers found that Staphylococcus argenteus, a bacterial organism causing food poisoning, was present in 13.9% of tested chicken samples. The study also revealed cross-contamination among retail foods and slaughterhouses, suggesting a potential link between the two.
Researchers studied two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with different lung attack mechanisms, finding that high-transmission strains trigger granulomas that may aid bacterial escape into the airways. In contrast, low-transmission strains cause inflammation that traps bacteria, reducing transmissibility.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in controlling bacterial nitrogen fixation by cereals, enabling them to produce their own ammonia fertiliser. This development has the potential to reduce reliance on industrially produced ammonia-based fertilisers and mitigate environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers investigate how mushrooms improve gut health and provide a preventive buffer against disease in Western-style diets. The study aims to understand the role of Turicibacter in dietary obesity and gut health, as well as the potential benefits of incorporating oyster mushrooms into diet.
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.
A new study reveals that the curved shape of a predatory bacterium enables it to efficiently invade and consume harmful bugs like E.coli and Salmonella. The bacterium, called Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, uses a specialized protein to sculpt its own shape, allowing it to fit into prey cells and grow inside them.
Researchers at TUM have successfully produced succinic acid using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens, which has rapid growth and substrate uptake rates. The team is now working to optimize the process for industrial-scale production using renewable raw materials.
A research team has proposed a new approach to achieve background-suppressed tumor-targeted photoacoustic imaging, enabling deep-tissue tumor-specific imaging in vivo. The approach uses genetically engineered bacteria to deliver a photoswitchable chromoprotein to the tumor site, eliminating interference from blood background signals.
Scientists at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have created nanoengineered bacteria for photothermal cancer immunotheranostics. The synthesized nanoparticles showed powerful photothermal conversion, high biocompatibility, and excellent tumor selectivity, facilitating clear fluorescent tumor visualization.
A new bacterial strain, Noda2021, belonging to Candidatus phylum Dependentiae has been isolated and sequenced, revealing its genetic material and potential ecological significance. This discovery sheds light on the diversity of microorganisms in Japan's microbiological hotspots.
A comprehensive 'vertical map' of airborne microorganisms has been created, showing that temperature is the single most important factor influencing their composition. As global temperatures rise, this could lead to significant changes in the air microbiome, affecting human health and food security.
Researchers have designed and built bioreactors at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems to investigate bacterial biofuel production. A subtle change to a single gene can result in remarkable changes to how sugars are converted to biofuel products, revealing new avenues for improving biofuel production.
Researchers discovered that bacterial biofilms employ a developmental patterning mechanism similar to plants and animals. The 'clock and wavefront' mechanism creates intricate composite patterns of repeating segments of distinct cell types.
A new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Enterococcus innesii, has been discovered by researchers at the John Innes Centre. The strain is resistant to vancomycin and may cause hospital-acquired infections.
A genetic variation among some Greenlanders makes sugar healthy by converting it into a short-chain fatty acid called acetate, which boosts the immune system. Adult carriers have lower BMI, weight, and fat percentage, while children may experience negative consequences from consuming sugar.
Associate Professor Morten Arendt Rasmussen from the University of Copenhagen aims to develop a personalized dietary profile using a cohort of young people with asthma and other inflammatory diseases. The goal is to provide tailored diet recommendations that can help alleviate symptoms and improve health outcomes.
Researchers from Rice University and the University of Wyoming discovered self-organization into circular aggregates in Myxococcus xanthus, a model system for social cooperation. The circular behavior is linked to TraAB protein overexpression, which creates a sticky bond between cells, preventing reversals.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have discovered a new way to manipulate key assembly line enzymes in bacteria using CRISPR-cas9 gene editing. This approach could lead to the production of improved antibiotics with potentially improved properties, addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Acetobacterium woodii bacteria can efficiently metabolize CO2 into formate, providing a sustainable alternative to oil-based products. This process can be genetically modified to produce ethanol or lactic acid, enabling the recycling of CO2 and carbon monoxide.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover a 'disrupted' state in bacteria that resists current antibiotics, requiring new pharmacological agents to combat. The breakthrough model predicts bacterial population responses to treatments, offering avenues for better treatments against cancer cells.
Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria to detect specific chemicals in the gut, which can help maintain balanced neurotransmitter levels. The bacteria, called Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, produce enzymes that degrade or synthesize target chemicals, potentially alleviating mental health issues.
Researchers have successfully used double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules as a bio-fungicide to suppress the production of a toxin in soybean plants. The study found that dsRNAs produced in bacterial cells can effectively manage fungal diseases, reducing the need for toxic chemicals and potentially mitigating fungicide resistance.