Research on disease-causing bacteria and how they spread. Covers waterborne bacteria, Lyme disease ecology, pathogenic genetics, and biofilm treatments.
Emerging disease has spread to ten US states and South America, infecting over 80% of corn plants in some fields. Research reveals global spread, host range, and potential DNA transfers among strains.
A new AI-powered holographic imaging system detects bacteria growth in water samples with high sensitivity and speed, saving over 12 hours compared to traditional methods. The platform can classify three types of bacteria, including E. coli, within 9 hours.
A new, evidence-based guideline has been created to treat patients with NTM lung disease. The guidelines, developed by experts from leading international societies, provide thirty-one recommendations for the treatment of patients suffering from NTM pathogens.
Researchers have discovered a single protein derived from a harmless bacteria that can halt the CRISPR-Cas13 editing process. This 'kill switch' enables scientists to edit RNA with more precision and exact control, potentially benefiting coronavirus researchers and applications.
A portable testing lab that fits into a suitcase has been developed by Newcastle University experts to detect waterborne hazards. The lab enables quick and affordable screening of millions of bacteria in a single water sample, providing critical data for public health officials to identify and deal with local hazards.
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from healthy Japanese individuals and detected phage-derived antibacterial enzymes that control pathobionts. These enzymes were shown to regulate C. difficile infection in mice, providing a potential treatment for this disease.
Researchers found that curli amyloid produced by Salmonella bacteria triggers autoimmune reactions in mice, leading to reactive arthritis. The study suggests that curli proteins may play a role in other autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative processes.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that a strain of E. coli Nissle protects human cells against pathogenic E. coli bacteria. The study suggests that Nissle may be used to develop a treatment for E. coli infections, which affect millions annually.
A University of Pittsburgh research team received $330K to study the effect of silver on water disinfection. The goal is to determine if silver-coated shower fixtures effectively prevent opportunistic pathogen exposure and minimize antibiotic resistance.
Researchers discovered that Nissle, a harmless E. coli strain, can protect intestinal tissue against pathogenic strains like enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). The probiotic was found to decline rapidly in the tissue while allowing it to withstand damage better.
The study reveals that Burkholderia pseudomallei infection sets off a series of events that provoke the host's immune system, causing infected cells to self-destruct. The researchers found that abnormal cell fusion stimulates the type 1 interferon signaling pathway, leading to autophagy and cell death.
Researchers created miniature gut organoids that demonstrate segment-specific gene activity patterns and immune binding sites, shedding light on the causes of inflammatory diseases. These findings have implications for understanding cancer development and human disease.
Researchers observed that C. jejuni swims faster in viscous liquids due to its flagella, which wrap around the helical body to propel itself forward. This finding could lead to new strategies for preventing C. jejuni infections by targeting its movement mechanisms.
Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to reveal the molecular architecture of Uromodulin filaments, which form a fishbone-like structure that traps bacteria. The findings provide insights into Umod's role in protecting against urinary tract infections and its other physiological functions.
Researchers discovered that uromodulin forms long filaments that envelop pathogens, neutralizing them and preventing infection. The findings offer pointers for developing new treatments and drugs to prevent urinary tract infections without antibiotics.
Scientists have discovered that the Anaplasmosis bacterium interferes with tick gene expression to survive and spread to new hosts. The study found that the bacterium reduces a regulatory molecule's production, leading to increased levels of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide (OATP), which enables its spread to vertebrate hosts.
Researchers discovered widespread expression of immune genes in structural cells, which contribute to the response to pathogens. The study highlights that structural cells are not only essential building blocks but also play a key role in defending against infections.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have developed a new vaccination strategy that targets the toxic molecules released by Staphylococcal bacteria, including MRSA, to prevent deadly infections. In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, mice vaccinated with this experimental vaccine demonstrated an immune response and ...
Wild strains of salmonella have been found to reopen stomates on plants, allowing them to bypass the immune defense system and cause foodborne illnesses. This finding highlights the increasing threat of opportunistic pathogens jumping from plants to humans through contaminated foods.
A new study from UC Davis found that raw milk can harbor antimicrobial-resistant genes, potentially spreading resistance if consumed. The researchers analyzed over 2,000 retail milk samples and found that raw milk had the highest prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microbes when left at room temperature.
Researchers have developed a function-based sequencing technique using optical tweezers to analyze individual bacteria cells, enabling direct genome sequencing and antibiotic resistance testing from a single cell. This breakthrough technology supports rapid antibiotic selection and more precise treatment of bacterial infections.
Scientists have identified a specific protein mutation in E. coli that increases bacterial virulence, leading to increased resistance to antibiotics and antibacterial substances. The mutation affects the lipopolysaccharide transporter, causing the bacteria to produce more outer membrane vesicles and become more deadly.
Researchers found that bacterial toxins bind unrelated human receptors, causing diarrhea and fatal toxic shock syndrome. The discovery reveals a mechanism by which pathogens evolve receptor preferences to infect different organs.
Researchers from Kanazawa University purified and characterized Monalysin, a pore-forming bacterial toxin, to study its interaction with the innate immune system. The study revealed that activated Monalysin forms pores in cell membranes, leading to cell death, and that it preferentially inserts into curved parts of membranes.
Researchers have found that CD47, a natural brake on the immune system, can be turned off to help fight infections. By blocking CD47-mediated signaling, scientists may develop a new immunotherapy to treat a wide range of infectious diseases.
A new study reveals that antibiotics are being recommended far more frequently and on a greater variety of crops than previously thought. The research found that over 100 crops use antibiotics, including some critically important for human medicine, with significant regional variations.
Biosurfactant from yeast dissolves Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, weakening interaction between biofilm and surface and breaking internal cohesiveness, leading to disruption. Combination with chemical surfactants demonstrates stronger antibiofilm effects at lower concentrations.
A team of researchers sequenced a measles genome from 1912 and found it likely arose in human populations around the 6th century BCE. This finding suggests that large cities may have played a role in the emergence of the virus. Understanding the origins of COVID-19 could help protect against and fight the pandemic.
Researchers developed a high-throughput structure mapping method, Lead-Seq, to determine RNA structures in bacterial cells. The team successfully mapped the structures of thousands of RNAs simultaneously, including previously unknown 'RNA thermometers' that detect temperature changes.
Researchers at UConn's CEVR have made a breakthrough in vaccine development for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common and difficult-to-treat pneumonia-causing pathogen. By identifying the cause of vaccine-enhanced disease (VED), they were able to develop a new vaccine formulation that eliminates safety concerns.
Researchers analyzed bacterial RNA and protein expression patterns during plant-bacterial interactions, revealing the impact of plant immunity on bacterial mRNAs and proteins. The study identified previously unknown transcriptional regulators controlling bacterial gene expression and virulence.
The tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive for a longer period of time when combined with other bacteria in the air. This is because larger aerosol particles from mycobacterial clusters are produced together with components of dead cells, making them more viable in the air.
Research highlights importance of microbiome in disease interactions, including how it strengthens resistance to pathogens and influences the spread of diseases like chytridiomycosis. Climate change can disrupt the balance of the microbiome, making organisms more susceptible to infection.
Researchers surveyed commercial and residential citrus trees in Texas from 2007 to 2017, finding that the proportion of infected trees and psyllids increased exponentially over time. The study suggests that a flatter progression of citrus greening disease epidemics could be achieved through targeted protection and management strategies.
Research suggests serotonin can reduce the ability of certain intestinal pathogens to cause deadly infections by reducing gene expression and preventing bacterial colonization. The study found that mice overproducing serotonin were less likely to become infected with a deadly mouse gut bacterium.
Scientists have discovered a new killing mechanism in teixobactin, a potent natural antibiotic that can kill superbugs. The research provides fundamental insights into how teixobactins work and could lead to the development of new drugs.
Agricultural Research Service scientists and OSU collaborators have developed a new genetic way to trace the spread of Agrobacterium, a bacterial plant pathogen causing crown-gall disease in fruit trees and other plants. The method allows tracking disease outbreaks by analyzing plasmid transmission among bacteria.
A new study found that probiotics with top-performing Lactobacillus strains can improve vaginal health and reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis, a disruption in the optimal microbiota. The research suggests that these strains could lead to better treatment options for this condition.
The RNA-binding protein ProQ plays a crucial role in the activation of over 250 bacterial genes, enabling meningococci to repair DNA and resist oxidative stress. Understanding its function is key to developing new antibacterial agents.
Researchers have discovered that the symbiotic relationship between plants and rhizobia is more complex than previously thought, with plants actively trying to exploit the bacteria for nitrogen fixation. The study sheds light on how soya and clover harness bacterial nitrogen fixation, a process that could be applied to other crops.
A new genetic engineering method has been developed to improve the efficiency and reach of recombineering, a decades-old technique used to swap DNA pieces in bacteria. The new approach identifies efficient proteins that mediate attachment and placement of short DNA strands, enabling single-spot edits and multiplex editing.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that e-cigarette users' mouths contain potent infection-causing organisms, similar to those found in people with periodontitis. The study suggests that vaping can lead to gum disease and cancer, even in healthy individuals who have not smoked. The findings challenge the claim that e-cigarettes...
Research by Dirk Tischler's group has identified potential applications for bacterial siderophores, including treating iron overload disease and creating biosensors. The team has also developed semi-artificial compounds using genetic information from these microorganisms.
Researchers found that four bacteria species can survive and multiply on a minimal diet of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other essential elements from space. This adaptation process makes them less virulent, but still poses a risk to astronauts' immune systems during space travel.
A new testing system developed by researchers at the University of Chicago can quantify bacteria, antibiotic-resistant genes, and immune molecule levels in sepsis patients, predicting patient outcomes with high accuracy. This innovative approach enables personalized treatment strategies and may improve patient survival rates.
A study published in Cell Reports suggests that lactobacilli have a niche in the human nose and may play a role in preventing chronic nasal and sinus inflammation. Researchers developed a proof-of-concept nasal spray that delivered lactobacillus to the nose, colonizing healthy volunteers' upper respiratory tracts without adverse effects.
Researchers have identified a newly found pneumococcus capsule, the 100th since its discovery, and linked it to oral streptococci. This finding underscores the need for updated vaccines that can keep pace with rapidly changing bacteria.
A fidget spinner-inspired device can diagnose urinary tract infections in 50 minutes, outperforming traditional laboratory methods. The portable technology uses a novel fluid-assisted separation mechanism to rapidly enrich pathogens from urine samples.
Scientists found an unexpected intermediate in the peptidoglycan recycling pathway, which regulates cell wall assembly and composition. The study reveals a link between peptidoglycan recycling and de novo biosynthetic pathways.
The study reveals a rotund organization of concentric layers of different bacteria in a corona-like structure, with Streptococcus mutans at the center. This structure creates an acidic microenvironment that causes enamel dissolution and the onset of caries.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgia Tech discovered that cavity-causing bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, are encased in a protective community of other microbes forming a unique spatial organization. This structure is crucial to how they cause tooth decay and can be used to target the pathogenic core of dental biofilms.
Researchers develop a molecular light switch to control the T3SS injectisome, enabling precise and efficient protein delivery into host cells. This technology has potential applications in biotechnology and medicine, including tumor therapy.
Researchers at University of Malaga's BacBio laboratory have identified a new role for an amyloid protein, improving biological control methods in sustainable agriculture. The study reveals the dual functionality of the protein, which helps bacterial cells attach to plant surfaces, combat pathogens and improve fitness.
The study found that a specific strain, Sm6, is widely distributed worldwide and carries key virulence genes and resistance genes. This suggests a possible mechanism for the spread of different S. maltophilia subtypes in hospital settings.
The study found that the microbiome exerts a continuous effect on conventional dendritic cells, which are key players in the immune response. In their basal state, these cells require microbiome-derived signals to prime for future responses against pathogens.
A new dataset and diagnostic platform have been developed to help tomato growers detect and prevent bacterial canker, a disease caused by Clavibacter michiganensis. The platform uses genetic regions specific to the pathogen, reducing false positives and making it easier for growers to screen infected plant and seed materials.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt and the University of Exeter have found that Thermus thermophilus bacteria possess two types of tiny surface hairs, or pili, with different functions. The thick pili are used for DNA capture, while the thin pili facilitate movement on surfaces.
Researchers at the University of Basel have elucidated a mechanism in which certain bacteria, including MRSA, withstand acidic conditions. This is achieved through the synthesis and transportation of lipoteichoic acids, which provide stability to the bacterial cell wall.
A new study finds that intensive farming practices increase the likelihood of pathogens becoming a major public health risk. Campylobacter, a bacterium carried by cattle, is estimated to be present in 20% of cattle worldwide and can cause serious illness in humans.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a key mechanism in how bacteria build their outer wall, potentially leading to new antibiotic therapies. The study focused on gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and found that disrupting this process could destroy or slow bacterial growth.