Research on disease-causing bacteria and how they spread. Covers waterborne bacteria, Lyme disease ecology, pathogenic genetics, and biofilm treatments.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have successfully targeted and killed E. coli using a cocktail of viruses, preserving the surrounding community of commensal bacteria in a simulated small intestinal microbiome. This breakthrough could lead to a new treatment method for food-borne illnesses without the use of antibiotics.
Researchers have discovered a genetic switch in the bacteria that can be targeted by small molecules to prevent its virulent form from emerging. By disabling this switch, the bacteria become more vulnerable to host defense molecules and disinfectants, making it a potential key for new antibiotics.
Researchers at Oxford University have identified a genetic catalyst, ampR, that accelerates the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The study found that species carrying the ampR gene evolve resistance at a higher rate than those lacking it.
A Vanderbilt team has deciphered the key to infecting entire mosquito populations with virus-killing Wolbachia bacteria. By hijacking insect reproductive systems, Wolbachia spreads rapidly, reducing risk of dengue and Zika virus transmission.
Researchers uncover how bacterial 'gene swapping' fuels emergence and spread of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Researchers at Osaka University found that short trips to developing countries significantly increase the appearance of colistin-resistant bacteria in Japanese travelers. The study tracked 19 participants who traveled for less than 2 weeks and discovered nearly 90% of travel events resulted in resistant strains.
A team of researchers has found that a specific bacterium in the microbiota of leafcutter ants produces trail pheromones, which guide the ants to their nests without deviation. The pyrazine-producing bacteria were discovered by chance while investigating the ants' defense against parasitic fungi.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame discovered that lytic transglycosylase Slt helps gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa recover from antibiotic damage by repairing its cell wall. The enzyme rapidly attempts to rebuild the organism's structural entity, allowing it to survive and continue causing infection.
Pathogenic bacteria use a unique secretion system to export adhesins, which enable them to adhere to host cells. The study found that the adhesin protein needs to be modified with specific sugars by three enzymes acting in a specific sequence.
Researchers have identified a new class of antibiotics, odilorhabdins, which target bacterial ribosomes and disrupt protein synthesis. The unique compounds have shown potential in treating drug-resistant infections.
A University of Maryland researcher has discovered a protein produced by the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, allowing it to evade the body's first immune response. This breakthrough understanding has significant implications for treating tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, which is increasingly chronic and prevalent.
Gonorrhoea superbugs have developed resistance to all known antibiotics, targeting human immune cells called macrophages. Monash researchers discovered the mechanism of evasion, which could lead to new strategies for combating gonorrhea infection.
A Tokyo Medical and Dental University-led study found that a protein signaling pathway enhances expression of genes encoding inflammatory mediators in macrophages, contributing to colonic inflammation. The research may lead to novel targets for IBD therapy.
A study has characterized the physical mechanism that enables a widespread bacterial pathogen to adhere to human host tissues. The researchers used atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to reveal a unique cooperation of non-covalent hydrogen bonds in the adhesion process.
Researchers have developed a process for creating ultrathin, self-assembling sheets of synthetic materials that can function like designer flypaper in selectively binding with viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. The sugar-coated nanosheets are made from bio-inspired polymers known as peptoids and can effectively mimic cell surfaces.
Scientists link whooping cough resurgence in the US to incomplete adult vaccination and declining vaccine efficacy over time. School-aged children are identified as a key transmission hub for future vaccination efforts.
Researchers identify SpdC as a key player in controlling S. aureus virulence, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance; Inhibiting SpdC may offer new approach to combating S. aureus infections.
Scientists have successfully created a simplified version of teixobactin, a natural antibiotic discovered in 2015, which has been shown to kill superbug-causing bacteria. The synthetic form was used to treat a bacterial infection in mice, demonstrating its potential as a new class of antibiotic drug.
Methanotrophic bacteria have the unique ability to take in copper for use in methane metabolism, a process that also digests the potent greenhouse gas. A Northwestern University study has pinpointed two proteins, MbnB and MbnC, as key players in this process.
Cytokinins have been found to play a vital role in the communication mechanisms of bacteria, plants and animals, regulating growth, development and disease resistance. The research has also uncovered new details on how cytokinins evolve and activate enzymes, challenging previous assumptions.
Researchers at KU Leuven have identified a protein, LIpA bacteriocin, that targets and kills the deadly Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The protein's mechanism of action involves binding to the bacterial cell wall protein BamA, effectively shutting it down and allowing the bacteria to die quickly.
Researchers studied 192 COPD patients over 15 years to understand how the nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) pathogen survives in human airways. The study reveals genetic changes that help the pathogen adapt and thrive, providing insights for developing a vaccine or treatment.
Researchers created an integrated imaging approach that uses multiple techniques to study Staphylococcus aureus infections. This method revealed new insights into abscesses and the bacteria's response to their environment. The findings have implications for vaccine and therapeutic development, as well as culture-free diagnosis.
Scientists at Leibniz-Institute of Photonic Technology developed a rapid test that identifies bacterial strains and their resistances in under three hours. This breakthrough reduces the analysis time from 72 hours, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment for infectious diseases.
Researchers developed a microbial detection technique that can reveal previously undetectable bacteria in various environments. KatharoSeq detected bacteria on surfaces at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a neonatal intensive care unit, and an endangered abalone rearing center, revealing new insights for improving environmental health.
Water troughs on farms can spread toxic E. coli in cattle, which can then infect humans through contaminated beef and salad greens. Reducing water volume in troughs paradoxically increases E. coli prevalence.
Researchers at Emory University have discovered heteroresistance to colistin in already carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, making it harder to monitor and treat. The findings pose a significant threat to public health, highlighting the need for novel diagnostics to rapidly detect colistin resistance.
Researchers found that nerve cells in the lungs suppress immune response during infection with Staphylococcus aureus, leading to poorer outcomes. Disabling these neurons improved immune cell recruitment and cleared bacteria from the lungs, boosting survival rates.
Wolbachia blocks viral replication in mosquito cells by degrading viral RNA, with XRN1 playing a key role. The bacterium's ability to prevent disease transmission depends on the virus's replication rate.
A study in house finches reveals that immune systems can inadvertently help bacteria become stronger over time, leading to a catch-22 situation. Researchers found that birds with stronger immunity to more virulent strains were more likely to exclude low-virulence strains from future infections.
A study found that incomplete immunity to a pathogen in birds makes it stronger and more dangerous for its next victim. The findings suggest that imperfection can be deadly, and the results have implications for human health.
Researchers identified a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis that produces a chemical compound 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine (6-HAP), which inhibits the growth of some cancers. In mice exposed to UV rays, those with 6-HAP-producing bacteria had significantly reduced skin tumors.
Researchers discovered that Pseudomonas aeruginosa rapidly overexpresses genes coding for proteins capturing host's iron and uses lactate, lipids, and collagen as nutrients. This knowledge opens the way to develop innovative treatments to counter its strategies.
Researchers at Penn State revealed new insights into the 'magic spot' molecule that controls gene expression in bacteria under stress. The study provides clues about key processes that could be targeted in the search for new antibiotics and contributes to fundamental understanding of bacterial adaptation and survival.
A study by Georgia State University found that carbon monoxide improves the efficacy of antibiotics like metronidazole against H. pylori, a type of bacteria causing peptic ulcers. By making bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics, carbon monoxide could help combat drug resistance and allow for smaller doses or increased effectiveness.
Researchers have discovered how Xanthomonas bacteria manipulate nutrient supply and hormonal balance in plants. The study found that a specific protein, XopH, targets phosphorus supplies inside plant cells, weakening plant defences and allowing bacteria to multiply.
Chromobacterium piscinae produces cyanide as a defense mechanism against Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100, inhibiting predation but not being toxic. The study suggests microbes can resist predation through secondary metabolites in certain environments.
Researchers found that two red wine polyphenols, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, effectively cut back on the ability of oral pathogenic bacteria to stick to cells. When combined with an oral probiotic, the polyphenols were even more effective in fending off these bacteria.
Researchers have found four bacteriophages effective in eliminating Yersinia enterocolitica from food and kitchenware. The study's results suggest phage treatment could become a routine method in food production to prevent foodborne infections.
A study on humpback whales' skin microbiome found that nearly all whales had six core communities of bacteria, which changed with seasonal and environmental conditions. Monitoring these microbes could aid in assessing the whales' health and detecting climate change impacts.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have unraveled the immune cascade driving complications and tissue damage in chlamydia infections. The study reveals two distinct immune pathways: one clearing bacteria and another fueling inflammation, offering a roadmap for vaccine development and precision-targeted treatments.
Beewolves have successfully used a combination of antibiotics produced by symbiotic bacteria to protect their offspring from mold fungi for over 68 million years. The antibiotic cocktail has remained surprisingly stable despite the emergence of new pathogens.
Researchers have identified the crucial role of peptide uptake in Borrelia burgdorferi's viability and ability to infect mammals. Blocking this process could lead to novel therapeutic interventions for Lyme disease.
Research suggests that e-cigarette vapour can increase susceptibility to lung infection with pneumococcal bacteria, similar to traditional cigarette smoke or particulate matter from fossil-fuel pollution. Long-term vaping may raise the risk of bacterial lung infection.
A new study has found that the immune system uses a specific balance of T cell types to tolerate beneficial bacteria, while triggering inflammation in pathogenic species. The discovery could lead to new treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.
Scientists have developed a new method to rank the risk of resistance genes in bacteria, allowing for better prediction of antibiotic evolution and development. By analyzing 200 genes, researchers identified key factors influencing gene transfer and integration into new hosts.
Researchers created human intestinal 'mini-guts' to study the immune response to bacteria at different developmental ages. The study found that premature infants have an exaggerated immune response, contributing to NEC's pathogenesis.
A study found that Pseudomonas protegens, a soil-dwelling bacterium, releases toxins through its type VI secretion system to protect plants from diseases. The toxins target NAD+, destroying other bacterial species and allowing the plant-protective bacteria to outcompete them.
Researchers have discovered a new form of flagella-mediated motility shown by symbiotic bacteria, which enables them to swim by wrapping their flagellar filaments around their cell bodies. This unique motility mechanism allows the bacteria to pass through narrow constricted passages and is essential for symbiotic relationships with bea...
Researchers used a novel lab-on-a-chip to study gene regulation in single E. coli bacteria under changing environmental conditions. The chip allows for the precise growth and behavior of individual bacteria to be tracked over several days, revealing new insights into bacterial adaptation strategies.
Bacterial diversity may have a much longer lifespan than previously thought, according to University of Montana researchers. They found that some specialized cells called heterocysts can produce different kinds of bacteria, which has been preserved for tens of millions of years.
Researchers identify a new source of botulinum toxin in Enterococcus faecium bacteria, which can be transferred between species and has implications for protein therapeutics and monitoring emerging pathogens.
A Penn State research team has created a system that uses microbial reactors to rapidly break down solid and liquid waste, producing a nutritious food source for astronauts on deep-space missions. The system, which can minimize pathogen growth, uses anaerobic digestion to convert human waste into edible biomass.
Researchers found that lung bacterial infections and inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients start much earlier than expected in childhood. Therapies to break up mucus may offer the best route to a longer life for CF patients, as early intervention could dramatically increase quality of life.
A recent study at Tampere University found that an eNose can identify the most common bacteria causing soft tissue infections without prior sample preparation. The device differentiates between MRSA and MSSA with high accuracy, reducing treatment times and costs.
Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg found that a fiber-rich diet can reduce arthritis symptoms by changing the intestinal bacteria and increasing short-chained fatty acids. These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can help slow bone degradation.
A new study found that different strains of the same bacterial species can trigger vastly different immune responses in humans. Researchers discovered that distinct genes in each strain contribute to this variability, and may help explain why individuals respond differently to the same pathogens.
A study published in Veterinary Record found that commercial raw meat diets (RMDs) are contaminated with zoonotic bacteria and parasites, which can be transmitted to humans. The research highlights the need for pet owners to be aware of these risks and take proper hygiene measures to minimize exposure.
A team of scientists has developed SAAP-148, a compound that effectively targets and eliminates drug-resistant bacteria in biofilms. The peptide-based treatment shows promise in treating MRSA and Acinetobacter baumannii infections, with plans for a clinical trial in 2018.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a novel method called SLAY to screen hundreds of thousands of potential antibiotics. The method involves genetically engineering bacteria to produce and test molecules that are potentially toxic to themselves, allowing for rapid screening and efficient testing.