Research on disease-causing bacteria and how they spread. Covers waterborne bacteria, Lyme disease ecology, pathogenic genetics, and biofilm treatments.
A UTSA researcher has been awarded a grant to study microbial contaminants in southeast and south central Texas waterways following Hurricane Harvey. The research aims to provide critical information on microbiological water quality, human health risk, and remediation strategies.
A new study suggests that high-fat diets can change gut fungi and potentially contribute to the development of obesity. The research shows significant differences in fungal and bacterial communities between mice fed standard and high-fat diets.
Researchers have developed a new influenza vaccine that uses a nanoscale, controlled-release capsule to provide quick and long-lasting protection against pandemic A strains. The vaccine is based on the M2 protein, which remains constant across different flu viruses.
Scientists have developed a method to detect antibiotic susceptibility for urinary tract infections in under 30 minutes. This breakthrough could enable patients to receive effective treatments during a single clinical visit.
Researchers discovered a simple chemical mimic of host defense peptides can cure bacterial infections, either alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics. The study suggests new alternatives for treating life-threatening bacterial threats.
In a new study, researchers led by Igor E. Brodsky identified a mechanism that allows host cells to overcome the strategies used by pathogens like Yersinia bacteria to evade the immune system. By understanding this 'back-up alarm' system, scientists may be able to develop new therapies to target tumor cells and promote their demise.
A new study reveals how tuberculosis bacteria evade the immune system by hiding in macrophages. Researchers have found that only well-adapted mycobacteria avoid detection, suggesting a potential target for future treatments.
The Bacterial Energetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Group, led by Professor Greg Cook, has been recognized for its outstanding research on fighting TB infections. The team's work on developing a revolutionary class of antibiotics and innovative approaches to agricultural applications has shown great promise.
Researchers at the University of Maryland discovered two group A Streptococcus genes, scfA and scfB, involved in invasive skin infections. These genes may serve as promising clinical targets for therapeutics.
A new study by Cedars-Sinai investigators reveals how staph bacteria trick the body's immune system, allowing repeated infections throughout life. The study sheds light on how to develop an effective vaccine harnessing T cells to combat the superbug MRSA.
A study by Oregon State University and the Oregon Health Authority identified 21 cases of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, a rare gene responsible for antibiotic resistance. Effective communication between facilities can prevent transmission and ensure appropriate contact precautions are taken.
Researchers have developed a new test that can provide results in just hours for diagnosing bacterial infections like Strep throat. The test uses lipid vesicles to detect beta-hemolytic bacteria with 100% accuracy on plates and 99% accuracy in liquid broth.
Researchers at Oregon State University have identified two proteins, NGO1985 and NGO2121, as promising gonorrhea vaccine candidates. These proteins show extensive sensitivity to antimicrobial compounds, making them attractive targets for developing a vaccine.
A University of British Columbia researcher has developed a method to prevent blue mold from growing on apples using a specific bacterium, reducing the need for chemical fungicides. This approach could help reduce post-harvest losses and yield up to 50% in developing countries.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified amino acids that activate sweet taste receptors, which can block the release of antimicrobial peptides and kill bacteria. This new understanding could lead to new treatments for chronic sinus infections, affecting nearly 35 million Americans annually.
Scientists will investigate the variation in benefits of plant-bacteria symbioses in California, focusing on evolution, ecology, and genetics. The five-year Dimensions of Biodiversity award aims to develop a predictive framework for understanding these interactions.
Researchers at Duke University mapped out the complex molecular circuitry of Francisella tularensis, a bacterium that causes tularemia and is considered one of the world's most infectious pathogens. By understanding how the bacteria becomes virulent, scientists can design new drugs to shut down its virulence.
Researchers discovered that Legionella pneumophila targets mitochondria to alter cellular metabolism, favouring bacterial replication. This strategy is crucial for the bacterium's survival and causes disease.
Researchers found that bacterial exposure during larval development affects adult mosquito traits, including speed of development, size, immune activity, and susceptibility to dengue virus. This discovery highlights the importance of larval ecology in transmitting mosquito-borne pathogens.
A study led by researchers at Linköping University found that patients with IBS have a more sensitive intestinal mucosa to bacteria, allowing for faster passage of pathogens like Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli HS. Mast cells appear to play a significant role in regulating this process.
The University of Missouri is developing immunizations against bovine anaplasmosis using extracts from tick tissues. The goal is to create sustainable methods to prevent the spread of tick-transmitted diseases.
Researchers at Oregon State University discovered that Mycobacterium avium uses voltage-dependent anion channels to export effector proteins, which are essential for its survival. By disrupting this process, the distribution channels of the organism could be targeted to halt its progression.
Researchers identified a specific genome type, ST121, that contains the SSI-2 sequence, a stress survival island that helps Listeria monocytogenes strains cope with alkaline and oxidative stress. The discovery provides new insights into food safety strategies.
A study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that antimicrobial fabrics on nurses' scrubs do not prevent bacterial contamination. The researchers identified Staphylococcus aureus as the most commonly transmitted pathogen, emphasizing the need for improved cleaning protocols and hand hygiene practices.
Researchers found a difference in gut bacteria between Parkinson's patients and healthy individuals even at an early stage of the disease. Certain microbes are associated with non-motor symptoms like depression. The study aims to better understand the microbiome's role in the disease.
Researchers discovered that ciliated tissues in mammals selectively recruit beneficial microbes called symbionts and clear out toxic molecules. This mechanism provides insight into the basic function of cilia surfaces and may aid development of ways to foster beneficial bacterial partners.
New research at Los Alamos National Laboratory develops a DNA detection method that can accurately distinguish virulent bacteria from harmless look-alikes. The study identifies specific plasmid features in environmental species that differentiate pathogenic Francisella tularensis strains from non-threat agents.
A team of researchers found a new quorum-sensing molecule that increases the virulence of P. aeruginosa by activating RhlR independently of C4-HSL. This discovery offers potential for developing novel antimicrobial drugs to treat serious infections caused by this bacterium.
Researchers have identified a rare genetic mutation in Ureaplasma parvum that renders it resistant to levofloxacin, a commonly used antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections. This mutation limits treatment options for women with UTIs caused by this pathogen.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a novel combination of aztreonam, amikacin, and polymyxin B that is capable of eradicating the deadly E. coli bacterium carrying mcr-1 and ndm-5 genes. The triple combination was found to eliminate the bacteria within 24 hours and prevent regrowth.
A study identified a genetic risk factor for typhoid fever that targets bacterial virulence and cholesterol metabolism. The VAC14 gene variant reduces the ability of Salmonella Typhi to invade human cells, suggesting a potential preventive approach with cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that sugars in human milk possess antibacterial properties and can enhance the effectiveness of proteins, making them a potential new source of antimicrobial agents. The study found that these compounds can kill bacteria directly or break down biofilms to protect themselves.
Researchers have discovered that certain sugars in breast milk can act as anti-biofilm agents, helping prevent GBS infection in infants. The study suggests these sugars could potentially become part of an antibacterial treatment for infants or adults.
Researchers found that peroxisomes are essential for cells to detect and destroy bacterial infections, releasing signals to other organs. This discovery highlights the organelle's role in innate immunity and could inform strategies to combat bacterial infections.
A discovery by a UQ-Columbia University-University of Washington research group has explained the regulation of pyruvate carboxylase enzyme in Lactococcus bacterium, crucial for efficient milk acidification and cheese production. The findings have significant implications for Australia's billion-dollar cheese industry.
The study reveals that bacterial defense mechanisms are highly organized in response to nutrient stress, but become disorganized when faced with antibiotics. The researchers used experimental and computational methods to understand the workings of the bacterial defense system.
The study found that specially designed plastic films with N-halamines can prevent bacterial contamination by killing bacteria on contact. The plastic films work by releasing chlorine to sanitize surfaces, making them ideal for use in food processing operations and hospital environments.
Researchers have found a way to make plants resistant to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae oryzae that causes rice blight. The team discovered that blocking the pathogen's access to sugar stores in plants can starve them out, preventing multiplication.
Researchers created a small molecule that inhibits the formation of biofilms on tooth surfaces, reducing dental caries in rats fed a caries-promoting diet. The inhibitor blocks a key virulence enzyme, making it unable to stick to tooth surfaces and produce lactic acid.
Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and Queen's University have detailed the structure of a 600-nanometer protein in an Antarctic bacterium, revealing its role in gripping onto ice surfaces. The discovery has potential applications in preventing pathogenic bacteria from attaching to human cells.
Researchers at Kansas State University are developing new treatments for E. coli by inhibiting the activity of NleB, a protein that contributes to bacterial virulence. The study resolves an ongoing debate about the protein's function in different strains of E. coli.
A study found that bacteria's past adaptation to antibiotics influences their evolutionary dynamics of multi-drug resistance. The researchers used Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sequenced the bacteria's genomes to understand the genetic basis for resistance.
Researchers used DNA sequencing to identify patients at risk of death from MRSA infections, predicting survival chances with high accuracy. The study found that different strains of MRSA kill patients in distinct ways, shedding light on the pathogen's deadly mechanisms.
A study published in mSphere reveals that three Klebsiella species can cause severe infections in hospital patients, with all three sharing genes that confer resistance to commonly used antibiotics. This finding expands the understanding of Klebsiella infections and highlights the need for new treatments.
Researchers discovered anthrax prevalent among Taï National Park's mammal carcasses, killing 31 of 55 chimps. The disease poses a significant threat to endangered species and emphasizes the need for long-term infectious disease studies.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have developed a new light-based therapy to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA. The therapy uses a small molecule to activate an enzyme that produces reactive oxygen species, killing the bacteria when exposed to specific wavelengths of light.
Researchers found that Fusobacterium nucleatum in the gut can stop chemotherapy from causing apoptosis, a type of cancer cell death. The bacterium activates autophagy, a cell-survival mechanism that protects cancer cells from destroying themselves.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a link between the backup immune defense system and mutation seen in Crohn's disease. The study found that a backup pathway uses autophagy's cellular machinery to deliver protein weapons to the cell surface, making it more effective against bacterial attacks.
E. coli bacteria hijack trace amounts of copper in the body to fuel growth and reproduce, a finding that could lead to new treatments for hard-to-treat UTIs. The 'nutritional passivation' strategy involves binding to metals like nickel, cobalt, and chromium to bring in controlled amounts of essential nutrients.
A Wayne State University researcher has received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role of AMP-activated protein kinase in regulating innate responses to bacterial endophthalmitis. The study aims to identify novel pathways and new means to treat blinding ocular infections.
Researchers developed a human lung tissue model to study pneumonia and found that viral pathogens inhibit the immune system's ability to fight bacterial infections. A new drug-based treatment was tested, which inhibits tyrosine kinase-2, restoring the immune system's ability to combat bacterial pathogens.
A recent study by Nationwide Children's Hospital scientists has identified a new method by which nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae builds its biofilms, resulting in improved therapeutic options for respiratory diseases such as sinusitis and pneumonia.
A subspecies of the bacterium Streptococcus gallolyticus actively promotes the development of colorectal cancer by driving CRC cell proliferation through β-catenin cell signaling. The study found that infected mice developed more tumors and greater β-catenin production than control mice.
A resident ocular microbiome, including bacteria like Staphylococci and Corynebacterium mastitidis, trains the developing immune system to fend off pathogens. This microbe induces the production of interleukin-17, a signaling protein critical for host defense.
The study used a specialized surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions to measure the adhesive force of bacterial cells. The researchers found that the diameter of the contact area was typically tens to hundreds of nanometers, but had no effect on adhesion strength.
Researchers found that Corynebacterium mastitidis lives on the eyes of laboratory mice and helps them fend off pathogenic microbes. The bacteria stimulates a local immune response, keeping it under control while preventing harmful infection.
Currently available drugs may be used alone or in combination to treat infectious diseases, addressing a pressing need due to slow development of new therapies. Non-profit entities and private industry collaboration is crucial for discovering novel interventions to combat drug-resistant pathogens.
Researchers developed silver-silica nanoparticles with an ampicillin coating that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria while being inert to human cells. The nanoantibiotic showed efficacy against both resistant and non-resistant strains of E. coli, offering a promising strategy for combating drug-resistant infections.
Researchers found genetically diverse strains of C. difficile in soil samples from children's and dogs' sandboxes in Madrid. The presence of certain strains with increased toxin production poses a significant threat to human and animal health.
New research reveals that bacteria in fruit flies use a arsenal of toxins to defend against parasitic wasps, specifically targeting their ribosomes. The study found that the bacteria produce ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) that attack and disable the parasite's ribosomes.