Articles tagged with Bacterial Pathogens
A new pathogen, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, has been identified as causing anthrax-like disease in chimps, gorillas, elephants, and goats across four African countries. The bacteria share distinct genetic and biological characteristics with Bacillus anthracis.
Researchers found that mixed bacterial-fungal biofilms in chronic wounds are associated with poor outcomes and longer healing times. The study identifies the most abundant fungi species, including Cladosporium herbarum and Candida albicans, which can hinder healing.
Researchers at Lund University have discovered the binding mechanism of DNA building blocks to an enzyme, a key step in controlling its function. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new antibacterial drugs targeting nosocomial infections, with potential applications for treating chlamydia.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute have discovered a new receptor in tomato plants called FLAGELLIN-SENSING 3 (FLS3) that triggers defenses against bacterial attacks. FLS3 detects a part of the flagellum protein and helps tomatoes defend against bacteria with altered flagellin shapes.
Research reveals GBS produces membrane-bound vesicles containing toxins and immune-modulators that can attack the host, leading to inflammation of membranes surrounding the fetus. The study shows that these vesicles can induce preterm birth and fetal injury in mice, with approximately 60% of fetuses born prematurely.
A Rochester Institute of Technology professor has received a $436,989 grant to study the efficacy of using the DapL enzyme in creating narrow-spectrum antibiotics. The research could lead to breakthroughs in targeting pathogenic bacteria and help combat the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Scientists have made detailed atomic-level images of a peroxiredoxin protein and found its peculiar characteristic may form the foundation for a new class of antibiotics. The research reveals that selectively blocking peroxiredoxin function in bacterial cells could kill them without harming normal cells.
A new study found that ICU patients experience a rapid depletion of health-promoting microbes and an increase in pathogenic strains, leading to worsening dysbiosis. Researchers tracked changes in bacterial makeup over time and compared data to healthy individuals, revealing the critical impact of ICU stays on gut microbiomes.
Professor Nagendra Shah received the prestigious International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing for his groundbreaking work on GABA-producing lactic acid bacteria. His team's discovery has great commercial significance in developing dairy foods with anti-hypertensive activity.
Researchers found that a dramatic shift in the microbial community of planaria robs it of regenerative abilities, similar to observed shifts in human inflammatory disorders. The study provides a valuable model for understanding the interplay between immunity and regeneration.
Researchers have developed a live-cell-imaging-based system that reveals the molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of Lyme disease bacteria's ability to spread through blood vessels. The study found that BBK32 plays a crucial role in stabilizing bacterial-vascular interactions, and bacteria use bungee-cord-like tethers to move along e...
Researchers found that mycobacteria use a 'volume control' mechanism to switch between two types of metabolism, adapting to survive in different environments. This discovery provides potential new treatments for diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Two novel African types of Salmonella Enteritidis, genetically distinct from the Western type, have been identified through a global-scale genetic study. These bacteria have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics and are a major cause of blood poisoning and death in Africa.
Marcos Pires, a Lehigh University assistant professor of chemistry, has pioneered an immunotherapy approach to combat bacterial infections. His method involves molecularly tagging pathogenic bacteria to attract antibodies, offering a novel strategy to defeat Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Dr. Makrina Totsika is developing a new class of drugs to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, a major threat to public health worldwide. Her research focuses on disarming superbugs rather than killing them, with promising results in preclinical animal models.
Researchers discovered that rheumatoid arthritis patients taking IL-1beta inhibitors are 300 times more likely to experience invasive Group A Streptococcal infections, highlighting the molecule's critical role in sensing bacterial infections. The study also suggests that inhibiting this immune response can put patients at risk for infe...
According to a German study, nearly 10% of hospital patients carry multidrug-resistant bacteria from home, increasing the risk of transmission. The study highlights the importance of improving hygiene measures, reducing antibiotic use, and increasing training for doctors to prevent the spread of these deadly pathogens.
Researchers at Imperial College London have found a way to kill MRSA bacteria by disrupting its salt regulation mechanism. By understanding how the bacteria cope with salt stress, scientists hope to develop a treatment that prevents food poisoning and works alongside conventional antibiotics.
Researchers found that crown gall tumors host a unique bacterial community with varying compositions compared to healthy vines. Some bacteria inhibit tumor growth while others provide protection and nutrients, helping control the disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health won Zika challenge grants for groundbreaking ideas on mosquito control and behavior change strategies. The grants aim to develop custom fragrances to bait mosquito traps and improve disease prevention.
Researchers have developed a new model to study the phenomenon of secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by S. aureus and influenza A virus. The model, which simulates the natural pathogenesis of infection, reveals that viral infection induces bacteria to disseminate to the lungs.
Scientists at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that glucose transporters are inhibited by E. coli K1 during meningitis, leaving insufficient fuel for immune cells to fight off infection. The study suggests modulation of PPAR-γ and GLUT-1 levels may boost the immune system to fight infection.
Scientists have revealed the molecular steps that turn on bacteria's pathogenic genes by visualizing DNA supercoiling and HU protein interactions. The study found that supercoiling can trigger gene expression in single-celled prokaryotes, opening up new avenues for developing drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infections.
Researchers at Kiel University have identified natural proteins that can disrupt bacterial communication and prevent biofilm formation. These 'molecular troublemakers' have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology, particularly against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
A new study by the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection and Global Health found that exposure to airborne dust and high temperatures significantly increase the risk of bacterial meningitis. Climate surveillance alongside simple control measures could predict and minimize future outbreaks in Africa's meningitis belt.
Researchers found evidence of Vibrio species thriving on microplastic particles, posing a potential risk to human health. The study suggests that climate change could contribute to the proliferation of these bacteria.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a new route of entry for the tuberculosis bacteria, suggesting an alternative to traditional inhalation-based transmission. This finding opens up potential avenues for developing new therapies to prevent or treat tuberculosis infection.
A new study reveals that certain bacteria in the human gut have been passed down over millions of years, guiding early intestine development and influencing immune systems. The researchers found genetic evidence that these bacteria split into distinct strains at around the same time as their hosts diverged from a common ancestor.
A new study has developed a methodology to analyze bacterial virulence factors and identify therapeutic targets for developing effective antimicrobial agents. The TREP approach was applied to Haemophilus influenzae, a respiratory pathogen that causes COPD symptoms, revealing potential blocking elements for invasion.
A rapid heating and cooling process significantly reduces harmful bacteria in milk, extending its shelf life to up to 63 days. The low-temperature treatment uses heat already necessary for pasteurization to rapidly heat milk droplets, eliminating over 99% of bacteria.
Researchers have discovered a rare fungus that produces compounds effective against both normal and resistant Staphylococcus aureus pathogens. The six most active compounds, including the previously unknown cyclo-(L-proline-L-methionine), boost the activity of other antimicrobial compounds.
Researchers are using bioreactors to intercept nitrogen-rich drainage water from tile-drained fields, neutralizing the nutrient that causes problems for aquatic ecosystems. The trenches enhance a natural process, converting nitrogen into benign gas, and have shown promise in improving water quality.
A new variant of the emerging antibiotic resistance mechanism mcr-1 has been discovered on a multidrug-resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which was isolated from a child hospitalized with leukemia. The newly identified gene, mcr-1.2, confers resistance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic.
A new study led by researchers at Duke University found that breeding plants with beneficial bacteria to feed the world won't be simple. The study analyzed the microbial diversity of a wildflower and found that environmental differences had the biggest influence on the plant's bacterial makeup.
The new platform uses genomic technologies and bioinformatics tools to identify bacteria that produce effective antibiotics. The researchers aim to improve the efficiency of natural product discovery, which has been hindered by bottlenecks in the past.
Researchers from Institut Pasteur and Université catholique de Louvain identify genetic and metabolic mechanisms underlying the therapeutic action of a bacteriophage. The study reveals that RNA metabolism plays a crucial role in the infection strategy of the bacteriophage, with control mechanisms involving small RNA and antisense RNA.
A deadly bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, can travel to the brain and spinal cord within 24 hours, according to a new Griffith University study. The findings could lead to discoveries on how other common bacteria enter the spinal cord.
Bacteria have adapted their cell walls to create better-fitted structures for survival in challenging environments. The study reveals unprecedented chemical modifications that enable bacteria to resist lytic enzymes and elicit an innate immune system response in certain hosts.
Researchers have discovered that a variety of normally harmless bacteria can cause bleaching disease in seaweeds when stressed. Three new pathogens from the Alteromonas, Aquimarina and Agarivorans genera were identified as the culprits.
Researchers discovered that bacteria can amplify disease-inducing genes to quickly cause infection. The study found that the essential proteins needed to form the poisonous syringe are produced through a 'copying machine' when the bacteria come into contact with host cells, enabling rapid infection.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to disrupting bacterial biofilms, which are nearly impossible to eradicate when pathogenic. The technique targets extracellular DNA and DNABII proteins in biofilms, resulting in the collapse of bacterial communities and bacterial clearance.
Researchers developed a fast and non-destructive method to detect Wolbachia bacteria in Aedes mosquitoes using near-infrared spectroscopy. The technique shows high accuracy in detecting the presence of Wolbachia strains, including benign and aggressive forms, with an average accuracy of 96-92%.
Research reveals bacteria adaptation influences antibiotic spectrum, leading to increased sensitivity to some antibiotics while resisting others. This study paves the way for targeted treatments.
Researchers at UVA Health System identified a link between C. difficile infection and allergy-causing immune cells, offering potential solutions for prevention through targeted probiotics. The discovery has immediate implications for therapy, as maintaining the natural gut microbiome may prevent life-threatening infections.
Researchers found that oral bacteria cooperate to make a pathogenic bacterium more infectious by providing an oxygen-rich environment. This cross-respiration allows the pathogen to grow and thrive, leading to worse infections.
Scientists at CNIC discover how immune cells adapt to live bacteria through mitochondrial metabolism changes. The study found that detection of live bacteria triggers a change in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, enabling macrophages to redirect metabolic routes for efficient energy production.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect mycobacterial pathogens directly from patient samples using genetic analysis, reducing detection time to 1-2 days. The new method was found to be equally accurate as traditional culture-based techniques and can also detect resistance to standard medicines.
Researchers found MAIT cells can bypass specific receptors to react to cytokine combinations, previously only known for fighting bacteria. The discovery suggests MAIT cells could be involved in defending against or reducing the effects of viruses.
Plant pathogens use DNA-degrading enzymes to escape extracellular DNA traps generated by host root border cells. The researchers found that a soil-borne bacterium causes destructive wilt disease in plants and uses endonucleases to destroy the traps, compromising its ability to invade roots.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine successfully diagnosed or ruled out suspected brain infections using next-generation genetic sequencing. The technique has the potential to bring diagnosis rates for inflammatory brain disorders and infections closer to 100 percent, enabling more effective treatment.
Researchers found that contaminated gloves can spread healthcare-associated pathogens to hospital surfaces, with types of bacteria affecting transmission rates. Proper glove use is crucial to reduce HCAI risk.
A male-killing bacterium has been identified as the cause of female-biased sex ratios in green lacewings. The bacterium is closely related to plant pathogens and may have jumped hosts to infect lacewings. Further research is needed to investigate possible host suppressors against male-killing.
Scientists mapped all RNA structures of a diarrheal pathogen at once, identifying temperature-responsive structures that sense temperature changes. These 'RNA thermometers' can reveal gene sequences and proteins controlling disease progression.
Research at UC Davis Health System identified a mechanism by which antibiotics alter gut microbiota, increasing nutrients that benefit pathogen growth. The study found that oral antibiotic treatment increases the synthesis of an enzyme generating nitric oxide radicals, which oxidize sugars and promote Salmonella growth.
A rapid and specific diagnostic assay can detect pathogens in blood within an hour, distinguishing between infectious and non-infectious causes of inflammation. The assay uses FcMBL, a genetically engineered pathogen-binding protein, to identify infection-causing pathogens with high sensitivity and broad specificity.
Washington State University researchers created a simple sensor that can detect and amplify the signal of E. coli 0157:H7, a harmful pathogen causing severe diarrhea and kidney damage. The biosensor uses a nanoflower particle with organic and inorganic components to recognize and amplify the bacteria's signal.
A new method enables rapid isolation and concentration of infectious bacteria from complex clinical samples, accelerating bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. This breakthrough uses an engineered pathogen-binding protein to capture live pathogens from joint fluids, allowing for faster and more accurate diagno...
A single strain of plague bacteria caused the Black Death in Europe and later led to multiple outbreaks on the continent before spreading to China, triggering a global pandemic. The researchers sequenced ancient DNA from mass graves and compared them to modern strains to reveal a link between the Black Death and modern-day epidemics.
Researchers found that fluid shear forces regulate disease progression in multidrug-resistant Salmonella ST313 strains, accelerating disease onset and enhancing survival. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of therapeutics against these deadly bacteria.
Recent research reveals that antibiotic-resistant strains may be fitter and more virulent, complicating the fight against bacterial infections. The discovery challenges the long-held paradigm of a fitness cost associated with antibiotic resistance.