Articles tagged with Bacterial Pathogens
Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have visualized the structural changes Clostridium spores undergo during germination, which could help control pathogenic bacteria. The study provides new insights into the genetic controls of spore germination and reveals that spores have polarity that aligns structures correctly.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria can block their own growth and that of resistant mutants, providing a potential new strategy to combat antibiotic resistance. This finding could lead to improved treatments for infections caused by resistant bacteria.
A landmark genomic study reveals a single clade of typhoid bacteria, H58, is driving global spread, displacing other strains and creating a previously underappreciated epidemic. The study highlights the urgent need for global surveillance and coordinated efforts to prevent and control antimicrobial-resistant typhoid.
The EU-funded MycoSynVac project combines gene engineering and biotechnology to design a novel veterinary vaccine chassis based on Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This chassis will be used to create specific vaccines against two highly detrimental pathogens, as well as for cell therapy and infectious lung disease treatment.
Researchers developed a novel approach using a molecular homing beacon that attracts pre-existing antibodies to attack pathogenic bacteria. The technology shows promise in targeting multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, and could potentially be applied to other infections, viruses, or cancer cells.
University of Adelaide researchers identified a common building block called PATR in virulence factors of many major harmful bacteria. The discovery could lead to the development of broad-spectrum bacterial virulence inhibitors, revolutionizing antibiotic treatments.
A new experimental drug increases HIF-1α levels in human bladder cells, making them resistant to UTI-causing bacteria. The treatment also protects mice against UPEC infection and reduces colonization rates.
Researchers have discovered an experimental drug that stabilizes the immune defense protein HIF-1alpha, increasing its levels in human bladder cells and mice. This leads to improved resistance against major UTI pathogen E. coli, highlighting a new approach to combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
Researchers developed biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles with effective antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. The NPs disrupt bacterial walls, induce reactive oxygen species, and cause cell invagination, making them a promising antimicrobial agent.
Researchers identify a time window when moderately resistant bacteria are sensitive to antibiotics, allowing for optimal treatment design. A new approach may help reintroduce antibiotics that were previously disregarded due to treatment failure concerns.
Researchers have identified a single, simple metric to guide antibiotic dosing that could bring first-line antibiotics back into the fight against drug-resistant pathogens. A computer simulation revealed that a regimen based on a pathogen's recovery time could eliminate an otherwise resistant strain of bacteria.
A study by University of Chicago scientists reveals how immune cells shape the gut microbiota to naturally limit infections. Intestinal immune cells, called type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), play a crucial role in detecting harmful bacteria.
Researchers found that a concentrated maple syrup extract makes disease-causing bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics, leading to lower antibiotic usage. The extract also reduces biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria, making it a potentially simple and effective approach for reducing antibiotic resistance.
Researchers analyzed data on 325 cancer patients hospitalized with pneumonia and found that severe illness and organ dysfunction are better predictors of outcome than multiresistant bacteria. The study suggests personalized treatment protocols can reduce mortality in these patients.
The NIH has awarded $11 million to develop diagnostic tools for hospital-associated pathogens, including those resistant to most antimicrobials. The goal is to provide rapid and efficient tests that can detect the presence of these bacteria in three hours or less.
Researchers have identified a new compound produced by freshwater bacteria that is effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis and other infections. The discovery provides a promising alternative to current treatments and could help combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
Scientists deciphered bacterial communication mechanisms, revealing new ways bacteria regulate gene expression. Quorum sensing controls a variety of biologically relevant processes, and the study expands our understanding of regulation in Bacillus subtilis.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the complex relationship between bacteria and the deadly frog disease chytrid fungus. The study found that only a small proportion of bacteria inhibited all forms of the disease, highlighting the need for diverse probiotic treatments to combat its shifting targets.
Researchers are testing Zinkicide, a nanoparticle bactericide, to combat citrus greening in Florida. The treatment aims to target the bacteria that causes Huanglongbing, a disease that has devastated the state's $10.7 billion citrus industry.
Researchers found that cigarette smoke made MRSA bacteria more resistant to killing by the immune system, increasing their ability to invade human cells. In mouse experiments, smoke-exposed MRSA caused pneumonia with a higher mortality rate.
Researchers have developed a mass spectrometry-based process to detect the toxic bacteria's emetic toxin, cereulide. The new method identified 18 variants of cereulide and is being evaluated for its reliability in detecting contaminated products.
Low doses of Imatinib can stimulate the bone marrow to produce more innate immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, to combat bacterial infections. This finding suggests that Imatinib or related drugs may be useful in treating a variety of infections in patients with weakened immune systems.
Researchers found that nasal drops of harmless bacteria can inhibit the spread of meningococcal disease-causing bacteria. The study suggests a possible new approach for preventing outbreaks using a related but harmless type of bacteria, which appeared to prevent the disease-causing pathogen from colonizing the upper airway.
Researchers have developed a new technology to preserve milk without refrigeration or chemicals, reducing waste and increasing income for small farmers. Pulsed electric fields can kill bacteria and extend shelf life without constant electricity supply.
A recent study found that sudden growth of Burkholderia multivorans preceded periods of acute illness in a CF patient. The team used an extensive collection of lung sputum samples to analyze the bacterial community, providing critical context for their research.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals a potential strategy for promoting the right balance of gut microbes in antibiotic-treated mice by manipulating the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) chemical signal. The researchers found that high levels of AI-2 increased the expansion of Firmicutes phylum, leading to a healthy state of the gut microbiota.
Researchers have found that clindamycin and TMP-SMX are equally effective in treating uncomplicated skin infections caused by community-associated MRSA. The study's findings suggest that these off-patent antibiotics can be used successfully to combat MRSA skin infections acquired outside of hospitals.
A large multicenter study validates MeMed's ImmunoXpert test, which accurately characterizes the cause of acute infections by decoding the body's immune response. The test outperforms routine biomarker and laboratory tests, enabling physicians to make better informed treatment decisions.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new method to test the most common cause of life-threatening infection in people with cystic fibrosis. The approach allows scientists to identify several genes necessary for Pseudomonas aeruginosa survival, improving efforts to study and combat the illness.
Researchers at University of Utah discovered a disposable molecular ruler that determines bacterial needle length, enabling efficient infection and potential applications in developing new antibiotics and nanotechnology.
A team of researchers is working on a five-year program to create a bioreactor that more closely simulates the complex tissues and dynamic movements of the intestinal track. This project aims to deliver a simple, easy-to-use and relatively inexpensive system for infectious disease labs.
Researchers develop novel approach to target bacterial lipids, labeling and sparing healthy cells. The new strategy exploits covalent chemistry of lipids, enabling selective recognition and labeling of bacterial cells.
Researchers discovered that graphene oxide effectively eliminates bacteria linked to tooth decay and gum disease, potentially providing a new tool for fighting these common health problems. The material destroys bacterial cell walls and membranes, slowing the growth of pathogens.
A new method called TFUMseq enables researchers to study the functions of hard-to-grow bacteria that contribute to the gut microbiome. The tool allows for the identification of genes that enhance microbial fitness and provides insights into how bacteria colonize living organisms.
A University of Missouri research team has uncovered new regulations of defense pathways for plants, enabling them to fight off certain bacteria more effectively. The discovery has implications for various crops, including tomatoes, soybeans, rice, and ornamental plants like roses.
A team of scientists successfully transferred a receptor gene from Arabidopsis to wheat, demonstrating that the signalling pathways are conserved between monocots and dicots. The resulting gene confers durable resistance to bacterial diseases, with potential applications in breeding wheat for improved disease resistance.
A study by the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna found Listeria monocytogenes in 2% of lavatory samples, highest at park facilities and mobile container lavatories. Shoes with deeper treads show higher prevalence rates.
Researchers discovered a plant immunosensor that detects lipopolysaccharide, a substance occurring in pathogenic bacteria. The LipoOligosaccharide-specific Reduced Elicitation (LORE) protein initiates an immune response in plants, similar to the toll-like receptor 4 in mammals.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed chemical compounds that enhance conventional antibiotics' effectiveness and inhibit bacterial biofilms. The compounds block quorum sensing signals, preventing biofilm formation and alerting the immune system to their presence.
A large study found that viral infections are more common than bacterial infections in children with pneumonia, with respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus being major culprits. The results suggest a need for improved prevention and treatment strategies to address the growing burden of childhood pneumonia.
Scientists have found a tool that could help fight bacterial infections, including strep throat and flesh-eating disease. A drug approved to treat HIV has been shown to inhibit the production of a deadly toxin in lab tests, offering new hope for developing therapies against these deadly pathogens.
Researchers found that garlic extract's allicin component inhibits bacterial growth and kills certain plant pathogens, potentially offering a new treatment option for people with cystic fibrosis. The study suggests using allicin-containing remedies in combination with existing antibiotics to treat life-threatening lung infections.
Researchers identify thiocillin as an antibiotic that activates biofilm formation in a way unrelated to its killing ability, suggesting that antibiotics may evolve to produce biofilms rather than kill other bacteria.
The study found that Listeria monocytogenes adapts its metabolism specifically to the host genotype, correlating with the severity of symptoms in infected mice. Bacteria retain a 'memory effect' that reverts to a common metabolic fingerprint after laboratory cultivation.
Scientists at Washington State University have discovered a probiotic toxin that can combat Coldwater Disease in rainbow trout, killing the bacteria with a toxic protein. The probiotics could be a game-changer for the global salmonid aquaculture industry, reducing disease losses and improving animal welfare.
Researchers at Concordia University have grown mutant E. coli bacteria up to 3/4 millimeter long, 750 times their normal length, by blocking cell division. This breakthrough has potential applications in the nanoscale industry and may lead to a better understanding of pathogens.
Ticks that spread disease are emerging earlier and expanding their geographic range due to warmer spring temperatures. This shift may lead to increased risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, with the potential for an earlier start date for Awareness Month.
Researchers identified a bacteriophage from Jerusalem sewage that can infect and eliminate Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, a common cause of persistent root canal infections. This phage therapy approach may offer a new solution for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers are excavating an ancient graveyard in Italy to uncover the history of cholera, hoping to find DNA clues about its evolution. The site contains victims from the 1850s epidemic and provides a thousand-year window into the health of a village.
A study on the Thames river found that greater numbers of resistant bacteria exist close to waste water treatment works, which are likely responsible for increasing antibiotic resistance. The researchers suggest that improvements in treatment processes could hold the key to reducing the prevalence of resistant bacteria in the environment.
Researchers discovered that Yersinia pestis bacteria traffic to lymph nodes on their own, not relying on human phagocytic cells. Most microbes get trapped in a bottleneck in the skin or node, and only a few break free to cause disease.
Researchers found that a common oral pathogen can grant tumors an anti-immune defense mechanism, protecting them from destruction by natural killer cells. Blocking this interaction might improve anti-tumor immunity in human patients.
A study by Purdue University researchers found that Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are widespread in retail delis, with 6.8% of samples tested positive before operation and 9.5% during operation over six months. The bacteria can persist in growth niches, posing a risk to vulnerable immune systems. To mitigate this risk, experts recomm...
A study found that a single genomic change can turn beneficial bacteria into pathogenic bacteria by boosting bacterial density inside the host. The research team identified a region of the Wolbachia genome responsible for regulating bacterial densities in flies.
A team of Indiana University researchers has been awarded a major grant to develop and use chemical tagging methods to understand how bacterial cells build their cell walls, a key target for new antibiotics. The team plans to create new probes to track peptidoglycan synthesis in bacteria such as E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. pneumoniae.
TLR9 binds to pathogen DNA, activating the innate immune system. Researchers elucidated its structure, revealing two rings bound together when recognizing CpG motifs.
A new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that mosquitoes increase production of immune system proteins called leucine-rich repeat immune proteins (LRIMs) after feeding on blood, which helps fight off parasites that may be present in the blood.
Researchers create first comprehensive map of NYC subway system microbes, finding mostly harmless bacteria, but also detecting disease-causing and treatment-resistant strains. The study provides baseline data for city-wide disease surveillance and bioterrorism threat mitigation.
Scientists at the University of Utah and Georgia have discovered a pharmacological target that could enable development of novel drugs against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including MRSA. The target is based on a unique pathway for making heme, an essential iron-carrying molecule specific to Gram-positive bacteria.
A SLU scientist has discovered an evolutionary mechanism used by bacteria to evade antibiotics like azithromycin. The discovery reveals a universal stalling mechanism, suggesting a way to improve existing drugs' effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant strains.