Articles tagged with Bacterial Pathogens
A new study from the University of Southampton shows that copper can prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes and kills bacteria on contact. The research highlights the importance of copper touch surfaces in reducing the risk of infection transmission, particularly in hospitals and public buildings.
Researchers found that different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi respond differently to the immune system of white-footed mice, leading to variations in bacterial growth and prevalence. This knowledge can help scientists develop a vaccine by targeting specific proteins common to all strains.
Researchers found that E. coli must acquire iron from the host to establish a foothold and colonize the gut, resolving a long-standing debate about the importance of iron in bacterial infection. By understanding how bacteria obtain iron, scientists can develop new strategies to block microbial diseases and create new antibiotics.
A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that a common diarrhea-causing bacterium triggers an overactive immune response, worsening illness in hospital-acquired infections. Researchers found that activating a protective mechanism involving the PPARgamma pathway can reduce disease severity and be activated by existing diabetes drugs.
Researchers found that hospital cleaning protocols are often inadequate to remove multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii from patient rooms, with over half of rooms still contaminated after terminal cleaning. Persistent room contamination poses a risk for future patients, highlighting the need for improved infection control measures.
USDA scientists identify urban runoff as a significant source of E. coli bacteria in California's middle Santa Ana River Watershed. The study found that pathogens are more often carried into waterways via urban runoff than animal production facilities, highlighting the need for improved water quality management.
Undergraduate researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute created engineered surfaces that kill 34% of E.coli bacteria when peptides are lying flat, but 82% when attached vertically. The team developed a technique to monitor AMP attachment and plans to test other materials for optimal antimicrobial activity
Scientists found bacteria that cause tick-borne disease create their own food supply by hijacking autophagy process in host cells. This allows them to grow and remain hidden from the immune system.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a method that drastically reduces E. coli numbers on spinach leaves by over 99.9%. The technique combines continuous ultrasound treatment with chlorine washing, achieving a four-log reduction in pathogenic bacteria.
Researchers discovered a new bacterium, human Sodalis, in the infected wound of a man who impaled his hand on a tree branch. The bacterium is related to Sodalis, a genus that lives symbiotically inside insects' guts, and may be used to block disease transmission by insects and prevent crop damage.
A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea treated with microscopic parasite worm eggs has shown that helminths can restore the balance of gut bacterial communities, which are often disrupted in inflammatory bowel diseases. The treatment improved symptoms and allowed four out of five monkeys to gain weight and reduce their diarrhea.
A team of immunologists found that the flu virus alters host immune systems, compromising its capacity to effectively fight off bacterial infections. The molecule TLR7 recognizes viral genomes and signals scavenger cells to ingest fewer bacteria, leading to increased risk of superinfections.
The University of Connecticut has received a Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to explore the potential of using natural protozoa in the rhizosphere to distribute beneficial bacteria among crops. This could lead to improved crop productivity for farmers in developing countries.
The Carnegie Institution has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to engineer broad-spectrum resistance against rice bacterial blight through genetic engineering. The project aims to create durable and environmentally friendly solutions to combat this disease in developing countries.
A WSU researcher is studying the ecological factors behind antibiotic resistance in 30 Tanzanian villages, looking at genes, landscapes, and pathways. The project aims to understand how ecological components contribute to the problem and inform policies in the US.
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a new tick-borne disease in Switzerland, neoehrlichiosis, which has infected eight patients with severe symptoms. A DNA test has been developed to detect the infection quickly, allowing for timely treatment.
Researchers found eight different tetracycline resistance genes among US honeybees, but only two or three in honeybees from countries with banned antibiotic use. This suggests that the use of antibiotics may have weakened honeybee wellbeing and reduced their ability to fight off other diseases.
Researchers at UTHealth have developed a new technique to test 15 times more bacterial genes than previous years, uncovering potential roles in infection. The study could lead to vaccine candidates, better diagnostic tools, and targeted drug intervention.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have developed a groundbreaking mouse model of typhoid fever, enabling the study and creation of more effective vaccines. The mouse model uses toll-like receptors to combat the infection, with promising results in immunizing mice against Salmonella typhi.
Researchers have developed a mouse model of typhoid fever, allowing for more effective vaccine development against the deadly pathogen. The model shows human-like symptoms and responds positively to immunization.
A combination of six naturally occurring bacteria eradicates a highly contagious form of Clostridium difficile, a cause of bloating, diarrhea, and over 2,000 UK deaths in 2011. Faecal transplantation resolves symptoms and contagiousness, but the new approach aims to reduce antibiotic use.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new approach to inhibit the transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae. By targeting a protein called CSP, they found that artificial versions of this protein can block gene transfer and reduce the infectious capacity of the bacteria.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have discovered a Trojan horse-like mechanism that enables antibiotics to deliver directly into a bacterial cell. The method uses pilus filaments to transport antibiotics into bacteria, offering a new approach to treat deadly bacterial infections like cholera and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Researchers have designed a complex logic circuit using bacterial genes, enabling synthetic bacteria to monitor and respond to their environments. The circuit consists of four sensors and three two-input AND gates, allowing the bacteria to perform tasks such as detecting cancer indicators and releasing tumor-killing factors.
Researchers at VCU School of Medicine have identified the key and door of a bacterium responsible for tick-transmitted diseases, which could lead to the development of a single vaccine protecting against multiple bacteria. The study focuses on the protein OmpA, which mediates infection in host cells.
Researchers at the University of Washington examined the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which colonizes in cystic fibrosis patients. They found that certain cells called cheater cells share public goods without releasing them, leading to destabilization of cooperation and potential new strategies for infection control.
A new diagnostic and antibiotic discovery tool has been developed using multicolored probes targeting cell wall synthesis in bacteria. This method enables fine spatiotemporal tracking of cell wall dynamics and will broadly impact basic and applied research on bacterial growth and control.
UCI researchers found that chronic kidney disease changes the composition of intestinal bacterial microbes, leading to uremic toxins and nutritional abnormalities. Study leader Dr. N.D. Vaziri suggests improving gut microbes through diet and dialysis may improve patient well-being.
Researchers have developed a new class of antibiotics that disarm pathogens instead of killing them, effectively treating antibiotic-resistant infections. By blocking the synthesis of endotoxin, a toxic product shed by bacteria, these antibiotics prevent inflammation and protect against potentially lethal infections.
Research identifies distinct microbial communities in healthy and cystic fibrosis patient lungs, suggesting beneficial microbes contribute to health. The findings suggest a potential new approach to treating cystic fibrosis, including probiotic therapies.
Researchers describe experiments exploring multi-drug tolerance, a phenomenon that allows bacteria to outwit antibiotics. By analyzing HipA protein's structure and biochemical components, they gained insight into how this mechanism enables bacterial dormancy.
A study published in Nature reveals that people with type 2 diabetes have a high level of pathogens in their intestines, which can increase resistance to certain medicines. The research also identifies biological indicators that could be used for faster and earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have identified a germ-killing power in the eyes' keratin protein, which can effectively combat bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The synthetic molecules derived from this protein show promise as low-cost therapeutics against various infections.
Researchers at MU developed a technique using bacteriophages to selectively kill harmful bacteria in water treatment facilities. This method could save taxpayers money by reducing cleaning costs and has potential applications against deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers reveal that beneficial root bacteria, like Bacillus subtilis, suppress plant immunity to control the relationship, boosting growth through nitrogen conversion. This complex interaction raises questions about the benefits and drawbacks of these symbiotic relationships.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that overgrown algae can bring unwanted pathogens, choke off oxygen, and disrupt helpful bacteria on coral reefs. The study reveals a 'slippery slope to slime' where increased algae growth leads to decreased coral growth rates and altered bacterial communities.
Researchers have developed a novel method to directly detect bacterial protein secretion, shedding light on the virulence mechanisms of pathogens like tuberculosis. The technique has significant implications for understanding disease progression and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
A study found that high antibody levels for Porphyromonas gingivalis were associated with a two-fold risk of pancreatic cancer, while high levels of antibodies for commensal oral bacteria were linked to a 45-percent lower risk. The study strengthens the suggestion that oral bacteria may be indicators of pancreatic cancer risk.
Researchers have found identical strains of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter coli in both antibiotic-free and conventionally raised pigs. The study suggests that the environment plays a key role in the persistence of these resistant pathogens, regardless of antimicrobial usage by pork producers.
A new X-ray study reveals that persister cells are regulated by toxins produced by the bacteria themselves, allowing them to enter a dormant state. This understanding can lead to the development of treatments that block toxin function and production, potentially improving outcomes in life-threatening diseases.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have discovered a novel set of genes essential for the growth of potentially lethal, drug-resistant bacteria A. baumannii. The study reveals multiple new drug targets for this human infection and suggests that laboratory conditions may not be ideal for identifying antimicrobial drug targets.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed novel antivirulence drugs that block toxin production in bacteria, rendering them harmless. The discovery has the potential to combat antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA and strep.
Bacteria use a reversible switching mechanism to adapt to environments lacking oxygen, revealing a new 'antioxidant' pathway for repairing damaged proteins. This discovery has implications for the development of new antibiotics and our understanding of iron-sulfur cluster proteins in various cellular processes.
Researchers found that a few marine microbes produce natural antibiotics that protect their populations from competitors and neighboring populations. This cooperative behavior, where some individuals act as protectors of the many, is a surprising example of social organization in microbial populations.
Scientists have identified a new signaling system in bacteria that enables them to produce an appendage, swim away, and inhibit biofilm formation. This discovery could lead to understanding how to break up harmful bacterial biofilms on teeth or medical devices.
Studies on California and deer mice reveal that lifetime monogamy leads to reduced bacterial diversity and a less diverse gene pool for immunity, whereas promiscuity correlates with increased bacterial diversity and genetic variation. This suggests that social behavior influences immune system function.
Researchers found at least seven shared antibiotic-resistance genes between soil bacteria and disease-causing pathogens, suggesting recent gene transfers. The discovery highlights the potential for environmental bacteria to contribute to human health risks.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a treatment for coral infected with White Plague disease, a deadly bacterium that causes 9% of Favia favus corals to die. The treatment uses viruses that infect bacteria, providing a breakthrough in developing regionalized treatments.
Researchers found that antibiotic concentrations set by regulators are high enough to slow fermentation, allowing pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli to proliferate. Boosting lactic-acid-producing bacteria survival can help mitigate the issue.
Researchers at the University of Delaware found that beneficial bacteria in soil can signal plants' stomata to close, preventing disease infection. This discovery highlights the potential for probiotics to bolster plant immunity naturally.
Researchers propose that certain dietary fats encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, leading to low-level inflammation and chronic disease. Unsaturated fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, have strong antimicrobial properties, weakening bacterial cell membranes.
Researchers at Université de Montréal have discovered a novel strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs by targeting virulence factors. By removing these proteins, the body's immune system can eliminate the bacteria, making them harmless.
William Hanage, a renowned expert in infectious disease epidemiology, has received the 2012 ICAAC Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Microbiology. His research focuses on understanding the factors behind the response of bacterial populations to antimicrobials and vaccines.
Researchers at UEA applied strategic thinking from insurance companies to understand how animals and plants recruit beneficial bacteria, revealing the importance of 'screening out' bad bacteria and ' screening in' good ones. The breakthrough brings scientists closer to understanding the human body's relationship with bacteria.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified small molecule chemicals that can disrupt quorum sensing in Acinetobacter baumanni, a pathogenic bacterium responsible for deadly hospital-acquired infections. The compounds may potentially be used to limit the virulence of the bacteria and prevent biofilm formation.
Researchers found drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 36 chimpanzees (58% of tested), with nearly 10% showing multi-drug resistance. The risk of acquiring novel pathogens from humans poses a significant threat to wild apes, echoing worst-case scenarios in U.S. hospitals.
Researchers demonstrate that bacteria can form antibiotic-resistant clumps in a short time, even in a flowing liquid such as the blood, leading to severe infections. These clumps persist even when two different types of antibiotics are added, suggesting that sticking together protects the floating bacteria from the drugs' effects.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed new polymers resistant to bacterial attachment, reducing biofilm formation and infection rates. The breakthrough could lead to a significant reduction in hospital infections and medical device failures, with initial results showing up to 96.7% reduction in bacteria.
Researchers develop SPAdes, a new algorithm to sequence genomes from single cells, enabling analysis of 'dark matter' bacteria and human pathogens. The breakthrough could lead to early detection of cancer progression by monitoring normal cells before they turn malignant.
A new disinfectant, Akwaton, has been shown to effectively destroy bacterial spores at extremely low concentrations. This is a significant improvement over existing chemical compounds that require higher concentrations and can be harmful to humans.