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Pathogens from the sea

Researchers identified specialized 'adventurer' cells in Vibrio parahaemolyticus that facilitate its dissemination and prevalence. These cells enable the bacterium to colonize new habitats and spread disease globally.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateOct 23, 2019

Programmable swarmbots make flexible biological tools

Biomedical engineers create biomanufacturing platform using bursting bacteria and shrinking capsules to produce targeted proteins, enabling flexible and efficient production of diverse biologics. The new technology simplifies the creation of protein complexes and offers an easy way to produce multiple proteins simultaneously.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateSep 17, 2019

Heart disease biomarker linked to paleo diet

Researchers found that people on the Paleo diet had twice the amount of a key blood biomarker linked closely to heart disease. The study suggests that the diet's exclusion of whole grains may be to blame for elevated TMAO levels, which are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalEuropean Journal of Nutrition·DateJul 22, 2019

Brush your teeth -- postpone Alzheimer's

Researchers have discovered a clear connection between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease, finding that the bacteria causing gingivitis can move from the mouth to the brain. Brushing teeth and using floss may help slow down Alzheimer's progression, according to the study.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 3, 2019

Pathogens find safe harbor deep in the gastric glands

Researchers discovered that H. pylori exploit a specialized niche within gastric glands to maintain stable bacterial reservoirs. This allows the bacteria to serve as stable populations and prevents incoming bacteria from establishing themselves.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 2, 2019

Bacteria reveal strong individuality when navigating a maze

Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered that bacteria in a microfluidic T-maze exhibit diverse chemotactic sensitivity due to genetic variations, allowing some individuals to outperform others. This phenotypic heterogeneity may provide an evolutionary advantage for the bacteria, enabling them to adapt to changing environments.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 23, 2019

Modeling the microbiome

Researchers analyzed the interactions between five core species of bacteria found in the fly gut, revealing a nuanced tradeoff between lifespan and fecundity. The study suggests that the presence or absence of individual species influences the host's fitness, and that the microbiome's influence cannot be solely attributed to its parts.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2018

Can bacteria colonies be good neighbors?

Researchers studied bacterial ecological systems using experiments and computer models to investigate population dynamics, identifying key role of stochastic effects in early colony patterning. They also found that interactions between neighboring bacteria can amplify local variation, influencing competition outcomes.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalPhysical Biology·DateOct 31, 2018

Taking their vitamins

New research from North Carolina State University and the University of Copenhagen finds that most bacterioplankton are B1 auxotrophs, meaning they have to glean the vitamin or pieces of it from their environment. The study also reveals fluctuations in genes responsible for making and/or using environmental B1 and precursors over time.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 17, 2018

Researchers explore how changes in diet alter microbiome in artificial intestine

A recent study used an artificial intestine to investigate how changes in diet affect the microbiome. The research found that a switch from a western diet to one composed exclusively of dietary fats led to increased populations of fatty-acid metabolizing bacteria and decreased production of short chain fatty acids, which are compounds ...

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateSep 21, 2018

Simple test detects disease-carrying mosquitoes, presence of biopesticide

A new diagnostic tool has been developed to identify the species of mosquitoes that carry diseases such as Zika virus and dengue. The tool uses a smartphone camera and detects the presence of biopesticide Wolbachia, which helps curb disease transmission. With high accuracy of over 97%, this innovative technology represents a significan...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateAug 30, 2018

Cheating on cheaters

Researchers used Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its mutants to study cheating behavior in bacteria, revealing that manipulating social interactions can prevent population collapse. The team created a mathematical model to predict how to change stable interactions among cheaters and cooperators.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 28, 2018

PCOS may reduce gut bacteria diversity

A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that women with PCOS have less diverse gut bacteria, which may influence the development of the condition and its impact on quality of life. Elevated testosterone levels in women with PCOS were linked to these changes.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 23, 2018