Articles tagged with Microorganisms
A study on the Gulf of Mexico microbial communities revealed significant changes in population sizes and community structures after the 2010 Macondo blowout. Oil-degrading microbes were found to persist even after the dissipation of the initial plume, while large flocs of marine "snow" formed rapidly and settled near the wellhead.
UTHealth researchers discovered that hollow-head toothbrushes harbor up to 3,000 times more bacteria than their solid-head counterparts. The study's findings highlight the importance of choosing a solid-head power toothbrush to minimize bacterial growth and prevent disease transmission.
Scientists have discovered that the exact chemical make-up of dusty air, including microbes found in it, is crucial to predicting rain events and understanding regional climate. The research could lead to more accurate weather forecasting and improved cloud-seeding technology.
Researchers discovered microbial communities within oil droplets, degrading oil and reducing its quality. This finding could pave the way for new approaches to clean up contaminated groundwater.
Researchers at Empa successfully synthesized structurally homogenous single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by using molecular 'seeds' that were transformed into three-dimensional objects and grown on a platinum surface. The resulting SWCNTs have mirror-image symmetry and reach lengths in excess of 300 nanometres.
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found that fist-bumping transmits significantly fewer bacteria than handshaking or high-fiving. The research suggests that adopting the fist bump as a greeting could substantially reduce the transmission of infectious diseases between individuals.
Researchers at Harvard University studied 137 varieties of cheese from 10 countries to identify three general types of microbial communities. These findings provide a model for studying microbial communities and their interactions, with potential applications in understanding various biological processes. The study also reveals the imp...
Researchers at Northeastern University developed a device that cultivates a single bacterial species, allowing scientists to study and identify the millions of microorganisms that populate the world. The device solves the problem of natural competition between species, enabling the isolation of pure, single-species samples.
Researchers recommend considering additional factors that can affect microbial growth apart from lipids in parenteral nutrition. These factors include glucose concentration, proportion of glucose to lipid, and osmolarity.
Researchers discovered that subseafloor microbes have adapted to live in harsh conditions by increasing expression of DNA repair genes and cellular stress response mechanisms. This adaptation allows them to survive in environments with high pressure and nutrient scarcity, enabling them to play an important role in global elemental cycles.
University of Illinois researchers develop new technique to induce mouse embryonic stem cells to form three distinct germ layers, a crucial step towards regenerative medicine. The study provides insights into the biological process controlling tissue development and opens doors for efficient organ generation.
A new fuel-cell concept developed by Michigan State University researcher Gemma Reguera allows biodiesel plants to eliminate hazardous wastes and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The platform uses microbes to clean up wastewater and produce bioethanol, which can be reused to make biodiesel.
Researchers have found microbes create an environment that allows stevensite to form, raising new questions about the Martian deposits and their possible links to life on Mars. Microbialites are the earliest large-scale evidence of life on Earth, demonstrating how microscopic organisms join together to build enormous structures.
Researchers from the University of Georgia questioned the assumption that naturally-occurring microbes can quickly consume methane following a major oil spill. The study found that bacteria were unable to effectively consume the potent greenhouse gas due to environmental constraints.
A study published in Science finds a previously unknown step in the biogeochemical process that occurs in aquifers, affecting groundwater quality and contaminant fate. Microbes breathe solid iron and sulfur, transforming them into reactive ions that impact the makeup of rocks, soil, and water.
Research found that elevated CO2 levels accelerate plant growth, leading to more CO2 absorption through photosynthesis. This new understanding suggests that natural processes may not slow global warming as previously thought.
Scientists discovered that species with germ plasm, a cell lineage responsible for producing gametes, evolve faster than those without. This accelerated rate of evolution leads to 'explosive radiations' of species and challenges traditional views on the process.
A new study from IIASA and the University of Vienna suggests that soil microbes can break down organic matter more efficiently, emitting fewer carbon dioxide emissions. This finding has significant implications for understanding climate feedbacks and the role of soil in the global carbon cycle.
Researchers have discovered that Antarctic mosses can regenerate after 1,500 years of dormancy under the ice. This finding has significant implications for understanding polar ecosystems and climate change, as mosses play a crucial role in storing carbon in both northern and southern polar regions.
Researchers discovered high concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy in corn gluten meal, with 5,379 kilocalories per kilogram of dry matter. The addition of microbial phytase increased phosphorus digestibility in some ingredients.
Research reveals microbes participate in complex networks of trade, swapping nutrients and resources using human-like strategies. Microbes cooperate with humans and plants, sharing economic strategies to thrive.
Researchers discovered that widespread deforestation leads to shifts in nitrogen-fixing microorganism communities, potentially reducing the Amazon's ability to lock up carbon dioxide. The findings suggest a complex relationship between land use change and microbial composition.
Researchers are investigating the production of oil-producing algae and the feasibility of commercial-scale biofuel production based on microbes discovered in Yellowstone National Park. The study aims to integrate MSU's groundbreaking work on algal biofuels with larger questions about its potential as a sustainable energy source.
Researchers find consistent types of organisms in subsurface rocks across globe, challenges imagination to think of nearly identical microbes 16,000 km apart.
Researchers create handheld, battery-operated device that can rapidly identify harmful bacteria like E. coli O157:H7, which causes 2,000 hospitalizations and 60 deaths in the US each year. The device uses dielectrophoresis to sort microbes based on their unique electrical properties.
A new method combines selective lysis, centrifugation, and fluorescence spectroscopy to diagnose blood infections in 96.5% of positive samples. The technique eliminates the need for expensive equipment and manual processing, enabling faster treatment with targeted antibiotics.
A team of scientists has revealed the details of a microbial process regulating the global nitrogen budget in the oceans. They found that anammox, a process converting fixed nitrogen to N2, affects primary productivity and isocyan signature patterns in oxygen minimum zones.
A Danish/Swedish/French research team has shown that oxygen content in the atmosphere was probably the same as when life exploded 500 million years ago, contradicting textbooks' claim of oxygen's necessity for advanced life. This finding contributes to a new understanding of the Earth's development and oxygen dynamics.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that interactive farm hygiene lessons improved students' knowledge of germ spread and prevention, especially among girls. The lesson increased post-lesson scores by 21% for girls and 14% for boys, with a total increase of 13% in hand-to-mouth behavior awareness.
Researchers at Louisiana State University found that microorganisms can repair their DNA even under freezing conditions, challenging previous assumptions about their survival in permafrost. This discovery has implications for the search for life on Mars and other icy worlds in the solar system.
Researchers at Caltech have identified a previously unknown bacterium in the termite gut that may be responsible for most acetogenesis. The bacterium, part of the deltaproteobacteria group, attaches to the surface of a hydrogen-producing protozoan, providing a new understanding of the complex food web in the termite gut.
A UA-led international collaboration studies how microbes release greenhouse gases as they access nutrients in thawing permafrost soils. The team aims to explain the relationships between microbial processes and climate change, with potential implications for solving the 'big biology problem' in climate change.
The OptSwap method enables scientists to predict and optimize microbial strain designs for increased yield of valuable biobased chemicals. Researchers identified optimal strain designs for L-alanine, succinate, acetate, and D-lactate production under modeled conditions.
Researchers have developed a way to generate electricity from sewage using naturally-occurring bacteria that produce electricity as they digest organic material. The microbial battery is about the size of a D-cell battery and has an efficiency comparable to commercially available solar cells.
Researchers have discovered a microbe called S. pombe that can escape aging when treated well and reproduce by splitting into two halves with new fully-functional material. The team found that under favourable growth conditions, the yeast is immune to aging and produces offspring that are younger than the parent.
Biofilms interact with sediment dynamics to form distinctive structures called microbialites. Stromatolites, with their multilayered structure, are a well-known example of microbial activity in early Earth's history. However, the formation mechanisms and differences between stromatolites and microbial induction of sedimentary structure...
UMass Amherst microbiologist Jim Holden launches new studies on microbes living deep in undersea volcanoes, funded by private philanthropists. His work addresses questions about the first life on Earth and potential microbial life on other planets.
Researchers from Brown University and the University of Wisconsin discovered that a high-angle helix enables bacteria to swim faster in viscoelastic fluids, clearing up previously conflicting findings. The study's findings have implications for understanding bacterial infection and fertility.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation identifies Olfm4 as a potential therapeutic target for Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) patients. Deletion of Olfm4 in mouse models protected against Staphylococcus aureus infections, including community-associated MRSA strains.
The study found that pig digestive systems can utilize oil from full-fat soybeans more easily than oils from corn co-products. Digestibility of fats was highest in extracted corn oil and lowest in DDGS, corn germ, and high-oil corn.
Research shows that phytoplankton form concentrated patches in turbulent ocean water, counterintuitive to expectations of uniform distribution. This phenomenon, known as 'turbulent un-mixing,' helps phytoplankton find cells of the same species without sensory information.
Researchers at MIT used high-speed video to record individual marine bacteria and found that a small flexible rod called the hook bucks during forward swims, causing the cell to tumble and reorient. This unusual mechanism helps bacteria navigate toward food in nutrient-sparse ocean waters.
A scientist suggests an alternative approach to calculating microbial growth thermodynamics, citing discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results. The Battley free energy equation offers a more realistic representation of real-world conditions.
A new microbial phytase derived from Aspergillus oryzae has been found to be highly effective at releasing phosphorus from the phytate molecule. The enzyme, Ronozyme HiPhos, improves phosphorus and calcium digestibility in pigs by up to 68.7% and 84.7%, respectively.
Research suggests producers feeding high levels of DDGS reduce fat softening by limiting feed in last weeks before harvest. Pigs fed diets with saturated fats did not show firmer belly flop distances, contradicting long-held assumption that they improve fat quality.
A bacterium discovered in the Canadian High Arctic can survive at –15°C, the coldest temperature ever recorded for bacterial growth. This microbe adapts to extreme conditions by modifying its cell structure and producing molecular antifreeze, providing insights into the possibility of life on Mars.
Researchers found that combining tomato and soy foods reduced prostate cancer incidence by 55% compared to eating either food alone. The study suggested that consuming three to four servings of tomato products per week and one to two servings of soy foods daily could help protect against prostate cancer.
A new cost-effective genome assembly process has been developed by a collaboration between DOE/JGI, Pacific Biosciences, and the University of Washington. The HGAP method produces final assemblies with >99.999% accuracy using single molecule real-time DNA sequencing, eliminating the need for circular consensus sequencing.
A multi-author review paper reviews ocean nutrient patterns and interactions, highlighting their influence on climate by fuelling biological production. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding nutrient cycles in predicting future environmental changes.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that feeding growing pigs diets containing up to 30% corn germ does not affect their growth performance or carcass quality. The study tested different inclusion rates and found no significant differences in any of the measured outcomes.
A recent study found that high concentrations of methane and hydrogen in breath are associated with a higher body mass index and percentage of body fat. The presence of the microorganism Methanobrevibacter smithii may contribute to obesity by altering the balance of gut bacteria.
A Cedars-Sinai study suggests that certain microorganisms in the gut may contribute to weight gain by allowing individuals to reap more calories from their food. The study found that people with high concentrations of methane and hydrogen gases in their breath had higher body mass indexes and body fat percentages.
A recent study reveals that the deepest oceanic trench holds a surprisingly high concentration of bacteria in its sediment, up to 10 times more than surrounding abyssal plains. This discovery highlights the critical role microorganisms play in regulating the global carbon cycle and climate regulation.
Researchers found evidence of life in the deeply buried oceanic crust, which is largely supported by chemosynthesis. The study suggests that this vast ecosystem is driven by energy from reduced iron compounds, creating a unique environment for microorganisms to thrive.
Researchers discover that specific aromatic amino acids are necessary for bacterial nanowires to conduct electricity, enabling potential applications in fuel cells and bioelectronics. The study shows that removing these key components renders the wires non-conductive.
A study by Andrea Giometto reveals that body sizes in aquatic microorganisms follow a mathematical expression common to all species, influencing size distributions and ecosystem balance. This finding could lead to new insights into population dynamics and the existence of universal laws governing natural ecosystems.
Researchers at Duke University found that silver nanoparticles can have adverse effects on plants and microorganisms in low doses, leading to reduced biomass and altered enzyme activity. The study's findings highlight the need for further research into the environmental impact of these particles.
Researchers discovered significant numbers of living microorganisms in the middle and upper troposphere, approximately four to six miles above the Earth's surface. The findings suggest that these microorganisms could play a role in forming ice crystals and impact weather patterns.
Scientists used a robotic device to gather samples of 1 billion microbes every four hours, creating a time-lapse montage of their daily labors over two days. The study reveals synchronized metabolic gene expression among nonphotosynthetic microbes in response to environmental changes.
Researchers found that marine bacteria prefer specific temperatures, nutrients, light, and salinity levels, contradicting the 'everything is everywhere' hypothesis. The discovery suggests dispersal limitation plays a crucial role in shaping bacterial distributions.