Articles tagged with Microorganisms
Researchers at Rice University have developed adhesive bacteria and proteins that can help efficiently decompose PET, a notoriously resistant type of plastic. The engineered microbes demonstrate a 400-fold increase in adhesion to PET surfaces, making them a potential solution for tackling plastic pollution.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that degrades polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in sewage sludge, a breakthrough that could help reduce plastic pollution. The enzyme is produced by the bacterium Comamonas testosteroni, which naturally breaks down polymers and can be used to upcycle PET waste.
Researchers have discovered living microbes in a 2-billion-year-old rock sample from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The team used advanced imaging techniques to confirm the presence of indigenous microorganisms, shedding light on the early evolution of life on Earth and the potential for similar organisms to exist on Mars.
A new study from European universities has developed a method to analyze wastewater data from seven major cities, identifying thousands of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and antimicrobial resistance. This approach can detect potential health threats simultaneously, potentially preventing epidemics from escalating into outbreaks.
A new study reveals that soil pH sets the stage for microbial interactions and community composition, with bacteria cooperating to survive in acidic environments. The research sheds light on global nitrogen cycling and provides insights into reducing potent greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers identified 339 fungal species, including 15 new species, from a field trip in southern Xizang, China. The discovery highlights the region's vast fungal diversity and underscores the need for further exploration.
A recent study from the University of Illinois provides new insights into the sources and processes affecting nitrogen load in tile drainage water. The research team found a large legacy pool of nitrate in the soil, resulting in a time lag between when nitrogen is added to the system and when it is exported as nitrate in tile drainage.
Researchers have developed a biotechnology system that converts CO2 into protein and vitamin B9 using renewable energy. The system uses microbes to produce these essential nutrients, with the potential to address global challenges such as environmental conservation, food security, and public health.
A recent study by ISGlobal found a vast range of viable bacteria and fungi transported by air masses from northeast China to Japan, some potentially pathogenic to humans. The research team identified over 266 fungal and 305 bacterial genera in aerosol samples, including species resistant to commonly used antibiotics.
A new hybrid technology called SonoBio uses high-frequency ultrasound in combination with biodegradation to break down per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of 'forever chemicals'. Researchers aim to make PFAS completely harmless by turning them into carbon dioxide and fluoride.
Researchers rewired a microbe to convert CO2 into mevalonate, a valuable pharmaceutical building block. The newly engineered microbes produced significantly more mevalonate than control strains, offering a promising solution for carbon capture and utilization.
The BioFoundry laboratory will focus on developing techniques to learn from extreme microorganisms with unusual nutritional requirements, high or low temperatures, and oxygen-free growth. Researchers aim to harness their characteristics for applications in fuels synthesis, water pollution cleanup, and soil remediation.
A team of researchers at UC Davis Health discovered a novel bioelectrical mechanism that allows Salmonella bacteria to navigate the gut lining and find vulnerable entry points. The study found that Salmonella bacteria detect electric signals in FAE, which helps them move towards openings in the gut where they can enter.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria can utilize methane to grow and generate energy, preventing its release into the atmosphere. These microorganisms, known as methanotrophs, are essential for controlling methane emissions and regulating the global climate.
Researchers found that Megamonas degrades intestinal myo-inositol, enhances lipid absorption, and contributes to obesity. The study suggests potential strategies for future obesity management by illustrating the bacterium's mechanism.
Researchers developed an approach to boost cellulose production in bacteria by inducing mutations through UV-C light. This method produced bacterial variants that generate up to 70% more cellulose than the original form, paving the way for industrial-scale production of sustainable materials.
Researchers found optimal temperature and humidity levels to protect rice from aflatoxins, which are poisonous compounds linked to cancer and immune system suppression. Proper storage conditions include temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius and relative humidity below 75 percent.
Researchers created microscopic vehicles propelled by swimming green algae, which can be maneuvered by the algae. The team developed two types of vehicles: the rotator and the scooter, with the latter displaying erratic rolling motions.
Researchers developed a novel approach to simulate personalized, microbiome-mediated responses to diet using microbial community-scale metabolic modeling. The method predicts individual-specific short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production rates in response to different dietary, prebiotic, and probiotic inputs.
The NIRis device allows for easy detection of bacteria colonies, accelerating research and enabling new types of interdisciplinary projects. This technology has been used to isolate over 1000 new strains of phototrophic bacteria from various plants.
Researchers Manu Prakash and Eliott Flaum have discovered a new geometric mechanism in the single-cell organism Lacrymaria olor, enabling it to produce complex morphodynamics through curved-crease origami. The cell's cytoskeletal structure encodes this behavior, which is driven by a singularity that acts as a controller.
Researchers at UC Davis Health discovered that mesalamine can replace good bacteria's work in fighting Candida albicans in the gut. The study found that mesalamine maintains a low oxygen environment that prevents fungal growth, reducing the risk of invasive candidiasis.
Researchers found two opportunistic bacteria significantly more abundant after three months of daily use, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus. A decrease in Actinobacteria was also observed, crucial contributors to blood pressure regulation.
This study validates a two-stage process for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using peanut oil and propionate with Cupriavidus necator. The findings show that peanut oil is the most beneficial carbon source, leading to increased biomass and PHA production.
Researchers found that microbial communities can stimulate decomposition of both fresh and old organic matter, with significant implications for the marine carbon cycle. The study suggests that increased input of fresh organic matter due to climate change could lead to a disproportionate effect on degradation of refractory organic matter.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have found that storing soil samples under refrigerated or air-dried conditions can retain microbial community composition and structure for many years. This discovery can help future researchers save time and energy when studying microorganisms in soils.
A study found that individuals taking probiotic supplements showed increased sensitivity to fairness and a greater inclination to reject unequal offers. This was accompanied by changes in gut microbiota composition and levels of dopamine precursors. The findings suggest a potential causal mechanism linking gut bacteria to social behavior.
Desert isopods rigorously regulate their intake of macronutrients and calcium, preferring biological soil crust over plant litter. The research highlights the crucial role of ingested microorganisms in facilitating digestion and growth.
Researchers created GraSSRep and rhea, tools that outperform current methods for handling repeats and structural variants in metagenomic data. These methods use self-supervised learning and graph neural networks to analyze microbiome data, offering new insights into biological processes and potential applications in antibiotic resistance.
A new study uncovers obscured contributions to microbiome biomarkers in colorectal cancer development, highlighting potential future targets for intervention. The research employs quantitative methods and extensive confounder control to reveal robust associations between certain microbial taxa and CRC.
A recent study found that an e-tongue can detect signs of microorganisms in white wine within a week after contamination, four weeks before a human panel notices the change in aroma. This technology has the potential to augment traditional methods and allow winemakers to catch and mitigate problems sooner.
A study published in Cell reveals a detailed catalogue of bacteria living in cancer metastases, including links to therapy efficacy and tumor cell activity. The research provides new insights into how bacteria interact with cancer cells and their surroundings.
Researchers developed zinc oxide nanoparticles to selectively inhibit multidrug-resistant bacteria, disrupting cell membranes. The material is considered safe and cheaper than other metal-based nanoparticles, with potential applications in water treatment and food packaging.
The study found that Streptococcus and Pedobacter bacteria species were present in healthy eyes, while more Acinetobacter species were found in dry eye samples. This knowledge could lead to improved treatments for various eye problems and diseases affecting the gut microbiome.
A recent study found that microbial communities thrive on inactive hydrothermal vent smokers, producing organic carbon and fixing CO2. These ecosystems are crucial for understanding the deep-sea carbon cycle and its interactions with the environment.
Researchers at RIKEN found that gut bacteria, particularly Bifidobacterium, are associated with higher chances of successful milk-allergy treatment. However, only 7 out of 28 children who underwent oral immunotherapy passed the food challenge after a two-week milk avoidance period.
Researchers have identified a network of approximately 20 specialist decomposing microbes that consistently appear on all 36 human cadavers decomposed under various conditions. This discovery has significant implications for the future of forensic science, enabling investigators to more accurately determine a body's time of death.
The UK Centre for Multimodal Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy (CoreMiS) will enable researchers to analyze environmental samples with unprecedented detail. CoreMiS has already been used to study ancient artifacts, detect pollutants in drinking water, and investigate antimicrobial resistance.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that Greenland consumes more methane than it releases, with dry landscapes absorbing over 65,000 tons annually. The study's findings contribute significantly to climate models and provide insights into the optimal soil conditions for methane uptake in the Arctic.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of complex microbial communities existing in ecosystems over 3 billion years ago, with a diverse carbon cycle involving various microorganisms. The study provides a rare glimpse into the Earth's early ecosystems and advances our understanding of ancient microbial ecosystems.
Scientists discovered how methanogenic archaea regulate nitrogen uptake using a molecular switch that adjusts enzyme activity based on 2-oxoglutarate levels. This regulation prevents energy waste when cells have enough nitrogen.
New research reveals that domestication impacts the microbial communities associated with crops. The study found consistent effects on the plant microbiota across independently domesticated crop species in Mesoamerica and South America. Changes in seed mineral content were linked to changes in microbiome composition.
Researchers from Osaka University and University of Hawaii found that environmental microorganisms boost fruit fly reproduction by modifying hormone levels and increasing the production of germline stem cells. This discovery could lead to new avenues for improving reproductive health and fertility treatments.
Plant scientists have discovered a sophisticated RNA defense system that plants use to attack gray mold cells, sending mRNA molecules that disrupt fungal cellular processes. This innovative approach could lead to the development of eco-friendly fungicides with minimal environmental impact and no harm to humans or animals.
A new study using Raman spectroscopy has identified Pseudomonas bacteria from turtle skin in just 5-30 minutes, offering a faster alternative to traditional methods. The technique provides detailed information about bacterial chemical structure and holds great potential for future research on other microorganisms.
The current emoji library underrepresents plant, fungus, and microorganism biodiversity while overrepresenting animals. This bias reflects known biases in biodiversity assessments and conservation analyses.
Researchers at KAIST have developed eco-friendly technologies for producing plastics and processing waste plastics using microorganisms. The team presented the latest microorganism-based technologies that can produce plastics from renewable biomass resources and decompose waste plastics, contributing to a circular economy.
Researchers find complex microbial communities forming giant mounds of rock in a harsh desert environment, resembling ancient stromatolites. The discovery provides an unprecedented look at the earliest stages of life on Earth and may hold clues about life on Mars.
A Hamburg collaboration between EMBL Hamburg and TUHH has yielded new insights into a lipid-degrading enzyme from an exotic microbe, which may contribute to the development of more sustainable industrial processes. The findings could help improve chemical processes in various branches of industry.
A research team led by Konrad Meister discovered that small proteins are involved in efficient ice formation, outperforming larger proteins found in other organisms
Researchers have found that halophilic fungi can restructure their cell walls to withstand extremely salty conditions, minimizing water loss and maintaining structure. This discovery could lead to the development of new technologies harnessing these microbes for industrial processes.
Researchers observed a satellite bacteriophage consistently attaching to a helper bacteriophage at its neck, revealing a new viral relationship. The discovery suggests that this system may be more common than previously thought and could have significant implications for understanding the evolution of viruses.
Researchers have developed a plastic-eating E. coli that can efficiently turn polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into adipic acid, a feedstock for making nylon materials and other products. The engineered microbes converted up to 79% of PET waste into adipic acid, offering a potential solution to the global plastic waste problem.
A team of researchers from Germany has been awarded an ERC Synergy Grant to investigate microbial carbon cycle and discover unknown metabolic pathways that enabled microorganisms to live on early Earth. The project aims to provide insights into the conditions prevailing during the Archean Eon, when life first emerged.
Postoperative wound infections in the head and neck region are common complications, with risk factors including age, smoking, and comorbidities. Aseptic operating conditions and peri/postoperative antibiotics can help minimize infection rates.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method to purify rare earth elements using metal-loving microbes. The microbe selectively adsorbs and purifies these elements, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet challenge the hygiene hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures have a similar ability to develop allergic immune responses as laboratory mice. Despite this, they developed strong signs of pathological inflammation and allergic responses when exposed to allergens.
Scientists have isolated a microbial enzyme that converts CO2 to formate with high efficiency when attached to an electrode, making it a potential candidate for capturing the greenhouse gas. The system uses renewable energy from wind or solar power to drive the conversion process, storing energy in the form of formate.
A new filtration process can result in a pasteurization-resistant microbacterium passing into fluid milk if equipment isn't properly cleaned. Microfiltration extends shelf-life by removing bacteria via the removal of bacteria via the microfiltration process.
Scientists developed a workflow that combines CRISPR gene editing with computational models to predict necessary gene edits, reducing product development cycles from years to months. The approach showed promise in engineering strains to convert lignin into target molecules, offering an eco-friendly alternative for biomanufacturing.