Articles tagged with Parasitic Bacteria
Researchers are studying foul-smelling substances to understand what attracts the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, to its favorite meal - open wounds. The goal is to develop better lures for trapping this serious threat to the livestock industry.
Researchers at Adelaide University have discovered a new gut–brain signalling pathway that governs how parasitic infections lead to nausea, appetite loss and other sickness symptoms. The study shows two specialised gut cell types work together to sense parasites and activate protective responses through the vagus nerve.
A Dartmouth study found that plasmids can form tight clusters within bacterial communities, making them resistant to antibiotics and clinical treatments. This phenomenon introduces a new avenue for bacterial infections to become more difficult to treat.
Researchers found that pain-sensing neurons activate tuft cells, which release parasite-fighting immune molecules, initiating an immune response. Silencing or removing these neurons reduces tuft cell numbers, indicating their crucial role in fighting parasites and potentially driving allergic diseases.
A recent study found that bacteria employ amyloids, a key driver of Alzheimer's disease, as a molecular suit of armor against predatory bacteria. By understanding this mechanism, scientists may develop new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant microbes and potentially even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have successfully cultivated an ultrasmall bacterial strain that parasitizes methanogenic archaea, inhibiting their growth. This discovery represents the first successful cultivation of such bacteria and proposes a new phylum Minisyncoccota, advancing our understanding of microbial ecology.
A new Dartmouth study reveals that 50% of adult blacklegged ticks in the Northeast carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The study found small changes in tick abundance but a significant increase in pathogen prevalence over 30 years, highlighting the need for continued prevention measures.
Researchers have discovered two previously unknown bacterial species in deep-sea corals from the Gulf of Mexico. These bacteria have extremely reduced genomes and lack the ability to break down carbohydrates, surviving on amino acids instead. The discovery provides insights into the unique adaptations of deep-sea organisms.
A recent study by Mizzou researchers found that infections are a significant problem for white-tailed deer on Missouri farms. The study identified the three most common types of bacteria causing pneumonia in farmed deer, providing actionable data for veterinarians and farmers to make informed decisions.
A three-decade study found polar bears exposed to increased pathogens due to environmental changes, with females at higher risk. The study, published in PLOS ONE, highlights the need for further disease screening in polar bear populations.
A new study has identified novel strains of microbes that have adapted to use limited resources in cities, including those found in Hong Kong's subways and skin. These microbes can metabolize manufactured products, posing health risks if they are pathogenic.
Researchers discovered a bacterial parasite that infects the nuclei of deep-sea mussels, reproducing to over 80,000 cells while keeping its host alive. The parasite produces proteins that suppress apoptosis, an 'arms race' with the host cell, and acquires nutrients from host components.
A study published in PLOS Water found associations between weather, geographic location, and urban/rural settings with waterborne infectious disease hospitalizations. Hospitalization rates were higher for enteric and biofilm-forming bacterial pathogens in areas using groundwater, while precipitation increased parasitic infections.
Researchers at ADA Forsyth Institute discovered a new phage resistance mechanism in the oral microbiome, where ultrasmall bacterial parasites, called Saccharibacteria or TM7, help their host bacteria resist lytic phages. This dynamic ecosystem promotes coexistence between antagonistic organisms.
A new research effort, led by University of Oklahoma's Zhibo Yang and San Diego State University's Laura-Isobel McCall, aims to investigate the role of bystander cells in infectious diseases. By examining metabolism changes in non-infected cells near infected cells, researchers hope to gain insights into possible disease progression.
Researchers detected Orientia bacteria in chiggers at high frequency in North Carolina recreational parks. The bacterium causes a disease similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be fatal if left untreated.
A recent study has shown that the mutual symbiosis between bacteria and fungi can be fragile, as a specific protein maintains the balance. When this protein is absent, the bacteria are trapped within fungal hyphae and die.
Researchers identified two Blastocystis strains, ST4 and ST7, with contrasting effects on the gut microbiome, promoting or disrupting a healthy balance. The study's findings suggest that geographical prevalence may influence the strain's impact on intestinal disease.
A WVU biomedical engineer is working on a rapid diagnostic tool that can detect tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease via a blood sample on a single chip. The tool uses dielectrophoresis and machine-learning to detect diseases within one to two weeks after onset, reducing the risk of hospitalization and chronic conditions.
Researchers observe atomic-level structural changes in bacterial ribosomes and their response to antibiotics, shedding light on mechanisms of action and potential off-target effects. The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between ribosomes and other cellular complexes.
Researchers at MIT discovered a peptide that sequesters heme, an iron-containing molecule, and sends bacteria into an iron-starvation mode, potentially treating diseases like periodontal disease and sickle cell disease. This finding could translate to therapeutic applications for patients with excessive heme in their blood.
A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that parasites infesting farmed salmon have a distinct microbiome that interacts with the fish's microbiome. This interaction can impact the host's health, highlighting the importance of understanding the complex relationships between parasites and their hosts.
A new research group led by biologist Dr. Michael Gerth will investigate the interactions between bacteria and insects, with a focus on how bacterial DNA changes when transferred from one species to another. The team aims to identify successful host transfer strategies and understand environmental factors influencing these processes.
Researchers discovered that bacterial virulence factor WtsE initiates mobilization of nutrients and water into spaces where the bacteria reside in infected maize plants. This process precedes death of plant cells and could inform future breeding practices to resist devastating corn diseases.
Phages weigh all options and make an informed decision whether to exit the dormant state and attack their bacterial host. The study found that some phage families have developed a complex decision-making strategy, receiving information from neighboring bacteria and controlling communication via arbitrium.
Researchers captured the internal motor structure of Mycoplasma mobile, revealing an internal chain structure causing the external appendage structure to move in a specific direction. The study provides insight into the gliding motion mechanism and could lead to understanding human replications of it.
Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered two previously undescribed genera and one new species of bacteria related to Legionella, which live in amoebae. The findings suggest a wider range of host organisms than previously thought, potentially leading to more cases of disease.
A recent study found a large number of potentially pathogenic bacteria on ticks infecting Bolson tortoises, highlighting the need for conservation strategies to protect these endangered species. Further research is needed to understand the tortoises' defense mechanisms against diseases transmitted by ticks.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University discovered that parasitic nematodes can consume and break down oil products. The team adapted nematodes to eat Alcanivorax borkumensis bacteria, which breaks down oil into fatty acids. Enhanced digestion of oil was observed in worms, with undigested bacteria changing their gut microflora.
Researchers found that corals with high levels of parasitic bacteria are more susceptible to disease, even when appearing healthy. This discovery provides crucial insights into coral restoration efforts in the Caribbean.
Researchers developed a model of metabolic pathways in parasitic worms and their bacterial endosymbionts, identifying critical reactions that slow growth and reproduction. The study suggests three potential drugs that can block these reactions, reducing worm numbers and reproductive ability.
Scientists found that ultra-small, parasitic bacteria from the TM7 phylum are present in humans, moose, dogs, cats, dolphins, and groundwater. Despite their diverse environments, these bacteria have minimally changed genomes, indicating recent acquisition by humans.
A special issue of Austral Ecology celebrates the work of Professor Mike Bull, a leading expert in lizard behavior and ecology. The issue features 12 new studies on species like pygmy bluetongues and sleepy lizards, exploring topics such as parasites, environmental change, and sociality.
Researchers found that high-protein diets increased the survival of infected caterpillars by causing osmotic stress, which slows down bacterial growth. This mechanism may offer a new avenue for understanding how diet affects parasitic blood infections in humans.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered that type IV CRISPR-Cas systems are used by plasmid parasites to battle each other for control of a host bacterium. This finding reveals that CRISPR has multiple uses beyond defense against viruses.
Researchers have identified a new family of bacteria, Deianiraeaceae, which belongs to the order Rickettsiales and exhibits a unique extracellular lifestyle as a predator. This discovery reveals a significant departure from previously known intracellular parasites.
Researchers have identified two fast-acting compounds that kill parasite-supporting bacteria after a single dose in mouse models of filarial diseases, potentially eradicating the condition. The standard-of-care treatment is limited by its duration and availability to pregnant women and children.
A study from Lund University reveals that older slow sand filters are more effective at cleaning drinking water due to the development of a specific ecosystem of bacteria. The use of 'sand starter' made from bacteria and sand from an older filter can improve new sand filters.
Researchers found that whipworms have their own distinct gut flora, which helps them survive by reducing new egg hatching. This discovery could lead to more effective drug treatments for whipworm infections, which cause debilitating symptoms and are difficult to treat.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discover two new strategies to combat malaria: genetically modified bacteria that spread rapidly in mosquito populations and boost the immune system of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. These innovative approaches aim to reduce the need for continuous malaria control measures, p...
Biologists found that disrupting the gut and skin bacterial communities of tadpoles later affects adult frogs' ability to fight parasitic gut worms. Preventing early-life disruptions might confer protection against diseases in adulthood, with potential applicability to understanding immune systems in mammals and humans.
Researchers found that disrupting gut microbes in tadpoles affects adult frogs' ability to fight parasitic infections. A healthy bacterial community may confer protection against diseases later in life. The study's findings have implications for understanding the immune systems of mammals and humans.
A Florida Museum study reveals that lice and their vitamin-producing bacterial partners have coevolved continuously for at least 20 to 25 million years. The bacteria's tiny genomes are a result of extensive genome remodeling over time, with genes critical to symbiosis being close together.
Scientists sequenced the genomes of symbiotic bacteria from human lice and their closely related monkey lice counterparts. The data revealed a single-trunked tree suggesting the bacteria have been associated with lice for millions of years.
A new PCR multiplex method makes lab testing more effective for diagnosing persistent diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. Accurate diagnosis is crucial to determine treatment, as antimicrobial therapy can be useful but only for those who test negative for a pathogen.
Researchers discover FDA-approved medications with dual-action against bacterial energy production and specific enzymes, potentially reducing resistance. Such multitarget drugs could treat a range of infections, including tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus.
When fruit flies get sick, their offspring become more diverse due to increased genetic variability. This adaptation may help the offspring survive future threats from the same pathogens. The findings demonstrate that parents can alter the genotypes of their offspring, a strategy that could be beneficial for survival.
A study found that at least 60% of toothbrushes were contaminated with fecal coliforms, even after decontamination methods. The researchers advise better hygiene practices for students who share bathrooms to prevent the transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms.
A study found that a gut bacterium, Csp_P, can reduce infection of mosquitoes by malaria parasites and dengue virus. The bacterium directly inhibits these pathogens in test tubes and shortens the life span of mosquitoes that transmit both diseases.
Researchers discover multitarget TB drug SQ109 that attacks tuberculosis and other pathogens, reducing the risk of resistance. The team created chemical analogs with improved effectiveness against various diseases, including malaria and parasites.
A mathematical modeling study suggests that a new approach could reduce or eliminate the deadly disease African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, by creating a genetically modified version of the Sodalis bacteria to kill the parasite. The approach, which uses Wolbachia bacteria to drive the GMO version into fly populati...
A benign crystal protein produced by bacteria could be a safe and inexpensive treatment for parasitic worms in humans. The protein, Cry5B, achieved a 93% elimination of hookworm parasites from infected hamsters.
A study at Michigan State University demonstrates that using a strain of the bacteria Wolbachia can interrupt the transmission of malaria via mosquitoes. This approach could provide an important tool in fighting the disease, particularly in areas where poverty and lack of resources are prevalent.
Experts have disabled a unique member of signalling proteins essential for malaria development, arresting its life cycle in the mosquito. This breakthrough discovery could help design new drugs to control malaria transmission.
Researchers found that a bacterium called Wolbachia provides energy to the worm and helps deceive the body's immune system into thinking it's fighting a different infection. The discovery could lead to shorter treatment regimes and potentially inform vaccine development for River Blindness.
Researchers have developed genetically modified bacteria that can prevent mosquitoes from transmitting malaria by killing the parasite. The modified bacteria were found to be 98% effective in reducing the malaria parasite burden in mosquitoes, with an 84% decrease in mosquito prevalence.
Researchers at Yale University have created a compound that prevents the growth of the malaria parasite within red blood cells. The compound, developed by Sidney Altman and his team, shows promise in combating drug-resistant strains of the disease, which kills over 1 million people annually.
Scientists have identified a class of naturally occurring bacteria that can strongly inhibit malaria-causing parasites in Anopheles mosquitoes. The study found that Enterobacter inhibits parasite growth by producing short-lived molecules known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing malaria infection by 98-99%.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered a bacterium that kills the malaria parasite when present in mosquitoes. The Enterobacter bacterium produces reactive oxygen species, detrimental to Plasmodium development in the mosquito gut.
Scientists have determined the structure and mechanism of a key enzyme in Staphylococcus aureus that produces cholesterol and a virulence factor. This breakthrough could lead to new cholesterol-lowering drugs and antibiotics against staph infections, as well as treatments for parasitic diseases.