Articles tagged with Spores
Researchers in Denmark have found two new fungal species that infect adult flies, creating a hole in their abdomens and keeping them flying for days. The fungi may be producing substances that 'dope' the flies, with potential applications in medicine.
A study led by Edith Cowan University discovered that swamp wallabies are effective at dispersing truffle spores across the environment. The animals can move hundreds of metres from the original truffle source before spores appear in their poo, making them a key factor in forest survival.
The study reveals that mosses like Ceratodon purpureus have spread across the globe by hitching rides on prevailing winds. This discovery highlights their ability to thrive in various environments and challenges our understanding of how airborne organisms disperse.
Scientists found that even a short dry period of 30 minutes reduced spore germination to almost zero, preventing disease on spinach. The study also revealed that standing water on leaves is essential for the spores to cause disease, enabling growers to design better management strategies.
A study on parasitic gene elements in yeast found that they can persist in populations despite harming hosts. Meiotic drivers confer disadvantages to their host, but other genes help suppress this effect at a cost to fitness.
A two-year study found that fungal spores of Colletotrichum fioriniae, the cause of bitter rot disease, reside symbiotically within apple leaves. The research suggests that the fungus is a leaf endophyte, with most spores coming from forest samples, and has important implications for fruit tree management.
Researchers introduce a novel approach using genetically engineered microbes with DNA barcodes to track food contamination and provenance. The system, called barcoded microbial spores (BMS), can persist on surfaces for months and transfer between objects, making it suitable for tracing supply chains.
Researchers developed a synthetic microbial system to determine the location of origin for objects, using DNA-barcoded spores that can be sprayed onto goods and detected months later. This approach helps determine the source of foodborne illnesses, which affect millions in the US annually.
Researchers have discovered a new ancient plant species that provides a unique glimpse into the evolutionary process of reproductive biology in seed plants. The 400 million-year-old fossilized specimen reveals a spectrum of spore sizes, a precursor to specialized strategies in land plants.
Ants' social interactions and sanitary care significantly impact the competitive outcome of coinfecting pathogens within the insect body. By modulating pathogen competition, ants' grooming helps prevent infections, altering the disease outcome.
A study found that hospital-grade disinfectants, including Clorox, have limited effectiveness against C. diff spores embedded in biofilms. The research highlights the need for improved cleansers to combat this deadly superbug, which claims thousands of lives each year.
Researchers found that increased mercury levels in the environment contributed to the mass extinction of three out of four species on Earth 201 million years ago. The study suggests a cocktail effect of CO2, global warming, and toxic substances like mercury, challenging the traditional theory of greenhouse gas-induced climate change.
Researchers have discovered that pollen and spores can be converted into tiny particles that grab onto pollutants, removing them from water. These treated particles are hypoallergenic and show promise for low-level pollutant removal in various applications, including wastewater treatment.
Researchers at Monash University have discovered an antibiotic that can prevent the life-threatening diarrhea caused by C. difficile. The treatment strategy could also counter diseases caused by other similar bacteria, including anthrax. Studies show that cephamycins can reduce spore production of C. difficile and Bacillus cereus.
Researchers found that C. difficile spores resist treatment with recommended disinfectant and can persist on hospital gowns and stainless steel surfaces. The study highlights the need to reevaluate infection control strategies in hospitals.
A new biomaterial, mycokarst, made from mushroom spores has been developed to repair and strengthen building materials in extreme conditions. The material was tested on karst formations and found to be highly durable, capable of withstanding loads of up to 40 MPa.
Research finds that common types of mold spores on the International Space Station can survive high doses of ionizing radiation, raising concerns about contamination and planetary protection protocols. The findings also suggest that fungi could be used to produce important compounds like antibiotics and vitamins in space.
Researchers discovered that lung macrophages in mice act as 'Trojan horses' carrying fungal spores into the bloodstream. The study sheds light on why certain strains of a fungus are deadly while others are harmless.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that pathogenic fungal spores can escape the lung and infect the brain, causing fatal disease. The research sheds light on how Cryptococcus, a common human fungal pathogen, causes meningitis.
Researchers discovered that wheat plants' sneezing off condensation can spread spore-borne diseases like wheat leaf rust, causing crop yield losses up to 20%. Condensation droplets can carry spores and jump high distances, potentially spreading disease across entire crops.
A collaborative research project has identified a previously uncharacterised genetic mutation in clinical isolates leading to resistance. The finding challenges current paradigms and paves the way for designing changes in therapy to overcome antifungal-resistant diseases.
A study reveals that raindrop impact liberates thousands of dry dispersed spores, increasing their height and exposure to wind. This phenomenon enables the transport of plant pathogens beyond leaf boundaries and across several kilometers.
A recent study published in PNAS revealed that raindrop impact can transport rust spores using tornado-like air vortices, enabling long-distance pathogen spread. This discovery has significant implications for preventing disease spread in wheat crops and may inform new strategies for managing disease.
Researchers found that ants' subdivision into groups reduces disease risk by changing behavior and interaction patterns. Colonies protect the queen and most valuable individuals from pathogens, with a high correlation between predicted spore load and mortality.
The study found that the selfish genes were unrelated to each other and use different mechanisms to kill sibling spores, suggesting they may be more common than previously thought. The discovery provides new insights into the genetics of fungal fratricide and has implications for understanding evolutionary patterns.
A phase I clinical trial found bacterial Clostridium novyi-NT spores to be tolerable and clinically effective in patients with treatment-refractory solid tumor malignancies. The therapy showed early clinical efficacy, with 86% of evaluable patients experiencing stable disease.
Researchers studied Bacillus bacteria that produce highly resistant spores and found unique genes contributing to their resistance. The discovery sheds light on the challenges of eliminating microbes in clean rooms and spacecraft.
A new study reveals that the asteroid impact that wiped out dinosaurs also caused a mass extinction of forests, leading to the demise of tree-dwelling birds. The research team analyzed fossil records and pollen evidence to conclude that the temporary loss of forests after the impact made it impossible for arboreal birds to survive.
Researchers studied Dictyostelium discoideum in the wild using gene sequencing techniques. They found that genes related to social conflict were evolving rapidly, supporting laboratory experiments on social interactions. The study also showed that cells sacrifice themselves for relatives, demonstrating kin selection.
Researchers have documented a strange relationship between periodical cicadas and a fungus called Massospora cicadina that hijacks their behavior and causes them to spread the fungus' spores. The infected cicadas exhibit unusual behaviors, such as wing flicking and attempting to mate with uninfected females.
A new study uses computer-based models to identify mechanisms used by bacterial spores to evade extreme temperatures, chemicals, and radiation. The researchers determined the optimal conditions for killing harmful bacteria, revealing a unique 'freeze-dried' state that protects the DNA machinery.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a self-healing fungi concrete that can repair cracks in aging concrete permanently. The fungus, Trichoderma reesei, is mixed with concrete and germinates when water and oxygen enter the crack, producing calcium carbonate to heal the damage.
The University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic Lymphoma SPORE is one of the nation's longest-standing programs, funded for five years at $12.4 million. The team conducts translational and clinical studies to develop new approaches to lymphoma prevention, detection, and treatment.
Human immune cells in the lungs can trigger programmed cell death in inhaled fungal pathogens, preventing germination and host invasion. Pharmacologic inhibition of a key fungal protein has shown promise as a potential therapeutic approach against invasive aspergillosis.
Research suggests that soybean rust spores can travel long distances and reach the Midwestern crop earlier in the season, posing a threat to the region's soybean fields. Environmental factors like humidity, moisture, and wind speed influence short-distance movement of the disease.
Researchers discovered a method to track gypsy moth fungus, understanding its range and predicting damage. The study suggests that understanding the distances these killer spores travel could help scientists correlate the fungus' range with weather patterns.
Researchers at Duke University discovered how fungal spores use the power of merging water droplets to launch themselves. The team used high-speed cameras and an inkjet printer to study the mechanism, which involves the release of energy from the merged drop causing the spore to break away.
Excess gut calcium plays a crucial role in triggering the germination of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) spores, according to new research published in PLoS Pathogens. This discovery may lead to better treatment for vulnerable patients and help slow or stop the transmission cycle of C. diff infections.
Researchers discovered that anthrax spores stimulate the host immune system by activating a distinct set of immune sensors that don't recognize the active form of Bacillus anthracis. This triggers an unfavorable immune response, hindering the body's fight against the bacterium after germination.
Airborne allergens are found at variable elevations, up to 2000 meters, contradicting the long-held assumption that they only originate from local sources. The study suggests the formation of aeroallergen clouds at high altitudes.
Researchers at TGen and NAU used deep DNA sequencing to recreate the anthrax genome from Sverdlovsk, Russia victims, providing a precise examination of the anthrax strain used in Soviet biological weapons development. The study's findings put the strain into a global context, enabling forensic tracking and identification.
A four-year NSF grant supports Elizabeth Ostrowski's research on the evolution of social cooperation in Dicty amoebae. The study explores how organisms can work together despite individual benefits from cooperation, and how this cooperation is influenced by evolutionary pressures.
Bacterial spore formation is triggered by the slowdown of cellular growth, according to a new study published in Molecular Systems Biology. The research reveals that stressed-out bacteria make life-or-death decisions to form spores due to the concentration of a key protein, which builds up during starvation.
Researchers discovered that fungal spores can infect human immune cells, allowing them to transport themselves and cause systemic infections. The discovery sheds light on the ecological adaptation of Aspergillus terreus and its potential for detrimental effects in human infections.
Research from North Carolina State University finds that antibiotics kill off bacteria that alter bile acids, allowing C. diff to germinate and grow in the large intestine. The study sheds light on how antibiotics can promote C. diff infections by disrupting the gut microbiota.
Scientists have developed a fast method to sequence irradiated anthrax spores, which can aid in tracking biocrimes. The new approach uses computer programming to reconstruct full DNA sequences from broken fragments.
The National Cancer Institute has awarded BIDMC a five-year, $11.3 million grant renewal to continue its leadership in a multi-center kidney cancer research consortium. This funding will support four research projects focused on targeting critical molecular pathways and developing effective treatment combinations.
The University of Iowa has received a $10.67 million SPORE grant to research neuroendocrine tumors, which have seen a five-fold increase in incidence over three decades. The grant aims to develop new diagnostic and treatment approaches through analyzing gene expression profiles and identifying important mutations.
Researchers at UCSF are studying a molecular pathway that underlies many cancers, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment. The grant will integrate data from preclinical studies and precision medicine technologies to generate high-resolution molecular information on NF1-associated tumors.
Scientists have identified 18 proteins crucial to the transformation of fungal spores into disease-causing yeast, offering hope for preventative treatments. By blocking these proteins, researchers aim to prevent the spread of meningitis and other fungal diseases.
Researchers discovered that bacteria time their sporulation decision with their cell-division cycle, using the location of genes on the circular chromosome. This timing allows for accurate determination of whether to reproduce or form spores.
Researchers at Penn State discovered Sphaerobolus stellatus, also known as artillery or shotgun fungus, is the causal agent for emerging turfgrass disease thatch collapse. The fungus causes circular patches of dark-green turf and a characteristic mushroom odor.
Researchers create two novel devices that harness the power of evaporation to generate electricity and propel self-sustaining devices. The floating piston-driven engine generates enough electricity to cause a light to flash, while the rotary engine drives a miniature car.
Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered a blueprint for battling human disease using DNA clad in near-indestructible armor, offering a promising template for delivering gene therapy.
Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have visualized the structural changes Clostridium spores undergo during germination, which could help control pathogenic bacteria. The study provides new insights into the genetic controls of spore germination and reveals that spores have polarity that aligns structures correctly.
A new study by Loyola researchers shows that giving non-toxic C. difficile spores orally can stop repeated bouts of the infection, which occurs in 25-30% of patients. The treatment reduces recurrence rates to as low as 5%, offering real hope for those debilitated by recurring bouts.
A team of scientists found that cheater amoebae produce fewer high-quality spores, which survive better, suggesting a more balanced system than previously thought. This discovery has implications for developing therapies using socially successful bacteria to fight diseases.
Researchers created a nanobot on a bacterial spore, using graphene quantum dots to detect changes in humidity. The device, called NERD, responds 10 times faster and is more sensitive in low-humidity situations.
Researchers discovered that C. difficile bacteria can wreak havoc on the gut within 24 hours of exposure, causing severe diarrhea and life-threatening disease. The study found that bile acids 'wake up' dormant spores, allowing them to grow into toxin-producing cells in the large intestine.
The Wistar Institute and Penn Medicine have collaborated on a $12.1 million SPORE grant to develop new therapies for melanoma. The goal of this project is to translate fundamental laboratory discoveries into new therapeutics that will benefit patients with melanoma and other skin cancers.