A new bacterial blueprint to aid in the war on antibiotic resistance
A team of scientists from around the globe, including those from Trinity College Dublin, has gained high-res structural insights into a key bacterial enzyme that may help chemists design new drugs to inhibit it and thus suppress disease-causing bacte.....»»
How does a bacterium know it"s time to split apart?
Bacterial cells do not wake up one morning and decide to become parents. But there is a point in their cell cycle—after growing sufficiently and replicating their genomes—when they split in two, creating new cells that then repeat the process. Wh.....»»
Blighia sapida: A tropical fruit with antimicrobial properties
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains 1 of the top 3 global public health challenges facing humanity. Every year, 70,000 people die globally from AMR, and the threat is exacerbated by the fact that we have moved from the era of excess antibiotics to.....»»
What makes an orange? New study finds one gene, seven chemicals
Tracing an orange's flavor could help us get both disease resistance and taste. Enlarge (credit: Tanja Ivanova) In the US, for orange juice to be labeled as such, it must be 90 percent sweet orange, or Citrus sinensis. T.....»»
Aroma compound found to reduce the effects of drought, improve productivity of tomato plants
Tomato plants emit a scent to resist bacterial attacks. This aroma—or volatile compound—is hexenyl butanoate (HB). A team from the Research Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP), a joint center of the Universitat Politècnica.....»»
What makes a pathogen antibiotic-resistant?
Antimicrobial resistance is a story of constantly moving parts and players. With every new or tweaked antibiotic or antimicrobial drug, the targeted pathogens begin the evolutionary dance of acquiring resistance, prompting researchers to constantly d.....»»
Narwal Freo X Ultra review: shaking up the robot vacuum formula
The Narwal Freo X Ultra isn't afraid to stray from the typical robot vacuum blueprint, and in doing so it outshines many competitors......»»
Scientists use a new type of nanoparticle that can both deliver vaccines and act as an adjuvant
Many vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B and whooping cough, consist of fragments of viral or bacterial proteins. These vaccines often include other molecules called adjuvants, which help to boost the immune system's response to the protein......»»
Researchers focus on finding flaws in superbugs" armor
Recent years have seen the rise of bacterial pathogens that have developed resistance to antibiotics. One such superbug, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), kills hundreds of critically ill patients in the U.S. each year, usually in.....»»
Possible "Trojan Horse" found for treating stubborn bacterial infections
Bacteria can be tricked into sending death signals to stop the growth of their slimy, protective homes that lead to deadly infections, a new study demonstrates......»»
Emerging Salmonella variety in dairy cows found to worsen antimicrobial resistance
A study of more than 5,000 Salmonella bacteria isolated over 15 years from dairy cattle samples in the Northeast reveals a significant increase in resistance to the antimicrobial medications ampicillin, florfenicol and ceftiofur......»»
Novel material degrades a widely used antibiotic that contaminates water
Levofloxacin is a widely used antibiotic prescribed to treat pneumonia, bacterial rhinosinusitis, bacterial prostatitis, pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections, skin disorders, and skin structure infections, among other conditions. The drug is prev.....»»
Team finds novel vehicle for antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a significant and growing medical problem worldwide. Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and collaborators have found a novel genetic arrangement that may help a common bacterium in the human gut, Bacteroide.....»»
Radio waves can tune up bacteria to become life-saving medicines
Scientists from Australia and the United States have found a new way to alter the DNA of bacterial cells—a process used to make many vital medicines including insulin—much more efficiently than standard industry techniques......»»
Scientists discover 18 new species of gut microbes in search for origins of antibiotic resistance
In a paper published February 28 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a research team describes the discovery of 18 never-before-seen species of bacteria of the Enterococcus type that contain hundreds of new genes—findings tha.....»»
Unlocking the secrets of geraniol: A key to enhanced disease resistance in tea plants
Geraniol contributes to the floral scent of tea (Camellia sinensis) and is abundant in tea plants, yet its biosynthesis and role in stress responses remain unclear......»»
Medicinal plant research unveils the genetic blueprint of Chaenomeles speciosa
Chaenomeles speciosa (2n=34), a diploid species within the Rosaceae family, has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for its various health benefits. To date, the lack of genomic sequence and genetic studies has impeded efforts to improve its.....»»
Scientists discover why ripe fruit is more susceptible to necrotrophic pathogens than unripe fruit
In a recent study published in Molecular Plant, researchers have elucidated the mechanism underlying the increased susceptibility to necrotrophs during fruit ripening and have developed a rapid strategy to improve tomato fruit resistance to necrotrop.....»»
Research confirms exogenous methyl jasmonate can enhance tomato resistance
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the most widely cultivated and consumed horticultural crop. At present, saline-alkali is an important abiotic stress source that affects tomato production. Exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can enhance the resistan.....»»
Unlocking the potential of protease inhibitors for enhanced pest resistance in tea plants
Protease inhibitors are a promising strategy for enhancing herbivore resistance in plants, which is crucial for addressing the significant yield losses in crops such as tea plants due to insect herbivores. Serine protease inhibitors (SERPIN) are one.....»»
The effects of primer pairs, PCR conditions, and peptide nucleic acid clamps on plant root fungal diversity assessment
Fungi are frequently found both around and within plant tissues (especially in roots) and are involved in both plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to pathogens. Thus, characterizing the diversity and composition of plant-associated fungal commu.....»»