Bacteria do not colonize the gut before birth
Researchers examined prenatal stool (meconium) samples collected from 20 babies during breech Cesarean delivery. By including only breech caesarean deliveries in healthy pregnant women they were able to avoid the transmission of bacteria that occurs.....»»
Study shows antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" are being passed between dogs and cats and their owners
Evidence that multidrug-resistant bacteria are being passed between pet cats and dogs and their owners will be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark (15-18 April)......»»
After decades of lurking, an elusive bacterium finally strikes in California
California man is first to have a confirmed B. miyamotoi infection in western US. Enlarge / This highly magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image depicts a number of spirochete bacteria, atop a culture of cotton-tail ra.....»»
Uncovering the secrets of how chromosomes assemble
Experiments using extracts from African clawed frog eggs have revealed how a key protein complex is regulated to assemble chromosomes during cell division. This finding could help to shed light on the development of certain cancers and birth defects.....»»
Tiny biobattery with potential 100-year shelf life runs on bacteria
Last fall, Professor Seokheun "Sean" Choi and his Bioelectronics and Microsystems Laboratory published their research into an ingestible biobattery activated by the Ph factor of the human intestine......»»
Cutting cable bacteria with a laser puts an end to a bacterial party
The party-poopers cutting the cable bacteria are researchers from the Center for Electromicrobiology (CEM) at Aarhus University. The center's work focuses on unraveling the mysteries of how cable bacteria work......»»
In the War on Bacteria, It’s Time to Call in the Phages
Researchers say viruses can kill antibiotic-resistant microbes and help treat infections. Regulators have to figure out how to get them on the market......»»
3D printed ferroelectric materials proven to eliminate harmful bacteria including E. coli
A new way of using 3D printing to create infection-fighting materials for use as medical implants has been revealed in a new research paper, published in Advanced Materials Technologies......»»
Humans vs. bacteria: Differences in ribosome decoding revealed
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital revealed that human ribosomes decode messenger RNA (mRNA) 10 times slower than bacterial ribosomes, but do so more accurately. The study, published today in Nature, used a combination of field-leadi.....»»
Keeping competitors away drives colonization success in plant microbiota
In recent years, the microbiota—communities of microorganisms composed primarily of bacteria and fungi that are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans, animals and plants—has come into focus due to their contributions to the health a.....»»
Researchers discover new class of ribosomal peptide with hemolytic activity
Living organisms produce a myriad of natural products which can be used in modern medicine and therapeutics. Bacteria and other microbes have become the main source for natural products, including a growing family called ribosomally synthesized and p.....»»
Bacterial signaling across biofilm affected by surface structure, shows study
Similar to how cells within human tissues communicate and function together as a whole, bacteria are also able to communicate with each other through chemical signals, a behavior known as quorum signaling (QS). These chemical signals spread through a.....»»
Microbiologists discover a regulatory mechanism that keeps cancer-causing bacteria in check
Researchers at the Forsyth Institute have discovered an important mechanism that may have profound implications for how we prevent colorectal cancer. Oddly enough, their discovery began in the mouth......»»
In the war on bacteria, it’s time to call in the phages
Regulators have to figure out how to get them on the market. Enlarge (credit: Jacqui VanLiew/Getty Images) Ella Balasa was 26 when she realized the routine medical treatments that sustained her were no longer working. Th.....»»
New shape-shifting antibiotics could fight deadly infections
In the United States alone, drug-resistant bacteria and fungi infect almost 3 million people per year and kill about 35,000. Antibiotics are essential and effective, but in recent years overuse has led to some bacteria developing resistance to them......»»
New research shows that bacteria get "hangry" too
Have you ever been so hungry that you become angry, otherwise known as "hangry?" New research by Adam Rosenthal, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, has found that some bacteria cells get hangry too, releasing.....»»
Important enzyme for the composition of the gut microbiome discovered
The intestinal microbiome, i.e., the community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the human gut, has been shown to affect the metabolism and the immune system. We still do not fully understand how the symbiosis between a healthy microb.....»»
Study: Visible light induces bacteria to produce superoxide for manganese oxidation
Manganese oxides are natural reactive minerals and widely spread in aquatic and terrestrial environments, affecting the fate of metals (such as As3+ and Cd2+) and organic pollutants (such as phenols and diclofenac) through adsorption and oxidation in.....»»
Engineered E. coli delivers therapeutic nanobodies to the gut
Humans are colonized with thousands of bacterial strains. Researchers are now focused on genetically modifying such bacteria to enhance their intrinsic therapeutic properties......»»
Removing cancer-causing heavy metals from wastewater with photocatalysts
Toxic heavy metals found in wastewater have health and safety ramifications for communities affected by pollution. Hexavalent chromium is a dangerous, cancer-causing byproduct of industrial processes that is known to cause birth defects, severe diarr.....»»
White-tailed deer blood shown to kill bacteria that causes Lyme disease
As tick season kicks in across the country, the executive director of the University of Massachusetts Amherst-based New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC) and his team have completed research that offers a promising lead i.....»»