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.....»»
Newly discovered virus can kill resistant bacteria
The Danish creeks, Odense Å and Lindved Å, have surprised researchers and students at SDU by containing previously unknown virus species......»»
Fiber discovery could shape better gut health
Changing the structure of a dietary fiber commonly found in a range of food products has been found to promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce gas formation, a finding that could help people with intolerances to fiber and irritable bowel conditions......»»
Examining how bacteria manipulates the immune response to spread unnoticed
Bacterial toxins have always been seen as dangerous molecules—but may also act as negotiators between bacteria and the host immune response to enable long-term infection. Anna Bergonzini, at the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå University,.....»»
Detecting rapidly mutating bacteria and viruses with AutoPLP
As we now know from our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, the microbes responsible for some infections can rapidly mutate into variants that evade detection and treatment......»»
Scientists decipher how non-resistant forms of Staph aureus thwart antibiotics, almost like a superbug
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has a slew of surprises in its bag of dirty tricks and among the most puzzling has been the ability of non-resistant forms of the bacteria to emerge unscathed, even after exposure to high concentrations of chemical w.....»»
A Novel Male Birth Control Could Be an ‘On-Off Switch for Sperm’
A new compound halts sperm in their tracks. It’s fast-acting, temporary, hormone-free, and highly effective—in mice......»»
Plasmid-host manipulation discovery challenges biology textbooks
Bacteria can pass genetic information among themselves to gain an advantage over competitors in their environment......»»
Bacteria communicate like we do, and we can use this to help address antibiotic resistance
Like the neurons firing in human brains, bacteria use electricity to communicate and respond to environmental cues. Now, researchers have discovered a way to control this electrical signaling in bacteria, to better understand resistance to antibiotic.....»»
Antibiotic consumption is currently not the main driver of aminoglycoside resistance spread, study suggests
The spread of antibiotic resistance, whereby infectious bacteria are able to defeat the drugs intended to kill them, may not be primarily driven by antibiotic consumption, according to a study published today in eLife......»»
Study reveals how drug resistant bacteria secrete toxins, suggesting targets to reduce virulence
Antimicrobial resistance represents one of the top 10 global public health threats according to the World Health Organization, and scientists have been scrambling to find new tools to cure the most deadly drug-resistant infections......»»
The mysterious black behemoths controlling our galaxies
Scientists try to unravel the birth, growth and power of black holes, some of the most forceful yet difficult-to-detect objects in our universe......»»
Fleeting interactions between the smallest phytoplankton and bacteria help to shape global ocean productivity
Microorganisms, or microbes, are the engines driving large-scale ecological and biogeochemical processes in the ocean......»»
"We"re not all that different": Study IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease
When it comes to fighting off invaders, bacteria operate in a remarkably similar way to human cells, possessing the same core machinery required to switch immune pathways on and off, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research......»»
When editing bacteria with CRISPR, less is more
Systematically attenuating DNA targeting activity can achieve CRISPR-driven editing in bacteria, greatly boosting colony counts and even increasing the frequency of precise genome editing. This was shown in a study of the Helmholtz Institute Würzbur.....»»
US woman has walked around with untreated TB for over a year, now faces jail
Recent X-rays of her lungs were so bad, doctors thought she had cancer. Enlarge / Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB. (credit: Getty | NIH/NIAID) A woman in Washington sta.....»»
A protein structure reveals how replication of DNA coding for antibiotic resistance is initiated
In all living organisms, DNA replication is essential to ensure the genetic fidelity of the next generation. However, bacteria can also transfer genetic information horizontally to other bacteria. Many species of pathogenic bacteria have transmissibl.....»»
Harmful bacteria can elude predators when in mixed colonies
Efforts to fight disease-causing bacteria by harnessing their natural predators could be undermined when multiple species occupy the same space, according to a study by Dartmouth College researchers......»»
Research team establishes cell lines to improve iPSC research
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) lines have become essential for determining the underlying genetic drivers of human disease. Genomes of iPSCs can be easily edited using the bacteria-based CRISPR/Cas9 technology to introduce or correct disease-as.....»»
Lunaemycin, a new antibiotic extracted from moonmilk deposits
A study conducted by scientists from the University of Liège and the HEDERA-22 spin-off on moon milk—a mineral deposit found in caves and used for its curative properties—has led to the discovery of a cryptic compound active against bacteria tha.....»»
Recreating the natural light-harvesting nanorings in photosynthetic bacteria
Nearly all the chemical energy available to Earth's lifeforms can be traced back to the sun. This is because light-harvesting (LH) supramolecules (two or more molecules held together by intermolecular forces) enable plants and some types of bacteria.....»»