Bacteria"s shapeshifting behaviour clue to new treatments for urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections are both very common and potentially very dangerous. More than half of all Australian women will suffer from a UTI in their lifetime, and nearly one in three women will have an infection requiring treatment with antibiotics b.....»»
Scientists discover novel receptor recognition mechanism for alphavirus
Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), an alphavirus, can cause central nervous system infections that can lead to severe encephalitis with a mortality rate of over 30%......»»
Stranded student helps design synthetic polymers to combat fungal infections
Every year, more than 2 million people are affected by invasive fungal infections, which are often caused by Candida species and are associated with high mortality rates. The development of new therapies is progressing very slowly. Demand is increasi.....»»
Bacteria make thermally stable plastics similar to polystyrene and PET for the first time
Bioengineers around the world have been working to create plastic-producing microbes that could replace the petroleum-based plastics industry. Now, researchers from Korea have overcome a major hurdle: getting bacteria to produce polymers that contain.....»»
Cellular DNA damage response pathways might be useful against some disease-causing viruses
New research reveals that triggering a cell's DNA damage response could be a promising avenue for developing novel treatments against several rare but devastating viruses for which no antiviral treatments exist, possibly including human papilloma vir.....»»
Study discovers an electric current in the gut that attracts pathogens like Salmonella
How do bad bacteria find entry points in the body to cause infection? This question is fundamental for infectious disease experts and people who study bacteria. Harmful pathogens, like Salmonella, find their way through a complex gut system where the.....»»
Roundworm study paves way for better RNA-based drugs to treat human disease
RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have garnered significant attention in clinical research due to their potential for treating various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections and cancer. These therapeutics can target and silence di.....»»
Sponges" symbiosis with bacteria helps them store toxic molybdenum to keep predators away, study shows
A new study at Tel Aviv University found that sponges in the Gulf of Eilat have developed an original way to keep predators away. The researchers found that the sponges contain an unprecedented concentration of the highly toxic mineral molybdenum (Mo.....»»
Mosquitoes use gut bacteria to fight the malaria they transmit—scientists are exploring how to use this
The months of September to May are an unfortunate season in South Africa: malaria season. The mosquito-borne disease is found in the north-eastern districts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces......»»
First spatial map of malaria infection in the liver opens new possibilities for more effective treatments
For the malaria parasite to reach the blood of its human host, it must first enter the liver, where only a small number of parasites differentiate and replicate for upward of seven days, making it a bottleneck in the parasite's lifecycle. This bottle.....»»
Unveiling the intricate and subtle dance of proteins: Understanding how parasites disarm host defenses
Pathogens hijack host cell functions by expressing or secreting effector proteins, creating environments conducive to their survival and reproduction. These pathogenic microorganisms—including eukaryotic parasites, prokaryotic bacteria, and viruses.....»»
Genomic research focuses on medical potential for scorpion venom
Scientists at Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas have produced a high-quality genome assembly for a scorpion. The genome could lead to the development of new medically relevant pain treatments. The work is published in the journal G3.....»»
New bacteria-derived hydrogel shows promise for muscle tissue regeneration
A research team at the Technical University of Denmark, led by Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, has recently made strides in tissue engineering and cell therapy by harnessing the healing power of bacteria......»»
Urban Birds Are Harboring Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Exposure to bacteria in landfill sites and polluted rivers may explain prevalence among city-dwelling birds......»»
New research shows agricultural impacts on soil microbiome and fungal communities
New research from Smithsonian's Bird Friendly Coffee program highlights a type of biodiversity that often gets overlooked: soil bacteria and fungal communities. For over twenty years, Smithsonian research has shown that coffee farms with shade trees.....»»
New genetic analysis of Lyme disease-causing bacteria could improve diagnosis and treatment
A genetic analysis of Lyme disease bacteria may pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the tick-borne ailment......»»
Enhanced model enables more realistic biofilms for studying ventilator pneumonia
Scientists at The University of Warwick have made a breakthrough which could help find new treatments for a deadly infection that can affect up to 40% of hospital patients using mechanical ventilators. The study is published in Microbiology......»»
Surprise finding in study of environmental bacteria could advance search for better antibiotics
In what they labeled a "surprising" finding, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers studying bacteria from freshwater lakes and soil say they have determined a protein's essential role in maintaining the germ's shape. Because the integrity of a bacterial.....»»
Research reveals pharmaceuticals are polluting England"s National Parks
Research from the University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed widespread contamination of rivers in the parks, with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators and diabetes treatments bein.....»»
Could manure and compost act like probiotics, reducing antibiotic resistance in urban soils?
Urban soils often contain chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals or trace amounts of antibiotics, along with higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. New research from the University of Maryland suggests that, in some cases, boosting urba.....»»
City birds found to be carriers of antimicrobial resistant bacteria
Research led by scientists at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research at Oxford University has found that wild birds such as ducks and crows living close to humans, for example in cities, are likely to carry bacteria with antimicrobial.....»»