Gene editing makes bacteria-killing viruses even more deadly
The viruses are engineered to damage essential E coli. genes. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Broad-spectrum antibiotics are akin to nuclear bombs, obliterating every prokaryote they meet. They're effective at eliminating.....»»
"Silent" mutations found to have repercussions beyond their own gene
Genetic disorders—like cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease—are considered incurable, with gene mutations occurring in essentially every cell of the body. Gene mutations occur when one nucleotide in a codon is switched. In non-synonymous muta.....»»
New vaccine protects cattle from deadly tick-borne disease
University of Missouri researchers are working to develop the first-ever vaccine proven to protect cattle from a devastating tick-borne cattle disease known as bovine anaplasmosis. The research is vital to the state's economy as it aims to protect Mi.....»»
Tattoo ink sold on Amazon has high levels of weird and rare bacteria
The recall announcement noted that the germs "present a health concern." Enlarge / BARCELONA, SPAIN - 2021/10/02: Spanish tattoo artist Oscar Garcia works on a man, during the Expo. Fira de Barcelona hosts the XXIV edition of the.....»»
Moths may use disco gene to regulate day/night cycles
How does one species become two? If you're a biologist, that's a loaded question. The consensus is that, in most cases, the process of speciation occurs when individuals from a single population become geographically isolated. If they remain separate.....»»
The deadly cost of workplace rudeness: Study highlight adverse effects on team performance
Teams from the University of Florida, Indiana University, and other universities across the U.S. and Israel recently conducted five eye-opening studies about rudeness, uncovering that even mild instances of this behavior can significantly impair empl.....»»
"Alarming" rise in deadly lightning strikes in India: scientists
Climate change is fueling an alarming increase in deadly lightning strikes in India, killing nearly 1,900 people a year in the world's most populous country, scientists warn......»»
Lateral movement: Clearest sign of unfolding ransomware attack
44% of unfolding ransomware attacks were spotted during lateral movement, according to Barracuda Networks. 25% of incidents were detected when the attackers started writing or editing files, and 14% were unmasked by behavior that didn’t fit with kn.....»»
Elon Musk foreclosing on former home of actor Gene Wilder
Tesla's CEO sold the home, which is down the street from where Lee Iacocca used to live, in 2020 when he was getting rid of some possessions......»»
Scientists use evolution to bioengineer new pathways to sustainable energy and pharmaceuticals
Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucos.....»»
3D shapes of viral proteins point to previously unknown roles
Viruses are tricky to keep up with. They evolve quickly and regularly develop new proteins that help them infect their hosts. These rapid shifts mean that researchers are still trying to understand a multitude of viral proteins and precisely how they.....»»
Researchers investigate cell-free DNA as early sepsis marker in foals
It's hard to be a horse. It's especially hard to be a newborn foal, dropped into a world of microbes and bacteria with your sole initial defense against devastating infections being the antibodies you get from your mother's milk, or colostrum. Resear.....»»
Locked in a glacier: Virus adaptations to extreme weather provide climate change insights
Ancient viruses preserved in glacial ice hold valuable information about changes in Earth's climate, a new study suggests......»»
New genetic sensor for DNA methylation discovered
DNA methylation is a process in which a methyl group is attached to the cytosine base of the DNA molecule, and is a major way that DNA is epigenetically marked. Epigenetic modifications can act as on–off switches to regulate gene expression and hel.....»»
Hybrid imaging approach reveals microbes in 3D
Caltech researchers have developed a new method to create three-dimensional images of complex communities of bacteria and plant roots. The technology synthesizes two traditional methods of imaging: visualizing microbes with fluorescence and a noninva.....»»
Floods ease in Bangladesh but 300,000 still in shelters
River waters in low-lying Bangladesh are receding after days of deadly floods but 300,000 people are still in emergency shelters requiring aid, disaster officials said Sunday......»»
Coaxing purple bacteria into becoming bioplastic factories
In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment......»»
Researchers achieve first CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats
A team of researchers at Michigan State University has discovered a set of methods that enabled the first successful CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats......»»
From recycling to food: Can we eat plastic-munching microbes?
Researchers are trying to turn plastic-eating bacteria into food source for humans. Enlarge (credit: Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images) In 2019, an agency within the US Department of Defense released a call for resear.....»»
Mosquitoes sense infrared from body heat to help track humans down, study shows
While a mosquito bite is often no more than a temporary bother, in many parts of the world it can be scary. One mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, spreads the viruses that cause over 100,000,000 cases of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and other diseases ev.....»»
Engineers design lookalike drug nanocarrier to evade lung"s lines of defense
A drug-carrying molecule designed to cure disease by slipping past the lung's natural defenses offers new hope for people with chronic or deadly respiratory diseases, say its creators, researchers in assistant professor Liheng Cai's Soft Biomatter La.....»»