More bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics: How viruses and vaccines could help
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are killing more people each year, but scientists are turning to their natural virus predators to treat infections, as well as new vaccines to prevent disease......»»
Advancing drug delivery: New framework links lipid nanoparticle structure to immune response
A new framework bridges a gap in understanding RNA therapeutics by linking the structure of lipid nanoparticles to immune response. It can help scientists and engineers expand the use of RNA medicines beyond vaccines to other therapeutic applications.....»»
Research on how gut bacteria breaks down dietary fiber could lead to helpful new probiotics
There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables, some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites, small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair......»»
Nanomedicine advances deliver precise antibiotic doses to fight infections and drug resistance
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a new technology that can hold an entire course of antibiotics in one tiny dose and deliver on demand just the right amount of medication that a particular patient needs to fight an infection.....»»
New technology illustrates bacterial "hibernation states"
Like hibernating bears, certain bacterial cells have the ability to shift into a "low-power" metabolic state in which they can stably survive without growing. This state is often seen in the context of antibiotic-resistant infections as bacteria form.....»»
Drug delivery system overcomes circulatory roadblock that prevents gene therapies from reaching their targets
Exploiting the remarkable capability of viruses to transport gene therapies past what until now has been a circulatory roadblock is at the heart of a University of Alberta-led discovery that promises to re-energize the field of genetic medicine......»»
Researcher finds special proteins are key when antibiotic resistance spreads
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem globally. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that some bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics have the ability to spread that resistance to other bacteria via secretion systems......»»
Structural biology analysis of a Pseudomonas bacterial virus reveals a genome ejection motor
The viruses that infect bacteria are the most abundant biological entities on the planet. For example, a recent simple study of 92 showerheads and 36 toothbrushes from American bathrooms found more than 600 types of bacterial viruses, commonly called.....»»
Discovery of new bacterial toxins could be key to fighting infections
Researchers have discovered a new group of bacterial toxins that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi, opening the door to potential new treatments for infections. These toxins, found in over 100,000 microbial genomes, can destroy the cells of bacteri.....»»
Unexpected beauty and major antimicrobial power boost as phages form into surprising flower shapes
A group of McMaster researchers who routinely work with bacteriophages—viruses that eat bacteria—had a pleasant and potentially very important surprise while preparing slides to view under a powerful microscope......»»
"Nano-weapon" discovery boosts fight against antibiotic-resistant hospital superbugs
Researchers have discovered how a bacteria found in hospitals uses "nano-weapons" to enable their spread, unlocking new clues in the fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs......»»
Chemical trick activates antibiotic directly at the pathogen
Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic that is usually only used for severe infections with resistant bacteria. This is due to its severe kidney-damaging side effects, which occur in about 30% of treated patients. A research team at the Helmholtz Cente.....»»
Materials of the future can be extracted from wastewater
A group of researchers is on the way to revolutionizing what biomass from wastewater treatment plants can be used for. Biopolymers from bacteria can be a sustainable alternative to oil-based products, and phosphorus and other minerals can also be har.....»»
Q&A: A faster way to identify drought-resistant plants for crop breeding research
Climate change is making droughts more common and more severe—which makes research into developing drought-resistant crops more important than ever. Now researchers have developed a new framework that should expedite this important research......»»
A method to switch between optical pulling and pushing forces by altering the shape of Fermi arcs in Weyl systems
Optical forces, which act like an invisible "hand," are capable of precisely controlling tiny particles. Optical tweezers, a well-known tool, use this force to capture and manipulate small objects such as cells, bacteria, and viruses. This effect is.....»»
Biofilms study reveals how multiple bacteria species manage to coexist
Biofilms—slimy communities of bacteria—grow on all sorts of surfaces: from glaciers and hot springs to plant roots, your bathtub and fridge, wounds, and medical devices such as catheters. Most biofilms are composed of multiple bacterial species,.....»»
Catching prey with grappling hooks and cannons: The unusual weapons arsenal of a predatory marine bacterium
Countless bacteria call the vastness of the oceans home, and they all face the same problem: the nutrients they need to grow and multiply are scarce and unevenly distributed in the waters around them. In some spots they are present in abundance, but.....»»
Pathogenic system found on Providencia rustigianii has virulence gene akin to Salmonella"s
Salmonella and E. coli are well-known bacteria that cause food poisoning, but less understood are species of Providencia, another causative agent of serious symptoms......»»
GPT-4-based AI agents show promise for detecting antimicrobial resistance
Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have used artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The team led by Adrian Egli, UZH professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, is the first to investigate how.....»»
Mangrove microbes show potential for breaking down plastics
A way to select a suite of mangrove bacteria that can transform plastic has been developed that potentially offers a new strategy in the global toolkit of plastic waste cleanup. Researchers have assessed the impact of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).....»»
Identifying the genes that viruses "steal" from ocean microbes
The microbes that cycle nutrients in the ocean don't do the work on their own—the viruses that infect them also influence the process. It's a vital job for the rest of the planet, enabling oceans to absorb half of the human-generated carbon in the.....»»