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Categories: Biology: Microbiology, Space: General
Published New spray fights infections and antibiotic resistance
(via sciencedaily.com) The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks antibiotic resistance as one of the top ten threats to global health. There is therefore a great need for new solutions to tackle resistant bacteria and reduce the use of antibiotics. A group of researchers are now presenting a new spray that can kill even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that can be used for wound care and directly on implants and other medical devices.
Published Expert analysis refutes claims that humans are colonized by bacteria before birth
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientific claims that babies harbor live bacteria while still in the womb are inaccurate, and may have impeded research progress, according to new research/
Published Study suggests a way to re-energize tired T cells when treating cancer, viral infections
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study suggests a way to re-energize critical killer immune cells that have become exhausted when fighting cancer or chronic viral infections.
Published 'Friend or foe' bacteria kill their algal hosts when coexisting is no longer beneficial
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have detailed a lifestyle switch that occurs in marine bacteria, where they change from coexisting with algae hosts in a mutually beneficial interaction to suddenly killing them.
Published Immense diversity and interdependence in high temp deep-sea microorganism communities
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study finds that microorganisms live in richly diverse and interdependent communities in high-temperature geothermal environments in the deep sea. By constructing genomes of 3,635 Bacteria and Archaea from 40 different rock communities, researchers discovered at least 500 new genera and have evidence for two new phyla. Samples from the deep-sea Brothers volcano were especially enriched with different kinds of microorganisms, many endemic to the volcano. The genomic data from this study also showed that many of these organisms depend on one another for survival. Some microorganisms cannot metabolize all of the nutrients they need to survive so they rely on nutrients created by other species in a process known as a 'metabolic handoff.'
Published Virus plus microplastics equal double whammy for fish health
(via sciencedaily.com) Microplastics -- tiny particles generated as plastics weather and fragment -- pose a growing threat to ecosystem and human health. A new laboratory study shows these threats extend beyond direct physical or chemical impacts, revealing that the presence of microplastics increases the severity of an important viral fish disease.
Published Targeted test for antibiotic resistance in clinical Enterobacter species
(via sciencedaily.com) Bacteria of the genus Enterobacter are among the most dangerous bacteria associated with hospital infections worldwide. Some of their representatives are highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics, so that the reserve antibiotic colistin is increasingly used as a last resort therapy option. To avoid unnecessary reliance on colistin and risk increasing resistance, bacteria are tested for sensitivity or resistance to colistin before recommending treatment. However, commonly used tests for Enterobacter are not reliable.
Published Sweet salvation -- how a sugar cane pathogen is gearing up a new era of antibiotic discovery
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A potent plant toxin with a unique way of killing harmful bacteria has emerged as one of the strongest new antibiotic candidates in decades.
Published Bacteria really eat plastic
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The bacterium Rhodococcus ruber eats and actually digests plastic.
Published Avian flu could decimate Australian black swans
(via sciencedaily.com) The unique genetics of the Australian black swan leaves the species vulnerable to viral illnesses such as avian flu, new research has revealed.
Published New genetic disorder that causes susceptibility to opportunistic infections
(via sciencedaily.com) Immunogeneticists have discovered a new genetic disorder that causes immunodeficiency and profound susceptibility to opportunistic infections including a life-threatening fungal pneumonia.
Published First computational reconstruction of a virus in its biological entirety
(via sciencedaily.com) A researcher has created a computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome. Although other researchers have created similar reconstructions, this is believed to be the first to replicate the exact chemical and 3D structure of a 'live' virus.
Published New nanoparticles deliver therapy brain-wide, edit Alzheimer's gene in mice
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers describe a new family of nano-scale capsules made of silica that can carry genome-editing tools into many organs around the body and then harmlessly dissolve.
Published Parasitic mites' biting rate may drive transmission of Deformed wing virus in honey bees
(via sciencedaily.com) Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite that can cause European honey bee colonies to collapse by spreading Deformed wing virus as they feed. A study suggests a relatively small number of mites can contribute to a large number of infected bees.
Published Specific immune response to Epstein-Barr virus discovered
(via sciencedaily.com) Medical science has not yet been able to explain why the Epstein-Barr virus triggers infectious mononucleosis (IM) in some people with initial infections and not in others. But now, a research team has identified a specific immune response to the virus as the cause, and as a potential target for the development of vaccines.
Published Highly accurate test for common respiratory viruses uses DNA as 'bait'
(via sciencedaily.com) A new test 'fishes' for multiple respiratory viruses at once using single strands of DNA as 'bait', and gives highly accurate results in under an hour.
Published Madagascar mouse lemur retroviruses are diverse and surprisingly similar to ones found in polar bears or domestic sheep
(via sciencedaily.com) Madagascar is home to a unique biodiversity with a large number of endemic species, among those many lemur species, including the mouse lemurs. This diversity is also found in their retroviruses. Biologists analyzed the mouse lemur genome and identified viruses of two classes that represent ancient infections of the mouse lemur germline. The viruses now behave similarly to lemur genes and are thus called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). It was surprising that some of the identified retroviruses are closely related to viruses found in other, very different mammals such as polar bears or domestic sheep. This suggests an intriguing and complex pattern of host switching of retroviruses, much more complex than previously thought.
Published How sex differences influence lung injury in mice
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source More than 2,500 genes exhibit significant sex differences in expression in mouse alveolar type II cells (AT2s), important for keeping the lungs functioning, potentially explaining sex biases in the prevalence and severity of lung diseases. In particular, very high numbers of X-linked genes escape transcriptional silencing in lung alveolar type 2 (AT2s) cells, researchers report.
Published Developing mucosal vaccines for respiratory viruses
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Vaccines that provide long-lasting protection against influenza, coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have proved exceptionally difficult to develop. Researchers now explore the challenges and outline approaches to improved vaccines.
Published Elucidating enzyme gene expression in filamentous fungi for efficient biomass energy production
(via sciencedaily.com) A research team analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme production in Aspergillus aculeatus, a filamentous fungus that produces enzymes with an excellent ability to degrade plant biomass. The team found that UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (Uge5), an enzyme known for its involvement in galactose metabolism, also regulates the expression of degrading enzyme genes in A. aculeatus. This is the very first report of Uge5's roles in selective gene expression in response to different types of inducing sugars in filamentous fungi.