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IV drug abusers who undergo infective endocarditis surgery face higher risk of reoperation or death

Injection drug users who undergo surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) have a significantly higher risk of reoperation or death between 3 and 6 months after surgery compared to patients who develop endocarditis who are not IV drug abusers, according to an article in the September 2015 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

1 Sep 2015

Scientists provide specific recommendations to reduce health risks for beachgoers

Beach sand contains all kinds of microorganisms, including those that can harm human health. Yet current guidelines are focused exclusively on monitoring the levels of microbes in the water.

29 Aug 2015

Probiotics show no benefit in preventing gastrointestinal colonization with drug-resistant microbes in ICU patients

Compared with routine medical care, probiotics administered to critically ill patients in intensive care units showed no benefit in preventing the colonization of drug-resistant microbes in the intestinal tract, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

28 Aug 2015

Study shows how single-cell organisms can somersault or bend their bodies

In a paper appearing in Scientific Reports today, the motion of micro-organisms as they swim through various types of fluid channels show "quite strange and new" responses for single cell organisms, including the performance of somersaults, meandering wanderings, and even a ballistic type of behavior, wrote Sunghwan "Sunny" Jung, a member of the Virginia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics.

20 Aug 2015

Analysis of toilet waste from international aircraft may lead to global surveillance of infectious diseases

Current international disease surveillance systems are mainly based on reports made by doctors after treatment of infected patients. As a consequence, disease-causing microorganisms and resistance bacteria have time to spread and make large population groups sick before they are detected.

20 Aug 2015

Scientists create membrane capable of detecting organisms that trigger diarrhea, intestinal problems

A group of scientists from the Institute of Ecology and the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Mexico, created a membrane capable of simultaneously detecting numerous organisms in the water or food that cause diarrhea and intestinal problems. This health problem annually kills 760 000 children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization.

20 Aug 2015

Researchers identify potential drug target to fight TB

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first new drug to fight tuberculosis (TB) in more than 40 years, but treatment still takes six months, 200 pills and leaves 40 percent of patients uncured. Thus, new targets are needed. Today in ACS Central Science, researchers report they have identified one such target -- a gene that allows the disease to camp out in human immune cells, and is thus essential for the organism's proliferation.

13 Aug 2015

IU scientists find evidence that invisible war between microorganisms may affect human health

Health experts have warned for years that the overuse of antibiotics is creating "superbugs" able to resist drugs treating infection.

31 Jul 2015

Research: Algae’s natural sunscreen molecules absorb UVA and UVB radiation with high efficiency

For consumers searching for just the right sunblock this summer, the options can be overwhelming. But scientists are now turning to the natural sunscreen of algae -- which is also found in fish slime -- to make a novel kind of shield against the sun's rays that could protect not only people, but also textiles and outdoor materials.

30 Jul 2015

Study provides new insights into mechanism that controls differences in gut's ability to fight infections

Considering how many microorganisms we ingest each day, our gut has an extensive and well-developed immune system. This defense is involved in acute and chronic gut diseases, but it varies dramatically among people. A persistent question is how our genetic make-up affects our gut's ability to fight infections. EPFL scientists have found that gut immunity is not affected by single genes but by entire groups of genes.

28 Jul 2015

UO researchers to examine effects of climate change on indoor air quality

University of Oregon researchers and industry partners are exploring how indoor home microbial environments change -- and what that means to human health -- when whole-house weatherization projects are implemented.

28 Jul 2015

UChicago, Argonne National Laboratory and USF to jointly study gut microbiomes of premature infants

Scientists have suspected that this initial disruption is linked to health problems down the road—things like autism, asthma, food allergies and autoimmune diseases—but so far they only have circumstantial evidence based on case studies.

17 Jul 2015

Light-based technologies help improve food shelf life, guard against food contaminants

Light-based technologies are emerging as tools to enhance food shelf life and guard against food contaminants but more research needs to be done, warn food scientists at a July 13 panel discussion at IFT15: Where Science Feeds Innovation hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago.

16 Jul 2015

Correlated Light & Electron Microscopy at the Universities of Delft and Groningen

DELMIC develops and manufactures products which are focused on high performance, user friendly, integrated microscopy solutions. Users of Delmic's SECOM solution for Correlated Light & Electron Microscopy (CLEM) have recently published a review in Nature Methods that illustrates the power of CLEM in the world of biology.

From Delmic B.V. 14 Jul 2015

Bacterial ‘fight club’ approach effective for finding new drugs from natural sources

Creating bacterial "fight clubs" is an effective way to find new drugs from natural sources. That is the conclusion of a team of Vanderbilt chemists who have been exploring ways to get bacteria to produce biologically active chemicals that they normally hold in reserve. These compounds are called secondary metabolites.

30 Jun 2015

Synthetic Biologics announces initiation of SYN-010 Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of IBS-C

Synthetic Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutics to protect the microbiome while targeting pathogen-specific diseases, reported the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of its proprietary SYN-010 for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

29 Jun 2015

UAB optometrist offers tips to keep eyes healthy during summer months

While the warm summer months are perfect for spending time outside, several environmental factors can spell trouble for eyesight. One University of Alabama at Birmingham optometrist says knowledge of what to do, and what not to do, will keep eyes healthy.

26 Jun 2015

High-fat, high-sugar diet can cause bacterial changes that appear related to loss of 'cognitive flexibility'

A study at Oregon State University indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of "cognitive flexibility," or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations.

23 Jun 2015

Researchers investigate how ingested nanoparticles may influence metabolic processes

Researchers at Binghamton University believe understanding nano particles' ability to influence our metabolic processing may be integral to mediating metabolic disorders and obesity, both of which are on the rise and have been linked to processed foods.

10 Jun 2015

Toothbrushes can serve as vector for transmission of fecal coliforms in communal bathrooms

Data confirms that there is transmission of fecal coliforms in communal bathrooms at Quinnipiac University and that toothbrushes can serve as a vector for transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms. This research is presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

3 Jun 2015

Microorganism News and Research

IV drug abusers who undergo infective endocarditis surgery face higher risk of reoperation or death

Scientists provide specific recommendations to reduce health risks for beachgoers

Probiotics show no benefit in preventing gastrointestinal colonization with drug-resistant microbes in ICU patients

Study shows how single-cell organisms can somersault or bend their bodies

Analysis of toilet waste from international aircraft may lead to global surveillance of infectious diseases

Scientists create membrane capable of detecting organisms that trigger diarrhea, intestinal problems

Researchers identify potential drug target to fight TB

IU scientists find evidence that invisible war between microorganisms may affect human health

Research: Algae’s natural sunscreen molecules absorb UVA and UVB radiation with high efficiency

Study provides new insights into mechanism that controls differences in gut's ability to fight infections

UO researchers to examine effects of climate change on indoor air quality

UChicago, Argonne National Laboratory and USF to jointly study gut microbiomes of premature infants

Light-based technologies help improve food shelf life, guard against food contaminants

Correlated Light & Electron Microscopy at the Universities of Delft and Groningen

Bacterial ‘fight club’ approach effective for finding new drugs from natural sources

Synthetic Biologics announces initiation of SYN-010 Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of IBS-C

UAB optometrist offers tips to keep eyes healthy during summer months

High-fat, high-sugar diet can cause bacterial changes that appear related to loss of 'cognitive flexibility'

Researchers investigate how ingested nanoparticles may influence metabolic processes

Toothbrushes can serve as vector for transmission of fecal coliforms in communal bathrooms

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