Microbiology News and Research

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Scientists identify key role of T-bet in flu memory B cells

At the surface, the immune response to a flu virus is simple. Some cells recognize the pathogen and send a signal to the immune system, and immune cells produce a potentially lifesaving antibody against the virus. Antigen in, antibody out.

11 Jul 2025

Natural compounds from turmeric and rhubarb show promise against superbugs in wastewater

When we're taking antibiotics, some of the dose is excreted with urine and feces and ends up in our wastewater. The presence of this low dose of antibiotic creates an opportunity for resistant bacteria to evolve.

10 Jul 2025

Exercise improves cancer outcomes by shaping the gut microbiome

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh shows for the first time how exercise improves cancer outcomes and enhances response to immunotherapy in mice by reshaping the gut microbiome.

9 Jul 2025

Healthy plant-based diet linked with reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease

A large prospective study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research reveals that a healthy plant-based diet is linked with a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

9 Jul 2025

New small molecule shows promise against cutaneous HPV infections

Human papillomaviruses, or HPVs, can cause dangerous infections in the skin and mucous membranes and may lead to cancer.

8 Jul 2025

Mediterranean bacteria show promise as new mosquito biopesticides

Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 700,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization, and the mosquitos that spread the disease are difficult to control.

7 Jul 2025

Eating habits directly influence vaginal microbiome, research finds

A cross-sectional study of young Italian women found that higher intake of animal protein and alcohol is associated with vaginal microbiota dysbiosis, while linolenic acid (a plant-based omega-3) and dietary fiber support beneficial Lactobacillus communities.

7 Jul 2025

New study moves closer to defeating dormant tuberculosis cells

New drugs that target 'zombie' tuberculosis (TB) cells are now a step closer, thanks to a new study led by the University of Surrey, published in Scientific Reports.

4 Jul 2025

Probiotics improve ovarian damage in premature menopausal mice

Findings suggest probiotics could mitigate ovarian decline and improve microbiota in POI mice, paving the way for new treatments in women's health.

4 Jul 2025

Evolutionary mutation weakens human immune response to solid tumors

New research from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has uncovered an evolutionary change that may explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumors compared to non-human primates.

3 Jul 2025

Researchers find gut bacteria rapidly soak up ‘forever chemicals’

Scientists have demonstrated that select human gut bacteria can bioaccumulate and sequester PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, increasing faecal excretion in humanized mice. The findings reveal a potential microbiome-based strategy to reduce PFAS body burden, though clinical benefit in humans remains unproven.

1 Jul 2025

Gut microbiota signatures predict gestational diabetes in first trimester

A new study has identified early-pregnancy gut microbiota signatures associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder that carries substantial risks to both maternal and fetal health.

1 Jul 2025

Researchers uncover how bacteria hijack tick cells to survive and spread

Washington State University researchers have discovered how the bacteria that cause anaplasmosis and Lyme disease hijack cellular processes in ticks to ensure their survival and spread to new hosts, including humans.

1 Jul 2025

Macrophage-derived lipocalin 2 drives severe pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding the mechanisms underlying severe pneumonia has remained a major research challenge.

1 Jul 2025

Researchers link genetic ancestry to severity of dengue fever

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.

30 Jun 2025

Genetic bottlenecks limit the rise of pandemic cholera strains

A new study by the Genomics and Microbial Evolution Group at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) together with the Department of Host-Microbe Interactions at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, USA, sheds light on one of the great enigmas of microbiology: why only certain strains of common bacteria become pandemic pathogens.

30 Jun 2025

GATE complex discovery sheds light on CMV's evasion of immune defenses

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and La Jolla Institute for Immunology, published today in Nature Microbiology, reveals an opportunity for developing a therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV), the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

30 Jun 2025