Microbiology News and Research

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AI provides same-day assessments of antimicrobial resistance in ICUs

Artificial intelligence (AI) can provide same-day assessments of antimicrobial resistance for patients in intensive care – critical to preventing life-threatening sepsis.

1 Nov 2024

Scientists uncover new MRSA resistance mechanism

Scientists have discovered the mechanism which allows the superbug Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to become highly resistant to antibiotics, paving the way for new approaches to control infectious disease.

1 Nov 2024

Genetic marker could revolutionize neonatal sepsis diagnosis

A genetic signature in newborns can predict neonatal sepsis before symptoms even start to show, according to a new study.

29 Oct 2024

Research identifies respiratory transmission potential of H5N1 virus

A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, isolated from the eye of a farm worker who became infected through contact with dairy cows, was lethal in mice and ferrets infected in a high-containment laboratory environment, according to a new study in Nature.

28 Oct 2024

Novel class of encrypted peptides offers hope against drug-resistant bacteria

In a significant advance against the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, researchers have identified a novel class of antimicrobial agents known as encrypted peptides, which may expand the immune system's arsenal of tools to fight infection.

28 Oct 2024

Unraveling the survival strategies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in lung infections

Imagine trying to settle into a new home while constantly being attacked. That's what the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa faces when it infects the lungs, and it can't both spread and protect itself from antibiotics at the same time.

25 Oct 2024

Study reveals resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to common cleaning agents

A new study reveals widespread resistance of a major bacterial pathogen to the active ingredients in cleaning agents commonly used in hospitals and homes.

25 Oct 2024

Antibiotic for liver disease linked to emergence of antimicrobial resistant superbug

An international team of researchers has found that an antibiotic commonly prescribed for patients with liver disease, called rifaximin, has led to the global emergence of an almost untreatable form of the antimicrobial resistant superbug vancomycin-resistant enterococcus faecium (VRE), which frequently causes serious infections in hospitalized patients.

24 Oct 2024

Structural biology reveals secrets of DEV phage infection

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 bacteriophages or phages.

22 Oct 2024

Discovery of new bacterial toxins opens path to novel infection treatments

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.

22 Oct 2024

New light-activated technology enhances immune cells' ability to target solid tumors

Immunotherapies that mobilize a patient's own immune system to fight cancer have become a treatment pillar. These therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy, have performed well in cancers like leukemias and lymphomas, but the results have been less promising in solid tumors.

21 Oct 2024

Revolutionizing precision nutrition with gut microbiome insights

Researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, along with international collaborators, have introduced a novel method for identifying the crucial set of gut microbes commonly found in humans and essential for health.

18 Oct 2024

Study reveals gender differences in Rett syndrome progression

A new UC Davis MIND Institute study offers critical insights into Rett syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects mostly girls.

17 Oct 2024

UZH researchers harness AI to detect antibiotic resistance

Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have used artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

17 Oct 2024

Tissue chips help translate respiratory disease research into clinical applications

Scientists are developing advanced tools to understand and treat neurological symptoms such as brain fog associated with respiratory diseases like influenza.

17 Oct 2024

Bacteriophages unveil auxiliary genes critical for infection

Viruses that infect bacteria—known as bacteriophages - could be used in a targeted manner to combat bacterial diseases.

16 Oct 2024

Antibody engineering drives innovation in drug development

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used to prevent, detect, and treat a broad spectrum of non-communicable and communicable diseases. Over the past few years, the market for mAbs has grown exponentially with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.07% from 2024 (237.64 billion USD estimated at the end of 2023) to 2033 (679.03 billion USD expected by the end of 2033).

16 Oct 2024

Genetics identified as key factor in gout development

A major international study has found gout is a chronic illness where genetics is a major cause, rather than lifestyle choices of the sufferer.

15 Oct 2024

How gut microbiome and fiber diversity shape chronic disease outcomes

Review explores how different types of dietary fibers interact with the gut microbiome, influencing chronic disease risks like obesity, cancer, and cardiometabolic conditions, while emphasizing the need for personalized dietary interventions.

13 Oct 2024

Baylor scientist earns NIH grant for personalized microbiome treatments

Baylor University researcher Aaron Wright, Ph.D., has earned a $5.6 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Transformative Research Award for a project that he and collaborators hope could lead to personalized – and revolutionary – treatments for gut microbiome diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis and more.

9 Oct 2024