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The surprising role of RNA in immune interactions

In a groundbreaking exploration of cell surface biology, Ryan Flynn has uncovered a surprising role for RNA outside the confines of the cell. Flynn's research, which focuses on the biology of cell surface RNA, led to the discovery that certain RNAs are chemically linked to glycans - complex carbohydrate polymers found on the cell surface.

22 Aug 2024

Spatial transcriptomics unlocks malaria's liver stage secrets

For the malaria parasite to reach the blood of its human host, it must first enter the liver, where only a small number of parasites differentiate and replicate for upwards of seven days, making it a bottleneck in the parasite's lifecycle. This bottleneck makes the liver stage an optimal target for effective and long-lasting vaccines against the disease. Using Spatial Transcriptomics and single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies, researchers at Stockholm University have for the first time managed to create a spatio-temporal map of malaria infection in the mouse liver. A study that was recently published in Nature Communications.

21 Aug 2024

UC Davis researchers unveil pathway for Salmonella's gut invasion

How do bad bacteria find entry points in the body to cause infection? This question is fundamental for infectious disease experts and people who study bacteria.

20 Aug 2024

New genomic technique tracks superbugs in hospitals for faster infection management

Researchers have developed a new genomic technique that can track the spread of multiple superbugs in a hospital simultaneously, which could help prevent and manage common hospital infections quicker and more effectively than ever before.

20 Aug 2024

Lexogen Launches RiboCop rRNA Depletion Kit for Fish Species

Lexogen, a leader in RNA sequencing technologies, is thrilled to announce the launch of the RiboCop rRNA Depletion Kit for Fish, a dedicated solution to facilitate transcriptome analysis of fish species by effectively removing unwanted ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from total RNA samples.

From Lexogen 19 Aug 2024

New $300,000 grant aims to enhance hydroponic lettuce production

As controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming gain a greater foothold in modern agriculture, a new $300,000 grant aims to enhance hydroponic lettuce production.

16 Aug 2024

Tecovirimat shows no significant impact on mpox lesion duration in DRC study

The antiviral drug tecovirimat did not reduce the duration of mpox lesions among children and adults with clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), based on an initial analysis of data from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

16 Aug 2024

Texas A&M leads effort to combat cattle fever ticks

Since the early 1900s, eradicating cattle fever ticks has challenged surveillance and quarantine programs designed to protect the U.S. and Texas cattle industry.

16 Aug 2024

Study suggests mosquitoes as potential vectors for Buruli ulcers in Australia

Researchers find strong evidence suggesting mosquitoes may transmit Mycobacterium ulcerans, the bacteria causing Buruli ulcers, but caution that further study is needed.

15 Aug 2024

Weather, geographic location appear to influence hospitalizations for waterborne infectious diseases

An analysis of 12 years of data collected from over 500 hospitals in 25 different U.S. states shows that weather, geographic location, and urban or rural location all appear to influence hospitalizations for waterborne infectious diseases, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University in the open-access journal PLOS Water.

14 Aug 2024

Novel vaccination strategy shows promise in boosting immunity and controlling influenza spread in pigs

Study demonstrates that a novel prime/boost vaccination protocol using live-attenuated influenza vaccines effectively induces strong immune responses in pigs, offering a promising approach for future influenza vaccination strategies.

13 Aug 2024

Breakthrough study identifies intestinal epithelium's role in celiac disease gluten response

People with celiac disease must navigate everyday life by avoiding gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley which can trigger painful symptoms in the gut, impede the absorption of nutrients and raise the risk of other serious long-term issues.

9 Aug 2024

How C. elegans uses smell to preemptively guard against pathogen attacks

Many organisms react to the smell of deadly pathogens by reflexively avoiding them. But a recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that the nematode C. elegans also reacts to the odor of pathogenic bacteria by preparing its intestinal cells to withstand a potential onslaught.

7 Aug 2024

Nasal microbiome composition influences how well multi-resistant bugs can thrive in the nose

Whether dangerous staphylococci survive in the nose depends on what other bacteria are present - and how they obtain iron.

7 Aug 2024

H5N1 avian flu found in Texas dairy cattle and milk, sparking concerns about underreported infections

Researchers at UTMB found H5N1 avian influenza virus in Texas dairy cattle and milk, highlighting potential underreporting of infections among farm workers and the need for better surveillance.

4 Aug 2024

Novel antibiotic compound shows promise against drug-resistant bacteria and flesh-eating infections

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a novel compound that effectively clears bacterial infections in mice, including those that can result in rare but potentially fatal "flesh-eating" illnesses.

2 Aug 2024

Advanced imaging techniques shed light on single cells

Every plant, animal, and person is a rich microcosm of tiny, specialized cells. These cells are worlds unto themselves, each with their own unique parts and processes that elude the naked eye.

2 Aug 2024

CEPI and WHO call for urgent global research to prepare for the next pandemic

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today called on researchers and governments to strengthen and accelerate global research to prepare for the next pandemic.

2 Aug 2024

Study reveals new H5N1 variants evade human antibodies more effectively

In a new study led by UNC Charlotte researchers from the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) and the North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis, University scholars have found evidence that the latest variants of H5N1 influenza - commonly known as avian or bird flu - are better at evading antibodies, including those of humans, than previous iterations of the virus.

2 Aug 2024

Oropouche virus: Emerging threats and unanswered questions

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Oropouche virus (genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae) is an arthropod-borne virus that infects several species of animals and humans, primarily in South America.

1 Aug 2024