Toxin News and Research

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Scientists reveal how cholera bacteria activate toxin genes in the human gut

Cholera remains a major global public health challenge, with an estimated 1.3 to 4 million cases and tens of thousands of deaths reported worldwide each year.

14 Jan 2026

Bacterial toxin shrinks tumors, enhances immune response in colorectal cancer study

A toxin secreted by cholera bacteria can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer without causing any measurable damage to the body. This is shown by a new study by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden.

14 Jan 2026

Dietary protein reshapes how cholera bacteria colonize the gut

Researchers investigate the role of dietary components and the gut microbiota in cholera.

13 Jan 2026

George Mason trial: New pill aims to sustain weight loss after GLP-1s

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed obesity treatment, but maintaining weight loss after the medications stop remains a challenge.

9 Jan 2026

Repurposed drug combination shows strong promise against liver fibrosis

The study shows that this drug pair works far better together than either agent alone, offering a realistic and potentially fast path toward a new antifibrotic therapy.

6 Jan 2026

Understanding how the immune system protects against fungal pathogenicity

The yeast Candida albicans colonizes mucosal surfaces and is usually harmless. However, under certain conditions it can cause dangerous infections.

15 Dec 2025

People exposed to Agent Orange face higher risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome

A new national study shows for the first time that people exposed to Agent Orange face a higher risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), tend to develop it earlier, and often have more aggressive disease that is more likely to progress to acute myeloid leukemia.

9 Dec 2025

Study uncovers how the body's bile acids bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin

In a major step towards a precision therapy for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have uncovered how the body's bile acids bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin.

9 Dec 2025

Supportive marriages may shape appetite control through oxytocin and the brain–gut axis

Supportive marital relationships are associated with lower BMI, fewer food addiction symptoms, higher oxytocin, stronger frontal brain responses to food cues, and favorable gut tryptophan metabolites. These coordinated social, neural, hormonal, and gut pathways suggest a plausible biological link between emotional support and healthier eating regulation.

8 Dec 2025

Lubiprostone shows signs of slowing kidney function decline in chronic kidney disease

In adults with stage IIIb–IV chronic kidney disease, the constipation drug lubiprostone did not reduce gut-derived uremic toxins but preserved creatinine-based kidney function over 24 weeks. The benefit was linked to microbiome remodeling, increased polyamine production, and improved mitochondrial function rather than toxin lowering.

8 Dec 2025

Sweat testing could transform drug monitoring and diabetes care

Innovative sweat sampling techniques could revolutionize diagnostics, offering insights into glucose levels and environmental toxins with minimal discomfort.

4 Dec 2025

New study links inherited mitochondrial DNA mutation to disrupted immune balance

Scientists have discovered how a mitochondrial mutation rewires immune function in a model of inherited primary mitochondrial disorders, which often lead to severe disability and death.

26 Nov 2025

Calcium-activated switch improves delivery and potency of cancer-fighting drugs

Cancer-fighting antibody drugs are designed to penetrate tumor cells and release a lethal payload deep within, but too often they don't make it that far.

24 Nov 2025

COVID vaccine tech could help prevent muscle damage from snakebites

The same technology used in COVID-19 vaccines could help prevent muscle damage from snakebites, according to a new study published in Trends in Biotechnology today [24 November].

24 Nov 2025

Toxin-secreting gut bacterium emerges as a driver of ulcerative colitis

A toxin-secreting gut bacterium may fuel ulcerative colitis by killing protective immune cells that maintain intestinal homeostasis, according to a new study. The findings suggest potential for new treatment strategies.

20 Nov 2025

Evolving epidemiology of invasive Group A Streptococcus in critical care

Streptococcus pyogenes or invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) is a major clinical concern around the world, since iGAS infections can quickly escalate into life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis, septic shock, and pneumonia.

6 Nov 2025

Common cholesterol drugs found to speed up PFAS removal from the body

Certain medicines can cause the environmental toxin PFAS to be eliminated from the body faster, according to a study at the University of Gothenburg.

4 Nov 2025

Researchers use genetic engineering to create “product-ready” snakebite antivenom

An international team of researchers has used genetic engineering to create the first ever “product-ready” antivenom for snakes such as cobras and mambas.

4 Nov 2025

Genetic insights into vestibular system damage from ototoxic drugs

The vestibular system is responsible for the sense of balance in the inner ear. Prolonged use of toxic substances, such as certain antibiotics or anticancer drugs, can damage the hair cells that form part of this system, leading to alterations in balance and other motor skills.

31 Oct 2025

Hydroxytyrosol from olives shows new promise as a brain-protective compound

This review highlights hydroxytyrosol's role as a neuroprotective agent, activating key pathways for mental and vascular health through olive-derived compounds.

29 Oct 2025