Bacteria News and Research

RSS

Study reveals high prevalence of Lyme disease bacteria in Northeast ticks

Across most of the Northeast, getting bitten by a blacklegged tick- also called a deer tick - is a risk during spring, summer, and fall. A new Dartmouth study, published in Parasites and Vectors, finds that 50% of adult blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease while 20% to 25% of the younger (nymph) blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria.

17 Jan 2025

Oil-based solution enables room temperature storage of protein therapeutics

A new storage technique can keep protein-based drugs and vaccines stable without keeping them cold. The discovery, led by researchers at Penn State, could eliminate the need for refrigeration for hundreds of life-saving medicines like insulin, monoclonal antibodies and viral vaccines.

17 Jan 2025

Non-toxic bacterial therapy shows promise for targeting tumors

A University of Massachusetts Amherst-Ernest Pharmaceuticals team of scientists has made "exciting," patient-friendly advances in developing a non-toxic bacterial therapy, BacID, to deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly into tumors.

16 Jan 2025

Extreme rainfall increases E. coli exposure for minority communities in Texas

Nobody wants to share a day on the water with E. coli. The bacteria is a sure sign of fecal contamination, which is washed into waterways from farm fields or sewage systems by rain.

16 Jan 2025

New research identifies key subtype of bacterial vaginosis that increases chlamydia risk

Women who develop bacterial vaginosis (BV) often later acquire chlamydia, a common and potentially serious sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

16 Jan 2025

Eating greater quantities of red meat may increase risk of dementia

Red meat consumption is an established risk factor for chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

15 Jan 2025

Hormonal shifts in menopause redefine women’s microbiome and risks

Research explores how menopause-induced hormonal shifts affect the microbiome, influencing oral, gut, and urogenital health, and highlights the potential of personalized interventions to enhance well-being.

15 Jan 2025

Study reveals how cigarette smoke weakens immune cells in the lungs

Cigarette smoking is widespread and deadly, yet our understanding of how cigarette smoke actually causes serious respiratory illnesses is incomplete, which has severely hampered the development of effective treatments.

15 Jan 2025

Study reveals how bile acids impact immunotherapy in liver cancer

Immunotherapy is a modern approach to cancer treatment that uses a patient's own immune system to help fight tumors.

15 Jan 2025

No short-term benefit found for PCT-guided antibiotic treatment in children

A groundbreaking UK study in The Lancet has examined whether an additional blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could safely shorten the time children spend on intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospitals.

15 Jan 2025

Researchers develop computer models to improve antibiotic targeting and minimize resistance

With antibiotic resistance a growing problem, University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have developed cutting-edge computer models that could give the disease-fighting drugs a laser-like precision to target only specific bacteria in specific parts of the body.

15 Jan 2025

Enhanced biosensing technology detects molecules at lower concentrations

An unplugged electric instrument may function, but it sounds much better when it is connected to an amplifier.

13 Jan 2025

COVID-19 vaccine developed by Brazilian researchers shows promise in mice

Studies conducted in mice have shown that the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil is safe and efficacious.

13 Jan 2025

AI chatbot developed to aid governments in tackling drug resistance

Scientists have developed an AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT to help governments devise effective policies for battling drug resistance.

13 Jan 2025

Scientists uncover genetic secrets of Staphylococcus aureus survival in humans

The most detailed study to date on the mechanisms by which a common type of bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, adapts to living on the human body could help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of certain infections.

13 Jan 2025

Gut bacterium associated with reduced dietary sugar intake

This study links Ffar4, gut microbiota, and sugar preference, highlighting potential strategies for managing diabetes and obesity through dietary interventions.

13 Jan 2025

Plant chemical discovered to prevent biofilm formation

If your teeth have ever felt fuzzy after skipping a brushing, you've encountered biofilm-a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces. In medical settings, biofilms make infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on devices like catheters and implants.

10 Jan 2025

NIH grant supports study of copper's role in killing harmful bacteria

A researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his research into uncovering the mysteries of copper – specifically, how it can be harnessed to kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms.

10 Jan 2025

Eating more fiber supports growth of good bacteria and protects against gut infections

The group of bacteria called Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella, E.coli and others, is present at low levels as part of a healthy human gut microbiome.

10 Jan 2025

Household dogs found to contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella

Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella is a serious public health concern that has increased in recent years as the bacteria have developed ways to survive drugs.

9 Jan 2025