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New viral library helps scientists study thousands of proteins

To prevent viruses from sickening or killing us - whether it's an individual case of hepatitis B or a COVID pandemic - it's crucial to understand how the proteins they make initiate changes in our bodies that allow them to flourish.

11 Jul 2026

New microparticles improve biofilm removal from wounds and surgical instruments

Newly developed microparticles can infiltrate stubborn bacterial matrices and release tiny oxygen bubbles to clean surfaces and wounds more efficiently than hydrogen peroxide or other cleaning agents alone, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report.

9 Jul 2026

Nine gut bacteria linked to future type 2 diabetes risk

Research identifies specific gut microbes associated with future type 2 diabetes risk, emphasizing the impact of dietary fiber on microbiome health.

9 Jul 2026

Smoking shows no major impact on the eye microbiome in small study

A small study found no evidence that smoking causes large or consistent shifts in the ocular surface microbiome or tear proteome. The authors caution that subtle smoking-related effects cannot be ruled out, given the small cohort and the ocular surface's low-biomass, contamination-sensitive microbial niche.

8 Jul 2026

Mcmaster researchers develop targeted phage therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

A research team at McMaster University has developed a targeted approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using bacteriophages, viruses that infect specific bacteria, to disarm harmful microbes without disrupting the broader gut ecosystem.

8 Jul 2026

Study links gut bacteria diversity to frailty in seniors

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified clear links between the composition of gut bacteria and frailty in older women.

8 Jul 2026

Yogurt, prebiotics, and probiotics link to lower colorectal cancer odds in U.S. adults

A national NHANES analysis of 9,405 U.S. adults aged 50 and older found that any yogurt, prebiotic, or probiotic consumption was associated with about 50% lower odds of self-reported colorectal cancer. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot prove causation but supports further research into microbiota-targeted dietary strategies.

8 Jul 2026

Gut immune cells help prevent severe salmonella infections

Widely recognized as the face of food poisoning, salmonella bacteria lurk in raw meat and poultry, on pets and in unpasteurized dairy products.

7 Jul 2026

Researchers identify key protein balancing gut immunity and inflammation

A protein produced by gut immune cells orchestrates both immune protection against pathogens and immune tolerance of gut bacteria, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

7 Jul 2026

Microbiome science merges with oncology for better cancer treatments

Cancer remains notoriously difficult to treat, partly because tumors co‑opt their surrounding environment, including the resident microbiota, to evade immune surveillance and resist conventional therapies.

7 Jul 2026

Gut microbiome changes can signal future type 2 diabetes risk

The presence of certain bacteria in the gut microbiota, and fluctuations in a person's metabolism, can be seen in people who go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later.

7 Jul 2026

New research reveals how dying bacteria force cell ejection

Popular science fiction is no stranger to escape pod scenarios, typically featuring characters who narrowly avoid their demise by jettisoning from a spaceship - think R2-D2 and C-3PO shooting away from a rebel spaceship in the opening of Star Wars: A New Hope. Biologists at the University of California San Diego have found that communities of bacteria feature a similar ejection capability.

7 Jul 2026

Sustainable oyster meat extract may reduce human intestinal inflammation

Ongoing research provides evidence that readily-available and sustainable oyster meat extract may have powerful anti-inflammatory effects on human intestinal cells.

7 Jul 2026

Study reveals unexpected movement of drug-delivery swimming robots

One day, tiny swimming robots may travel through the human body to deliver drugs. The medication would target only areas of need-chemotherapy drugs for a tumor, for example-avoiding healthy tissue and minimizing side effects.

6 Jul 2026

Anti-lipid antibodies could improve early testing for Lyme disease

Lyme disease can be easiest to treat in its earliest stages, but current tests often miss infections during that critical window and cannot tell whether bacteria are still present or were cleared years ago.

6 Jul 2026

Researchers uncover unexpected bacterial strategy for surviving antibiotic stress

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are mostly harmless bacteria that live in the intestines of animals and humans. They are the most well-studied bacteria and, often, when scientists discover something about E. coli, they extrapolate that discovery across all bacteria.

3 Jul 2026

New synthetic grafting material kills bone cancer and regenerates bone

Primary bone tumors, such as osteosarcoma, have seen stagnant survival rates over the past four decades. Surgical removal of the tumor is critical, but local recurrence may occur when tumours are close to vital structures, often resulting in amputation

3 Jul 2026

Can ibuprofen improve drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment?

While ibuprofen reduced inflammatory markers in drug-resistant TB patients, it did not enhance treatment outcomes, indicating the need for further research.

3 Jul 2026

Cat fleas may contribute to murine typhus transmission in Texas

As human cases of flea-borne murine typhus continue to occur in South Texas, researchers are working to better understand the role cats and their fleas may play in the disease's transmission cycle.

2 Jul 2026

Foodborne threats demand stronger pandemic planning, review says

A Perspective review in npj Science of Food argues that pandemics can weaken food safety systems even when the pathogen is not foodborne. The authors call for One Health planning that integrates food safety into pandemic preparedness, surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce readiness, and regulation.

2 Jul 2026