Toxin News and Research

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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

Researchers uncover key bacteria driving success of fecal microbiota transplants

Fecal microbiota transplants, or FMTs, are a magic bullet for patients with recurring infections from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), but researchers are only beginning to understand why.

9 Oct 2024

Exploring the venomous potential of marine crustaceans for drug development

Many animals use venoms for self-defense or hunting. The components of such venom, known as toxins, interfere with various physiological processes - which is also the reason why they are so interesting for the development of new pharmacological agents.

4 Oct 2024

Phytoene increases lifespan, reduces oxidative stress and amyloid toxicity

Research indicates phytoene from microalgae protects against oxidative stress and beta-amyloid toxicity, suggesting its potential in promoting healthy aging.

30 Sep 2024

Genetic factors that make the bacteria behind cholera so dangerous uncovered

Study reveals key genetic factors in Vibrio cholerae O1 that drive cholera transmission and severity, highlighting targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

26 Sep 2024

Study uncovers decision-making impairments linked to Parkinson's drug

Parkinson's disease (PD), also known simply as Parkinson's, is a disorder of the nervous system that affects millions of people worldwide.

24 Sep 2024

Breakthrough in artificial sugars could revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment

Scientists have found a way to create artificial sugars that could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat diseases more accurately than ever before.

16 Sep 2024

Breakthrough in understanding formaldehyde toxicity during development and aging

AMeD syndrome is a severe genetic condition found in children that present with accelerated aging, global developmental delay and bone marrow failure, among others, progressing to Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

13 Sep 2024

Assessing the environmental impact of biotechnological pesticides

Biotechnological pesticides are a promising alternative to traditional chemical pesticides. But we have limited knowledge of how toxic they are to other organisms in the environment beyond regulatory assessments.

13 Sep 2024

New guidelines for the evaluation and management of chronic constipation

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) has issued updated guidelines, published in Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, about how to evaluate and manage chronic constipation. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

11 Sep 2024

Combining epidemiology and climate data to uncover the source of an E. coli outbreak

A study published in Eurosurveillance to investigate an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in the UK identified contaminated lettuce as the most likely source of the infection and determined that heavy rainfall and flooding may have carried STEC from animal feces to the lettuce crops.

6 Sep 2024

Marine snail venom may inspire new diabetes and hormone disorder treatments

Scientists are finding clues for how to treat diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected place: a toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet.

20 Aug 2024

X-ray irradiation emerges as a new tool to combat aflatoxin-contaminated corn

Corn, a staple food crop consumed by billions of people and animals worldwide, is frequently contaminated by the fungal toxin aflatoxin B1, a highly potent carcinogen produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus.

16 Aug 2024

Brain circuits connecting stress to gut bacteria reveal new pathways for immune regulation

Researchers have discovered a brain-gut circuit that links stress to changes in gut bacteria, revealing that emotional states can directly influence immune function through the duodenal glands.

11 Aug 2024

Elevated metal levels in plasma and urine associated with greater ALS risk and shorter survival

People with higher levels of metals found in their blood and urine may be more likely to be diagnosed with - and die from - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a University of Michigan-led study suggests.

6 Aug 2024

Breakthrough MS drug uses green mamba venom discovery to promote myelin repair

Ten years of work, and a little help from the green mamba snake, has resulted in a promising new drug that is already being tested in clinical trials.

5 Aug 2024

Common blood thinner can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom

Scientists at the University of Sydney and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have made a remarkable discovery: a commonly used blood thinner, heparin, can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom.

18 Jul 2024

Turning cancer cells against themselves to overcome drug resistance

Treating cancer can sometimes feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole. The disease can become resistant to treatment, and clinicians never know when, where and what resistance might emerge, leaving them one step behind.

4 Jul 2024

Dietary fiber intake reshapes tryptophan metabolism, promoting gut health and reducing disease risks

A recent study in Nature Microbiology reveals that increased dietary fiber intake directs microbial tryptophan metabolism, leading to health benefits such as improved gut mucosa integrity and reduced risk of metabolic disorders.

27 Jun 2024

Innovative liver patch shows promise in tissue regeneration

As described in research published in the Biotechnology Journal, investigators have developed a novel patch that can help liver tissue regenerate.

12 Jun 2024