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Seasonal allergies may be driving recurrent sinus infections

"Every spring, I get sick. Then it happens again in the fall." If you have frequent sinus symptoms that follow a seasonal pattern, allergies may be the root cause. Seasonal allergies can cause congestion, drainage, facial pressure, and fatigue.

6 Nov 2026

The microbes on your lettuce change with the seasons

Lettuce's microbial communities vary seasonally, potentially impacting gut bacteria and highlighting the role of fresh vegetables in microbiome diversity.

6 Nov 2026

Hidden genetic differences in gut bacteria may hold clues to aging

Researchers analyzed approximately 12.8 million gut microbial genetic variants in 10,781 individuals across six cohorts, identifying 940 independent associations with 69 human health characteristics and environmental exposures. Nearly two-thirds of these associations were not accompanied by significant differences in bacterial species abundance, suggesting that microbial genetics can reveal relationships overlooked by conventional microbiome analyses, although causality remains unproven.

5 Nov 2026

Modern lifestyles may be changing our gut bacteria in unexpected ways

A global study of 1,015 adults across 12 countries found that industrialized lifestyles were associated with lower gut bacterial diversity, reduced microbial community stability, and increased markers of intestinal stress and immune activity. The researchers also found that a microbiome-based health index developed using industrialized populations performed poorly in less-industrialized communities, raising concerns about its applicability across diverse populations.

4 Nov 2026

Comprehensive genetic map offers new hope for tuberculosis treatments

Rockefeller scientists have created the most comprehensive map to date of how essential genes interact in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB).

4 Nov 2026

Disrupting three Salmonella genes weakens bacterial biofilm defenses

A major challenge to combating bacterial infections is the formation of biofilms-protective structures that allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces and reproduce, increasing their chances of survival even when challenged with antibiotics and the host's immune system.

4 Nov 2026

Engineered beneficial bacteria reduce bloodstream infections after stem cell transplants

Researchers at City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the country, and collaborators have pioneered a new approach to preventing dangerous bloodstream infections in patients receiving donor stem cell transplants for blood cancers.

3 Nov 2026

Blueberries reduced blood vessel inflammation in mice, but only with gut microbes present

A preclinical study found that gut microbes help convert blueberry phytochemicals into circulating metabolites, including hippuric acid, that are associated with reduced vascular inflammation. In mice fed a high-fat diet, blueberry supplementation reduced inflammatory markers and monocyte adhesion to blood vessels, but these benefits disappeared following antibiotic-mediated gut microbial depletion.

3 Nov 2026

Natural body gas could help treat severe skin and wound infections

A gas naturally produced by our own bodies could one day help treat skin and wound infections, potentially offering a new approach alongside conventional antibiotics.

3 Nov 2026

New enzyme discovery reveals how breast milk feeds infant gut bacteria

Microbiologists have found that an enzyme, not normally associated with microbial activities in the human gut, to have a role in how some bacteria access key nutrients in breast milk.

3 Nov 2026

A hidden structure may explain how infant gut bacteria gets nutrients

This study reveals how a β-sheet cradle in PNGaseABif enhances glycopeptide processing, offering insights into microbial nutrient access in the infant gut.

3 Nov 2026

Study uncovers translation control mechanisms driving tumor growth and therapy resistance

Decoding of messenger RNA (mRNA) occurs during translation, the vital cellular process that builds proteins. Errors in this process are known to lead to cancer growth.

3 Nov 2026

Skin barrier disruption exacerbates chronic dermatological and systemic conditions

Your skin works hard for you every day, quietly shielding you from the outside world while telling a story about what is happening on the inside.

3 Nov 2026

The type of fiber you eat shapes how gut bacteria feed and work together

A 2021 review examined how the chemical structure and physical properties of dietary fiber influence which gut bacteria can break it down and how microbial species compete and cooperate during fermentation. The authors described how these interactions contribute to short-chain fatty acid production, while emphasizing the need for further research involving intact plant foods to understand their implications for human health.

1 Nov 2026

Study finds unexpected lower gut bacterial diversity in vegans

The gut is home to billions of microorganisms. It is a complex ecosystem that regulates many of the body's functions and helps keep us healthy – when it is in balance.

30 Oct 2026

Gut microbial catalog reveals systemic inflammation drivers in spinal injury

Scientists exploring the links between a spinal cord injury, inflammation and immune function have turned their attention to a genome-level analysis of the gut microbial community, with early study results offering hints at potential new approaches to aid healing.

30 Oct 2026

Study reveals immune rheostat maintaining skin barrier homeostasis

As the steadfast protector of the body's interior, the skin must be able to swiftly respond to stressors from the outside world and then return to a steady state in order to maintain everyday operations. Coordinating that agile response are epidermal stem cells, which produce the overlying protective layers of specialized skin cells sent to the surface while also maintaining a ready pool of new stem cells to draw from.

30 Oct 2026

Evolutionary changes in key enzyme help bacteria fine-tune protein synthesis

Evolutionary changes in key protein synthesis enzyme, isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), may help bacteria fine-tune how quickly proteins are made, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; the University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Croatia; and ETH Zürich, Switzerland.

29 Oct 2026

Study redefines picobirnavirus as a bacteria hunting virus

Thriving alongside trillions of bacteria in the human digestive tract is a vast population of viruses. Ever since one such denizen of the gut microbiome, known as picobirnavirus, was first spotted decades ago, researchers thought it directly infected human tissue and played a role in gastrointestinal illness.

29 Oct 2026

New study identifies potential targets for KRAS-related treatment resistance

Decoding of messenger RNA (mRNA) occurs during translation, the vital cellular process that builds proteins. Errors in this process are known to lead to cancer growth.

29 Oct 2026