Flagella News and Research

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Study uncovers bacterial weakness during flagellum construction

New research from Indiana University has uncovered a previously unknown vulnerability in how bacteria build the whip-like tails they use to move.

8 Sep 2026

More iron, less damage: why chronic lung infections persist

Research shows that iron-rich conditions boost Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth and biofilm formation, yet reduce virulence, complicating chronic lung infections.

26 Jan 2026

Active mechanical forces drive how bacteria switch swimming direction

Scientists have uncovered a new explanation for how swimming bacteria change direction, providing fresh insight into one of biology's most intensively studied molecular machines.

9 Jan 2026

Studies uncover two novel, critical strategies for bacterial surface movement

New studies from Arizona State University reveal surprising ways bacteria can move without their flagella - the slender, whip-like propellers that usually drive them forward.

8 Nov 2025

Key proteins found to shape sperm function and male fertility

There are many potential causes of infertility, and it can be challenging to pin down just what the problem is when a couple is having trouble getting pregnant.

10 Sep 2025

Gut bacteria send direct signals to the brain to stop you from overeating

Researchers have discovered a novel gut-brain sensory circuit in mice where specialized colonic cells sense bacterial flagellin and rapidly suppress feeding via the vagus nerve. This "neurobiotic sense" operates independently of immune pathways, revealing a direct neural mechanism for microbiota-host communication.

24 Jul 2025

Research uncovers a 'neurobiotic sense' that lets the brain respond to gut microbe signals

In a breakthrough that reimagines the way the gut and brain communicate, researchers have uncovered what they call a "neurobiotic sense," a newly identified system that lets the brain respond in real time to signals from microbes living in our gut.

23 Jul 2025

Insights into antibiotic resistance and virulence of Bordetella hinzii

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. This study was aimed at analyzing the pathogenic characteristics of Bordetella hinzii (B. hinzii), and elucidating its antibiotic resistance mechanisms, virulence gene distribution, and vaccine development potential.

23 Jul 2025

Scientists warn of rising threat as poultry disease shows signs of jumping to humans

Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis (AIS) is a chronic, underreported poultry disease caused by Brachyspira spp., with rising concern over its zoonotic risk to humans. This review highlights key challenges in diagnosis, antibiotic resistance, transmission, and the urgent need for improved surveillance and new prevention strategies.

23 Jun 2025

Heat triggers sperm activation for fertilization in mammals

In mammals - including us humans - sperm are surprisingly picky about temperature, thriving best in conditions a few degrees cooler than normal body temperature.

2 May 2025

Researchers create detailed 3D map of parasite behind sleeping sickness

Millions of people worldwide are affected by African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and other life-threatening infections caused by microscopic parasites borne by insects such as the tsetse fly.

23 Apr 2025

New discovery could overcome immune therapy failure in ovarian cancer

University of Virginia Cancer Center researchers have explained the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer by discovering how gut bacteria interfere with the treatment.

12 Feb 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

Electric current in gut attracts pathogens like Salmonella

Salmonella typhimurium's infection mechanism involves gut bioelectric signals, influencing its localization and interactions within the intestinal environment.

5 Sep 2024

Extraordinary cell division mechanism discovered in common dental plaque bacteria

One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet is closer than you think - right inside your mouth. Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem of more than 500 different species of bacteria living in distinct, structured communities called biofilms.

2 Sep 2024

Gut microbiota imbalance linked to higher UTI risks in women

Study reveals that gut microbial dysbiosis and frequent antibiotic use are key risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women, emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and dietary supplements to prevent UTIs.

6 Jun 2024

Quantum biology's new frontier: Tryptophan networks and brain disease defense

The effects of quantum mechanics - the laws of physics that apply at exceedingly small scales - are extremely sensitive to disturbances.

29 Apr 2024

Scientists unravel iron-based memory mechanism in bacteria

Scientists have discovered that bacteria can create something like memories about when to form strategies that can cause dangerous infections in people, such as resistance to antibiotics and bacterial swarms when millions of bacteria come together on a single surface.

21 Nov 2023

Fresh risks in ready-to-eat produce: Study reveals how common pathogens lurk in our salads

This research paper delves into the risks of contamination in ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables by enteric pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. It also explores the contamination sources and plant-pathogen interactions, emphasizing the importance of improved safety measures in the food supply chain.

6 Nov 2023

How one gene shakes up our understanding of male infertility

The study investigates the role of the ACTL7B gene in sperm formation using genetically modified mice and finds that deficiencies in this gene lead to failed spermatogenesis and structural sperm abnormalities. Given the gene's similarity in humans, the findings suggest ACTL7B could serve as a potential biomarker for male infertility.

31 Oct 2023