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Vegan honey could match powerful antimicrobial properties of mānuka

Vegan honey alternatives could be engineered to have similar antimicrobial properties to prized mānuka honey from New Zealand, according to research at Aston University.

15 Oct 2026

Does the type of hand sanitizer matter? A study involving 568 people suggests it might

In a 72-day randomized trial involving 568 participants in Japan, an experimental hand sanitizer containing ethanol, benzalkonium chloride, and lactic acid was associated with a 40% lower cumulative incidence of upper respiratory symptoms than a commercial ethanol-based sanitizer. Participants using the experimental formulation also experienced fewer illness-related work restrictions, although infections were not laboratory-confirmed and the proposed residual antimicrobial mechanism was not directly tested.

14 Oct 2026

E. coli eavesdrops on neighboring bacteria to stabilize gut diversity

The stability of the human gut microbiome relies on interactions between different bacterial species. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of these interactions, particularly among non-dominant species, remain largely unexplored.

14 Oct 2026

Naval research tracks high copper resistance in marine bacteria

Marine bacteria have evolved to bypass the copper-based coatings placed under ships to stop the growth of barnacles, algae, and other marine life.

14 Oct 2026

Scientists studied diet and lung cancer in 95,612 adults. One eating pattern stood out

A prospective study of 95,612 U.S. adults found that those with the highest sulfur microbial diet scores had a 23% higher adjusted lung cancer incidence hazard and a 19% higher lung cancer-related mortality hazard than those with the lowest scores. However, the associations weakened after accounting for overall dietary quality and competing causes of death, and the findings do not establish a causal relationship.

13 Oct 2026

Scientists find strange bacterial immune system that works backward

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered an extraordinarily unusual bacterial immune system that operates in reverse of known defenses.

13 Oct 2026

Light-activated cotton fabric reduces harmful microorganisms in hospital rooms

A team from the Alcoy campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), the Research Institute for Chemical Technology (ITQ, CSIC-UPV), the Research Institute for Mediterranean Agroforestry (IAM UPV) and the Joint Research Unit between the UPV and the Health Research Institute at La Fe Hospital in Valencia (UPV-IISLaFe) has developed a new self-disinfecting cotton fabric capable of eliminating bacteria, fungi and viruses in hospital settings using visible light.

13 Oct 2026

Machine learning models predict pathogen risk in drinking water

Drinking water sources can contain diverse bacterial and viral pathogens, making reliable monitoring essential for public health protection.

12 Oct 2026

Think raw milk is better for you? Pediatricians have a warning

Pediatricians urge against raw milk, highlighting its link to foodborne illnesses and advocating for pasteurized alternatives to safeguard children's health.

12 Oct 2026

Severe long Covid associated with distinct oral and lung microbiomes

A study of more than 700 people has shown that those with long Covid have distinct differences in the mix of bacteria that live in their mouths and lungs, according to a study published today (Monday) in the European Respiratory Journal.

11 Oct 2026

Tiny archaeon offers new clues to the minimum genetic requirements for life

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown microorganism, which has the smallest genome ever found, that is possibly able to replicate and express its own genetic information.

9 Oct 2026

Real time molecular movie unlocks secrets of penicillin biosynthesis

Researchers from the University of Oxford and international collaborators have revealed previously unseen rapid chemical stages in the formation of β-lactam antibiotics like penicillin, offering insights that can support future antibiotic development.

9 Oct 2026

Gut bacteria may help explain why endometriosis pain varies

A study of 50 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis found that differences in gut bacterial composition were associated with menstrual pain, urinary symptoms, and infertility.

9 Oct 2026

$13.1 million grant backs bacterial therapies for resistant breast cancer

A scientist at Weill Cornell Medicine is working with colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on new, complementary research efforts engineering therapeutic Salmonella to target critical gaps in treatment for drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancers.

9 Oct 2026