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Gut microbiota plays a critical role in rotavirus vaccine efficacy

Certain types of gut bacteria can hinder the efficacy of the rotavirus vaccine, according to researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

27 Aug 2024

A novel approach to photosynthetic production of high-value compounds

Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol. By engineering photosynthetic cyanobacteria to live symbiotically inside yeast cells, the bacteria-yeast hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving new biotechnical pathways to non-petroleum-based energy, other synthetic biology applications, and the experimental study of evolution.

27 Aug 2024

Computational tools reveal 3D structures of viral proteins

These rapid shifts mean that researchers are still trying to understand a multitude of viral proteins and precisely how they increase viruses' infecting abilities-; knowledge that could be crucial for developing new or better virus-fighting treatments.

27 Aug 2024

University of Oklahoma researcher receives NIH grant to explore natural cancer treatments

Today, about 25% of drugs approved to treat cancer are derived from nature – from the bark of a tree to marine life to bacteria in the soil.

26 Aug 2024

How diet shapes gut microbiota and affects brain function

Researchers discuss the diet-microbiota-gut-brain axis, which describes the role of both diet and gut microbiota composition on cognitive and emotional health.

26 Aug 2024

Human gut microbiome: A source of new antibiotic peptides

Researchers identified 323 peptide-based antimicrobials from the human microbiome, with 71% showing significant antibacterial activity, and the lead peptide, prevotellin-2, matching the efficacy of polymyxin B in both in vitro and in vivo models.

25 Aug 2024

Research suggests chlamydia may persist in the human intestine

People who are infected with chlamydia can transmit these bacteria to other people during unprotected sex.

23 Aug 2024

Unique strain of probiotic bacteria shows potential in combating inflammatory diseases

23 Aug 2024

Maternal gut bacteria linked to changes in fetal brain metabolism

The impact of Bifidobacterium breve's presence in the maternal gut during pregnancy on fetal brain metabolism.

23 Aug 2024

Probiotic offers protection against intestinal damage

There is a critical unmet need to help tighten and maintain a healthy intestinal barrier and treat a leaky gut. Researchers have now found that a unique strain of probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium bifidum BB1, enhances intestinal barrier function and protects against penetration of bacteria and various harmful agents in the intestine. The findings, detailed in an article in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, can help advance the development of novel, targeted, naturally occurring probiotic therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory diseases, such as fatty liver disease or alcoholic liver disease, that are associated with a leaky or disordered intestinal barrier.

23 Aug 2024

Study shows frequent mitochondrial DNA insertion in the brain cells

As direct descendants of ancient bacteria, mitochondria have always been a little alien.

22 Aug 2024

Mother's gut bacteria during pregnancy promote healthy brain development in the fetus

A study in mice has discovered that the presence of Bifidobacterium breve bacteria in the mother's gut during pregnancy promotes healthy brain development in the fetus.

22 Aug 2024

Asgard archaea's role in eukaryotic immunity revealed

When you get infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it were passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago.

22 Aug 2024

Research shows predation drives evolution of virulence in bacteria

Opportunistic pathogens are typically benign microbes that can sometimes cause infections in individuals with weakened immune systems or when they gain access to sterile areas of the body.

22 Aug 2024

Common fatty acid could improve treatment of recurrent bacterial vaginosis infections

Researchers investigated oleic acid as a potential treatment to inhibit Lactobacillus iners dominance in bacterial vaginosis.

22 Aug 2024

DNA scavengers break down antibiotic-resistant genes

For nearly a century, scientists have waged war on antibiotic-resistant microbes. Michigan State University researchers say they've found a new way to prevent it – by unleashing "DNA scavengers" in wastewater treatment plants.

22 Aug 2024

UC Davis researchers unveil pathway for Salmonella's gut invasion

How do bad bacteria find entry points in the body to cause infection? This question is fundamental for infectious disease experts and people who study bacteria.

20 Aug 2024

New genomic technique tracks superbugs in hospitals for faster infection management

Researchers have developed a new genomic technique that can track the spread of multiple superbugs in a hospital simultaneously, which could help prevent and manage common hospital infections quicker and more effectively than ever before.

20 Aug 2024

Gut microbiome discovery paves the way for new heart failure treatments

Cleveland Clinic researchers have made a significant discovery about how the gut microbiome interacts with cells to cause cardiovascular disease.

20 Aug 2024

Exploring gene silencing mechanisms for improved RNAi therapeutics

RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have garnered significant attention in clinical research due to their potential for treating various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections and cancer.

20 Aug 2024