Carbohydrate News and Research

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A carbohydrate is an organic compound with general formula C''m''(H2O)''n'', that is, consisting only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the last two in the 2:1 atom ratio. Carbohydrates can be viewed as hydrates of carbon, hence their name.

Formic Acid Drives Novel Electron Transfer in the Gut Bacteria

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have discovered a surprising role for formic acid in the human gut: The small molecule acts as a kind of “taxi” for electrons – both within bacteria and, likely, also between different microorganisms.

9 Feb 2026

Intelectin-2: A Dual-Action Lectin Fortifies Gut Barrier and Fights Bacteria

The mucosal surfaces that line the body are embedded with defensive molecules that help keep microbes from causing inflammation and infections.

14 Jan 2026

New Enzyme and Bacteria Unlock Efficient Production of Healthy Sweetener

From saccharin in the 19th century to stevia and monk fruit in the 21st, researchers and the food industry have long sought a sweetener that delivers the taste of sugar without its drawbacks-excess calories, tooth decay, and heightened risk for obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

14 Jan 2026

Giant Virus with A Massive Genome and Unusual Infection Strategy

Ushikuvirus, a newly identified giant virus, showcases unique cytopathic effects and structural features, enhancing knowledge of viral evolution and diversity.

14 Jan 2026

Unusual Antibody Tactics Hinder Pathogen Attachment to Cells

Pathogens can create sticky situations. When microbes invade the body to cause an infection, often one of their first lines of attack is to cling tenaciously to the surfaces of targeted human cells.

8 Jan 2026

Study Unveils the Complete Biosynthetic Loop Regulating Tannin Production in Strawberries

Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), including gallotannins and ellagitannins, are essential polyphenolic compounds that influence fruit taste, antioxidant capacity, and stress tolerance. Although condensed tannin biosynthesis has been well studied, the enzymatic processes governing HT formation remain unclear.

3 Nov 2025

GlyTR Therapeutics Unveils Groundbreaking Glycan-Targeting Cancer Immunotherapy

GlyTR Therapeutics, a biotech company pioneering development of glycan-targeting cancer immunotherapies, announced the publication of its foundational technology in the journal, Cell.

14 Oct 2025

New Water-Based Method Extracts High-Purity Lignin

The Nanoscience Center at the University of Jyväskylä discovered that lignin, a polyphenol vital for plant structure, has an antimicrobial effect against viruses and bacteria.

13 Aug 2025

Gut Bacteria Adapt to Local Diets Offering Hope for Personalized Probiotics

Probiotics are emerging tools used by neonatal intensive care units to promote healthy outcomes and prevent intestinal diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis.

18 Jul 2025

Study Reveals TRF's Role in Reshaping Gut Microbiome and Metabolism

Metatranscriptomics uncovers how time-restricted feeding restores gut microbial cycles, offering insights into improving metabolic health and disease treatment.

20 Jun 2025

Zebrafish Study Warns of Ecological Risk from Tire-Related Water Contaminants

Emerging contaminants from rubber tires N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ)-are raising new red flags for aquatic ecosystems.

20 May 2025

Sustainable Recycling: Turning Expired Pet Food into Biodiesel and Livestock Feed with Black Soldier Fly Larvae

A new study explores the use of black soldier fly larvae to convert expired pet food into biodiesel and animal feed. This sustainable biorefinery approach offers a low-emission, efficient solution for organic waste management and circular meat production.

14 May 2025

Researchers Capture Breakthrough Images of Cellulose Synthesis in Living Plant Cells

In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose – a major constituent of all plant cell walls – a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers has captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.

24 Mar 2025

Novel Enzyme for Synthesizing β-1,2-Galactooligosaccharides

Carbohydrate chains, also known as glycans, are intricate sugar-like molecules that are crucial for various biological functions and structures within human bodies.

7 Mar 2025

New Approach Could Protect Insulin-Producing Beta Cells from Damage Related to Diabetes

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York have discovered a novel approach to protecting insulin-producing beta cells from the damaging effects of glucolipotoxicity-a harmful condition linked to the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

5 Mar 2025

New HG-TCs Strategy Enables Efficient Analysis of Glycosylation in Cells

Protein glycosylation is a fundamental biological process that regulates various cellular functions, yet its study has been hampered by the complexity and low abundance of glycoproteins.

27 Dec 2024

Unveiling the Metabolic Strategies of Deep-Sea Coral-Associated Bacteria

Two incredible bacterial species have been found in the tissue of two deep-sea corals from the Gulf of Mexico by a German-American research team headed by Dr. Samuel Vohsen from Lehigh University in the USA and Professor Dr. Iliana Baums from the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB).

5 Nov 2024

New study reveals hidden diversity of acetic acid bacteria in the sourdough microbiome

Biologists have sequenced various acetic acid bacterial genomes to understand their genomic diversity, function, and ecology in the sourdough microbiome.

10 Oct 2024

Enhancing Global Nutrition Through Gene-Edited High-Protein Crops

A Mississippi State biologist's groundbreaking research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist, a leading plant biology journal.

26 Sep 2024

Harnessing the Power of Beneficial Bacteria to Fight Enterobacteriaceae

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections often occur in patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and in patients who have taken antibiotics for a long time. Gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae are a common cause of these infections and have few treatment options. Fecal microbiota transplants have shown promise to curb some of these infections, but their composition varies between batches and they aren't always successful.

23 Sep 2024