Microbiology News and Research

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New Methods Increase Understanding of How Bacteria Manage DNA

New analytical methods developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have increased our understanding of how bacteria manage DNA.

23 Apr 2026

"Zombie" Macrophages Accumulate in Aging Tissues and Diseased Livers

UCLA researchers have identified a rogue population of immune cells that quietly accumulates in aging tissues and in the livers of people with fatty liver disease. Clearing these cells, they found, dramatically reduced inflammation and reversed liver damage in mice - even while the animals remained on an unhealthy diet.

16 Apr 2026

Vibrio cholerae Captures External DNA to Boost Its Antiviral Defenses

Like most bacteria, Vibrio cholerae lives under constant attack from viruses. To survive, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems.

10 Apr 2026

Study Reveals How Bacteria Protect Themselves During Cell Cleavage

Bacteria reproduce by dividing into two: they form a wall, or septum, between the two future cells while remodeling the old cell walls so the so-called "daughter" cells can separate without bursting.

10 Apr 2026

Study Reveals Hidden Diversity in Rising Strep Bacterium

Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have discovered that a fast‑rising strep bacterium comes in more forms than expected, including ones that may lead to life-threatening infections.

1 Apr 2026

Study Reveals How Trypanosomes Fine-Tune Protein Production Through Destruction

To survive in the human bloodstream, the African trypanosome parasite wears a "cloak" made of proteins known as a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). The study, published in Nature Microbiology, identifies the protein that allows the parasite to fine-tune this "cloak".

31 Mar 2026

Advanced Testing Methods Uncover Previously Hidden Bacterial Genetic Variants

Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have discovered that a fast‑rising strep bacterium comes in more forms than expected, including ones that may lead to life-threatening infections.

31 Mar 2026

Genome-Wide Screen Reveals Drivers of Ciprofloxacin Tolerance Mechanisms

Persisters are a bacterial subpopulation that exhibits tolerance to antibiotics and plays a critical role in chronic and recurrent infections.

28 Mar 2026

Study Reveals How STING Protein Migrates to Trigger Immune Responses

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified how the quintessential immune protein known as stimulator of interferon genes (STING) migrates from one cellular organelle to another, a necessary step in its activation.

27 Mar 2026

Novel Phage W5 Offers a Sustainable Solution for Foodborne Salmonella

Researchers from China have identified a novel bacteriophage that offers a highly promising "green" biocontrol solution against foodborne Salmonella.

27 Mar 2026

Genetic Study Maps E. coli Capsules Behind Severe Infections

The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli's protective armor has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.

26 Mar 2026

Cooperative Microbes Enable Efficient Breakdown of Harmful Plasticizers

Plastic trash has reached the world's most remote locations, from the bottom of the Mariana Trench to the summit of Everest.

19 Mar 2026

Engineered Bacteria Deliver Targeted Anticancer Therapy in Tumors

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with cancer globally; however, current treatments are limited by disease complexity.

18 Mar 2026

Revive Penicillin’s Power by Exploiting Bacteria’s Hidden Weakness

When many disease-causing bacteria come into contact with penicillin, they do not necessarily die immediately, but instead enter a brief survival mode known as antibiotic tolerance.

13 Mar 2026

Study Connects Gut Bacteria Patterns With Dyslipidemia Risk

Before the onset of cardiovascular disease symptoms, people often develop dyslipidemia, or abnormal levels of lipids in the blood.

5 Mar 2026

Mars Soil May Harm Living Organisms

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, could be better recognized by a new name: Tardiguardians of the Galaxy.

2 Mar 2026

Study Uncovers Regulated Nuclear DNA Extraction in Dying Cells

Over the years, cell biology has built a detailed picture of how cells compartmentalize their internal functions. Central to this organization is the nucleus, which houses the genetic material and is separated from the cytoplasm by a robust nuclear envelope.

26 Feb 2026