Microbiology News and Research

RSS

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

Cooperation's Fate: Population Bottlenecks Reshape Microbial Social Dynamics

Microbes often display cooperative behavior in which individual cells put in work and sacrifice resources to collectively benefit the group.

8 Jan 2026

A Molecular Tug-of-War Shapes Gene Regulation and Disease

A newly revealed molecular tug-of-war may have implications for better understanding how a multitude of diseases and disorders - including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immune disorders - originate, as well as how to potentially treat them, according to researchers at Penn State.

18 Dec 2025

Specific Gut Bacteria Found to Control Weight and Blood Fat Levels

The gut microbiome is intimately linked to human health and weight. Differences in the gut microbiome-the bacteria and fungi in the gut-are associated with obesity and weight gain, raising the possibility that changing the microbiome could improve health.

17 Dec 2025

Researchers Discover New Bacterial Species with Reversed Lifecycle Complexity

Researchers at Stockholm University have made unexpected discoveries regarding a significant, previously unexamined group of bacteria, with some sourced from Swedish lakes.

15 Dec 2025

How Complex Microbial Communities Drive the Evolution and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance

A new scientific review has uncovered how complex microbial communities, including those in the human gut and the natural environment, act as powerful engines that drive the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

11 Dec 2025

First Nationwide Microbiome Atlas Reveals Hidden Nitrifiers Across Denmark

An international research team led by Aalborg University with contributions from the University of Vienna has systematically mapped the microbiome of an entire country for the first time.

8 Dec 2025

Nearly 1/3 of Pesticides and Industrial Chemicals Harm Gut Bacteria

A study reveals that common pesticides and industrial chemicals inhibit gut bacteria, highlighting risks to health and the need for revised safety assessments.

5 Dec 2025

New Evidence Shows Complex Life Began Far Earlier Than Previously Believed

Complex life began to develop earlier, and over a longer span of time, than previously believed, a groundbreaking new study has revealed.

4 Dec 2025

New Label-Free Breakthrough for Studying Bacterial Shape Diversity

Scientists have long known that bacteria come in many shapes and sizes, but understanding what those differences mean has remained a major challenge, especially for species that can't be grown in the lab.

2 Dec 2025

Biotin Competition in the Nasal Cavity

Research reveals biotin competition in the nasal cavity affects Staphylococcus aureus growth, highlighting potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

26 Nov 2025

Molecular Test Targets Three Significant Pathogenic Fungi

This innovative assay detects key fungal pathogens with 100% accuracy, addressing urgent diagnostic needs for infections affecting immunocompromised patients.

17 Nov 2025

Long-Term Analysis Provides a Novel Look at Harmful Algal Blooms

A long-term analysis shows that a major Oregon reservoir abruptly swapped one type of toxic algae for another midway through the 12-year study period, absent any obvious cause.

12 Nov 2025

Global Constraint Principle Offers Fresh Insight into Life’s Growth Limits

A research team including a scientist of Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, has identified a novel principle in biology that mathematically explains why the growth of organisms slows as nutrients become more abundant-a phenomenon known as "the law of diminishing returns."

12 Nov 2025

Deciphering PARP14's Role in Viral Pathogenesis

Researchers at the University of Kansas have identified that the human gene encoding the protein PARP14 plays a crucial role in regulating interferon, a key component of the body’s innate immune system.

12 Nov 2025

Using AI and "Protein Language" Models to Speed Monoclonal Antibody Design

Artificial intelligence (AI) and "protein language" models can speed the design of monoclonal antibodies that prevent or reduce the severity of potentially life-threatening viral infections, according to a multi-institutional study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

6 Nov 2025