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New Pathogen Mimics Symbiotic Microorganisms to Kill Stink Bugs

Researchers at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), in collaboration with researchers from The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) and Akita Prefectural University, have discovered a new insect pathogen that invades the gut symbiotic organ of stink bugs by mimicking their symbiotic microorganism, and this pathogen ultimately kills the host bugs.

2 Jul 2026

Zebrafish Provide New Insights Into Microbiome Dynamics

A new advance in animal husbandry involving a popular aquarium fish should speed the pace of discovery in laboratory studies of host-microbe interactions, researchers report.

2 Jun 2026

New Protein Discovery Reveals How Bacteria Transport Complex Sugars

Even though sugars are often framed as simple sources of energy, they also serve as structurally complex and functionally diverse molecules that mediate interactions between organisms.

1 Jun 2026

Plant Scientists Tackle Major Threat to UK Wheat

A fungus known as yellow rust can destroy wheat, reducing harvests and driving up prices, which in turn can affect the price of staple foods like bread and pasta.

13 Feb 2026

New Epigenetic Catalog Helps Explain Individual Differences in Immune Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us tremendous perspective on how wildly symptoms and outcomes can vary between patients experiencing the same infection.

28 Jan 2026

Fungal Detoxification Pathway Enables Infestation of Bark Beetle Pests

Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds that protect trees from pathogenic fungi. A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena investigated how these plant defenses function within the food web, particularly in spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus), which ingest the compounds through their diet. Could the beetles use substances from the spruce's defenses to protect themselves against pathogenic fungi?

30 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

Animal Testing to Be Phased Out Faster as UK Unveils Roadmap for Alternative Methods

Animal testing in science is set to be phased out faster under a new plan to deliver on the government’s manifesto commitment, unveiled by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Tuesday 11 November).

13 Nov 2025

Flower-scented Fungus That Kills Mosquitoes Naturally

In the war against mosquito-borne illnesses that claim the lives of hundreds of thousands annually, researchers have sought an unexpected partner: a fungus that emits a floral scent.

27 Oct 2025

Unveiling the Hidden Alliances Between Plant Roots and Microbes

When we talk about microbiota, we usually think of the one inhabiting our gut. But there is another, less known and equally vital: the plant microbiota.

3 Oct 2025

New Research Reveals Link Between Copper Antimicrobials and Antibiotic Resistance

Copper has emerged as a key ally in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Copper sulfate solutions, for example, have been used since the 1700s to combat fungal infections in vineyards, orchards, and a variety of other agricultural contexts.

8 Aug 2025

OLED Materials Have Potential New Uses in Detecting Pesticides for the Farming Industry

Researchers are set to shine a different kind of light on the farming industry after receiving funding to explore how fluorescent materials can detect the presence of pesticides and herbicides in food production.

8 Aug 2025

New Study Reveals Role of Root Bacteria in Rice Resilience

Despite being the primary food for more than half of the world's population, rice cultivation is very resource-intensive, necessitating vast amounts of water and artificial fertilizers.

7 Jul 2025

New Study Maps How Pesticides Alter Human Gut Bacteria

While emerging evidence suggests pesticides can be toxic to the mix of microorganisms in the digestive system, a new study is the first to map changes to specific gut bacteria based on interactions between human microbes and insect-killing chemicals observed in the lab and an animal model.

30 Jun 2025