Bacteria News and Research

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Hydrogel Therapy: A Novel Defense Against Viral Infections

Vaccines remain the gold standard of protection against dangerous pathogens, but take considerable time and vast resources to develop.

24 Apr 2024

Soil Bacteria Use Umbrella Toxins to Fight Back

Scientists have found that soil bacteria called Streptomyces secrete toxic protein particles in the shape of umbrellas that are meant to suppress competitors, particularly those that belong to their species.

18 Apr 2024

Insights into Bacterial Cell Division: Beyond Size Considerations

When a single bacterial cell divides into two during periods of rapid growth, it doesn't split in half once it reaches a predetermined size. Instead, data has shown, a cell will divide once it has added a certain amount of mass.

18 Apr 2024

Bacterial "Vampirism" Fuels Deadly Infections

The world's deadliest bacteria actively seek out human blood to feed on, a phenomenon that scientists are referring to as “bacterial vampirism”.

17 Apr 2024

Mysterious Plasmid in Human Gut Holds Potential for Health Hazard Detection

A component of the human intestinal flora that has been little studied to date is the focus of a new study.

17 Apr 2024

Can Pets Harbor and Spread Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?

According to new research, pet dogs and cats are major contributors to the spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

15 Apr 2024

How Glucocorticoids Quell Inflammation

Cortisone and other related glucocorticoids are extremely effective at curbing excessive immune reactions.

13 Apr 2024

Unlocking Bacterial Dormancy: Polyphosphates' Role Revealed

Most disease-causing bacteria are known for their speed: In mere minutes, they can double their population, quickly making a person sick.

12 Apr 2024

Cataloging Bacteria in Cancer Metastases

Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have compiled a detailed catalog of bacteria living in cancer metastases.

10 Apr 2024

New Method Revolutionizes Assessment of Ferroptosis-Targeting Enzymes

New research could pave the way to develop cancer drugs targeting an enzyme that inhibits ferroptosis, a type of cell death.

8 Apr 2024

Engineering Live Vaccines for Improved Immune Response

Bacterial proteins frequently outsmart the immune system, making it more challenging to fight off the bacteria that cause illnesses like staph infections.

5 Apr 2024

RNA Molecules Govern Battle Between Cholera Bacteria and Phages

Viruses need hosts. Whether it's measles, the flu or coronavirus, viral pathogens cannot multiply or infect other organisms without the assistance of their hosts' cellular infrastructure.

5 Apr 2024

AI Predicts Mutations for Improved Protein Function

To design proteins with beneficial functions, researchers typically start with a natural protein possessing a desirable function, such as emitting fluorescent light.

5 Apr 2024

Designing Compounds for Next-Gen Antibiotics and Cancer Treatments

Chemists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have generated a novel set of molecular compounds and are evaluating them as possible candidates for novel drug discovery leads.

5 Apr 2024

Gut Microbiota Signatures Linked to KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Patients

For about 40% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), the tumor carries a mutation in a gene called KRAS. Many of those mutations have been linked to shorter survival and more aggressive forms of disease.

5 Apr 2024

Using Nanoparticles to Inactivate Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

An article published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering describes a possible strategy for promoting selective inhibition of multidrug-resistant bacteria, which are increasingly abundant owing to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and are therefore a major human health hazard.

4 Apr 2024