Microbiology News and Research

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Bacteria Show Unexpected Flexibility in Building Their Cell Walls

Closely related bacterial species use different strategies to build their cell walls, an international team of scientists led by Université de Montréal microbiology professor Yves Brun has found.

10 Jul 2025

Exercise Boosts Immune Response in Cancer Through Bacterial Metabolites

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh shows for the first time how exercise improves cancer outcomes and enhances response to immunotherapy in mice by reshaping the gut microbiome.

10 Jul 2025

Mediterranean Bacteria Offer New Weapon Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 700,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization, and the mosquitos that spread the disease are difficult to control.

8 Jul 2025

Iowa State Engineers Reinvent Gene Gun for Faster and Safer Crop Editing

Plant scientists have used a standard "gene gun" since 1988 to genetically modify crops for better yield, nutrition, pest resistance and other valuable traits.

5 Jul 2025

Small Genetic Change in Humans Weakens Immune Attack on Solid Tumors

New research from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has uncovered an evolutionary change that may explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumors compared to non-human primates.

4 Jul 2025

Understanding the Bacterial Propeller Architecture Offers Hope Against Antibiotic Resistance

Scientists have studied a new target for antibiotics in the greatest detail yet – in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

2 Jul 2025

Gut Microbes May Help Remove Toxic Forever Chemicals from the Body

Scientists have discovered that certain species of microbe found in the human gut can absorb PFAS - the toxic and long-lasting 'forever chemicals.'

2 Jul 2025

New Chordata Olfactory Receptor Database Offers Insight into the Genetics of Scent

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are key to how animals perceive their surroundings, guiding behaviors like foraging, mating, and avoiding danger.

1 Jul 2025

Genetic Ancestry Tied to Immune Response in Dengue Infection

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.

1 Jul 2025

Bacteria Hijack Cellular Processes in Ticks to Survive and Spread

Washington State University researchers have discovered how the bacteria that cause anaplasmosis and Lyme disease hijack cellular processes in ticks to ensure their survival and spread to new hosts, including humans.

1 Jul 2025

Global Effort to Preserve Microbial Diversity Enters New Phase

A global effort to create a "microbial Noah's Ark" to preserve the world's diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase.

30 Jun 2025

Tracing the Genetic Mosaic of India Through Ancient Ancestry and Modern Genomes

India's population is genetically one of the most diverse in the world, yet it remains underrepresented in global datasets.

27 Jun 2025

Imported Seafood and the Spread of Colistin Resistance

Findings show imported seafood as a potential source of colistin-resistance genes, underscoring the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance globally.

23 Jun 2025

Fungal Spores in the Air May Predict Flu and COVID-19 Surges

Monitoring fungal spores in the outdoor air can predict surges in flu and COVID-19 infections, especially during the fall, according to a new study.

23 Jun 2025

Histone Variant H2AZ1 Identified as Key Driver of Stem Cell Aging

Cellular senescence-a state of irreversible growth arrest accompanied by chronic inflammation-is a major contributor to aging and tissue degeneration.

18 Jun 2025

Ancient Immune Sensor STING Found to Regulate Gut Microbe Tolerance

Thousands of bacterial and other microbial species live in the human gut, supporting healthy digestion, immunity, metabolism and other functions.

18 Jun 2025

TUM Scientists Develop Breakthrough Method to Monitor CAR-T Cells

In modern immunotherapy, modified immune cells are introduced into the body to attack tumors and other targets.

16 Jun 2025

The Role of Metabolism in Bacterial Survival and Resistance

Ciprofloxacin induces bioenergetic stress in E. coli, boosting survival rates and resistance development. Metabolic shifts challenge antibiotic effectiveness.

10 Jun 2025

Bacteria Navigate Terrain by Exploiting Fluid Landscapes Around Yeast

In the world of microorganisms, microbes compete for turf, spew chemicals at foes, and sometimes exploit the microscopic terrain to gain an edge.

6 Jun 2025

Ecological Dichotomy in Marine Bacteria During Starvation: Some Move to Find Nutrients, While Others Halt to Conserve Energy

A new study in Nature Microbiology shows that under carbon starvation, marine bacteria split into two strategies: some stop moving to conserve energy, while others keep swimming by consuming biomass—offering new insights into oceanic carbon cycling.

5 Jun 2025