Microbiology

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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

New Computational Tools Improve Gene Function Determination Within Fungal Organisms

While RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has become a standard tool for profiling which genes are active in an organism, determining the actual biological functions of those genes in fungi remains a significant technical challenge. Most existing software tools are designed to cover a broad range of species, often lacking the specificity required for the unique genetic landscape of fungi.

31 Mar 2026

Study Explains How LACTIN-V Reduces Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis

A new study from the Kwon Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in Cell Host & Microbe, provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others.

30 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

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

Reversing Memory Loss in Aging Mice by Targeting Gut Bacteria

The study uncovers how gut bacteria like Parabacteroides goldsteinii contribute to memory decline, offering insights for potential cognitive interventions.

26 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

Turning Plastic Bottles into Levodopa, a Key Parkinson’s Treatment

This study demonstrates the conversion of plastic bottles into levodopa using engineered bacteria, highlighting a novel approach to sustainable drug production.

25 Mar 2026

Scientists Map Gene Sharing Networks in Wastewater Treatment Biofilms

Wastewater treatment systems are hotspots for mobile genetic elements proliferation and exchange, where dense biofilms create ideal conditions for horizontal gene transfer.

24 Mar 2026

Study Highlights Hidden Protist Diversity Through Single-Cell Genomics

Researchers from the Earlham Institute, in collaboration with The Department of Biology at the University of Oxford, discovered three previously unrecognised lineages of the protist Bodo, each with its own bacterial endosymbiont (a symbiotic organism living within the body of its host).

23 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

Microbiome Changes Reveal Hidden Stress Responses in Songbirds

Every animal carries a microscopic community of bacteria, fungi and other microbes that play a critical role in health.

16 Mar 2026

Solving a 50-year Bottleneck in Chemotherapy Drug Production

A multinational team of researchers has made a significant advance in the manufacturing of doxorubicin, a crucial chemotherapy drug.

16 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

Certain Antibiotics Leave Lasting Footprints on Human Gut Microbiome

Antibiotic treatments can affect the composition of the community of bacteria living in the gut, known as the gut microbiome, for a long time.

13 Mar 2026

Gut Microbes Reshape Ovarian Aging in Mice

Findings indicate gut microbes impact ovarian function in mice, offering insights into reproductive aging and potential microbiome-based health interventions.

12 Mar 2026

Research Uncovers Vast Unknown Microbial Genes in Antarctic Waters

The Southern Ocean - vast, boundless waters surrounding Antarctica - plays an outsize role in global climate, largely thanks to tiny drifting organisms called plankton that soak up carbon.

11 Mar 2026

How SARS-CoV-2 Hijacks Host tRNA Chemistry to Sustain Infection

Findings reveal coronaviruses exploit stress-linked tRNA modifications, enhancing translation efficiency and offering insights for antiviral drug development.

11 Mar 2026