Microbiology

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Microbes Help Shape the Developing Brain Before and After Birth

New research from Michigan State University finds that microbes play an important role in shaping early brain development, specifically in a key brain region that controls stress, social behavior, and vital body functions.

14 Aug 2025

H5N1 Evolution Points to Higher Risk of Human Transmission

In recent years, there has been growing concern over the H5N1 influenza virus. It was first identified in birds three decades ago and has now gradually found its way to humans.

13 Aug 2025

New Water-Based Method Extracts High-Purity Lignin

The Nanoscience Center at the University of Jyväskylä discovered that lignin, a polyphenol vital for plant structure, has an antimicrobial effect against viruses and bacteria.

13 Aug 2025

Researchers Uncover How Macrophages Respond to Infection Stress

Fighting infections requires speed and accuracy. A team of researchers from CeMM and MedUni Vienna, led by Christoph Bock and Matthias Farlik, explored how macrophages—the body’s initial responders—handle this stress.

11 Aug 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

New Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Biofilm Architecture

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have reimagined the capabilities of atomic force microscopy, or AFM, transforming it from a tool for imaging nanoscale features into one that also captures large-scale biological architecture.

6 Aug 2025

Small Protein LptM Plays Key Role in Assembling Protective Outer Membrane in Bacteria

Gram-negative bacteria pose a significant threat to global health due to their high resistance to antibiotics compared to that of Gram-positive bacteria.

5 Aug 2025

Hemostatic Dressing Developed for Severe Burn Injuries

A team led by Dr. Chao Zhong and Bolin An of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, along with Dr. Yan Liu of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, created a novel hemostatic dressing based on bacterial cellulose (BC) that allows for quick and long-lasting bleeding control.

4 Aug 2025

Research Reveals How Gut Bacteria Interact to Maintain Intestinal Balance

Intestinal bacteria are important for human health as they help digest food and regulate immune function.

4 Aug 2025

Gut Bacteria Breakthrough Could Help Fight Chronic Diseases

An international research team led by scientists from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a common gut bacterium that lowers body weight and blood sugar while increasing bone density.

1 Aug 2025

Living Bacterial Sensors Translate Environmental Signals into Electrical Data

Researchers at Rice University have engineered E. coli to act as living multiplexed sensors, allowing these genetically modified cells to detect and respond to multiple environmental toxins simultaneously by converting their biological responses into readable electrical signals.

30 Jul 2025

Bacterial Battle Strategies Involve Durable Amyloid Armor

Amyloids are perhaps best known as a key driver of Alzheimer's disease.

30 Jul 2025

Proteins as a Natural Weapon Against Predatory Bacteria

Amyloids are perhaps best recognized as a major cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

30 Jul 2025

Small Viral Protein ORF3a Reveals Big Role in SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Chicago discovered that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses a small but powerful protein, ORF3a, to assemble the infectious particles, making it more efficient at spreading the disease.

29 Jul 2025

Gene Editing Offers New Hope to Stop Malaria Transmission

Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal. In 2023, the blood-sucking insects infected a reported 263 million people with malaria, leading to nearly 600,000 deaths, 80% of which were children.

24 Jul 2025

Simple Models Reveal Soil’s Complex Microbial Conversations

Just like any living organism, the soil has its own metabolism. Plants, worms, insects, and most importantly, microorganisms in the soil, break down organic matter, consume and generate nutrients, and process other materials to give the soil a life of its own.

18 Jul 2025