Microbiology

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Lifeforms likely used arsenic before oxygen was present on planet Earth

Much of life on planet Earth today relies on oxygen to exist, but before oxygen was present on our blue planet, lifeforms likely used arsenic instead.

23 Sep 2020

Escherichia coli bacteria show path to speed up photosynthesis

Cornell University scientists have engineered a key plant enzyme and introduced it in Escherichia coli bacteria in order to create an optimal experimental environment for studying how to speed up photosynthesis, a holy grail for improving crop yields.

22 Sep 2020

Elderly patients face higher risk of severity and death from COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 can infect people of any age. However, elderly people face a greater risk of severity and death when compared to younger patients.

22 Sep 2020

Growing algae for biofuels in the dark using solar-generated electricity

Algae could compete with petroleum as the fuel of the future if only the process of growing it was more efficient. Thanks to a fellowship from the Link Foundation, it soon could be.

16 Sep 2020

Viruses provide a "coup de grace" when ocean algae are stressed and dying

Scientists have long believed that ocean viruses always quickly kill algae, but Rutgers-led research shows they live in harmony with algae and viruses provide a "coup de grace" only when blooms of algae are already stressed and dying.

From Rutgers University 15 Sep 2020

Researchers develop highly scalable and accurate antibody test for COVID-19

An antibody test for the virus that causes COVID-19, developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with Houston Methodist and other institutions, is more accurate and can handle a much larger number of donor samples at lower overall cost than standard antibody tests currently in use.

14 Sep 2020

Bioengineers detect the presence of maxRNA on the surface of human cells

Bioengineers have demonstrated that RNA produced by the human genome is found on the surface of human cells.

11 Sep 2020

Human evolution shaped by pathogens and cell-autonomous immunity

Every human cell harbors its own defenses against microbial invaders, relying on strategies that date back to some of the earliest events in the history of life, researchers report.

10 Sep 2020

Treatments targeting the gut microbiome can protect space travelers from adverse health problems

Space travelers who spend long periods of time in space can experience health problems, such as adverse effects on metabolism, and immunity.

9 Sep 2020

Researchers develop cellular roadmaps to predict the body’s susceptibility to coronavirus

A new study has created promising roadmaps to predict how the novel coronavirus infects organs and detects the factors that could limit the infection.

7 Sep 2020

Safe antibiotic levels can help fight the spread of drug-resistant bacteria

New research reveals current understanding of safe antibiotic levels in rivers may not prevent evolution of antibiotic resistance and fully protect human health. The study suggests the need to introduce thresholds to help fight the spread of resistant bacteria.

From University of Exeter 4 Sep 2020

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus, including malformations such as microcephaly. In a small proportion of cases, the disease may lead to miscarriage and perinatal death.

4 Sep 2020

Researchers investigate cellular factors that could be significant for COVID-19 infection

An infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can affect multiple organs. With this in mind, researchers of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and Cornell University in the US have investigated cellular factors that could be significant for an infection.

4 Sep 2020

Researchers develop antibacterial agent to treat drug-resistant infections

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most lethal drug-resistant bacteria and is also one of the most common bacterial pathogens.

3 Sep 2020

Study reveals gene that provides resistance to tomatoes from bacterial speck disease

Bacterial speck disease, which reduces both fruit yield and quality, has been a growing problem in tomatoes over the last five years.

3 Sep 2020

Study: Bacterial cells from different species can combine into unique hybrid cells

Like humans, bacteria live together in communities, sometimes lending a hand -- or in the case of bacteria, a metabolite or two -- to help their neighbors thrive.

3 Sep 2020

Researchers create a new, quicker method of diagnosing diseases in patients

A new and quicker method of diagnosing diseases in patients has been created by researchers at the University of Leeds.

3 Sep 2020

Gut bacterium is linked to increased risk of stomach cancer

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is linked to increased risk of stomach cancer, and is genetically highly variable. A new study by researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich explores the role played by this diversity in the early phase of infection in adult humans.

3 Sep 2020

Combined point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody test can speed up COVID-19 detection

A Cambridge hospital has piloted the use of combined rapid point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection after researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that this approach was superior to virus detection alone for diagnosing COVID-19 disease.

3 Sep 2020

Global warming could lead to evolution of viruses

Enteroviruses and other pathogenic viruses that make their way into surface waters can be inactivated by heat, sunshine and other microbes, thereby reducing their ability to spread disease.

3 Sep 2020

Microbiology

Lifeforms likely used arsenic before oxygen was present on planet Earth

Escherichia coli bacteria show path to speed up photosynthesis

Elderly patients face higher risk of severity and death from COVID-19

Growing algae for biofuels in the dark using solar-generated electricity

Viruses provide a "coup de grace" when ocean algae are stressed and dying

Researchers develop highly scalable and accurate antibody test for COVID-19

Bioengineers detect the presence of maxRNA on the surface of human cells

Human evolution shaped by pathogens and cell-autonomous immunity

Treatments targeting the gut microbiome can protect space travelers from adverse health problems

Researchers develop cellular roadmaps to predict the body’s susceptibility to coronavirus

Safe antibiotic levels can help fight the spread of drug-resistant bacteria

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus

Researchers investigate cellular factors that could be significant for COVID-19 infection

Researchers develop antibacterial agent to treat drug-resistant infections

Study reveals gene that provides resistance to tomatoes from bacterial speck disease

Study: Bacterial cells from different species can combine into unique hybrid cells

Researchers create a new, quicker method of diagnosing diseases in patients

Gut bacterium is linked to increased risk of stomach cancer

Combined point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody test can speed up COVID-19 detection

Global warming could lead to evolution of viruses

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