Bacteria News

Increase in black widow population presents bacterial risk By Tim Sandle Scientists have identified that common house spiders can transmit bacteria that can infect people. In addition, with Noble False Widow spiders carrying strains of bacteria resistant common antibiotic treatments.

Smart polymers created to detect bacteria By Tim Sandle Microbiologists and nanotechnologists have created 'smart polymers'. These have been developed to detect bacteria, with a view to allowing appropriate treatment to be delivered and hence to ultimately save lives.

Some cheese smells are actually bacteria communicating By Tim Sandle Microbiologists from Tufts University have found that the bacteria involved in the process that ripens cheese have the capability of responding volatile gases produced by cheese fungi. This is key to creating perfect cheese.

Rare childhood disease linked to bacterium By Tim Sandle The rare childhood illness pediatric hydrocephalus (a form of fluid on the brain of a child) has been attributed to a bacterium. This new insight may lead to new treatments and it will further scientific understanding.

Bacteriophages could combat secondary COVID-19 infections By Tim Sandle New research suggests that bacteriophage therapy could counteract the risk of secondary bacterial infections, which affect some patients with weakened immune systems after being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Transmission of multidrug resistant tuberculosis and cannabis use By Tim Sandle The microbiological quality of cannabis represents an important research and public health area, especially as cannabis intake increases. This is especially so in the case of TB. If cannabis is contaminated, this will present risks to users.

Q&A: Importance of endotoxin testing COVID-19 vaccines Special By Tim Sandle Bacterial endotoxin presents a risk to sterile medicine products, especially those administered intravenously or intrathecally. Assessing endotoxin levels is also important in establishing if new COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

Tackling the bacterium that causes cat scratch disease By Tim Sandle Researchers have gained a new insight about a protein named BafA which stimulates the production of new blood vessels that support bacterial lesions. This discovery may help develop new methods for diagnosing and treating bartonellosis.

Research: The dirtiest room in the house is the kitchen By Tim Sandle A new study conducted by Currys PC World in collaboration with scientist Dr. Jonathan Hughes analyzed various kitchens revealing the dirtiest areas of the typical kitchen, highlighting the most founded bacteria together with remediation tips.

Imbalance of gut bacteria linked to bowel cancer By Tim Sandle New research suggests that a bacterium commonly found in the gut may, under particular conditions, release a toxin that triggers mutations in the cells found in the lining of the gut and this can lead to bowel cancer.

Bacteria-eating viruses bridge the gap of life and non-life By Tim Sandle Bacteriophage are a type of simple virus that infects bacteria, being spread by its bacterial host and being reliant upon the bacterial cell to replicate. New research indicates that some phages are more complex than they first appear.

Enlisting bacteria to make ‘green’ nylon By Tim Sandle Using bacteria to convert sugars into “green” products, such as polymer precursors for nylon, is progressing due to advances with metabolic engineering such as a specially designed biosensor from Los Alamos.

Essential Science: Gut bacteria affect how the colon moves By Tim Sandle A research study, looking at the microbiome of the human gut, shows how gut bacteria influence how the colon moves, and with this how digestion is controlled along with reasons for poor digestive health.

New research outlines advice for coping with acne By Tim Sandle Acne is a common skin condition, affecting people at different ages, and one that can wreak havoc with your self-esteem and often appears at the worst possible time. New research identifies some strategies for dealing with the condition.

Essential Science: Is a vaccine for MRSA possible? By Tim Sandle MRSA has caused numerous deaths in the hospital setting. Despite good progress with other vaccines, no vaccine for MRSA appears in sight. A new study shows why this is and points towards the best direction to go forwards.

Mealworms can effectively degrade toxic additives in plastics By Tim Sandle One solution to the toxins produced from some forms of plastic could be found with the humble mealworm, according to new research. Mealworms are capable of eating plastic and its toxic by-products.

Novel process allows microbes to harvest electrons By Tim Sandle In a new, and very novel, process researchers have shown how a species of bacteria can be used to 'eat' electricity. This involves pulling in electrons away from an electrode source.

Is it time for a ‘shocking’ new way to kill microbes? By Tim Sandle A new electrochemical approach is being developed to treat infections of metal-based implants, according to a new research study. The technology appears to be able to kill bacteria and fungi and reduce infection risk.

Hospital clean-up actually increased microbial contamination By Tim Sandle Edinburgh - A new study into the clean-up of a hospital in response to bacterial contamination reveals that the remediation process actually made matters worse, dislodging more contamination than there actually was to start with.

Mucus helps inactivate bacterial biofilms By Tim Sandle Boston - New research into mucus shows that it plays an essential role in controlling bacterial biofilms and helping to prevent infection. This is due to sugar molecules present, termed glycans and these disarm opportunistic pathogens.

Dolphins are showing cases of antibiotic resistance By Tim Sandle Antibiotic resistance and the consequential enhanced risk to from pathogenic organisms is not only something that affects humans; other animals, such as dolphins, are equally impacted, according to new research.

Rates of antimicrobial resistance rising drastically in animals By Tim Sandle New research shows that antimicrobial-resistant infections are increasing in animals across low and middle income countries at a rate far faster that earlier predictions suggested.

Microbiology News: Antimicrobials and mother's microbiome By Tim Sandle From a rise of superbugs in Southeast Asia, the earliest recorded evidence of tapeworm, and the microbial community of the mother influencing that of her child, represent three of the biggest microbiology news items this month. We delve deeper.

Why E coli knows how to produce the worst possible infection By Tim Sandle Medical microbiologists have established how the bacterium Escherichia coli knows how to cause the worst possible infection. The new insight should assist with preventing the foodborne illnesses.

Microfluidics device diagnoses sepsis in minutes By Tim Sandle Time matters greatly in hospitals and this includes undertaking diagnoses as rapidly as possible. A new automated system can detect an early biomarker for the potentially life-threatening condition sepsis within a few minutes.

Essential Science: Is anorexia partly caused by gut bacteria? By Tim Sandle Anorexia is primarily a psychological condition and there are many underlying factors. One new factor to come to light, which may well play an influence, is with the microbiome of the human gut, according to British researchers.

Will you next computer be made using graphene and bacteria? By Tim Sandle To develop more efficient computers, along with medical devices, scientists are examining nanomaterials. These are materials manipulated on the scale of atoms and which exhibit unique properties, opening a gateway to advanced technology.

Robot arm learns how to taste with engineered bacteria By Tim Sandle Biologists working with engineers have developed a robotic gripping arm which makes use of engineered bacteria in order to 'taste' for certain chemicals. This represents a new development in soft robotics.

Essential Science: Breakthrough for patients with pneumonia By Tim Sandle New research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, presents the first clinical results with CAL02 in patients suffering from severe pneumonia, the first cause of infectious mortality in the world.

Careless disposal of medicines increases antimicrobial resistance By Tim Sandle Copenaghen - There are a number of ways by which antimicrobial resistance can spread, and one that is of growing concern is the disposal of medicines by consumers down sinks and toilets. A new technique can help to assess the extent of the spread.

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