Scientists have discovered how bacteria, often responsible for seafood-related stomach upsets, can be put to sleep and then "wake up". Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium that can cause gastroenteritis in humans when consumed in raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters and clams. Some of these bacteria can become inactive under poor growing conditions […]
The major non-psychoactive component of cannabis has been shown to kill Gram-negative bacteria for the first time – ScienceDaily
Synthetic cannabidiol, better known as CBD, was first shown to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, meningitis, and Legionnaires' disease. The research collaboration between the University of Queensland and Botanix Pharmaceuticals Limited could lead to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 years. Mark Blaskovich, associate professor at the UQ Institute […]
CRISPR technology has been shown to "downshift" gene activity in bacteria – ScienceDaily
In a series of experiments with bacteria grown in the laboratory, scientists at Johns Hopkins found evidence that the widely used gene cutting system CRISPR-Cas9 plays a second role – as a genetic dimmer switch for CRISPR-Cas9 genes. The role of downshifting or dimming CRISPR-Cas9 activity can help scientists develop new ways to genetically engine […]
Researchers Identify a Novel Mechanism by which Bacteria Form Different Types of Membrane Vesicles – ScienceDaily
Bacteria have the ability to form membrane vesicles in order to communicate with one another, but also to defend themselves against antibiotics. In a new study, researchers at Tsukuba University discovered a novel mechanism by which mycolic acid-containing bacteria, a specific group of bacteria with a special type of cell membrane, form membrane vesicles. Bacteria […]
Artificial intelligence to map our intestinal bacteria – ScienceDaily
Scientists both past and present have suggested that the gut plays a role in various diseases. Current studies focus on the role of the gut flora in physical diseases like diabetes and obesity, while others try to establish a connection between the gut flora and e.g. Autism, schizophrenia, and depression. But even modern scientists have […]
The toad peptide turns into a deadly weapon against bacteria – ScienceDaily
Researchers have discovered remarkable molecular properties of an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the Australian toad. The discovery could inspire the development of novel synthetic drugs to fight bacterial infections. The researchers solved the 3D molecular structure of an antibacterial peptide called Uperin 3.5, which is secreted on the skin of the Australian toad […]
Mosquito-borne bacteria can protect them from pesticides – ScienceDaily
A common type of bacteria that naturally infects mosquitoes may actually protect them from certain mosquito pesticides, one study found. Wolbachia – a bacterium that occurs naturally and spreads between insects – has been used more widely in recent years as a means of controlling mosquito populations. Scientists from the University of Reading, INBIOTEC-CONICET, and […]
These bacteria survive on deadly copper surfaces – ScienceDaily
The offspring of regular wild-type bacteria can evolve to survive long on metallic copper surfaces that would normally kill them within minutes. An international research team led by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology was able to produce these tiny survivors in the laboratory and examine them more closely. […]
Imbalances in the type and volume of bacteria may also be related to "Long COVID" – ScienceDaily
The variety and volume of bacteria in the gut known as the microbiome can affect the severity of COVID-19 as well as the extent to which the immune system responds to the infection, according to a study published online in the journal Intestines. Imbalances in the composition of the microbiome can also be related to […]
The bacteria scrub out nitrogen and may defend themselves against certain nutrient overloads – ScienceDaily
Corals have evolved over millennia to live and even thrive in bodies of water with few nutrients. In healthy reefs, the water is often exceptionally clear, mainly because corals have found ways to make the most of the few resources around them. Any change in these conditions can upset a coral's health. Now researchers at […]