Tag: bacteria

A new experimental antibiotic for tuberculosis has been shown to be more effective against TB than isoniazid, a decades-old drug which is currently one of the standard treatments. In mouse studies, the new drug showed a much lower tendency to develop resistance, and it remains in the tissues where the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria reside for

The first population-level study on the link between gut bacteria and mental health identifies specific gut bacteria linked to depression and provides evidence that a wide range of gut bacteria can produce neuroactive compounds. Jeroen Raes (VIB-KU Leuven) and his team published these results today in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology. In their manuscript entitled

Viruses plague bacteria just as viruses like influenza plague humans. Some of the largest of these so-called bacteriophages have now been found in the human gut, where they periodically devastate bacteria just as seasonal outbreaks of flu lay humans low, according to a new study led by University of California, Berkeley, scientists. These “megaphages” —

Health risks: What foods you should not eat better Nausea, abdominal pain can be diarrhea and vomiting: food poisoning is very unpleasant. Certain foods pose a special health risk. An expert explains which foods should not be consumed. Food poisoning can have different causes There are generally different causes of food poisoning: “on The one

Dangerous sub-tropical tick species detected for the first time in Austria In the past few months, health experts have reported increasingly facing a growing danger from ticks. Meanwhile, non-native species on diving here. It has been shown in Austria for the first time, a sub-tropical tick species that can transmit the life-threatening Crimean-Congo fever Virus.

The venom of insects such as wasps and bees is full of compounds that can kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are also toxic for humans, making it impossible to use them as antibiotic drugs. After performing a systematic study of the antimicrobial properties of a toxin normally found in a South American wasp,

Researchers from North Carolina State University have created the largest publicly available virtual library of macrolide scaffolds. The library — called V1M — contains chemical structures and computed properties for 1 million macrolide scaffolds with potential for use as antibiotics or cancer drugs. “As chemists, we’re only able to look at a tiny portion of

In the ancient myth of Tithonus, the eponymous protagonist asks the gods to live forever but forgets to demand eternal youth. Although he gained immortality, the diseases of old age eventually defeat Tithonus, and he bitterly regrets his immortality. While achieving longevity is a goal worth pursuing and an ambition that humankind has harbored since

The first study investigating the mechanism of how a disease develops using human organ-on-a-chip technology has been successfully completed by engineers at The University of Texas at Austin. Researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering were able to shed light on a part of the human body—the digestive system—where many questions remain unanswered. Using their

A recent study completed at the University of Helsinki investigated the amount and quality of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in breast milk and gut of mother-infant pairs. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers report three findings. First, infants who were breastfed for at least six months had a smaller number of

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, which means that it causes the immune system to mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Probiotics help to maintain a good balance of healthful gut bacteria. Researchers believe that probiotics can have a positive impact on controlling, and even preventing, chronic inflammation caused by psoriasis. This article will look at the evidence

Scientists have known for decades that certain bacteria produce small spherical versions of themselves. Although they lack basic materials to reproduce or function like normal cells, recent interest in such “minicells” has spiked due to their proficiency as nano-sized delivery tools for drugs and vaccines to targeted cells and tissues. Yet the natural role of

Babies born very prematurely are more likely to harbour Ureaplasma bacteria, according to new research to be presented on Sunday at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. Ureaplasma bacteria are often present in the birth canal but they are unusually small and difficult to detect. The bacteria can be passed on to babies during pregnancy

The MRSA staphylococcus is an example of a pathogen, the likes of which are often called superbugs. These are resistant to most antibiotics and can cause serious infections. “In the case of MRSA, these bacteria have also spread in hospitals almost world-wide,” says Jukka Corander, professor at the University of Helsinki, who was a member

Man has his arm amputated after sushi dish leads to flesh-rotting ulcers A 71-year-old South Korean man developed large blisters and a fever as a result of a bacterial infection caught from eating raw seafood in a sushi dish. 25 days after eating the meal, the man had to have his left hand and forearm

Scientists have used light patterns to control the swimming speed of bacteria and direct them to form different shapes, according to a new study in the journal eLife. Controlling bacteria in this way means it could be possible to use them as microbricks for building the next generation of microscopic devices. For example, they could

University of Leicester researchers have shed new light on how bacteria sense nutrients in their environment — a finding that could provide important knowledge in the development of drugs and antibiotics to combat a range of diseases including tuberculosis. The research team, led by Dr Helen O’Hare from the University of Leicester’s Department of Infection,

Scientists have shed light on how a major cause of human and animal disease can jump between species, by studying its genes. The findings reveal fresh insights into how new disease-causing strains of the bacteria — called Staphylococcus aureus — emerge. Experts say the research could help improve the use of antibiotics and design better

It turns out that exercise can do more than slim down your waistline and boost heart health. It might also make what’s inside your gut healthier, according to a new study by San Francisco State University. In this first-of-its-kind study, just published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, recent SF State

Scientists are searching for ways to develop antibiotics that can accurately target infectious bacteria. Increased specificity could help to combat antibiotic resistance and also spare “good” bacteria from being attacked by broad-spectrum antibiotics. Efforts to develop targeted antibiotics have been constrained by the difficulty of quick diagnosis and the development of targeted killing mechanisms. A