Bacteria News and Research

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Bacterial cell division: Rethinking size regulation

When a single bacterial cell divides into two during periods of rapid growth, it doesn't split in half once it reaches a predetermined size. Instead, data has shown, a cell will divide once it has added a certain amount of mass.

17 Apr 2024

Study identifies the main types of E. coli bacteria that cause neonatal meningitis

A milestone study led by University of Queensland researchers has identified the main types of E. coli bacteria that cause neonatal meningitis, and revealed why some infections recur despite being treated with antibiotics.

16 Apr 2024

Study reveals human gut plasmid with biomarker potential

A component of the human intestinal flora that has been little studied to date is the focus of a new study.

16 Apr 2024

Study reveals deadly bacteria's attraction to human blood

Some of the world's deadliest bacteria seek out and feed on human blood, a newly-discovered phenomenon researchers are calling "bacterial vampirism."

16 Apr 2024

Genetically engineering skin bacteria to fight cancer

While studying a type of bacteria that lives on the healthy skin of every human being, researchers from Stanford Medicine and a colleague may have stumbled on a powerful new way to fight cancer.

15 Apr 2024

Antibiotics ineffective for cough treatment in lower respiratory tract infections

Use of antibiotics provided no measurable impact on the severity or duration of coughs even if a bacterial infection was present, finds a large, prospective study of people who sought treatment in U.S. primary or urgent care settings for lower-respiratory tract infections.

15 Apr 2024

Texas A&M scientists elucidate how phages disarm antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Bacterial infections pose significant challenges to agriculture and medicine, especially as cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to rise.

15 Apr 2024

Nigeria first to rollout new Men5CV vaccine against meningitis

In a historic move, Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria.

15 Apr 2024

Breast milk's secret weapon against RSV revealed in new study

Researchers explored how human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), suggesting that these components in breast milk may prevent or reduce the severity of RSV infections through multiple mechanisms including gut microbiome modulation and direct antiviral actions.

15 Apr 2024

Study aims to explore the underlying causes of excessive alcohol production in overweight people

The microorganisms in the intestines of many overweight people produce alcohol to an increased extent, as Max Nieuwdorp, professor of Internal Medicine at Amsterdam UMC discovered a few years ago.

12 Apr 2024

Hospital sinks fuel antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread

A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control reports the infection prevention steps taken to control a months-long multispecies outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that occurred in a pediatric ward at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo in 2017.

12 Apr 2024

Blocking polyphosphates could help treat chronic infections

Most disease-causing bacteria are known for their speed: In mere minutes, they can double their population, quickly making a person sick.

12 Apr 2024

Rising antibiotic resistance prompts shift to ecological research strategies in infection control

The need to enhance research on the interactions between bacterial pathogens and commensals within human microbiomes.

12 Apr 2024

Study reveals key gut microbiome differences in prediabetic patients

Study explores the differences in gut microbiome composition between prediabetic patients and healthy individuals, revealing significant variations that correlate with altered metabolic functions and potential diabetes progression.

11 Apr 2024

Gut bacteria play a pivotal role in obesity's impact on body fat metabolism

Review explores the complex interplay between gut microbiota dysregulation in obesity and its impacts on white and brown adipose tissue metabolism, focusing on direct and indirect effects on mitochondria, highlighting potential avenues for obesity treatment through microbiota-focused strategies.

11 Apr 2024

Tumor microbiomes offer new insights for enhancing cancer therapies

Comprehensive review reveals the significant impact of tumor-resident bacteria on metastatic cancer, showing how microbiome genomes influence tumor biology, immune system response, and treatment effectiveness. It lays the groundwork for utilizing bacteria-focused therapies to complement traditional cancer treatments.

11 Apr 2024

Rethinking the germ theory: A balanced take on microbes and disease outcomes

Review explores the complexities of infectious disease outcomes through a balanced perspective, emphasizing the interplay between pathogenic microbes and host conditions, challenging the traditional germ-disease theory by proposing a more integrated view that considers both pathogen virulence and host immunity's impact on disease manifestation.

10 Apr 2024

New generative AI tool models the infant microbiome

The gut microbiome has a profound impact on the health and development of infants. Research shows that dysbiosis-;or imbalances in the microbial community-;is associated with gastrointestinal diseases and neurodevelopmental deficits.

10 Apr 2024

Study unlocks how cortisone activates the body’s natural “brakes” on inflammation

Cortisone and other related glucocorticoids are extremely effective at curbing excessive immune reactions.

10 Apr 2024

Human-wildlife interface: Starling movements linked to E. coli carriage

Research unveils how spotless starlings' movements, monitored via GPS, relate to the carriage and potential spread of Escherichia coli (E. coli), emphasizing the significant role of bird movement patterns in transmitting pathogens across different environments.

10 Apr 2024