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Categories: Biology: Microbiology, Space: General

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Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology
Published

How the hospital pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii quickly adapts to new environmental conditions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Hospital-acquired infections are often hard to treat because the corresponding pathogens become increasingly resistant against antibiotics. The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is particularly feared, and there is great pressure to devise novel therapeutic approaches to combat it. Bioinformaticians have now detected an unexpectedly wide diversity of certain cell appendages in A. baumannii that are associated with pathogenicity. This could lead to treatment strategies that are specifically tailored to a particular pathogen.

Biology: Microbiology Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Influenza shows no seasonality in tropics, posing challenges for health care      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In temperate climates, like North America and Europe, flu season starts in the fall, peaks in the winter and ends in the spring. While public health officials have generally assumed that influenza is also seasonal in tropical climates, new research has found little evidence of a repeatable pattern in influenza cases in Vietnam. The findings suggest that influenza is likely unpredictable throughout the tropics, posing substantial challenges for prevention and management of cases for the one-third of the global population living in tropical areas.

Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Scientists discover the highest-energy light coming from the sun      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research details the discovery of the highest-energy light ever observed from the sun. The international team behind the discovery also found that this type of light, known as gamma rays, is surprisingly bright. That is, there's more of it than scientists had previously anticipated.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Study examines Earth and Mars to determine how climate change affects the paths of rivers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The study investigated why the paths of meandering rivers change over time and is a step toward understanding what the hydroclimate on Mars was like when there was still surface water.

Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

New exoplanet discovery builds better understanding of planet formation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An international team of scientists have discovered an unusual Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a low-mass star called TOI-4860, located in the Corvus constellation.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

New research casts doubt on role of fungus in driving pancreatic cancer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Four years ago, a report that a common species of fungus might fuel pancreatic cancer offered a promising new view of the deadly disease. But in working to validate the finding, researchers have found no such association.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Learning how to control HIV from African genomes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study on almost four thousand people of African descent has identified a gene that acts as natural defense against HIV by limiting its replication in certain white blood cells. This research paves the way for new treatment strategies and underscores the importance of studying diverse ancestral populations to better address their specific medical needs and global health disparities.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology
Published

Scientists develop gene-editing technology that eliminates EV-A71 RNA viruses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of scientists has made an important breakthrough in the fight against RNA viruses that cause human diseases and pandemics.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Novel molecules fight viruses by bursting their bubble-like membranes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Antiviral therapies are notoriously difficult to develop, as viruses can quickly mutate to become resistant to drugs. But what if a new generation of antivirals ignores the fast-mutating proteins on the surface of viruses and instead disrupts their protective layers?

Biology: Microbiology
Published

The key to battling a pathogen hides in its genome      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The availability, speed and effectiveness of genomic sequencing increased dramatically during the pandemic, as scientists worldwide rushed to find ways to track and predict the virus's movement and evolution. It also was critical in the development of effective vaccines. Biologists argue that building on this momentum is critical in society's response to future pandemics, but it requires significant collaboration and investment now, before the next pathogen is threatening society.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Deadly fungus beaten with new type of treatment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new way to attack fungal infections. The key is to block fungi from being able to make fatty acids, the major component of fats. Resistance to anti-fungal drugs is increasing and this new approach will be particularly useful because it works in a new way and affects a broad range of fungal species.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology
Published

Mutation accessibility fuels influenza evolution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists showed that fixed mutations within a viral population most likely stem from how easy it is to acquire that mutation (i.e., mutation accessibility) rather than just its benefit.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology
Published

'Swine flu' strain has passed from humans to swine nearly 400 times since 2009      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study of the strain of influenza A responsible for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic -- pdm09 -- shows that the virus has passed from humans to swine about 370 times since 2009, and subsequent circulation in swine has resulted in the evolution of pdm09 variants that then jumped from swine to humans.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

How eavesdropping viruses battle it out to infect us      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dozens of viruses -- at least -- can eavesdrop on host information. Not only did they demonstrate the strategy's abundance, but they also discovered tools that control it and send signals that tell bacteriophage viruses to flip from chill (lysogeny) into kill (lysis) mode. They showed that in polylysogeny, phages can coexist, their viral DNA or RNA hidden tucked inside the bacterium's own, replicating right along with the cells. But the infiltrating phages aren't exactly peaceful; it's more like mutually assured destruction. And the tenuous detente lasts only until something triggers one or more of the phages to switch into kill mode.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology
Published

New findings offer potential breakthrough in HIV cure research      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The results of a novel study has revealed exciting findings in the pursuit of an HIV cure.

Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Invasive Species
Published

Western science catches up with First Nations' medicinal use of ant honey      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have discovered the honey produced by Australian ants possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi that could make the liquid useful medicinally.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Monkeypox: Characterization of post-infectious immune response      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In 2022-2023, an outbreak of monkeypox, now known as mpox (caused by the monkeypox virus or MPXV) led to 87,000 human cases in 170 countries. Most cases were reported outside the usual areas in which the virus circulates. Since the outbreak began, surveillance of the virus has been stepped up in Europe, with nearly 5,000 cases being reported in France.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Study explores how often children diagnosed with flu experience serious neuropsychiatric side effects      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While the incidence of influenza-associated neuropsychiatric events in children in the United States is unknown, the controversy over the use of a common antiviral medication typically administered to treat flu in children has sparked concern among parents and medical professionals alike.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Revealing HIV drug-resistance mechanisms through protein structures      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered the molecular mechanisms by which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) becomes resistant to Dolutegravir, one of the most effective, clinically used antiviral drugs for treating HIV. Their findings reveal how changes to the 3D structures of integrase, an HIV protein, can lead to Dolutegravir resistance and how other compounds may be able to overcome this resistance.