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Categories: Biology: Microbiology, Physics: Optics

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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.

Biology: Microbiology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The new carbon nanotube sensor design resembles a molecular toolbox that can be used to quickly assemble sensors for a variety of purposes -- for instance for detecting bacteria and viruses.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Some people's brain function still affected by Long COVID years after infection      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have found that people with longer-term COVID-19 symptoms including brain fog showed reduced performance in tasks testing different mental processes up to two years after infection with the virus.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology
Published

Scientists develop AI-based tracking and early-warning system for viral pandemics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Machine-learning system effectively predicts emergence of prominent variants.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Fueled by new chemistry, algorithm mines fungi for useful molecules      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A newly described type of chemistry in fungi is both surprisingly common and likely to involve highly reactive enzymes, two traits that make the genes involved useful signposts pointing to a potential treasure trove of biological compounds with medical and chemical applications. It was also nearly invisible to scientists until now.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Gene mutation may explain why some don't get sick from COVID-19      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

People who contract COVID-19 but never develop symptoms -- the so-called super dodgers -- may have a genetic ace up their sleeve. They're more than twice as likely as those who become symptomatic to carry a specific gene variation that helps them obliterate the virus, according to a new study.

Biology: Microbiology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

'Mind controlling' parasitic worms are missing genes found in every other animal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Parasitic hairworms manipulate the behavior of their hosts in what's sometimes called 'mind control.' A new study reveals another strange trait shared by different hairworm species: they're missing about 30% of the genes that researchers expected them to have. What's more, the missing genes are responsible for the development of cilia, the hair-like structures present in at least some of the cells of every other animal known.

Biology: Microbiology Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

Fungi blaze a trail to fireproof cladding      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have shown it's possible to grow fungi in thin sheets that could be used for fire-retardant cladding or even a new kind of fungal fashion.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Ticks may be able to spread chronic wasting disease between Wisconsin deer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study finds that ticks can harbor transmissible amounts of the protein particle that causes Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), implicating the parasites as possible agents in the disease's spread between deer in Wisconsin.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Researchers develop digital test to directly measure HIV viral load      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A milliliter of blood contains about 15 individual drops. For a person with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), each drop of blood could contain anywhere from fewer than 20 copies of the virus to more than 500,000 copies. Called the viral load, this is what is measured to allow clinicians to understand how patients are responding to anti-viral medications and monitor potential progression. The time-consuming viral load testing needs to be repeated several times as a patient undergoes treatment. Now, a research team has developed a time and cost-efficient digital assay that can directly measure the presence of HIV in single drop of blood.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Some black truffles grown in eastern U.S. may be less valuable lookalike species, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Black truffle growers are unintentionally growing less-expensive winter truffles, which may lead to mix-ups in the market as well.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

50-million-year-old katydid fossil reveals muscles, digestive tract, glands and a testicle      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

50 million years ago in what is now northwestern Colorado, a katydid died, sank to the bottom of a lake and was quickly buried in fine sediments, where it remained until its compressed fossil was recovered in recent years. When researchers examined the fossil under a microscope, they saw that not only had many of the insect's hard structures been preserved in the compressed shale, so had several internal organs and tissues, which are not normally fossilized.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Groundbreaking bacterial discovery      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers discover viruses impact the genetic coding of purple (PSB) and green (GSB) sulfur bacteria.