Bacteria

When hospitals are checking medical devices for sepsis, they utilize a chemical derived from horseshoe crab blood. A new system is promised to deliver a more sustainable supply of that blood, which could even be used to check human blood for sepsis.

The Arctic permafrost is thawing, which could release huge amounts of greenhouse gases stored there. But now researchers have found that methane-munching microbes might counter some of that, resulting in far lower emissions than previously thought.

We keep finding life thriving under conditions we’d previously ruled out. The latest example comes from studies of rock cores drilled from the floor of the Indian Ocean, where microbes were discovered alive and well under almost half a mile of rock.

A study has offered the first insights into the long-term effects a chlorhexidine mouthwash has on the oral microbiome. The research suggests it can alter the oral microbiome, lower saliva pH increasing acidity and heighten risk of tooth damage.

The body protects itself from invading viruses and bacteria using antibodies, but when a new threat emerges it takes time for the body to produce new ones. A new system from Berkeley Lab should speed up the discovery of new artificial antibodies.

A new study has revealed that an already-approved antibiotic can completely eliminate the underlying bacteria that causes Lyme disease in mice, offering new hope of a more comprehensive therapy for humans.

Even after superbugs have been wiped out they can leave behind resistance genes for other bugs to use. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed new nanosheets that can “trap and zap” these loose genes in wastewater treatment plants.

A new study led by researchers from UC San Diego is suggesting unique microbial DNA signatures detected in blood samples can not only potentially identify dozens of different cancers but also catch the disease in its earliest stages.

Small “persister” populations of bacteria are able to hide from antibiotics, seeding a new colony afterwards. Now scientists at the University of Surrey have identified genetic mutations that turn some bugs into persisters by making them “forgetful.”

New Stanford University research has homed in on two specific gut bacteria-produced metabolites that may protect against the intestinal inflammation associated with diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s.

The treatment of infections can be challenging, as it takes time to determine if harmful bacteria are even present, and to then figure out which antibiotic would work best. A simple new test, however, is said to answer both questions on the spot.

Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics much faster than new drugs can be developed. Now, an artificial intelligence model has identified a powerful new antibiotic called halicin, which cleared infections of most superbugs in mouse tests.