Newswise Feature Channel: Microbiome

Bacteria Work Together to Thrive in Difficult Conditions

Ohio State University — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 08:05:11 EST

In a new study, researchers have determined through both statistical analysis and in experiments that soil pH is a driver of microbial community composition - but that the need to address toxicity released during nitrogen cycling ultimately shapes the final microbial community.

Microbe Dietary Preferences Influence the Effectiveness of Carbon Sequestration in the Deep Ocean

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 08:00:30 EST

A series of seemingly small processes helps carry carbon dioxide from the ocean's surface to the deep sea, where it can be stored away for decades.

Evolutionary Battleground: Plants vs. Microbes

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:05:27 EST

Gazing out on a freshwater pond, you may see tiny green plants with oval shaped leaves floating in clusters. In overgrown ponds, these plants coat the water's surface. These plants - called duckweed or water lentils - can grow so fast that they can double their numbers in just one to two days.

Keeping Mold Out of Future Space Stations

Ohio State University — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:35:08 EST

Mold can survive the harshest of environments, so to stop harmful spores from growing on future space stations, a new study suggests a novel way to prevent its spread.

Swimming crustacean eats unlikely food source in the deep ocean

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:00:46 EST

Increased capabilities in the human-occupied submersible Alvin open a window on a rarely seen behavior

SMU Researcher Helps Develop New Technique to Explore Oceanic Microbes

Southern Methodist University — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:05:04 EST

Alexander Chase and colleagues collect samples from Earth's oceans using SMIRC, which could be the first step in uncovering compounds that lead to next-generation antibiotics.

UC-Irvine led study identifies therapeutic targets for veterans with Gulf War illness

University of California, Irvine — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:05:28 EST

A new study has provided critical insights into Gulf War illness, a chronic condition affecting veterans deployed during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. The findings are the most comprehensive to date that establishes an association between gut microbiome imbalance and Gulf War veterans, paving the way for new treatments.

Gut Microorganism May Play a Role in Constipation

Cedars-Sinai — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:05:53 EST

A new Cedars-Sinai study shows how microorganisms in the human gut can trigger constipation in some people.

Locked in a glacier, viruses adapted to survive extreme weather

Ohio State University — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:05:35 EST

Ancient viruses preserved in glacial ice hold valuable information about changes in Earth's climate, a new study suggests.

Turning bacteria into bioplastic factories

Washington University in St. Louis — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:05:13 EST

Biologists find new ways to encourage the plastic-producing power of purple microbes.

New discovery fundamentally changes the way we understand Charles Darwin's most beloved plant - the sundew

Loughborough University — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 05:05:31 EST

A new study has found a symbiotic relationship that has evolved between Darwin's favourite carnivorous plant and a specific type of fungus which lives inside it and helps it digest its prey. Researchers from Loughborough, Taiwan and USA have shown that Acrodontium crateriforme, a fungus that thrives in the acidic conditions on the leaves, improves the digestion of the Drosera species of carnivorous plant - otherwise known as a sundew (pictured above), and once described by Charles Darwin as, "a wonderful plant... I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species." The fungus lives in a sticky secretion at the end of tentacles on the leaves. Its enzymes work with the plant's digestive processes to help it break down the prey - small bugs and insects. The findings show that teamwork between plants and fungi may contribute to the evolution of carnivorous plants.

Gut bioelectricity provides a path for bad bacteria to cause diseases

UC Davis Health — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:05:15 EST

UC Davis Health researchers has discovered a novel bioelectrical mechanism pathogens like Salmonella use to find entry points in the gut lining that would allow them to pass and cause infection.

MD Anderson receives over $21.4 million in CPRIT funding to support research and launch new core facilities

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:00:57 EST

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today was awarded nine grants totaling over $21.4 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in support of two new core facilities, faculty recruitment and groundbreaking cancer research across all areas of the institution.

MSU study finds 'DNA scavengers' can stop some antibiotic resistance from spreading

Michigan State University — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:05:12 EST

For nearly a century, scientists have waged war on antibiotic-resistant microbes. Michigan State University researchers say they've found a new way to prevent it - by unleashing "DNA scavengers" in wastewater treatment plants.

Modic changes linked to microbial differences in lumbar spine

Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 13:00:54 EST

Among patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion, the presence of Modic changes is associated with differences in microbial diversity and metabolites in the lumbar cartilaginous endplates (LCEPs), reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Gut microbial pathway identified as target for improved heart disease treatment

Cleveland Clinic — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 10:05:49 EST

Cleveland Clinic researchers have made a significant discovery about how the gut microbiome interacts with cells to cause cardiovascular disease.

Sewage secrets: economic factors shaping our microbiome exposed

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:05:57 EST

A global study has uncovered a strong link between the microbes found in sewage and a country's economic conditions. By analyzing samples from 60 countries, researchers found that the diversity of human-related microbes varies widely, influenced by factors such as export levels and social security. This study demonstrates how sewage can be a valuable tool for monitoring public health and assessing the impact of economic conditions on microbial communities worldwide.

Probiotics during pregnancy shown to help moms and babies

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:05:48 EST

Giving probiotics to pregnant mice can enhance both the immune system and behavior of the mothers and their offspring, according to a new study led by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.

Cleveland Clinic study reveals diet as main risk factor for colon cancer in younger adults

Cleveland Clinic — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:05:35 EST

A new Cleveland Clinic study has identified diet-derived molecules called metabolites as main drivers of young-onset colorectal cancer risk, especially those associated with red and processed meat. The NPJ Precision Oncology report, which analyzed metabolite and microbiome datasets, highlighted that one of the best ways a younger (<60 years) adult can prevent colorectal cancer is to discuss their diet with their doctor.

Revealing the Mysteries Within Microbial Genomes

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:00:12 EST

A new technique developed at Berkeley Lab will make it much easier for researchers to discover the traits or activities encoded by genes of unknown function in microbes, a key step toward understanding the roles and impact of individual species within the planet's diverse microbiomes.