Microbes

Using an AI-based approach, researchers found a better way to create the drug galantamine, commonly prescribed to people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The fermentation-based technique could boost the drug's availability.While bacteria are perhaps most famous for causing diseases like strep throat and pneumonia, the tiny microbes can also be programmed to serve as the workhorses in chemical processes. For example, we've seen the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri genetically engineered to secrete a…

Scientists have discovered that viruses infecting microbes significantly impact climate change by affecting methane cycling. This study, analyzing DNA from various environments, shows that the environmental impact of viruses varies by habitat. The research underscores the complex relationship between viruses, microbes, and methane emissions, suggesting the need for further exploration into viral roles in climate dynamics.Study reveals microorganisms, once infected, harbor novel genes for methane generation.A recent study…

Researchers have made progress against citrus greening disease by developing hybrid citrus trees that produce desirable orange-like fruit and resist the disease. Through genetic analysis, they’ve created tools for early flavor profile screening, marking a significant step in ensuring future hybrids combine disease tolerance with the essential sweet orange flavor.Antibiotic-resistant infection is projected to catch up to cancer as the leading cause of death by 2050, making understanding and limiting the spread of…

Subarctic grassland undergoing natural geothermal warming in Iceland. Credit: Christina KaiserNew findings enable more accurate prediction of the carbon cycle.Warmer soils harbor a greater diversity of active microbes, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna. The study, published in Science Advances, represents a significant shift in our understanding of how microbial activity in the soil influences the global carbon…

Microbe models leverage extensive genomic data to power soil-carbon simulations. Credit: Illustration by Victor O. LeshykScientists are using the DNA from soil microbes to model how they function and use carbon, ultimately helping to advance the accuracy of climate models.Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle. A team of scientists led by the…

Research indicates that the quality of tea is not solely dependent on the variety of tea plants but also on the microbes present on their roots. Modifying these microbial communities has been shown to significantly improve tea quality by enhancing amino acid content, suggesting a new avenue for agricultural improvement that could extend beyond tea to other crops.You’d think the complex flavor in a quality cup of tea would depend mainly on the tea varieties used to make it. However, recent research published in the journal…

A groundbreaking study has identified a universal set of microbes responsible for decomposing animal flesh, providing a potential new tool for determining the time of death in forensic investigations. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearch reveals a consistent microbial network involved in animal decomposition, promising advancements in forensic science and beyond, with implications for accurately estimating time of death and potential applications in agriculture.For the first time, researchers have identified what appears to…

UC San Diego scientists developed microbeMASST, a novel tool that significantly advances microbial metabolism research by identifying microbes and their metabolic signatures. This breakthrough could transform our approach to health and environmental studies. Credit: SciTechDaily.comUsing a database of over 60,000 microorganisms curated by researchers from across the globe, the new search tool instantly matches microbes to the metabolites they produce.Researchers from the University of California San Diego, as part of a…

Herbicides were touted as ‘miracle’ chemicals when they changed farming practices forever in the late 1940s, but researchers are now desperate to find a more sustainable, soil-friendly and non-toxic way of wrangling weeds while promoting crop growth. Now, researchers out of China believes they've made a major breakthrough that could give wheat crops an eco-friendly future.The team from Huazhong Agricultural University has developed novel lab-cultured synthetic microbial communities, also known as SynComs, which…

There are more microbes in the human body, than there are people on Earth.The tiny organisms help digest food, neutralize toxins and can even help control greenhouse gas emissions. While they make life possible, some scientists say microbes are missing from climate models and solutions — and that needs to change.Microbes, also known as microorganisms, refer to anything living we cannot see without a microscope, including viruses, bacteria and fungi.  "They support all life on Earth," said Lisa Stein, microbiologist at the…