Microbiology

An international consortium has sequenced the hagfish genome, filling a significant gap in vertebrate evolutionary research. This work, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, enhances understanding of genome duplications in vertebrates and their impact on the evolution of major physiological structures. Credit: Universtiy of MalagaResearchers have sequenced the hagfish genome, providing vital insights into vertebrate evolution and genome duplication history.An international scientific team made up of more than 40…

Researchers have successfully engineered a type of skin bacterium to treat acne by producing a therapeutic molecule. This innovative approach, validated in lab and mouse models, could revolutionize the treatment of skin conditions and other diseases using living therapeutics.A breakthrough study shows that engineered skin bacteria can effectively treat acne, opening new possibilities for living therapeutics in various diseases.International research led by the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory of the Department…

A groundbreaking study by the University of Maryland and NIH researchers has revealed that the enzyme bilirubin reductase is responsible for the yellow color of urine. This discovery, linking the gut microbiome to various health conditions, marks a significant advance in understanding the biological processes and potential treatments for diseases like jaundice and inflammatory bowel disease. Credit: SciTechDaily.comIn a major scientific breakthrough, researchers have identified the enzyme responsible for urine’s yellow…

Researchers have decoded the genome of Epulopiscium viviparus, a giant bacterium living in surgeonfish, revealing unique metabolic adaptations and energy production methods. This study offers potential applications in algae-based nutrition and energy. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA groundbreaking study of the giant bacterium Epulopiscium viviparus shows its unique energy production, promising future applications in algae utilization.Not all bacteria are created equal.Most are single-celled and tiny, a few ten-thousandths of a…

A new study highlights the risk associated with feeding dogs a raw meat diet, significantly increasing the likelihood of them excreting ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli. This resistance poses a health risk to both the pets and their owners. The research, involving 600 dogs, underscores the need for safer meat-sourcing practices and cooking meat to eliminate these resistant bacteria. Recommendations include choosing high-quality raw meat or meat from farms with low antibiotic use and implementing stricter industry…

A new study indicates that two yeasts used in food production, Cyberlindnera jadinii and Kluyveromyces lactis, might have probiotic properties beneficial for gut inflammation, pointing to potential new treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases. The food industry has long utilized various fungal strains for their fermentation, flavor production, and ability to produce heterologous molecules. A recent study highlights the potential probiotic effects of two fungi, commonly used in food production, on gut inflammation. The…

This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.In Bangladesh, roughly 300,000 people have been infected with dengue this year during the country's worst-ever outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease. By mid-November, the death toll hit close to 1,500, as hospitals in the densely populated South Asian country struggled to cope with the surge in…

MIT chemists are reducing the carbon footprint of chemical fertilizers by using nitrogen-fixing bacteria as a sustainable alternative. They developed a protective metal-organic coating that enables these bacteria to withstand heat and humidity, enhancing seed germination rates significantly. This innovation could make microbial fertilizers more accessible and promote regenerative agriculture. Credit: SciTechDaily.com New coating protects nitrogen-fixing bacteria from heat and humidity, which could allow them to be…

If 2022 was the year mpox infections exploded globally, 2023 was the year much of the world stopped paying attention.Yet Canadian researchers, in collaboration with scientists working on the ground in hot spots such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are still shining a spotlight on the virus that sparked last year's unprecedented global outbreak — and one that still seems capable of new surprises. One joint Canadian-DRC research team, co-led by Jason Kindrachuk from the University of Manitoba, has…

Prof. Magdalena Osburn removes a sample during a site visit in August. Credit: Sanford Underground Research Facility A former goldmine serves as a gateway to explore microbial life deep within the Earth’s crust. If you totaled the mass of all microbes dwelling beneath the Earth’s surface, their combined biomass would surpass that of all life in our oceans. However, due to the challenge of accessing these depths, this teeming underground life remains largely unexplored and poorly understood. Utilizing a repurposed…