Microbiology

A recent study highlights the potential health risks of cannabis use due to harmful fungi contamination, underscoring the need for more research and better regulations. This study calls for greater attention to fungal contaminants in cannabis and hemp, particularly for immunocompromised consumers, and suggests a two-tier system for medical and recreational products to ensure safety. A group of researchers recommends additional investigation and assessment of guidelines for the medical application. Cannabis, even when…

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a groundbreaking method to study bacterial communities, revealing how bacteria share resources and cooperate across generations. Using Bacillus subtilis as a model, the study highlights the benefits of communal living for bacteria and the complex dynamics within these communities. When bacteria build communities, they cooperate and share nutrients across generations. Researchers at the University of Basel have now successfully demonstrated this for the first time…

Evolutionary ecologist Tobin Hammer challenges the traditional view of microbial benefits in a peer-reviewed article, suggesting that hosts may not always benefit from their microbes. Instead, they might be evolutionarily addicted to them, a concept known as “evolutionary addiction” or “evolved dependence.” This theory, which likens the dependence of hosts on microbes to a form of addiction, has implications for understanding the evolution and stability of host-microbe interactions. Hammer argues that this perspective…

University of Oxford researchers have uncovered the evolutionary reasons behind the diverse weaponry of bacteria. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa, they demonstrated that short-range weapons are effective in low-density conditions, while long-range weapons excel at higher densities. This knowledge could be pivotal in developing new methods to fight drug-resistant bacteria. A new study led by the University of Oxford has shed light on why certain species of bacteria carry astonishing arsenals of weapons. The findings,…

Researchers in Tromsø have discovered a new bacteriocin in a common skin bacterium, named Romsacin, which shows potential in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This discovery could lead to new treatments for infections currently without effective remedies. The process of developing Romsacin into a usable drug involves extensive research, testing, and compliance with bureaucratic processes, underscoring the long and uncertain journey of medical advancements.Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an…

A new study has uncovered the vital role of extracellular vesicles in horizontal gene transfer among ocean microorganisms. This finding challenges existing beliefs about gene exchange mechanisms and introduces ‘protected extracellular DNA’ (peDNA) as a new term to encompass the diversity of genetic carriers beyond viruses, setting a new direction for future research in various ecosystems.Extracellular vesicles significantly contribute more to horizontal gene transfer in oceans than previously thought.The oceans are…

November 14, 20234 min readBy The Conversation & Ivan ErillThis colorized transmission electron microscope image shows a newly discovered satellite virus latched onto its helper virus. This research represents the first time scientists have observed one virus attached to another. Out of 50 observed helpers, 40 had a satellite bound. Bioinformatic analysis of the satellite and helper viruses’ genomes provides clues as to why the satellite may have evolved to attach to the helper, and suggests this pair may have been…

At least two people in New Mexico have died from a rare but dangerous form of hantavirus infection so far in 2023, local health officials reported this week. Four other residents have been hospitalized, though they ultimately survived. These viruses are primarily contracted through exposure to rodents, including their urine, and are not typically contagious between people.Stay in Your Seats, It's Gonna Be a Bumpy Flight | Extreme EarthThere are dozens of known hantavirus species, which are broadly divided into those found…

In November of 2019, less than a month before the covid-19 pandemic took off and spread to nations all over the world, several scientists working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China fell seriously ill from an unknown virus. One of the researchers was Ben Hu, a scientist who had received significant funding from the U.S. government and whose research has focused on “how coronaviruses infect humans,” new reporting by the Wall Street Journal shows. Apple's Bigger-Screen 15-inch MacBook Air | Gizmodo ReviewAt WIV, Hu…

Alright, here we are. Lucky number seven. And we’ve saved the most radioresistant for last. As its name suggests, Thermococcus gammatolerans is good at handling gamma radiation, both in reducing the extent of DNA damage induced by radiation and in its ability to repair damaged chromosomes. (It’s fitting, perhaps, that it’s a select few single-celled organisms that would fare best in a nuclear apocalypse, rather than the sort of complex lifeforms that would invent such bombs in the first place.)In 2016, researchers dosed…