The gut microbiome is a complex, interconnected ecosystem of species. And, like any ecosystem, some organisms are predators and some are prey. A new study led by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Wyss Institute investigates the impact of bacteriophage, viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They find that phage can have a profound impact on the dynamics of the gut microbiome, not...
Tag: <span>bacteria</span>
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Antibiotic produced by the microbiome kills bacteria by disturbing energy metabolism
GERMAN CENTER FOR INFECTION RESEARCH A research team from the Universities of Tübingen and Göttingen as well as from the German Center for Infection Research has investigated the mode of action of a new class of antibiotics that is highly effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The so-called fibupeptides impair the energy supply to the bacterial cell, consequently causing...
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Bacteria and their Bearing on Bowels and Brain
Posted Today Microbiome’s effects on autism, inflammatory bowel disease explored. PNNL researchers today published a pair of papers, in Cell and in Nature, exploring the effects of the gut microbiome on our health, including autism, brain function, and inflammatory bowel disease. While scientists have known that the microbes that reside in us have far-reaching effects, the two...
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Viruses to stop cholera infections – the viral enemy of deadly bacteria could be humanity’s friend
by Andrew Camilli And Minmin Yen, The Conversation In the latest of a string of high-profile cases in the U.S., a cocktail of bacteria-killing viruses successfully treated a cystic fibrosis patient suffering from a deadly infection caused by a pathogen that was resistant to multiple forms of antibiotics. Curing infections is great, of course. But what about using these bacteria-killing viruses – bacteriophages – to prevent infections in the...
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Antibiotics, Taken Strategically, Could Actually Help Defeat Antibiotic Resistance
In the war on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it’s not just the antibiotics that are making the enemy stronger but also how they are prescribed. A new study suggests that doctors can beat antibiotic resistance using those same antibiotics but in a very targeted manner and in combination with other health strategies. The current broad application of antibiotics helps resistant bacterial strains evolve forward. But using data about...
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Study shows how diet can prevent a mid-life microbiome crisis and improve brain health
A number of physiological and psychological changes occur as we age, and many studies have shown that our gut microbiome also changes as we grow older. A fascinating new study is suggesting that a shift in gut bacteria in our middle-age could trigger a process that plays a role in cognitive decline in our later...
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T2Bacteria panel rapidly and accurately diagnoses common bloodstream infections
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS T2Bacteria panel rapidly and accurately diagnoses common bloodstream infections More research suggested to determine effect on clinical practice Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0971 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-2772 URLs go live when the embargo lifts In a clinical trial, the T2Bacteria Panel showed promise for rapidly and accurately diagnosing bloodstream infections or sepsis caused by five common bacteria. The test could be used in a clinical setting in place of blood...
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Directed evolution gets bacteria designing new antibiotics for us
Evolution is an incredible process, allowing life to adapt to changes in its environment. In the 1990s, the lab of Frances Arnold showed how we can turn this process to our advantage by manipulating microbes into evolving in a certain way, which could lead to new drugs and other breakthroughs. The discovery earned Arnold the 2018 Nobel Prize in...
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Dual studies offer incredible insights into connection between depression and the gut
Two newly published studies build on a compelling growing body of evidence linking depression with mechanisms in our gut. A fascinating study led by researchers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with depression, can directly result in gastrointestinal distress such as constipation, while a second study, from the Children’s Hospital of...
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FDA: Tattoo inks recalled due to bacterial contamination
The recalled inks include: all lots of Scalpaink SC, Scalpaink PA, and Scalpaink AL basic black inks made by Scalp Aesthetics; lots 12024090 and 12026090 of Dynamic Color-Black tattoo ink made by Dynamic Color Inc.; and lot 10.19.18 of Solid Ink-Diablo (red) tattoo ink made by Color Art Inc. (dba Solid Ink; dba Antone’s Ink). Consumers should ask their tattoo artist or studio about the inks they use and...