Collaborate Disseminate
Decades of work has seemingly paid off with scientists developing a potent new synthetic molecule that swiftly knocked out 285 strains of bacteria it was tested on, setting it up as a valuable ally in our fight against a looming superbug infection cris… Continue reading Novel ‘fast, tenacious’ molecule can KO drug-resistant superbugs
Viruses may get a bad rap, but some of them can be helpful to fight off bacterial infections. Scientists at ETH Zurich have demonstrated a new way to use them to diagnose which bacteria is causing a UTI, and then launch a stronger attack against them.C… Continue reading Bacteria-hunting viruses help diagnose and treat UTIs
The arms race in nature, usually a battle between predator and prey, is one of the most fascinating phenomena in evolutionary biology. But one arms race that isn’t looking too good for humans is the tussle between bacteria and the antibiotics we have t… Continue reading This drug can give us an edge in the bacteria-antibiotics arms race
We’re all told that to live longer, we must exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, maintain an optimal weight, not smoke, and manage stress. But why do some people naturally make it to the ripe old age of 100 while remaining healthy?… Continue reading Bacteria-eating viruses in the gut may help us live to a healthy 100
If there’s one thing that the past few years have made us of aware of, it’s the danger of respiratory viruses. An inhalable powder may one day help temporarily protect against them, by working with the natural layer of mucus in users’ lungs.Continue Re… Continue reading Inhalable powder designed to boost the lungs’ virus-blocking mucus
Name a type of organic matter and chances are some type of organism has evolved to eat it. Plants, meat, algae, insects and bacteria are all consumed by different creatures, but now scientists have discovered something new on the menu – viruses.Continu… Continue reading First “virovore” discovered: An organism that eats viruses
While most of us wouldn’t dream of not washing our spoons or forks after each use, we have no problem repeatedly using – or even sharing – a never-washed tube of lipstick or lip balm. That’s why scientists have recently developed a cranberry-fortified … Continue reading Cranberry-boosted lipstick inactivates viruses and bacteria on contact
Scientists have demonstrated a new potential way to edit the genomes of bacteria in complex environments, by equipping viruses to hunt them down and insert the CRISPR gene-editing system.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: CRISPR, Genetics, Genetic … Continue reading Viruses used to deliver CRISPR gene-editing to bacteria
Although there are coatings that kill harmful microbes on frequently touched surfaces, most of those substances either have to be frequently reapplied, or they take a long time to work. A durable new coating, however, is claimed to address both shortco… Continue reading Tough, clear coating uses natural oils to kill viruses and bacteria
There are many parts of the world in which fresh water may be plentiful, but it’s also full of harmful microbes. An experimental new filter is able to purify such water for drinking, and it’s powered solely by sunlight.Continue ReadingCategory: Good Th… Continue reading Sun-powered water filter excels at killing pathogens