Gut microbiome may alter response to cancer therapy
Since ancient times, our gut microbiome, home to a vast number of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, has been thought to influence many aspects of human health. Most recently, sequencing technology has shown that it may also play a role in the treatment of cancer. A review paper published in JAMA Oncology by investigators […]
Carbs, sugary foods may influence poor oral health
The foods we eat on a regular basis influence the makeup of the bacteria — both good and bad — in our mouths. And researchers are finding that this collective of bacteria known as the oral microbiome likely plays a large role in our overall health, in addition to its previously known associations with tooth […]
Researchers identify potential approaches to modify the vaginal microbiome: Insights may lead to more effective treatments for bacterial vaginosis and improve women’s health outcomes globally
The female genital tract is naturally colonized by mixed communities of bacteria, known as the vaginal microbiome. When these communities are dominated by species such as Lactobacillus crispatus, they provide important protective functions in genital health. But overgrowth of certain other bacterial species is linked to a condition known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV affects […]
Bacteria upcycle carbon waste into valuable chemicals: Engineered bacteria convert captured carbon dioxide into chemicals for fuels, fabric and cosmetics
Researchers engineered a strain of bacteria to break down carbon dioxide (CO2), converting it into commonly used, expensive industrial chemicals. The carbon-negative approach removes CO2 from the atmosphere and bypasses using fossil fuels to generate these chemicals. Bacteria are known for breaking down lactose to make yogurt and sugar to make beer. Now researchers led […]
Where Does Tuberculosis Come From?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an illness caused by a bacteria will get into your lungs and cause an infection there, but it can also attack other areas of your body, including your kidneys, brain, and spine. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that comes from a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that comes […]
Meat, MS and the microbiome: Eating more meat, and changes in the blood, immune system and gut ecology all correlate with worse MS symptoms
Eating more meat, having less of certain bacteria in the gut, and more of certain immune cells in the blood, all link with multiple sclerosis, reports a team of researchers led by UConn Health and Washington University School of Medicine. The work, published in the 27 January issue of EBioMedicine, teased out subtle connections that […]
A step toward ‘living biotherapeutics’: Chemical engineers have created a coating for microbes that could make it easier to deploy the organisms to treat gastrointestinal disease
The human gut is home to thousands of species of bacteria, and some of those bacteria have the potential to treat a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Some species may help to combat colon cancer, while others could help treat or prevent infections such as C. difficile. One of the obstacles to developing these “living biotherapeutics” […]
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis?
6 causes of bacterial meningitis Various bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis, the most common being meningococcal and pneumococcal bacteria. 1. Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is called pneumococcal meningitis and is the most common form of meningitis, accounting for about 6,000 cases each year in the United States. Pneumococcal meningitis is the […]
Ultrashort-pulse lasers kill bacterial superbugs, spores: Technique likely safe for human cells; has potential for sterilizing wounds, blood products
Life-threatening bacteria are becoming ever more resistant to antibiotics, making the search for alternatives to antibiotics an increasingly urgent challenge. For certain applications, one alternative may be a special type of laser. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that lasers that emit ultrashort pulses of light can kill multidrug-resistant […]
Antibiotic Could Thwart Costly Sarcoma Surgery Complication
BALTIMORE — Including an antibiotic with strong activity against anaerobic bacteria to standard perioperative prophylaxis following soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) resection was associated with lower wound complication rates, a retrospective study suggested. Overall, major wound complication rates dropped from 27.3% to 15.9% when an antibiotic such as metronidazole was incorporated into perioperative prophylaxis, a 42% relative […]