A deadly hospital superbug has evolved into a global force by weaponizing a genetic tool to wipe out its microbial competition. Eesearchers discovered that vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) developed the ability to produce…
Category: 5. Biology
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This Superbug Evolved a Genetic Weapon and Took Over Hospitals Worldwide
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Mycotoxins Detected in Illegal Cannabis Samples
Researchers found alarmingly high levels of Fusarium mycotoxins in illegal cannabis samples from Arizona and California. The findings were published in Environmental Health Perspectives and raise public health…
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Hammerhead sharks’ diets may affect if they roam or stay home
Great hammerhead sharks are known for their long migrations, but scientists have now discovered that some individuals in the Bahamas instead spend all year snacking without leaving their plentiful and protected home waters. Why would…
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Aotearoa once home to elephant seals
Southern elephant seals are the “canary in the coal mine” for the Southern Ocean, offering insight into how the ecosystem may react to future climate change and human impact, new research shows.
Joint senior author Associate Professor Nic…
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Tracking COVID-19 Recovery: Insights from Smartwatch Users
How can smartwatch data help identify long COVID risks? This is what a recent study published in npj Digital Medicine hopes to address as a team of researchers from Germany and Austria investigated how fitness…
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Probiotics Lower Fever Duration in Children with Respiratory Infections
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are among the most common illnesses affecting children, often leading to fever, discomfort, and missed school days. While probiotics have been studied for their role…
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New CRISPR tool enables more seamless gene editing — and improved disease modeling
Advances in the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 over the past 15 years have yielded important new insights into the roles that specific genes play in many diseases. But to date this technology — which allows scientists to use a…
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Researchers discover Achilles heel of Lyme disease pathogen
Researchers have discovered that an enzyme can serve as an ideal target for developing new therapeutics against Lyme disease, and most likely other tick-borne diseases as well. The finding was reported in mBio, a journal of the American Society…
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Study identifies viruses in red tide blooms for the first time
A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida shines light on the environmental drivers of red tide blooms.
Published in the American Society for Microbiology’s journal mSphere, the study is the first to identify viruses…
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Why do lymphatic vessels form a jigsaw puzzle-like pattern?
The lymphatic system plays a key role in maintaining the body’s fluid balance and supporting immune defences. Lymphatic vessels are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells, allowing the transfer of fluids, cells and large molecules from…
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