The top image shows an untreated E.coli bacterium; the bottom shows a bacterium after 90 minutes of being exposed to the antibiotic polymyxin B Carolina Borrelli, Edward Douglas et al./nature microbiology The way antibiotics called polymyxins pierce the armour of bacteria has been revealed in stunning detail by high-resolution microscopy, which could help us develop … Read more
The herpes virus can help treat severe skin cancer Science Photo Library/Alamy Viruses have shown huge potential in treating various kinds of cancerbut the immune response has limited their application to tumours near the body’s surface. Now, scientists have demonstrated that shielding viruses with genetically engineered bacteria bypasses this issue, slowing the growth of severe … Read more
At least eight people along the Gulf Coast have died and 22 others have been infected in what local health officials are warning is a rise in cases involving “flesh-eating” bacteria. The Louisiana Department of Health issued an alert last week saying that there had been 17 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the state so … Read more
We are starting to understand why the bacteria behind tuberculosis is so good at infecting people Adobe Stock/Ryan Wills When we look back over the history of infectious diseases, it’s the explosive pandemics that grab our attention. Cholera and plague terrify us with their swift destruction of cities and the paralysis they cause across whole … Read more
Most of us would rather not dwell for too long on the subject of mucus. We know it is there, quietly lubricating our insides and presumably doing vital work. It is only when we have a cold that we give it any particular attention – and even then, it is an unpleasant nuisance, something to … Read more
Are you getting a deep clean from your washing machine? aquaArts studio/Getty Images Cleaning your clothes in a washing machine on even a hot water setting of 60°C (140°F) can fail to remove potentially harmful bacteria – a finding that could also be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance. Research has shown that contaminated … Read more
Light micrograph of a cervical smear, or pap smear, from someone with bacterial vaginosis DR. Y. BOUSSOUGAN/CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Women with bacterial vaginosis, a recurrent condition that raises the risk of pregnancy complications, could benefit from their male sexual partners being treated with antibiotics, according to a trial that found this nearly halved the risk … Read more
Foxys_forest_manufacture/Getty Images There are many things we can blame for a bad night’s sleep – screen time, stress, too much booze. Now there is another culprit: the microbes in our gut. This article is part of special series investigating key questions about sleep. Read more here. We have long known that our microbiome has a … Read more
