Gut Cells Don’t Only Digest Food – They Also Fight Disease
Scientists reveal a key role of gut bacteria in preserving health and fighting disease. Continue reading Gut Cells Don’t Only Digest Food – They Also Fight Disease
Tag: Infection
Antibiotic Persistence and Resistance
by Molly Sargen Antibiotics are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of microbes, including bacteria and fungi. These drugs work by blocking essential processes like protein production, DNA replication, and cell division. After Alexander Fleming’s serendipitous discovery of Penicillin, antibiotics became a central feature of medical care. Today, antibiotics are used to treat a wide variety of infections and prevent new infections during invasive … Continue reading Antibiotic Persistence and Resistance
Our Body’s Stem Cells use an Ancient Mechanism to Defend against Viruses
Lacking the antiviral mechanisms of the rest of our body, stem cells use an ancient trick from plants and worms – RNA interference – to protect against viral infection. Continue reading Our Body’s Stem Cells use an Ancient Mechanism to Defend against Viruses
It’s Not All about Microbes: Genetics and susceptibility to infections
by Aleks Procherafigures by Shreya Mantri The past year and a half have been a time of profound uncertainty. We all wish we could gaze into a COVID crystal ball and get answers to our burning questions. Some of us would want to know how long the pandemic will last. Others, however, especially those who have never received a positive result, would likely seek an … Continue reading It’s Not All about Microbes: Genetics and susceptibility to infections
Waking Up to Antifungal Drug Resistance
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh used caffeine to understand how fungi become resistant to antifungal drugs. Continue reading Waking Up to Antifungal Drug Resistance
COVID-19 and Emerging Viral Diseases: the journey from animals to humans
by Ziqi Chen figures by Rebecca Senft We live in a universe of viruses. It is estimated that there are billions of types of viruses on earth, and ~320,000 types that infect mammals alone. Many viral species exist in our surrounding environment. As we live, breathe, eat, talk, and go about our daily activities, the number of viruses that we come into contact with is virtually … Continue reading COVID-19 and Emerging Viral Diseases: the journey from animals to humans
The Key to Taming Bacteria: Mucus Sugars
Mucus is not just the awful phlegm from your cough, it actually has the ability to tame bacteria infection! Scientists at MIT recently discovered that the glycans on our mucus can actually trigger biochemical responses that protect us from pathogens. Read Wei Li’s article to learn more. Continue reading The Key to Taming Bacteria: Mucus Sugars
A Battle of Time: Biological clocks have a hand in defense against infection
by Ziqi Chen figures by Rebecca Senft Have you ever travelled across time zones? If the answer is yes, you might be familiar with jet lag, a condition that results from an altered internal clock. Jet lag causes symptoms such as disturbed sleep, stomach problems, and mood swings. In recent years, emerging lines of evidence show that jet lag might also affect our immune system, and … Continue reading A Battle of Time: Biological clocks have a hand in defense against infection
Expanding the Antibiotic Arsenal: A New Drug of Last Resort
Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, bacterial infections were the leading cause of death worldwide. Now, treating infections is often a routine procedure – simply requiring a doctor’s visit and a prescribed antibiotic. However, this simple routine has become marred by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics is fueling the rise of resistant bacteria. In response to antibiotic exposure, bacteria have evolved … Continue reading Expanding the Antibiotic Arsenal: A New Drug of Last Resort