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Endometriosis may be caused by bacterial infections

14 June 2023

Bacteria that contribute to gum disease may be a cause of the gynaecological condition endometriosis, which means it could be treated with antibiotics

Could your gut bacteria influence how intelligent you are?

10 June 2023

People who are genetically predisposed to have higher levels of Fusicatenibacter bacteria scored better on verbal and mathematical tests, while those with more Oxalobacter scored lower

Raw sewage floods UK rivers with faecal bacteria after heavy rainfall

9 June 2023

Water samples from the river Ouseburn in Newcastle upon Tyne during a rainstorm reveal high levels of faecal bacteria caused by raw sewage discharges

Trichodesmium thiebautii (light micrograph) Trichodesmium thiebautii is a cyanobacterium, or blue-green alga, that forms colonies of cells. In high concentrations, they create golden-brown surface mats, often referred to ?sea sawdust,? in the Gulf of Mexico. These large concentrations, called blooms, are sometimes associated with fish kills and can cause dermatitis or ?swimmer?s itch? when handled or contacted. When blooms die and decay, they can discolor the water pink to red. Toxin production by this species is being investigated. https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc/8678780050

Ocean-fertilising bacteria work together to adapt to light levels

25 May 2023

Trichodesmium, a kind of cyanobacterium that is vital to ocean ecosystems, forms colonies that work together and change shape to get the light and nutrients the microbe needs to grow

Microbombs detonated by ultrasound can blast away tooth decay bacteria

16 May 2023

Tiny capsules burst open when hit with ultrasound waves, releasing chemicals that destroy films of bacteria like those found on teeth

C. difficile spore in gold emerges from a bacterium in turquoise

New antibiotic may clear Clostridium difficile and stop reinfection

8 May 2023

Clostridium difficile kills 13,000 people each year in the US alone. A new antibiotic tested in mice works better than our first-line treatments against infection – and prevents reinfection too

MRSA could be prevented with genetically engineered antibodies

3 May 2023

Genetic mutations to an antibody prevented MRSA infections in mice, and boosted the effectiveness of antibiotics for fighting the infection

Curbing fatty acid production in bacteria lowers antibiotic resistance

1 May 2023

Bacteria are more susceptible to antibiotics when they can't produce fatty acids, suggesting that drugs inhibiting this process could help us overcome antibiotic resistance

Wine experts’ unique nasal microbiome may affect their smell and taste

13 April 2023

People who work in the wine industry may have fewer and less diverse bacteria in their nose compared with non-vocational wine drinkers, which could affect their sense of smell and taste

A transmission electron micrograph of a colony of Gardnerella vaginalis , bacteria that are found in vaginas and the urethras of men who have vaginal sex

The microbiome inside the penis can be altered by vaginal sex

21 March 2023

The penis plays host to a collection of bacteria known as the penile microbiome, and an analysis of urethral swabs has found that men who have vaginal sex can pick up bacteria normally found in the vagina