Stanford scientists create synthetic microbiome Stanford University researchers built a complex and well-defined synthetic microbiome with 100 bacterial species that they successfully transplanted into mice. The creation of the synthetic microbiome means the scientists will be able to add, remove, and edit individual species so they may better comprehend the links between gut microbiome and health.Read More
Lipid in cell membrane of gut bacterium linked to effects on immunity Researchers have found a lipid in the cell membrane of Akkermansia muciniphila that is responsible for the effect of a gut-resident bacterium on immune processes, with the potential to develop drugs that fight disease by piggybacking on the molecular mechanism.Read More
Bioengineered peptide combats antibiotic-resistant bacteria Researchers have engineered a bioinspired molecule that was highly effective in clearing infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains in a mouse model, according to a paper published in Scientific Reports on December 6. But there's a twist: The molecule doesn't act like an antibiotic.Read More
Alternative gene therapies could be effective in treating some rare diseases Bacteria-mediated genetic transfer has emerged as an alternative gene therapy (AGT) for the treatment of some rare diseases, such as phenylketonuria (PKU). This type of therapy is advantageous because it is easily regulated through established protein expression systems. One company, Synlogic, has developed an AGT candidate that uses a bacterial vector to treat PKU.Read More
New sensor-based test could lead to fast, cheap antibiotic susceptibility testing Scientists have developed a new method for monitoring bacterial responses to antibiotics that could enable personalized antibiotic therapies. The test uses sensors to reduce time and costs while increasing the portability for antibiotic susceptibility testing of patient samples. The results of the study were published recently in Scientific Reports.Read More
Researchers fight drug-resistant bacteria with antibiotic 'Trojan horse' In the latest chapter of the arms race between scientists and drug-resistant bacteria, scientists have devised an antibiotic-filled "Trojan horse" that penetrates deep into the patient's target tissues before unleashing an antibiotic payload on unsuspecting bacterial invaders. The methodology was described July 19 in eLife.Read More