Genetic change in gut bacteria alters host metabolism

Pregnancy loss affects up to 25 per cent of all pregnancies, with most miscarriages occurring in the first trimester and roughly half caused by genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. But when pregnancy loss occurs three or more times, identifying the underlying cause becomes significantly more challenging, and often remains unknown.

Researchers have, for the first time, estimated how quickly E. coli bacteria can spread between people and one strain moves as fast as swine flu.

Researchers discovered that early puberty or childbirth doubles women's risk for major diseases and accelerates ageing, while later timing offers protective benefits.

Gene editing technologies, such as those used in agriculture and de-extinction efforts, can be repurposed to provide what an international team of scientists describes as a breakthrough approach for restoring genetic variety and rescuing endangered species.

Gut bacteria are considered to be a key factor in many health-related issues. However, the number and variety of them are vast, as are the ways in which they interact with the body's chemistry and each other.

Scientists in Japan have discovered that a natural compound found in a type of ginger called kencur can throw cancer cells into disarray by disrupting how they generate energy.

It also provides evidence of eight instances in which introners have transferred between unrelated species in a process called 'horizontal gene transfer,' the first proven examples of this phenomenon.

People's immune systems deteriorate as they age, making cancer therapies that rely on immune cells difficult to implement. In a new study, researchers from the University of Lausanne (UNIL), the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) show that age-related immune decline has a measurable impact on CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most advanced forms of cancer immunotherapy.

New research shows that the gum disease bacterium P. gingivalis can slip into the bloodstream and infiltrate the heart. There, it quietly drives scar tissue buildup -- distorting the heart's architecture, disrupting electrical signals, and raising the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Researchers have successfully demonstrated a technique for encapsulating bacteria, which can subsequently be preserved and applied to plants to promote their growth and protect them from pests and infections. The technique paves the way for a variety of crop applications that will enable farmers to use these beneficial bacteria in conjunction with agrochemicals.