Study shows how genetically engineered bacteria can find and destroy tumors
Cancer tumors are very effective at avoiding the immune system, making intervention difficult. A common gut bacterium has been genetically altered to seek out and destroy cancer tumors from within, as shown in a new study. Why are tumors so hard to treat? Tumors can thrive by escaping the body's Read More...
Shapeshifting bacteria are the key to understanding UTIs
Most women have had the unpleasant experience of a urinary tract infection (UTI), with nearly one in three women requiring antibiotics before the age of 24 to treat the condition. 80 percent of these infections are caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), a bacteria with increasing resistance to Read More...
Mummies tell the story of centuries-old E.coli
As humans did not have the current means of recording events and knowledge of diseases, it’s difficult to study the history of humans and diseases. Rare gold mines of preserved genetic material come around once every so often, slowly giving us more and more insight into our fascinating past. This Read More...
This swimming robot shows how bacteria move
We all know it takes some practice learning to swim in the ocean with waves and riptides pulling at us. With some practice and experience, though, it becomes a fun, even fulfilling pastime. Now, imagine how hard it would be if the ocean were tar instead of water. This is essentially what it is Read More...
These invisible bio-tags could track down the source of E. coli outbreaks
Between 2009 and 2018, there were 40 serious E. coli outbreaks linked to leafy greens in the US. Because there were too many farms involved in the supply chain, most of the time, health authorities weren’t able to identify the specific type or brand that had caused the problem, so they simply Read More...