Microbiology Rocks

U.S. scientists have discovered a hidden molecular “switch” that herpes viruses rely on to invade cells. By combining AI, simulations, and lab experiments, the researchers identified and altered a single amino acid that shut down viral entry

AI provides a way to stop viruses entering cells AI-guided science revealed a tiny viral weak point—and shutting it down stopped infection cold.

Engineering Clostridium sporogenes to fight cancer. Researchers in Canada are engineering bacteria (Clostridium sporogenes) to invade tumours and consume them from the inside. Since tumour cores lack oxygen, they’re the perfect breeding ground for these microbes. The team added a genetic tweak that helps the bacteria survive longer near oxygen-exposed edges — but only once enough of them are present to trigger the change. It’s a carefully programmed biological attack that could one day offer a new way to destroy cancer. Read more here:

Engineering Clostridium sporogenes to fight cancer Bacteria used to tackle cancer

This week’s article considers microbial salutogenics and why this emerging field is of potentially important interest for promoting human wellbeing:

Salutogeneics: The importance of beneficial bacteria on human health and wellbeing The search for life on Earth is speeding up, not slowing down. Scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year, revealing far more biodiversity than expected across animals, plants, fungi, and beyond.

This week’s article looks at the immune system, endotoxin and a new drug candidate designed to prevent immune system suppression so that the body can combat endotoxin-induced sepsis better:

Role of endotoxin in sepsis and a new drug candidate to counteract it When the immune system does not function properly, individuals become more susceptible to infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center have demonstrated that an existing drug can revive immune cells that are not functioning correctly.