Mostly Microbes and Infection

The new antibiotic ( albicidin ) is produced by the plant pathogen Xanthomonas albilineans & attacks bacteria in a different way to existing drugs.

Abstract gspd-1 -RNAi knockdown   Caenorhabditis elegans   was used as an immune-compromised model to investigate the role of G6PD in host-pathogen interactions. A shorted lifespan, increased bacterial burden and bacterial translocation were observed in   gspd-1 -knockdown   C. elegans   infected with   Klebsiella pneumoniae   (KP). RNAseq revealed that the innate immune pathway, including   clc-1   and   tsp-1 , was affected by   gspd-1   knockdown. qPCR confirmed that tight junction   (zoo-1, clc-1 ) and immune-associated genes ( tsp-1 ) were down-regulated in   gspd-1 -knockdown   C. elegans   and following infection with KP. The down-regulation of antimicrobial effector lysozymes, including   lys-1, lys-2, lys-7, lys-8, ilys-2   and   ilys-3 , was found in   gspd-1 -knockdown   C. elegans   infected with KP. Deletion of   clc-1, tsp-1, lys-7 , and   daf-2   in...

The largest & most diverse review to date has found evidence that who you live with & who you were raised by could have a greater impact on your microbiome than some lifestyle factors, age, or even genetics.

A new study of more than 29,000   older adults has identified six habits — from eating a variety of foods to regularly reading or playing cards — that are linked with a lower risk of dementia and a slower rate of memory decline.

  •    The earth’s natural electromagnetic fields influence the circadian rhythm in humans. • Sunspots and seasonal weakening of the geomagnetic field can affect human health. • Seasonal geomagnetic field weakening increases infectious and chronic diseases. • Electromagnetic pollution from wireless devices can also affect circadian rhythms. • Grounding and reduction of electromagnetic pollution can produce health benefits.

  People living in same household or in regular contact tend to have same microbes in their guts & mouths. The study raises possibility that diseases linked to microbiome dysfunction, including cancer , diabetes & obesity , could be partly transmissible.

  Yes, cordyceps do exist. But unlike in the movie, cordyceps will not turn you into a zombie. Article in the Washington Post describes what you should know about The Last of Us The Last Of Us & its depiction of the zombie fungus.

Antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules have been classified into those presented by ‘endogenous’ and ‘exogenous’ pathways. Some microorganisms reside within host-cell vacuoles that appear to avoid both pathways. Novel presentation mechanisms are being unraveled for these microorganisms, and their antigens, rather than being just peptides, can also consist of lipids or DNA fragments.  by David M. Ojcius, Gabriel Gachelin and Alice Dautry-Varsat

The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum is used as a dietary supplement and health tonic, but whether it affects longevity remains unclear. We show here that a water extract of G. lucidum mycelium extends lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . The G. lucidum extract reduces the level of fibrillarin (FIB-1), a nucleolar protein that correlates inversely with longevity in various organisms. Furthermore, G. lucidum treatment increases expression of the autophagosomal protein marker LGG-1, and lifespan extension is abrogated in mutant C. elegans strains that lack atg-18 , daf-16 , or sir-2.1 , indicating that autophagy and stress resistance pathways are required to extend lifespan. In cultured human cells, G. lucidum increases concentrations of the LGG-1 ortholog LC3 and reduces levels of phosphorylated mTOR, a known inhibitor of autophagy. Notably, low molecular weight compounds (<10 kDa) isolated from the G. lucidum water extract prolong lifespan of C. elegans...

What responses are needed when a public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupts continuity of care in a dental school clinic? To what extent do fears regarding safety during treatment deter patients from attending appointments in dental school clinics and can the school control these factors to ensure educational experiences? Much attention has been paid to the precautions for protecting students, faculty, staff, and patients during treatment, including triage and procedures and barriers that ensure safe distancing. 1 - 3 The University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry has adhered to strict state and county guidelines and informed patients of these protocols as shown in Table  1 . Nevertheless, we observed a 40% disruption in mid-treatment for endodontic, fixed, and removable prosthodontic care. We asked patients how receiving dental care under these circumstances appeared from their point of view.   by David Chambers, Michelle Br...

A new yearlong weight-loss study has identified behaviors & biomarkers that contribute to short- & long-term weight loss. The biomarkers include signatures from the gut microbiome , proteins made by the human body & levels of exhaled carbon dioxide.

New approaches to the biology of senescence can make lives longer and healthier.