What is new in Biotech
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Antarctic bacteria show promise as biocontrol agents for combating banana wilt
18.11.2024 | Press monitoring
A recent study conducted by scientists at ESPOL has unveiled the biotechnological potential of microorganisms from Antarctica. In this remote continent, where life thrives under extreme conditions, researchers isolated 77 microbial strains from 162 cultures, identifying 49 species, predominantly actinomycetes (66.23%). Sampling conducted at the...
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Breakthrough genomic test identifies virtually any infection in one go
15.11.2024 | Press monitoring
Researchers at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a single genomic test that can quickly detect virtually any kind of pathogen in a patient. This allows for much quicker diagnoses, enables targeted treatment to begin sooner, and could lower healthcare costs. The test is based on a genomic sequencing technique called...
Low-cost method removes micro- and nanoplastics from water
13.11.2024 | Press monitoring
Researchers at the University of S?o Paulo (USP) in Brazil have developed a novel nanotechnology-based solution for the removal of micro- and nanoplastics from water. Their research is published in the journal Micron. "Nanoparticles aren't visible to the naked eye or detectable using conventional microscopes, so they're very hard to identify...
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Creek survey uncovers bacteriophages that could combat superbugs
11.11.2024 | Press monitoring
A survey of a waterway on Wurundjeri land has led to the discovery of new viruses that kill the superbug Klebsiella. With estimates that superbugs will kill at least 10 million people a year across the world by 2050, the finding, led by a partnership of Traditional Owners and Monash University researchers suggests that small waterways may be an...
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Biorefining process could make grass digestible for pigs, chickens, and fish
8.11.2024 | Press monitoring
Currently, grass is mainly used directly as animal feed for cows and other ruminants. These animals have multi-compartmental stomachs that are specialized in breaking down plant fibers. In a biorefining process, the plant material receives rough treatment in a screw press, releasing valuable nutrients from the plant cells together with the liquid...
Novel nanoparticles can trap and neutralize large amounts of SARS-CoV-2
6.11.2024 | Press monitoring
Researchers from the IBB-UAB have developed a new class of nanostructures capable of trapping and neutralizing large quantities of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, both in liquid solutions and on the surface of materials. These novel nanoparticles could be used to manufacture antiviral materials such as wastewater and air filters, and could be...
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Immunotherapy prevents heart attacks progressing to heart failure
4.11.2024 | Press monitoring
Scarring of heart tissue can be slowed but not stopped, and can lead to heart failure. But a new study has shown that an existing immunotherapy could stop scar tissue formation after heart attacks. First, team Washington University School of Medicine studied gene expression in 45 donated human hearts, including some that were healthy, some that...
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Porous nanofibrous microspheres show promise for diabetic wound treatment
1.11.2024 | Press monitoring
The research team from Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) developed a novel method combining electrospinning and electrospraying technologies to create porous, granular nanofibrous microspheres (NMs). These microspheres, made from biocompatible materials including...
Designing long-lived peptides for more powerful medicines
30.10.2024 | Press monitoring
"Peptides are potentially powerful components of medicines, because they're just fragments of our natural proteins that our bodies can recognize," said University of Virginia assistant professor of chemical engineering Rachel Letteri. "But one limitation is that they tend to break down quickly, so we need to figure out how to make them more...
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CRISPR-Cas10 can flood virally infected bacteria with toxic molecules, researchers discover
28.10.2024 | Press monitoring
CRISPR-Cas9 has long been likened to a kind of genetic scissors, thanks to its ability to snip out any desired section of DNA with elegant precision. But it turns out that CRISPR systems have more than one strategy in their toolkit. A mechanism originally discovered in bacteria, where it has operated as an adaptive immune system for eons, CRISPR...
