BiotechMashup

A surface molecule on bacteria that instructs bone cells to die could be the target for new treatments for bone disease, says a scientist. Blocking the death signal from bacteria could be a way of treating painful bone infections that are resistant to antibiotics, such as those caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

(Society for General Microbiology) Bacteria that manufacture hydroxyapatite could be used to make stronger, more durable bone implants. Professor Lynne Macaskie from the University of Birmingham this week presented work to the Society for General Microbiology's meeting at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

(Society for General Microbiology) Selfish bacterial cells that act in their own interests and do not cooperate with their infection-causing colleagues can actually reduce the severity of infection. The selfish behaviour of these uncooperative bacteria could be exploited to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, according to research being presented at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting today.

(Society for General Microbiology) Pathogenic bacteria in the gut recognize their surroundings by detecting hormone signals from the host, which can prompt them to express lethal toxins. Intercepting these hormonal messages could be a better way to treat serious food-borne infections where antibiotics do more harm than good, explains Vanessa Sperandio speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh today.

(Society for General Microbiology) Plaque-causing bacteria can jailbreak from the mouth into the bloodstream and increase your risk of heart attack says a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham.

(Society for General Microbiology) Bacteria that cause chronic lung infections can communicate with each other to form a deadly shield against the body's natural defenses. Studying these interactions could lead to new ways of treating bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, according to an article in the November issue of Microbiology.

(Society for General Microbiology) Fungi that cause severe infections in those with compromised immune systems are resisting the action of the latest group of antifungal drugs. Uncovering their strategies for doing this will lead to more effective treatments, says a scientist speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of York.

(Society for General Microbiology) Yeast could be a powerful ally in the discovery of new therapeutic drugs to treat Parkinson's disease says a scientist presenting his work at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham today. Dr. Tiago Fleming Outeiro from the Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal, describes how his group is slowly uncovering the molecular basis of Parkinson's disease by studying the associated human protein in yeast cells.

(Society for General Microbiology) Antimicrobial insect brains, mouth bacteria behaving badly and the hundreds of microbial communities that lurk in household dust are just some of the highlights at the Society for General Microbiology’s autumn meeting in Nottingham next week.