How does toothpaste affect the good bacteria in your mouth?: Ground Picture/Shutterstock The goal of brushing one’s teeth is to have fresh breath and prevent cavities. But the effect of toothpaste on the complex ecosystem of bacteria in our mouths — the oral microbiome — is often overlooked. Recent research has highlighted just how crucial …
Bacteria in your mouth may hold clues to your brain health and dementia risk – new study: Could the bacteria in your mouth predict whether you are at risk of dementia? Emerging research suggests that the bacteria living on your tongue and gums may affect how the brain works and how it changes as we …
How to detect more antimicrobial resistant bacteria in our waterways: Antimicrobial resistant superbugs have been found in rivers, lakes and streams worldwide. Freebird7977/Shutterstock Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in waterways presents a critical threat. If commonly used antibiotics are deemed useless, decades of progress in human medicine and agriculture could be undermined. By 2050, AMR could cause …
We studied drug-resistant bacteria on hospital surfaces in six countries. This is what we found: Antimicrobial resistance happens when bacteria and other microbes that can cause infections gain the ability to resist treatment by antibiotics or other antimicrobial medicines. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sepsis are some of the infections that are usually treated with …
Smokers have a higher level of harmful bacteria in the mouth – new study: A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 8 million people die annually from smoking related complications. Despite efforts by governments and various organisations to create awareness about the dangers, around 1.3 billion people still use some form …
Mosquitoes use gut bacteria to fight the malaria they transmit – scientists are exploring how to use this to end the disease: _Anopheles gambiae_ complex mosquito species can transmit malaria. CDC/James Gathany via Wikimedia Commons The months of September to May are an unfortunate season in South Africa: malaria season. The mosquito-borne disease is found …
The bacteria in your mouth play an important role in your health – here are four diseases linked to your oral microbiome: Another good reason to take care of your smile. evgenii mitroshin/ Shutterstock Your mouth is one of the most diverse habitats in the human body. It contains over 700 known species of bacteria, …
Gut microbiome: meet Clostridium butyricum – the bacteria that helps keep us feeling our best: _C butyricum_ ferments foods, such as wholegrains, in the gut to produce butyrate. Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock Our friend here, Clostridium butyricum (also known as C butyricum), is one of the hardest working microbes living in our gut. Without it’s exhaustive work, …
New antibiotic zosurabalpin shows promise against drug-resistant bacteria – an expert explains how it works: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is classified as a priority 1 critical pathogen by the World Health Organization Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock Researchers have identified an entirely new class of antibiotic that can kill bacteria that are resistant to most current drugs. Zosurabalpin is highly …
Baby formula preparation machines might not reach NHS recommended temperatures for killing bacteria – new research: The NHS recommends using water heated to at least 70C for mixing with formula powder. 279photo Studio/Shutterstock When you have a new baby, it can feel as though there are suddenly thousands of things to worry about. One of …
Resistance to antibiotics in northern Nigeria: what bacteria are prevalent, and which drugs work against them: It's challenging for hospitals in Nigeria to optimally use antibiotics. Getty Images Antimicrobial resistance – the ability of microorganisms to resist drugs that have been developed to control them – is a severe problem in African countries. The continent …
Crohn’s disease: bacteria in the mouth may be a cause – here’s why: We swallow millions of bacteria each day in our saliva. Maxx-Studio/ Shutterstock Crohn’s disease affects four million people worldwide. The condition causes debilitating symptoms such as chronic fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and malnutrition. Once symptoms develop, Crohn’s is a lifelong …
Dirty tea towels are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria – here’s how to clean them properly: Yep, when you've finished, both of those need to go in the wash. pexels/karolina grabowska Kitchens can harbour all sorts of germs and bacteria. These can arrive via humans, pets, uncooked food or even plants, meaning that a high …
Wastewater is a valuable source of information – Africa’s scientists need to use it to find drug-resistant bacteria: Sub-Saharan African countries don't have enough wastewater treatment plants. John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images People often think of wastewater as serving no purpose. But it can be a valuable source of information. Wastewater is increasingly recognised as …
Hay fever could be linked to our gut and nose bacteria – and probiotics may help symptoms: Many people suffer with hay fever. wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock For many people, spring has brought with it the dreaded symptoms of hay fever, such as itchy eyes, sneezing and a stuffy nose. Hay fever is common, affecting up to 42% …
Humans weren’t the first engineers, doctors and farmers – bacteria, plants and animals have lots to teach us: There are hidden worlds in nature PeopleImages.com/Yuri A/Shutterstock Life existed without human beings for more than 99.9% of Earth’s history. Yet we often ignore the achievements of species that preceded us by billions of years. I explore …
Claims that foetuses are surrounded by bacteria in the womb are incorrect – new review: Turns out it is a sterile environment after all. Rawpixel/Shutterstock When a baby is born, its immune system is already developed to survive in a world full of germs. This developmental process is not only important for the baby but …
A new way to name bacteria: 300-year-old system revised thanks to scientific advances: Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms without nuclei and are commonly known as bacteria. Ichigomaru/Shutterstock Nearly 300 years ago the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus secured his place in scientific history when he created what’s known as the binomial system. The year was 1737 and, …