strains

A Toxic Fungus Could Be Contributing to Some People’s Irritable Bowel Disease

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Some strains of yeast in the human gut can produce toxins that could contribute to irritable bowel disease (IBD), according to new research. These “high-damaging” Candida albicans yeast strains aren’t usually a problem when they are kept in balance, but in the guts of those with IBD, the fungi appear to proliferate, triggering inflammation.   The … Read more

A Strain of Tuberculosis Traveled Across The Pacific Thousands of Years Pre-Contact

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Centuries before first contact with Europeans, new research suggests a strain of tuberculosis was already circulating from the South American coasts to the mountains. Deadly European diseases, like tuberculosis (TB), whooping cough, and smallpox, were spread around the world with colonization, but recent evidence indicates this wasn’t the first time TB arrived in South America. … Read more

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Strains International Space Station Partnership

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When Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, the whole world was watching. But another, much smaller audience was watching, too: the seven crew members onboard the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting hundreds of kilometers above the chaos below. Across more than two decades of continuous operations, the ISS has been a … Read more

What Would Happen if Rich Countries Gave Away Half Their COVID-19 Vaccines?

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New research gives a stark warning to richer nations that have been hoarding their supplies of COVID-19 vaccines: Doing so only has a short-term local benefit, and in the longer term leaves everyone more vulnerable to infection.   Across a five-year model, scientists found that when rich countries gave away 46 percent of their COVID-19 … Read more

A Common Sugar Additive Could Be Driving The Rise of One of The Most Aggressive Superbugs

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A sugar additive used in several foods could have helped spread a seriously dangerous superbug around the US, according to a 2018 study. The finger of blame is pointed squarely at the sugar trehalose, found in foods such as nutrition bars and chewing gum.   If the findings are confirmed, it’s a stark warning that … Read more

An mRNA Flu Vaccine Just Delivered Positive Phase 1 Trial Results

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US biotech company Moderna on Friday announced promising data from an early-stage human trial of its mRNA flu shot, based on the same technology used in its successful COVID-19 vaccine.   The experimental flu shot was found to be safe, and successfully evoked high levels of antibodies in 180 people at all dosage levels, in … Read more