Nature Portfolio’s Post

🔬 Some scientists suggest that phages can be considered probiotics because they help improve the balance and health of the gut microbiome. 🔬 Phages create space in a very crowded and competitive microbiome by killing bad bacteria so that probiotics have a chance to colonize the gut. 🔬 Some research has shown that a combination of phages and probiotics can increase the population of some beneficial bacteria up to a thousand times. 🔬 We will hear a lot more about phages in future.

Our PROTECT platform technology with University of California, Berkeley hopes to pave the way for smarter, more effective infection therapies by understanding the perfect combination of good bacteria & growth conditions. https://lnkd.in/eSFJyGC4 This contract is one of multiple research projects receiving funding. Defeating Antibiotic Resistance through Transformative Solutions (DARTS) and Transforming Antibiotic R&D with Generative AI to stop Emerging Threats (TARGET) are earlier AMR-related projects. We continue to seek groundbreaking innovations for health research through the Mission Office Innovative Solution Openings. Continued support of each award is contingent on projects meeting aggressive milestones, typical to the ARPA-H process. https://lnkd.in/dnqVK3SV

There’s a promising new treatment for Lyme disease on the horizon — the antimicrobial hygromycin A, which specifically targets spirochete bacteria like Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme bacteria. Hygromycin A has proven effective against Lyme bacteria in mice, and it is now moving on to human safety trials. Dr. Kim Lewis from Northeastern University, who developed hygromycin A along with his team, explains, “What we’re testing for now is a treatment for acute Lyme that will be more effective and won’t wreck the microbiome and will hopefully lead to fewer chronic cases.” Hygromycin A also could prove helpful for patients with late-stage Lyme if the next few rounds of trials are successful. Check out the research in this piece from Northeastern Global News: https://lnkd.in/evQN66yy #projectlyme #lyme #lymepersists #tickbornediseases #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #chronicpain #health #tickbite #bacteria #medicine #science #research

The fight against antibiotic resistance is a global effort, with researchers and organizations worldwide collaborating to share knowledge, resources, and strategies. This collective approach aims to stay ahead of the evolving threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The article highlights the multifaceted and collaborative efforts being made to address one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine.

Clostridioides difficile, also known as C. difficile, is a spore-forming bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, known as colitis...Read More #science #inflammation #foroyou #Commonwealth #foryouシ https://lnkd.in/gXVA9P-f

#woundhealing #medicine #medicalsciences #healthcare https://lnkd.in/dCYE873M Chronic wounds pose a significant threat to the health-care system, being associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Individuals with diabetes are particularly prone to #chronic #wounds, and novel therapies to treat these injuries are needed. Commensal #microorganisms found in wounds have been shown to promote #skin #repair and wound healing, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. In this study, White et al. build on previous work to investigate how commensal microorganisms can mediate wound healing. In a previous longitudinal prospective cohort study, the authors had analysed the microbial composition of diabetic foot ulcers (a type of chronic wound present in individuals with diabetes), revealing the presence of common wound pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as human skin commensals and the non-pathogenic environmental bacterium Alcaligenes faecalis. In the present study, the authors focus on A. faecalis, as it is frequently recovered from chronic wounds, but it rarely causes infection. The authors found no association of A. faecalis with diabetic foot ulcer outcome. Inoculation of diabetic mice exhibiting wound healing defects with A. faecalis revealed that bacterial colonization promoted wound closure with no signs of infection. Also, the wound bed of A. faecalis-treated wounds was healthy compared with those treated with the vehicle or S. aureus.“A. faecalis mediates wound closure in diabetic foot ulcers”

"Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: Finding New Solutions for a Global Crisis" Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global healthcare, leading to longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased deaths. The most dangerous examples are the ESKAPE pathogens—a group of bacteria that evade even the strongest antibiotics. These pathogens cause severe infections in healthcare settings, making innovative treatments essential. Addressing this issue requires going beyond traditional antibiotics. One promising solution is bacteriophage therapy. Phages are viruses that attack specific bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, they don’t harm the body’s healthy microbiome, reducing secondary infections. Engineered phages are also being developed to target resistant bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa more effectively. Another approach is synthetic biology, where phages are designed to overcome bacterial defenses like biofilms. Combining these engineered phages with antibiotics can reduce resistance and shorten treatment time. To bring these solutions into practice, we need support for phage therapy research, faster regulatory approval, and policies to reduce antibiotic misuse. Investing in diagnostic tools to target infections quickly will also help limit unnecessary antibiotic use. By combining bacteriophage therapy, synthetic biology, and smarter antibiotic strategies, we can stay ahead of bacterial evolution and protect global health. #AMR #Bacteriophages #HealthcareInnovation #GlobalHealth 

Used for treating bacterial infections, antibiotics are an essential part of modern medicine. However, this crucial treatment option is in jeopardy. Antibiotic resistance – where bacteria become resistant to antibiotics – led to more than 1 million deaths worldwide in 2019. At the University of Basel in Switzerland, Professor Christoph Dehio leads the NCCR AntiResist which is applying new research methods to speed up the discovery and development of new #antibiotics and complementary anti-infective strategies, thereby helping to reduce the problem of #antibioticresistance. https://lnkd.in/efHV29Er

Deadly hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) might be ‘Disease X’ Prof Robert Bragg, researcher in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS), believes hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) might already be “Disease X”. The world is rapidly heading for a crisis in health care regarding HAIs. It is common knowledge that we are quickly running out of antibiotics (and antifungals) to treat bacterial and yeast infections. Without antibiotics and antifungals, the outcome of many of these bacterial and yeast hospital-acquired infections will be very severe. They will, unfortunately, in many cases, result in the death of the patient. Read more: https://ufsweb.co/3uGg7LE

https://lnkd.in/gCp6zJDR In the context of oral health, understanding how antibiotics may influence the balance of bacteria in the gut is crucial, as this could have implications for the oral microbiome as well. It emphasizes the need for a cautious approach, considering the potential long-term effects on microbial communities beyond the targeted treatment area.