Chemical communication helps bacteria boost their immune systems
30 November, 2016Research led by the University of Otago has found that bacteria can boost their immune systems by 'talking' to each other.
Why do we crave salt?
17 November, 2016 by Adam FloranceResearchers in Melbourne have determined the mechanism which explains our addiction to salty foods and this research may even be able to help us curb other addictions.
Suppressing the immune system won't improve your chances of conceiving with IVF
15 November, 2016 by Sarah Robertson, University of AdelaideMany doctors hold an outdated view that immunity is naturally reduced in pregnancy. So they infer it's acceptable to suppress the immune system by medication.
Monitoring genes for antimicrobial resistance
11 November, 2016Australian researchers are offering a new perspective on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that they hope will lead to the phenomenon being characterised as an ecological disease.
Airport door handles and the spread of drug-resistant bacteria
03 November, 2016Drug-resistant bacteria from international travellers could be transferred to inanimate surfaces in airports and then picked up by others, who may go on to spread these bacteria in their home countries.
Stem cells that rust
01 November, 2016Scientists have discovered that certain cells during embryonic development are negatively affected by oxidation — the same process that causes rust in metal.
Leukaemia cells run but don't hide
19 October, 2016 by Adam FloranceResearchers pioneering a new method of zooming in on leukaemia cells in action have found that the notoriously treatment-resistant blood cancer cells are not playing 'hide and seek', as was traditionally believed, but are actually playing a game of 'tag'.
Stroke enables gut bacteria to spread
18 October, 2016Australian researchers have revealed that stroke injury can compromise the immune system, enabling bacterial pathogens to take an opportunistic journey from the gut into other organs — including the lungs.
A blood test to detect breast cancer
07 October, 2016Australian and French scientists are developing a new potential way to detect and monitor breast cancer that could involve a simple blood test.
The secret to stopping malaria lies in the liver
04 October, 2016Australian scientists have identified a new type of immune cell that stays in the liver — liver-resident immune cells — guarding against malaria infection.
Controlling stem cells in the lab
30 September, 2016Scottish scientists have discovered a way to replicate the regenerative power of stem cells in the lab, preventing them from differentiating over a prolonged period.
Immune cells go to school to learn to fight infections
29 September, 2016 by Adam FloranceResearchers have discovered that a large portion of our immune cells need to go to school to learn how to fight off infections.
World leaders commit to action on antimicrobial resistance
22 September, 2016World leaders have signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them.
Star-shaped polymers to kill superbugs
13 September, 2016Researchers have developed tiny, star-shaped molecules that can apparently kill superbugs — bacteria that are no longer affected by current antibiotics.
How the human brain became bloodthirsty
09 September, 2016A study led by the University of Adelaide has found that the evolution of the human brain is closely linked with an increase in its blood supply.
