http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. In biology, we often think of natural selection and survival of the fittest. What about survival of the luckiest? Like pioneers in search of a better life, bacteria on a surface wander around and often organize into highly resilient communities, known as biofilms. It turns out that a lucky few bacteria become the elite cells that start the colonies, and they organize in a rich-get-richer pattern similar to the distribution of wealth in the U.S. economy, according to a new study by researchers at UCLA, Northwestern University and the University of Washington. http://phys.org/news287236562.html Biology Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:12 EST news287236562 Metallothioneins, proteins able to capture metal ions, play a major role in the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen which causes severe infections in immunodeficient and immunocompetent individuals (AIDS patients, transplant receivers, etc.) This is one of the main conclusions of the research published on the journal Cell, Host & Microbe, and developed by the researchers Sílvia Atrian and Anna Espart, from the Department of Genetics and the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), affiliated with the campus of international excellence BKC. http://phys.org/news284367677.html Biology Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:01:30 EST news284367677 (Phys.org) —A potentially lethal fungal infection appears to gain virulence by being able to anticipate and disarm a hostile immune attack in the lungs, according to findings by researchers at Duke Medicine. http://phys.org/news282469118.html Biology Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:38:47 EST news282469118 A movement by privacy activists to curb tracking of Internet users' browsing habits scored a major victory last month when Microsoft launched its new browser with "do not track" as the default, or automatic setting. http://phys.org/news272347667.html Technology Sat, 17 Nov 2012 04:08:02 EST news272347667 Robotherapist 3D, a robot which aids stroke patients' recovery, is to be brought to market by its worldwide patent holder, a spin-off company from the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Alicante, Spain). It is the first robot to enable patients to start doing exercises while supine, allowing them to begin shortly after the stroke and expediting recovery. http://phys.org/news268995188.html Electronics Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:53:26 EST news268995188 Giant cells called "titan cells" protect the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans during infection, according to two University of Minnesota researchers. Kirsten Nielsen, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of microbiology, and recent Ph.D. recipient Laura Okagaki believe their discovery could help develop new ways to fight infections caused by Cryptococcus. http://phys.org/news257412154.html Biology Mon, 28 May 2012 08:26:18 EST news257412154 (AP) -- Cash-strapped Swaziland's state hospitals have only two months' supplies of AIDS drugs, the country's health minister has told parliament in an assessment that AIDS patients and activists took as a death sentence. http://phys.org/news228484135.html Medicine & Health Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:49:15 EST news228484135 Thirty years after the AIDS epidemic first surfaced, more people than ever before in the United States -- more than 1.1 million -- are living with HIV, the Centers for Disease Control said Thursday. http://phys.org/news226256138.html Medicine & Health Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:40:01 EST news226256138 (AP) -- Doctors and activists say AIDS patients aren't getting treated because of a nationwide strike in South Africa, the country with the highest incidence of the virus that causes AIDS. http://phys.org/news201951071.html Medicine & Health Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:50:01 EST news201951071 Yeast fungus cells that kill thousands of AIDS patients every year escape detection by our bodies' defences by hiding inside our own defence cells, and hitch a ride through our systems before attacking and spreading, scientists heard today (Tuesday 9 September 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin. http://phys.org/news140162723.html Biology Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:05:23 EST news140162723