https://phys.org/biology-news/biotechnology/ en-us The latest science news on biotechnology From a drone flying above the waves to a camera just inches from the seafloor, University of Miami researchers are transforming how scientists observe coral reefs and measure changes that were once difficult, costly or time-consuming to document. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-imaging-technologies-clearer-view-coral.html Ecology Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:00:01 EDT news709898082 In a study published in npj Clean Water, researchers from EPFL investigated how Escherichia coli responds to different concentrations of plasma-activated water (PAW) under nutrient-rich conditions. The team combined conventional colony-forming unit (CFU) counting with nanomotion sensing, a technique that detects nanoscale oscillations produced by metabolically active bacteria. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-plasma-effective-bacterial-disinfection.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:20:01 EDT news710159162 To sense their environment and respond accordingly, cells enlist membrane proteins as communication hubs, receiving molecular messages from outside and triggering responses inside. One of these proteins is Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an immune receptor that plays an essential role in protecting against infections. But overactivity of TLR4 has been linked to inflammatory disorders like sepsis, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, making it an attractive target for therapies. Despite its appeal, TLR4 is difficult to manipulate precisely, and no FDA-approved drugs specifically block it. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-protein-immune-receptor-linked-inflammation.html Biotechnology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:40:01 EDT news710158142 Spatial transcriptomics can reveal where thousands of genes are active across a tissue, creating molecular maps at single-cell resolution. But comparing two such maps is difficult: thin slices of tissue may be rotated, stretched or otherwise distorted, so equivalent regions do not automatically line up. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-algorithm-gene-easier-cell.html Biotechnology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:20:03 EDT news710157601 Databases around the world contain information on millions upon millions of enzymes that have the potential to degrade pollutants like plastic. Scientists at Murdoch University's Bioplastics Innovation Hub are combining machine learning technology and biochemistry to identify which of these enzymes have the potential to break down plastic and other harmful pollutants. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-millions-years-evolution-ai-pollution.html Biotechnology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:18 EDT news710154902 University of Sydney researchers have developed a new way to test how closely lab-grown biological models resemble real human embryos, finding that while some models perform well, none yet fully capture the complexity of early human development. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-reality-lab-grown-human-embryo.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:00:29 EDT news710066461 Broccoli grown under magenta solar panels absorbed sunlight more efficiently than plants grown out in the open, according to a study to be published Oct. 2 in Cell Reports Physical Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-multitasking-magenta-solar-panels-farms.html Biotechnology Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:00:05 EDT news710063403 Extreme dry mouth, caused by radiation used to treat cancer and by autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's disease, radically affects quality of life for sufferers. It can hamper speaking, swallowing and eating, and for years has seemed an intractable problem. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-salivary-gland-mini-grown-pluripotent.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:00:16 EDT news710077441 Watermarks have long protected everything from bank notes and fine art to digital photographs and software, helping prove authenticity and trace an object's origin. Their main function is to protect copyright and verify authenticity. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-google-deepmind-invisible-watermarks-ai.html Biotechnology Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:40:09 EDT news710084134 In the fight to find better treatments for bacterial infections, one rapidly evolving therapy uses a group of viruses called bacteriophages (phages). Phages can attack and kill dangerous bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed and bypassing antibiotic resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-viral-enzyme-bacterial-sensor-protein.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:00:21 EDT news709989541 Northwestern University scientists have developed remarkably long, precisely patterned molecular threads that could open new possibilities for designing advanced materials. The scientists also discovered that these threads—called supramolecular polymers—can dramatically enhance brain cell activity. The study is published in the journal Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-precisely-patterned-molecular-threads-boost.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:00:13 EDT news709985941 New research from the DTU National Food Institute and Aarhus University shows that microorganisms can be used to specifically alter the amino acid composition of plant-based foods, making them more nutritious and therefore healthier. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-bacteria-based-foods-healthier-humans.html Biotechnology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:20:07 EDT news709993982 Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an AI scientist capable of generating scientific hypotheses, designing experiments and interpreting results. Making new biological discoveries with minimal human intervention is an important advance in self-driving laboratories. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ai-scientist-autonomously-generates-validates.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:40:13 EDT news709991641 An experimental antifibrotic compound can dramatically alter how cells release the microscopic packages they use to communicate, according to new research from the University of Surrey. Researchers found that the compound, SD-208, which reduces scar tissue in organs, substantially reduced the release of extracellular vesicles, microscopic packages that cells use to carry proteins and other biological signals to neighboring and distant cells. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-anti-fibrotic-drug-repurposed-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:20:13 EDT news709990141 When designing a large underwater robot that could swim silently to avoid startling sea creatures, roboticist Rob Shepherd considered the unusual swimming system of oarfish, the meters-long fish whose ribbon-like dorsal fin moves in waves to propel its body. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-mysterious-oarfish-fins-large-underwater.html Biotechnology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:40:20 EDT news709997165 Biodegradable films made from engineered honeybee silk could form the basis of a new generation of "smart" wound dressings, according to researchers at CSIRO and Adelaide University. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-honeybee-silk-power-smarter-wound.html Biotechnology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:00:06 EDT news709981381 A silent, long-running competition has been taking place in Swiss alpine lakes for millions of years, killing trillions of organisms every day without anyone noticing. This competition between bacteria and viruses pushes both into a relentless evolutionary battle. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-alpine-bacteria-unexpected-ability-viruses.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:40:04 EDT news709978142 Monitoring Antarctica's tiny, scattered ecosystems is a challenge that has long plagued researchers. But a new study led by the University of Wollongong (UOW) offers a new approach to tracking life in one of the most remote environments on Earth. The research is published in the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-drones-satellites-ai-scientists-antarctica.html Ecology Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:20:13 EDT news709977482 Researchers have coated mitochondria with innovative materials without compromising their function, according to a study by IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (FINCB) and Politecnico di Milano. The research was conducted as part of the BraiNs joint laboratory, inaugurated in 2023. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-coating-mitochondria-retain-ability-energy.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:40:07 EDT news709916702 A new textile used to cover strawberry plants more than tripled fruit yields in tunnel field tests without harming plant health. The technology could also significantly reduce water and pesticide use in strawberry fields. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-textile-fabric-triple-production-strawberry.html Biotechnology Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:20:06 EDT news709915921 Cell division is a complex process. At the heart of this complexity is a membraneless organelle called the centrosome, which is made up of more than 200 components. It is responsible for clustering mitotic spindles, threadlike structures needed to separate genetic material. It has long remained unclear which parts of the centrosome are necessary and sufficient for spindle assembly. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-lisa-cell-division.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:00:12 EDT news709915201 In acute, life-threatening infections, rapidly characterizing the microorganisms in a patient sample can help guide diagnosis and treatment. Computational methods known as taxonomic profilers can analyze metagenome sequencing data generated from the microorganisms' genomic information and compare it with reference genomes of individual microorganisms. However, taxonomic profilers are still under development and are not yet in common use. Current methods can produce false-positive results or inaccurate abundance estimates. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-microbial-dna-scarce-profiling-method.html Biotechnology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:00:01 EDT news709827486 The assembly pathway behind refractile-body proteins may have finally been resolved, researchers from Science Tokyo report. Using genetic engineering and several techniques for analyzing protein structure, they investigated how four proteins work together to produce the correct architecture of these complex, pH-responsive protein machines, from the nanoscale to the microscale. The findings could help establish new frameworks for engineering dynamic protein systems as biotechnological tools. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-pathway-reveals-bacteria-protein-acid.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:40:01 EDT news709825610 Microbial cell factories that produce pharmaceutical ingredients and other useful compounds include both the bacterium Escherichia coli and yeast, the organism used to leaven bread and ferment alcohol. The two organisms turn genes on by different rules, so a production design built for one has been hard to transfer to the other. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-dna-genes-bacteria-yeast.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:00:10 EDT news709821914 Light is fundamental to human life—without it, we'd be hungry, cold and blind. But what if the same light that sustains us could also be used to control and observe parts of cells within our bodies? https://phys.org/news/2026-09-blue-tools-track-redirect-sever.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:00:01 EDT news709820873 RNA vaccines, which have proved effective against COVID-19, are now being developed for many other diseases, including cancer. One drawback is that they require ultracold storage, but MIT researchers have found a promising way to overcome that limitation. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-rna-vaccines-high-temperatures.html Biotechnology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:00:01 EDT news709558561 A polyphenol-rich extract from Cistus salviifolius, a Mediterranean rockrose species traditionally used to treat skin conditions, has shown fungicidal activity against several dermatophytes, the fungi responsible for superficial infections of the skin, hair and nails. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-mediterranean-rockrose-fungicidal-common-skin.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:00:01 EDT news708852782 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists have developed a way to "supercharge" a plant's natural immune response. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-scientists-supercharge-immunity-boost-natural.html Biotechnology Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:00:05 EDT news709558021 Medical researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical scientists often study small molecules called metabolites, which are produced in living cells through a variety of processes, including the breakdown of food, chemicals or drugs. This area of study is known as metabolomics, and it can be used to identify new signs of disease, measure the effectiveness of medical treatment or study how diet and nutrition affect the body. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-molecular-network-resource-unknown-compounds.html Biotechnology Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:20:12 EDT news709550401 A new tool to mutate bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—provides a "big leap" forward in our understanding of how they function and our ability to harness their full potential. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-tool-gap-harnessing-untapped-potential.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:00:01 EDT news709483201