https://phys.org/biology-news/microbiology/ en-us The latest science news on microbiology and cell biology. Researchers at Texas A&M University have cracked a problem that has limited biological imaging for years: seeing fine cellular detail while looking deep inside living tissue. The new microscopy technique resolves structures smaller than 100 nanometers, roughly a thousand times thinner than a human hair, without giving up the ability to image deep into intact samples. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-microscopy-sharpens-images-fivefold-sacrificing.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 18:20:06 EST news713548297 A new study has revealed a three-dimensional, near-atomic-resolution view of the ribosome from Babesia divergens, one of several Babesia species known to infect humans and cause babesiosis. The structural insights from this close-up view could help researchers identify parasite-specific features that may be exploited for future drug development. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-3d-view-babesiosis-parasite-ribosome.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:20:12 EST news713538122 The poles, or ends, of rod-shaped bacteria have been imaged at molecular resolution for the first time in a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, used a new technique to keep live bacteria in place so the cells could be imaged without wriggling away. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-poles-bacteria-imaged-fine.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:10:01 EST news713544601 Scientists are always on the lookout for more efficient ways to make useful products and ingredients. Now, researchers from the University of Valladolid in Spain have successfully used a type of purple bacteria to make CoQ10 and carotenoid pigments from CO₂ and other ingredients found in industrial waste streams. The new study is published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-purple-bacteria-industrial-products-valuable.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 13:50:06 EST news713539390 Drug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common worldwide, posing a major public health challenge. Addressing this problem requires finding new ways to eliminate bacteria, which in turn requires analyzing essential cellular processes that could serve as targets for future antibiotics. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-molecular-reveal-bacteriophage-protein-inhibits.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:00:01 EST news713525581 Imagine two people standing on a stretchy sheet. When one pulls, the other feels the fabric move and responds with a pull of their own. Each adjustment changes what the other feels. Something similar happens between living cells. They tug on the material around them, sense the stretching caused by their neighbors and adjust their own forces. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-cells-theoretical-reveals-hidden-source.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:20:12 EST news713525223 Mount Sinai researchers have identified a single amino acid difference between rodent- and human-derived Andes virus isolates that changes how a key viral protein behaves inside human cells. The findings help explain biological differences between closely related virus isolates. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-amino-acid-andes-virus-protein.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Nov 2026 19:20:09 EST news713461934 Certain microorganisms (anaerobic methanotrophic archaea, or ANME) consume methane and convert it into electricity, as research conducted four years ago by microbiologist Cornelia Welte of Radboud University revealed. New research by Welte and her colleagues published in Nature Communications now shows that these methane-consuming organisms do this by producing nanowires through which they can transmit the electricity they generate. The researchers have also succeeded in cultivating these specific microorganisms in almost pure form in the lab. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-methane-microbes-grown-electrodes-electrically.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Nov 2026 19:10:14 EST news713467261 When they start to get too warm but before they're dangerously hot, most plants employ a similar playbook. They change their shape, a host of adaptations that includes growing longer stems and stalks to promote air circulation. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-dial-response.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:40:08 EST news713447246 Resistance to antifungal medicines in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is proving more persistent than previously thought. Research by Wageningen University & Research (WUR), published in Current Biology, shows that fungicides used in agriculture, even those with a different mode of action from these medicines, can help maintain this resistance. This is because different resistance genes "hitchhike" together. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-genetic-hitchhikers-aspergillus-infections-harder.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:20:01 EST news713447222 It's known that the Y chromosome, which confers male sex, plays a big role in development and health, despite its small size. As cells age they frequently lose their Y chromosomes, which is associated with conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-vulnerable-chromosome.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:20:04 EST news713439061 An international team of researchers led by UT Southwestern Medical Center has developed a versatile light-sheet microscope that captures 3D views of biological samples, from activity inside living cells to larger tissues. Designed to make detailed imaging much simpler and faster, the approach could help laboratories stretch equipment budgets and expand research that may ultimately inform patient care. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-3d-microscope-imaging-tools.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:00:25 EST news713184241 Living cells are one of the few materials that can replicate themselves, and this is crucial for tissue development and recovery from injury or illness. But making sure cell division only happens at the right time is essential; otherwise, unregulated replication can lead to problems like cancer. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-cancer-linked-gene-shortcut-trigger.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 06 Nov 2026 05:00:01 EST news713090761 Exposure to toxic metals like cadmium has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth and low birth weight. Because these effects are difficult and ethically challenging to study directly in pregnant women, how such exposures affect pregnancy has remained poorly understood. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-placenta-chip-effects-environmental-toxins.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:30:01 EST news713123581 A newly published study is changing our understanding of how the protein talin functions at sites where cells attach to their surroundings. The findings uncover a previously unknown mechanism by which mechanical force regulates talin, a key protein controlling cell adhesion and mechanosensing. The paper is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-newly-protein-mechanism-cells-physical.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Nov 2026 15:20:06 EST news713108712 How do cells respond to drugs? A new microscopy technique could provide more precise answers to this question in the future. Researchers from Bielefeld University and the University of Vienna have developed a method as part of the European CHEM-SCAN project that makes the smallest cellular structures visible while also showing how their molecular environment changes. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-microscopy-method-reveals-tiny-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Nov 2026 15:00:06 EST news713108641 Rockefeller scientists have created the most comprehensive map to date of how essential genes interact in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB). The unprecedented map reveals thousands of previously unknown genetic relationships, offering a new window into the inner workings of one of the world's deadliest pathogens. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-genetic-interaction-antibiotic-pairings-tuberculosis.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:40:01 EST news713034181 The p97 protein plays a central role in cellular quality control by preparing defective or no-longer-needed proteins for degradation and recycling. Researchers at the University of Münster, in collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen, have investigated how p97 and its auxiliary proteins interact in this process. The study has now been published in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-molecular-choreography-p97-protein-cellular.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:40:10 EST news713028841 A newly identified Arctic Ocean bacterium may have an unusual way of making the building blocks it needs to grow. Using acetone, a common chemical in seawater, the bacteria incorporate carbon dioxide (CO₂) into their metabolisms, allowing them to survive in waters where nutrients and usable organic matter are scarce. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-arctic-ocean-bacteria-acetone-carbon.html Ecology Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:00:25 EST news712923002 A gas naturally produced by our own bodies could one day help treat skin and wound infections, potentially offering a new approach alongside conventional antibiotics. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-gas-wound-infections-moth.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:00:08 EST news712840933 Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM Stem Cell Institute have discovered a group of particularly long-lived blood stem cells in mice. These cells remain in a dormant state for an exceptionally long time while retaining their ability to generate new blood cells. This newly discovered cell population may be responsible for sustaining blood regeneration and immune defense throughout a mouse's entire life. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-stem-cells-deep-secret-reserve.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:40:01 EST news712860903 The totality of bacteria, viruses and fungi that exist in and on a multicellular organism forms its natural microbiome. The interactions between the body and these microorganisms significantly influence the host organism's functions and health. Among other things, researchers have shown that the microbiome plays an important role in defense against pathogens. On the other hand, they suspect that imbalances in the microbiome's composition are linked to the development of so-called environmental diseases, such as chronic inflammation. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-industrialization-reshapes-gut-microbes-bacterial.html Ecology Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:40:09 EST news712848465 A new study from NYU Abu Dhabi has revealed how coral-associated bacteria help corals withstand extreme heat by producing steroid hormones that strengthen their immune response. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-reveals-coral-bacteria-corals-survive.html Ecology Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:40:01 EST news712841284 Microbiologists have found that an enzyme not normally associated with microbial activities in the human gut has a role in how some bacteria access key nutrients in breast milk. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-enzyme-role-earliest-infant-gut.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:00:01 EST news712574401 Researchers have discovered a gene for a tandem potassium channel in an algal virus. The finding supports the view that giant viruses may have contributed significantly to the evolution of complex proteins. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-giant-virus-yields-potassium-channel.html Evolution Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:00:05 EDT news712424159 Inside the cell nucleus, DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which are further organized into chromatin. Chromatin has traditionally been divided into transcriptionally active euchromatin and relatively inactive heterochromatin. However, chromatin is not a fixed structure. Nucleosomes continuously move within the nucleus, and this motion is closely related to the physical organization and function of the genome. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-transcription-chromatin-behavior-distinct-nuclear.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:00:11 EDT news712578781 Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a high-speed microscopy technique that captures images so quickly they can be used to make "videos" of the dynamic processes that occur inside living cells. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-high-microscopy-captures-3d-images.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 30 Oct 2026 06:00:11 EDT news712488781 Our cells are a hotbed of activity, with reactions churning away to keep us alive. But the cytoplasm, where many metabolic reactions take place, is not uniform. Instead, proteins and other molecules cluster together into membraneless compartments, creating distinct, crowded microenvironments for reactions. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-crowding-enzyme-reactions-protein-droplets.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 30 Oct 2026 06:00:02 EDT news712508233 Evolutionary changes in a key protein synthesis enzyme, isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), may help bacteria fine-tune how quickly proteins are made, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; the University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Croatia; and ETH Zürich, Switzerland. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-evolutionary-key-enzyme-bacteria-proteins.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:40:05 EDT news712502284 Decoding of messenger RNA (mRNA) occurs during translation, the vital cellular process that builds proteins. Errors in this process are known to lead to cancer growth. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified how one factor involved in mRNA decoding can be altered, identifying potential cancer origins and new targets for KRAS-related treatment resistance. The results are published in Nature Cell Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-protein-mrna-decoding-implications-cancer.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:30:06 EDT news712508222