Found in about half of all bacterial species, the cell membrane that surrounds the cell wall may be more critical for survival than previously thought.
Category: Microbiology
New Stanford algorithm could improve diagnosis of many rare genetic diseases
Today, diagnosing rare genetic diseases requires slow, educated guesswork, but a team of Stanford experts is automating the process.
The future of the microbiome: A conversation
In an interview, Stanford bioengineer Michael Fischbach discussed the growing knowledge of the bacteria in our bodies and what that means for the future of medicine.
Lay off the laxatives — even a short bout of diarrhea can ruin your gut microbes’ month
In each of our abdomens sit trillions of microbes, but a bout of diarrhea can induce a lasting round of gut-bug disruption, new research indicates.
New study observes tuberculosis bacteria attacking antibiotics
Researchers have used an ultrafast, intense X-ray laser to observe how Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria attack antibiotics, making the drugs ineffective.
Bad bug’s Achilles heel: New drug targets identified for S. aureus
A hitherto unheralded set of telltale enzymes may prove to be perfect targets for shooting down a gang of nasty bacterial pathogens collectively called S. aureus.
Stanley Falkow, microbe hunter, dies at 84
Renowned microbe enthusiast Stanley Falkow has died at 84. Falkow was known for his generosity, wit and remarkable scientific acumen that led to the founding of the modern field of bacterial pathogenicity — the study of how bacteria cause human disease.
Diet can be used to adjust microbiome composition, new study suggests
The composition of the microbiome can be adjusted by pairing bacterial species with their favorite foods, a new Stanford Medicine study suggests.
Big bacteria may be easier to kill, new research suggests
Stanford researchers have discovered a genetic "tuning knob" that can enlarge or shrink bacteria across a wide range - and this can be used to fatten up the bacteria to increase their susceptibility to certain antibiotics.
New technique can grow biofilm in custom patterns, fueling research on often-problematic bacterial communities
A technique for growing sticky films of bacteria into elaborate microscopic images could reveal how potentially dangerous biofilms grow and transmit antibiotic resistance, and could lead to novel biomaterials or synthetic microbial communities.
The Good Gut: Discussing the stomach’s world of disease-fighting microbes
Is your gut a doorway into good health? Microbiologist Justin Sonnenburg, PhD, and his wife and fellow researcher, Erica Sonnenburg, PhD, believe so. They've written …
The die-off within us: Are our low-fiber diets ruining our descendants’ lives?
Members of the Hadza, a 300-person remnant of an all-but-vanished Tanzanian hunter-gatherer society, consume 150 grams of fiber per day on average. That's a clump of indigestible …
Stanford researchers discover new bacteria in dolphins
A team of researchers co-led by David Relman, MD, professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology, has discovered previously unknown species of bacteria in …
Stanford microbiome research offers new clues to the mystery of preterm birth
Premature birth affects 450,000 U.S. babies each year and is the leading cause of newborn deaths. But in about half of cases, doctors never figure …
Tiny balloon-like vesicles carry cellular chatter with remarkable specificity, say Stanford researchers
"BRUSH YOUR TEETH," I bellowed up the stairs last night at my (seemingly deaf and clueless) children for what seemed like the one-millionth time since …
The end of antibiotics? Researchers warn of critical shortages
Bacteria spark infection. Antibiotic kills most bacteria. Remaining bacteria evolve resistance. Second antibiotic wipes out all bacteria. Repeat. Repeat until, that is, there are no …