Latest news with #microbiology
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Science
- CTV News
First evidence of ‘living towers' made of worms discovered in nature
A 10-millimetre (0.4-inch) nematode tower twists and folds as the mass of worms reaches for the lid of its petri dish. (Perez et al. 2025/Current Biology via CNN Newsource) Nature seems to offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, but the world at your feet may tell another story. Even in the shade of a fruit tree, you could be surrounded by tiny skyscrapers — not made of steel or concrete, but of microscopic worms wriggling and writhing into the shape of long, vertical towers. Even though these miniature architects, called nematodes, are found all over Earth's surface, scientists in Germany recently witnessed their impressive building techniques in nature for the first time. After months of closely inspecting rotten pears and apples in local orchards, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz were able to spot hundreds of the 1-millimetre-long (0.04-inch) worms climbing onto one another, amassing structures up to 10 times their individual size. To learn more about the mysterious physics of the soft, slimy towers, the study team brought samples of nematodes called Caenorhabditis elegans into a lab and analyzed them. There, the scientists noticed the worms could assemble in a matter of hours, with some reaching out from the twisting mass as exploratory 'arms' sensing the environment and building accordingly. But why the worms formed the structures wasn't immediately clear. The team's findings, published Thursday in the journal Current Biology, show that even the smallest animals can prompt big questions about the evolutionary purpose of social behaviours. 'What we got was more than just some worms standing on top of each other,' said senior study author Serena Ding, a Max Planck research group leader of genes and behaviour. 'It's a coordinated superorganism, acting and moving as a whole.' Living towers: A closer look To find out what was motivating the nematodes' building behaviour, the study team tested the worms' reactions to being poked, prodded and even visited by a fly — all while stacked in a tower formation. 'We saw that they are very reactive to the presence of a stimulus,' said the study's first author, Daniela Perez, who is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. 'They sense it, and then the tower goes towards this stimulus, attaching itself to our metal pick or a fly buzzing around.' This coordinated reaction suggests the hungry nematodes may be joining together to easily hitch a ride on larger animals such as insects that transport them to (not so) greener pastures with more rotten fruit to feast on, Perez said. 'If you think about it, an animal that is 1 millimetre long cannot just crawl all the way to the next fruit 2 metres (6.6 feet) away. It could easily die on the way there, or be eaten by a predator,' Perez explained. Nematodes are capable of hitchhiking solo too, she added, but arriving to a new area in a group may allow them to continue reproducing. The structures themselves may also serve as a mode of transport, as evidenced by how some worms formed bridges across gaps within the petri dishes to get from one surface to another, Perez noted. 'This discovery is really exciting,' said Orit Peleg, an associate professor of computer science who studies living systems at the University of Colorado Boulder's BioFrontiers Institute. 'It's both establishing the ecological function of creating a tower, and it really opens up the door to do more controlled experimentation to try to understand the perceptual world of these organisms, and how they communicate within a large group.' Peleg was not involved in the study. The unknowns in stacks of worms As the next step, Perez said her team would like to learn whether the formation of these structures is a cooperative or competitive behaviour. In other words, are the towering nematodes behaving socially to help each other out, or are their towers more akin to a Black Friday sale stampede? Studying the behaviours of other self-assembling creatures could offer clues to the social norms of nematodes and help answer this question, Ding said. Ryan Greenway Study coauthor Ryan Greenway, a technical assistant at Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany, sets up a field microscope that could record videos of the natural worm towers. (Serena Ding via CNN Newsource) Ants, which assemble to form buoyant rafts to survive floodwaters, are among the few creatures known to team up like nematodes, said David Hu, a professor of mechanical engineering and biology at Georgia Tech. Hu was not involved in the study. 'Ants are incredibly sacrificial for one another, and they do not generally fight within the colony,' Hu said. 'That's because of their genetics. They all come from the same queen, so they are like siblings.' Like ants, nematodes didn't appear to display any obvious role differentiation or hierarchy within the tower structures, Perez said. Each worm from the base to the top of the structure was equally mobile and strong, indicating no competition was at play. However, the lab-cultivated worms were basically clones of one another, so it's not clear whether role differentiation occurs more often in nature, where nematode populations could have more genetic differences, she noted. Additionally, socially co-operative creatures tend to use some form of communication, Peleg said. In the case of ants, it may be their pheromone trails, while honeybees rely on their ritual dance routines and slime molds use their pulsing chemical signals. With nematodes, however, it's still not clear how they might communicate — or if they are communicating at all, Ding said. 'The next steps for (the team) are really just choosing the next questions to ask.' Notably, there has been a lot of interest in studying cooperative animal behaviours among the robotics community, Hu said. It's possible that one day, he added, information about the complex sociality of creatures like nematodes could be used to inform how technology, such as computer servers or drone systems, communicates. By Kameryn Griesser, CNN
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
As AI rewires microbiology, Clever Culture's lab tech is catching Big Pharma's eye
AI is reshaping microbiology in the labs Big Pharma taps Clever Culture's APAS system Here are ASX biotechs with global health deals Step into a modern microbiology lab today and you might notice something's different. The culture plates are still there, the samples still getting prepped, but there's less microscope squinting and a lot more clicking. That's because bugs haven't changed, but the way we spot them has. Artificial intelligence has quietly become the lab's most tireless worker. AI systems are now scanning culture plates, recognising bacterial growth patterns, and flagging potential pathogens in real time. Where a human might need minutes, or hours, AI can get you results in seconds. The secret to this is image recognition. These new systems are trained to detect tiny details that the human eye might miss: the shape of a bacterial colony, its colour, how it spreads across a plate. Labs are now using these tools to instantly sort through hundreds of samples and tell you what's what. Now, pair that with the bigger mission: identifying infections faster, especially the nasty ones that are resistant to antibiotics. Globally, this shift couldn't come at a better time. There's a shortage of skilled lab staff, and public health threats aren't slowing down. APAS upgrades the lab One standout example of this new wave of lab automation is the APAS Independence, a smart imaging platform built by ASX-listed Clever Culture Systems (ASX:CC5). Already active in hospitals and diagnostics labs across Australia, the US and Europe, the APAS system automates the most time-consuming part of microbiology: reading culture plates after incubation. Instead of a scientist peering at plates one by one, APAS takes high-resolution images, uses trained AI to assess bacterial growth, and feeds the results straight into the lab's system. 'What our product does is we automate that reading part of the workflow,' Clever Culture's CEO Brett Barnes told Stockhead's Nadine McGrath in a recent podcast. 'Rather than manually holding the plates and reviewing them and entering information in, you just load the instrument up with all of the plates. You start a session, and you walk away.' APAS can flag patterns of growth that suggest a pathogen or resistant bug, and sends results straight into the lab's reporting system in real time. And it's fast. We're talking up to 200 plates an hour, which is roughly three times the rate of manual reading. By filtering out the negatives automatically, APAS lets the human experts spend more time on the outliers, where their skill and judgement are actually needed. And what's also clever about APAS is how it fits into a lab's rhythm without overhauling the whole joint. No warehouse-sized robot arms. It's compact, modular, and blends right in. Why Big Pharma's eyeing APAS Big Pharma names like AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb are showing strong interest in this technology, and here's why. When the giants manufacture biologics – things like vaccines, eye drops, even dialysis treatments – contamination isn't just inconvenient, it's catastrophic. These aren't pills you pop with lunch. They're going straight into the bloodstream. So they must be made in ultra-controlled clean rooms, and environmental monitoring (checking those rooms for bacteria or mould) is crucial. 'We're talking about something that needs to be absolutely clean and sterile and free from any kind of contamination,' said Barnes. Trouble is, most of that monitoring still relies on humans squinting at culture plates. That's where APAS fits in. 'It's kind of crazy, because over 99% of those plates have no growth.' And yet, because of how critical the process is, many labs have two scientists verify every single plate. But with APAS, suddenly that laborious process becomes a precise, trackable, digital workflow. 'It sounds really easy, but we've spent (the) best part of 50 plus million dollars developing the technology.' But APAS' real value lies in its ability to standardise quality across massive manufacturing networks. That's exactly why AstraZeneca didn't just trial it, they're now rolling out nine systems across their global sites. 'They've made a decision to standardise APAS for all, at least their largest manufacturing sites globally,' Barnes says. 'Once it's in, it's very sticky.' Same goes for Bristol Myers Squibb, which just placed a second order. Bristol has been trialling APAS since July last year at its US Microbiology Centre of Excellence, and clearly, it likes what it sees. The first unit was for evaluation, but now it's ordered another one for live use at a second site. It's being used to scan 90mm settle plates as part of environmental monitoring, basically checking that drug-making spaces stay sterile. Next, Bristol will be testing APAS on the 55mm contact plates. If that goes well, it could open the door to rolling it out across more of its global sites. 'Our strategy has been to target global pharmaceutical manufacturers that operate multiple sites globally, and represent multi-instrument sales opportunities,' said Barnes. Other ASX biotechs striking global health deals While Clever Culture Systems' APAS is gaining traction in pharma cleanrooms, several other ASX-listed biotech and medtech companies are also forging impactful partnerships with global pharmaceutical giants: Dimerix (ASX:DXB): Secured an exclusive US licensing agreement with Nasdaq-listed Amicus Therapeutics for its Phase 3 kidney disease drug, DMX-200, targeting Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The deal includes an upfront payment of $30 million and potential milestone payments up to $560 million. Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU): Granted Nasdaq-listed Acadia Pharmaceuticals exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise trofinetide, marketed as DAYBUE, for Rett syndrome. Acadia holds a global license for this treatment. Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX): Partnered with NYSE-listed Cardinal Health for the US distribution of its prostate cancer imaging agent, Illuccix. Additionally, Telix has a collaborative development and reseller agreement with GE Healthcare to supply its investigational PET imaging agents. Clarity Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CU6): Entered into a commercial-scale supply agreement with US private biotech Nusano, Inc. for the production of copper-64 (Cu-64), a critical isotope for its radiopharmaceutical products. Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:BOT): Received FDA approval for Sofdra (sofpironium bromide) gel for primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The product was originally developed by Tokyo-listed Kaken, which markets it in Japan under the name Ecclock. EMvision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV): Secured a strategic investment from NYSE-listed Keysight Technologies, a global leader in test and measurement solutions. This partnership provides EMVision with a fully funded path to market for its emu device, facilitating accelerated clinical trials and regulatory approvals in the US. Imagion Biosystems (ASX:IBX): Has an ongoing collaboration with Siemens Healthineers to optimise MRI scanning protocols for its MagSense HER2 imaging agent. This partnership supports Imagion's planned multi-site Phase 2 study in the US, aiming to enhance early cancer detection methods. Imricor Medical Systems (ASX:IMR): Entered into a sales collaboration with Philips, granting Philips non-exclusive rights to resell Imricor's Advantage-MR System alongside its MRI scanners in European countries recognising the CE mark. This agreement marks a significant step in expanding Imricor's market presence in Europe. Lumos Diagnostics (ASX:LDX): Has signed two agreements with NASDAQ-listed Hologic, a global leader in women's health. These include a US$10 million intellectual property agreement and a US$4.7 million development agreement to create a next-generation version of Hologic's fetal fibronectin (fFN) test for assessing preterm birth risk.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jan Mines Jan Mines, age 80, died unexpectedly on Saturday,
May 24—Jan Mines Jan Mines, age 80, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 19, 2025. She was born in Vallejo, California in 1944 to Billie Finnegan and Robert Dority Jr. She grew up along the west coast and eventually settled in Seattle, Washington with her family where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. She attended the University of Washington where she studied languages and became fluent in French. She continued her studies in Lausanne, Switzerland. Upon her return to the United States, she settled in Boston, Massachusetts where she married Paull Mines. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French from State College at Boston and traveled along the east coast before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she pursued a PhD in Medical Microbiology at the University of New Mexico until she started her family. Jan taught both middle and high school math and science for over a decade in Albuquerque. She introduced her students to computers and implemented the first MESA program at the middle school level. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Math Education in 1985 and another Master of Arts in Statistics degree in 1991 from the University of New Mexico. With her second Master of Arts degree, Jan left the Albuquerque Public School system and started her second career as a Biostatistician for the University of New Mexico Medical School. She retired from the University of New Mexico Medical School in 2011. Jan was exceptionally kind, intelligent, and talented. She studied ballet throughout her childhood. In addition to her facility with mathematics and science, Jan also had a talent for languages and was fluent in both French and Spanish. She pursued and earned a PADI Open Water Diver certification. She taught herself about plants of the southwest. She enjoyed photography. She sewed her own clothing. She loved mysteries and science fiction. She quilted, and in her retirement, Jan crocheted amazing Afghans that were art pieces of texture and color. Each Thanksgiving, Jan hosted multiple families for Thanksgiving dinner and made sure all felt welcome in her home. Everyone that Jan leaves behind has many memories that highlight her kindness, intelligence, talent, and dedication to family. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Dority Jr; her mother, Billie Dority; and her brother, Tim Dority. She is survived by her brother, Mike Dority; her sister-in-law, Joanna Dekaban; her sister, Robin Dority, multiple cousins; her daughters, Ursula Stauber and Margaret Hornbeck; her sons-in-law, Zachary Stauber and Scott Hornbeck; and her grandchildren, Ermias and Medan Stauber. Jan was a devoted sibling, mother, and grandmother. She will be greatly missed. The family plans on hosting a memorial service at a later date. Please contact them for details. In lieu of flowers, please plant trees in honor of Jan Mines through the Arbor Day Foundation: trees-for-others?producttype=TIM.
Sky News
21-05-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Radiation-resistant bacteria with 'unique ability' found on space station could be key for cosmos travel
A new species of bacteria discovered on board a space station could have profound implications for astronauts and long-term travel through the cosmos. A strain of Niallia with a "unique ability" was found on China's Tiangong Space Station, according to a scientific report. The discovery was announced in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Chinese taikonauts found the new bacteria on the surface of hardware on board the station in May 2023, and it was analysed to see how it survived in such tough conditions "Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft," the report says. Challenges faced by living things in such environments include microgravity, radiation, and limited nutrients. The study of which bacteria survive on space stations is also necessary for understanding how to control and avoid contamination on board. According to the report, this new strain - which most closely resembles Niallia circulans found on Earth - may be better resistant to radiation and oxidative stress. It also has a "unique ability" to hydrolyse (break down) gelatine, which could be useful in environments with limited nutrients.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Should you shower in the morning or at night? Scientists FINALLY settle the debate - so, do you agree with their advice?
It's something that most of us do at least once a day. But is it better to hop in the shower in the morning or at night? Advocates of morning showers tend to argue that the habit helps you to wake up and start the day feeling fresh. But night shower fans are adamant that showering before bed helps you to unwind and relax after a busy day. So, what does the science say? According to Primrose Freestone, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, the answer is clear. And it's bad news for fans of evening showers. 'As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate,' Dr Freestone explained in an article for The Conversation. While there's no hard and fast rule for how often you should shower, most dermatologists agree that every other day is sufficient. 'Showering is an integral part of any good hygiene routine — regardless of when you prefer to have one,' Dr Freestone explained. 'Showering helps us remove dirt and oil from our skin, which can help prevent skin rashes and infections. 'Showering also removes sweat, which can quell body odour.' Throughout the day, your body accumulates sweat and oil from your skin, as well as pollutants and allergens such as dust and pollen. This accumulation supports the growth of bacteria, which may then be transferred from your body onto your sheets. While you might think the obvious answer would be showering at night, Dr Freestone explains why this isn't the best solution. 'Showering at night may remove some of the allergens, sweat and oil picked up during the day so less ends up on your bedsheets,' she said. You're showering wrong! Experts reveal the correct order to wash your body Experts from Original Source have revealed the correct order to wash your body - and say that 86 per cent of us have been getting it mixed up. According to the shower gel brand, your hair should be the first thing you wash - with shampoo first, followed by conditioner. It's only after your hair has been tackled that you should move on to your body, according to the experts. 'However, even if you've freshly showered before bed, you will still sweat during the night – whatever the temperature is. 'Your skin microbes will then eat the nutrients in that sweat. 'This means that by the morning, you'll have both deposited microbes onto your bed sheets and you'll probably also wake up with some BO.' What's more, throughout the night you'll also shed skin cells which can serve as a food source for dust mites. 'If you don't regularly wash your sheets, this could lead to a build-up of dead skin cell deposits which will feed more dust mites. The droppings from these dust mites can trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma,' Dr Freestone added. In contrast, morning showers can help to remove dead skin cells, sweat and bacteria from your body that you may have picked up during the night. 'A morning shower suggests your body will be cleaner of night-acquired skin microbes when putting on fresh clothes,' the scientist explained. 'You'll also start the day with less sweat for odour-producing bacteria to feed on – which will probably help you smell fresher for longer during the day compared to someone who showered at night.' Whether you opt for a morning or night shower, Dr Freestone says that it's vital you regularly clean your bed linen - and advises at least once a week. 'You should launder your sheets and pillow cases at least weekly to remove all the sweat, bacteria, dead skin cells and sebaceous oils that have built up on your sheets,' she advised. 'Washing will also remove any fungal spores that might be growing on the bed linen – alongside the nutrient sources these odour producing microbes use to grow.'
