Current Research in Microbial Sciences

Mumps is back, but vaccines can prevent it Maryland is one of several states that are reporting cases of the infectious disease mumps, suggesting the return of diseases—like measles—that vaccines protect against

3 vital letters: MMR

The viral infection has been detected in at least 34 people across 11 U.S. states.

It can cause:
-Orchitis and male infertility. -Oophoritis or mastitis, inflammation of ovaries and breasts
-Meningitis
-Deafness

www.scientificamerican.com/article/mump....

Immune-microbiome coordination defines interferon setpoints in healthy humans.

Gut #microbiome & immune traits co-vary in healthy people, with stable interferon responses shaping long-term individual differences.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #immunity #microbiota #MicroSky #ImmunoSky

L’usage de pesticides bouleverserait en profondeur la biodiversité microbienne des sols Une étude à l’échelle européenne a révélé la persistance de ces substances dans les terres cultivées et les modifications du microbiome qui y seraient associées.

A Europe‑wide study shows that pesticides persist in agricultural soils and significantly disrupt microbial biodiversity
www.lemonde.fr/sciences/art... #microbiota #soil #MicroSky

Bird flu rips through another beloved Bay Area species A new study investigates an ongoing epidemic in Bay Area peregrine falcons.

#Bird #flu rips through another beloved Bay Area species ...

| #AvianFlu | #AvianInfluenza | #Birdflu | #falcons | #infections | #pathogen | By @scattercushion.bsky.social via @sfgate.com

Scientists discover tiny ocean fungus that kills toxic algae Scientists have discovered a newly identified marine fungus that can infect and kill toxic algae responsible for harmful blooms. The microscopic parasite, named Algophthora mediterranea, attacks algae...

Newly identified marine fungus
Algophthora mediterranea attacks
algae Ostreopsis cf. ovata which causes #HarmfulAlgaeBlooms

Scientists discover tiny ocean fungus that kills toxic algae | ScienceDaily share.google/hDgoK4w7RLJh...

The complex interplay between #hepatitis D virus & the interferon response.

HDV causes severe hepatitis. Interferon offers limited benefit due to viral immune evasion, highlighting need for better therapies.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #virology #MicroSky #ImmunoSky

Early-life rotavirus infection susceptibility & later gastrointestinal #cancer protection: Reverse antagonistic pleiotropy & potential vaccine benefits.

Severe #rotavirus links to SNPs under selection that raise infection risk yet may lower later cancer risk.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Cross-cohort meta-analysis reveals conserved gut #microbiome signatures of #insomnia.

Insomnia shows a reproducible gut‑microbiome signature driven by specific taxa with focused functional shifts.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #sleep #microbiota #MicroSky

Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs

Why would anyone want this??!?

That our president has caused medical researchers to pull back on trying to fight disease is madness.

Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/h...

Deltaviruses spread through a viral Trojan Horse.

Deltaviruses hitchhike inside helper virions for entry & spread, revealing a conserved Trojan‑horse transmission mechanism.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #virology #deltavirus #MicroSky

Not just measles: Another outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease is happening | CNN The FDA approved a vaccine for mumps nearly 60 years ago, so why are some areas of the United States experiencing outbreaks now, and who should be concerned?

Measles isn't the only preventable infection on the rise. Now mumps is apparently making a comeback. Maryland health officials have confirmed an uptick in mumps cases—26 so far this year. With cases of whooping cough also continuing to rise, it's clear RFKjr's anti-vax agenda is having an impact👇

New research finds that oral treatment with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which is depleted in the #Parkinsons patient microbiome, improves motor deficits in α-synuclein overexpressing (Thy1-ASO) mice
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Cross-cohort meta-analysis reveals conserved gut microbiome signatures of #insomnia.

Insomnia shows a reproducible gut #microbiome signature, with specific taxa driving targeted functional shifts.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #MicroSky #MedSky #microbiota

#Medsky🧪 #immunosky #publichealth @science.org Mammals detect infectious microbes through pattern recognition receptors expressed by innate immune cells. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway detects & responds to cytosolic DNA,

Microbial metabolism of food allergens determines the severity of IgE-mediated #anaphylaxis.

#Microbiota degrade peanut #allergens, lowering IgE binding & anaphylaxis, revealing a pathway to reduce reactions.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #MicroSky #ImmunoSky

Epistasis and co-adaptation in bacterial genome evolution Nature Reviews Genetics - Bacterial genome evolution is shaped by epistasis, which can constrain or promote specific evolutionary paths. The authors review how integrating the effects of epistatic...

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past two years thinking about genome evolution and how recent research revealing complex gene-gene interactions has complicated traditional ‘gene-centric’ genomic approaches to evolution. So here is a review that consolidates these thoughts!

rdcu.be/e6pHY

Single Daily Tablet Shows Powerful Results for People With Drug-Resistant HIV A large international clinical trial has unveiled a promising new option for people living with highly treatment-resistant HIV.

A development such as this has been a goal for HIV researchers for decades. It is important because people who are faced with difficult treatment regimens are less likely to be compliant.
Single Daily Tablet Shows Powerful Results for People With Drug-Resistant HIV share.google/RjULDFVtCYI9...

Stunning new structural analysis and mechanism for Tmn anti-phage defense by @fnobrega.bsky.social

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Jayanta Bhattacharya, now acting CDC director, is urging measles vaccination in the midst of the largest measles outbreaks seen in the US in decades. Bhattacharya, who also oversees the Nat'l Institutes of Health, says the CDC is "surging" resources to affected states thehill.com/policy/healt...

A regulatory network promotes apoplastic alkalinization to prime #plant #immunity in tissues distal to site of infection.

Pathogen‑induced apoplastic alkalinization and phytocytokines interact to prime distal immune defenses.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #botany #MicroSky

From Forest to Farm:

The Impact of a Broad Spectrum of Lifestyles on the Porcine Gut #Microbiota

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #husbandry #pigs #MicroSky #AgSky

Tackling the global tuberculosis crisis: An emerging class of antibiotics offers hope Researchers from the University of Sydney and the Centenary Institute have discovered how a promising class of experimental antibiotics disrupts the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), paving…

Tackling the global #tuberculosis crisis ...

| #antibiotics | #TB | #Mycobacterium | #ecumicin | #ilamycin | #cyclomarin | #MicroSky | By @sydney.edu.au via @sciencex.bsky.social

Phage–host interactions are a key driver of microbial ecology, but observing them in nature is hard!
With metaHi-C, we detect freshwater phage–host pairs and link their infection dynamics to evolution.

Together with @nadal-molero.bsky.social & Ana Martin-Cuadrado

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Phage P100 resistance in clinical & foodborne #Listeria monocytogenes isolates is associated with adsorption-inhibiting mutations & fitness trade-offs.

Study shows diverse P100 resistance mechanisms in Listeria & significant serovar‑dependent fitness costs.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Intratumoral bacterium Enterocloster bolteae promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by directly binding tumor cells.

E. bolteae drives HCC by breaching the gut barrier & activating the PbpT‑DSG1‑MAPK axis. Blocking PbpT halts progression.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #MicroSky

Commensal enteric virome regulates intestinal carbohydrate digestion & absorption.

The enteric #virome shapes intestinal carbohydrate digestion & immune control, independently modulating epithelial uptake & IL‑22–mediated restraint.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #MicroSky

Commensal enteric virome regulates intestinal carbohydrate digestion & absorption.

The enteric #virome shapes intestinal carbohydrate digestion & immune control, independently modulating epithelial uptake & IL‑22–mediated restraint.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #MicroSky

Microbial SCFAs as #epigenetic mediators: fine-tuning the gut-brain axis in neurodegenerative disorders.

SCFAs from gut microbes modulate brain epigenetics, offering neuroprotective effects & therapeutic potential for NDs
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenAccess #microbiota #SCFA #MicroSky

Chikungunya virus may affect Portugal According to a study by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, much of Europe is at high risk of Chikungunya virus transmission, and Portugal is located in the area with the highest risk.

#Chikungunya #virus may affect #Portugal ...

| #pathogen | #infections | #publichealth | Via theportugalnews .com

#Medsky🧪 #IDsky #immunosky #pedsky #publichealth @science.org
This study demonstrates that occupationally acquired immunity in pediatricians can be used to engineer potent antibody cocktails that neutralize and protect against both Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)