Research Keyword: qPCR

Revealing the composition of bacterial communities in various oil-contaminated soils and investigating their intrinsic traits in hydrocarbon degradation

This study examined bacterial communities in oil-contaminated soils from Iranian oil fields. The research found that crude oil pollution dramatically changed which bacteria thrived in the soil, favoring hardy species like Bacillus that can break down hydrocarbons. These adapted bacteria showed enhanced ability to degrade oil through specific enzymes, suggesting they could be useful for cleaning up oil-polluted areas in salty environments.

Read More »

A survey of bacterial and fungal community structure and functions in two long-term metalliferous soil habitats

Scientists studied how bacteria and fungi adapt to living in soils contaminated with mercury at two former nuclear weapons sites in the United States. They found that bacterial diversity decreased in highly contaminated areas, while fungi remained relatively stable. The research identified specific microbes that can help clean up mercury pollution and showed that the amount of mercury that microbes can actually access is different from the total amount of mercury in the soil.

Read More »

Metabarcoding Unveils Seasonal Soil Microbiota Shifts and Their Influence on Boletus edulis and Boletus reticulatus Mycelium in Quercus robur Stands

This research studied how soil bacteria and fungi change across fall months in oak forests in Spain and how these changes relate to the growth of valuable edible mushrooms (Boletus species). Scientists used DNA analysis to identify thousands of different microorganisms in the soil. They found that September had the most diverse microbial communities, October showed a decline, and November saw partial recovery. Importantly, Boletus mycelium showed different patterns of growth depending on the month and was associated with specific beneficial bacteria and fungi.

Read More »

Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus

Researchers studied how a dangerous fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus produces a toxin called gliotoxin when it forms biofilms, which are organized communities of fungal cells found in human infections. They compared two clinical strains from infected patients and found they produced gliotoxin at different times and in different amounts, despite forming similar biofilm structures. By analyzing which genes were turned on and off, they discovered that one strain rapidly produced toxin early while the other strain produced it more slowly, suggesting different strategies for survival. Understanding these differences could help develop better treatments for serious lung infections caused by this fungus.

Read More »

The diagnosis of mucormycosis by PCR in patients at risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study evaluated how well PCR blood tests and tissue samples can diagnose a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis. Researchers analyzed 30 previous studies and found that PCR testing works very well, especially on respiratory fluid samples. Blood tests showed good accuracy too and could be useful for screening high-risk patients without requiring invasive procedures. The findings suggest PCR should become a standard diagnostic method for this difficult-to-diagnose infection.

Read More »

Quantification of fungal biomass in mycelium composites made from diverse biogenic side streams

Scientists have developed a new method to measure how much fungal material is actually in mushroom-based composites, which are sustainable alternatives to plastics. By extracting and analyzing fungal DNA, they found that different mushroom species require different amounts of fungal growth to create stable materials, and the type of waste material used also matters significantly. This research helps manufacturers optimize production of these eco-friendly composites while also showing that various agricultural and industrial waste streams can be successfully converted into useful materials.

Read More »

Keep the Hospital Clean: Diagnostic Performance of Ten Different Molecular and Culture-Based Methods to Detect Candidozyma (Candida) auris

This study tested different methods to detect a dangerous hospital fungus called Candida auris. Researchers compared growing the fungus on special plates and using molecular tests on patient samples. They found that molecular tests (qPCR) were most sensitive for detecting low levels of the fungus, while growing it on special plates worked well for higher levels. The best approach depends on whether a hospital is dealing with an outbreak or routine screening.

Read More »
Scroll to Top