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Boris Parra at the Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA) and Universidad de Concepción (UDEC), Chile, takes us behind the scenes of their latest publication 'Isolation, characterization and genomic analysis of a novel lytic bacteriophage EcoPhCCP1, capable of infecting multiple strains of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli recovered from urinary tract infections', published in the Journal of General Virology.

There’s a whole new slate of microbial discoveries to share with you all this month from the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology!

Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogen fungi responsible for 112,000 deaths in 2020, is increasingly found in patients alongside the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the paper, published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, researchers identify for the first time that interaction between the two microorganisms contributes towards worsened disease outcomes in those co-infected.

For over a century, the cornerstone of modern medicine has been a simple yet profound truth: cleanliness saves lives. Infection control is not merely a hospital policy; it is the fundamental shield that allows complex surgeries and life-saving treatments to occur safely. However, as we move further into the 21st century, we are discovering that this shield is being challenged by the very nature of the microbial world we inhabit. 

One month into 2026 and there’s no shortage of exciting new species at the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology to start our year off the right way!

Peter Katsande at the Central Veterinary Laboratories in Harare, Zimbabwe, take us behind the scenes of their latest publication 'Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella enterica in the broiler supply chain in Harare, Zimbabwe: tracking transmission from farm to table', published in Microbial Genomics.

• Citrus canker, a bacterial disease affecting orange and lemon orchards, has been the target of control and eradication programs in São Paulo state (Brazil) since the 1960’s.
• Despite the measures taken, a study points to the persistence, diversification, and adaptation of the causative bacteria over this period.
• Results indicate that strategies based on genetic knowledge of bacterial strains may be key to more effective control.

Scientists at The University of Warwick have made a breakthrough which could help find new treatments for a deadly infection that can affect up to 40% of hospital patients using mechanical ventilators.

Researchers at University of Galway have developed a new, portable technology for on-the-spot testing of water quality to detect one of the most dangerous types of bacteria.

The Microbiology Society is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Microbiology Outreach Prize, Professor Kim Hardie from the University of Nottingham, UK, for her project entitled ‘Spread the message, not the germs’.

Professor Hardie's project is an initiative aimed at curtailing the transmission of infectious diseases through the enhancement of children's hand hygiene practices. Through engaging and enjoyable activities, her project fosters active learning in schools, science festivals, exhibitions, and media platforms to instil effective hand hygiene practices among children. It is testament to her dedication to making a lasting impact on the awareness of microbial transmission and the importance of preventive measures.

This month we are pleased to share ​​​​​​the Microbiology Bacterial Competitive Mechanisms collection, guest edited by Professor Despoina A.I. Mavridou (The University of Texas at Austin, USA), Professor Tracy Palmer (Newcastle University, UK) and Dr Sabrina L. Slater (The University of Texas at Austin, USA).

Coal is surprisingly rich in bacteria according to the world's first atlas of microbial biodiversity deep under the Earth, which has been developed by Aberystwyth University academics. 

Investigators at University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Yale University, USA, have isolated and characterised two new bacterial species from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The previously unknown bacterial species, which were named Allobaculum mucilyticum and Allobaculum fili, are isolated from the intestinal microbiota from two different patients and are the first members of the Allobaculum genus found in humans. In-depth characterisation revealed that the strains were highly efficient in breaking down the protective mucus layer of the gut and provoked potent immune responses. These findings highlight the potential role for bacteria in the pathogenesis of IBD and may contribute to future preventive therapy. 

Down in the depths of the ocean, scientists believe they may have discovered a treasure trove. Not a sunken chest filled with gold coins and lost riches, but perhaps something even more valuable. A soon to be published study has revealed that the gut microbiomes of deep-sea fish are teeming with new antimicrobial molecules that could fight common foodborne infections. The findings shed a new light on this previously untapped resource and could one day pave the way for new antimicrobial medicines.

Microbial Genomics is pleased to open the call for submissions to its new collection ‘Genomics, Epidemiology and Evolution of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms’.

Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the most serious global challenges of our time, with far-reaching impacts on sustainable development, food security and public health. In 2019, an estimated 1.2 million people died as a direct result of antibiotic resistant infections – and the study estimates millions more deaths were indirectly linked. Researchers have now conducted the largest global study to date of antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut microbiome. They found a correlation between the abundance and diversity of resistance genes in healthy people not taking antibiotics and per capita antibiotic use in a country, demonstrating how the impacts of individual antibiotic consumption diffuse throughout the population.

Scientists often name new discoveries after celebrities – such as the Beyoncé horse fly (Scaptia beyoncea), the Steve Irwin snail (Crikey steveirwini) or the David Bowie huntsman spider (Heteropoda davidbowie).

So when University of Adelaide researchers discovered a new type of lactic acid bacteria, they wanted to pay homage to someone who allowed them to continue their work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When it comes to disease-causing microbes, bacteria and viruses usually steal the spotlight. But there is another, often overlooked, microbial foe that is a grave cause for concern. Fungal pathogens cause an estimated 1.5 million human deaths and destroy a third of the global crop yield each year. Despite this impact on human health and food security, the number of antifungal drugs available is extremely limited.

We are pleased to announce our first Focused Meeting of 2023, Vaccines as Tools to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, in association with BactiVac, the Bacterial Vaccines Network. The meeting will take place on 27—28 February 2023 at Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Birmingham, UK.

Bacteria found on the leaves of common UK tree species may remove toxic carbon monoxide (CO) from the air, according to researchers from the University of Warwick, UK.