Microbiology
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Scientists identify vast underground ecosystem containing billions of micro-organismsGlobal team of scientists find ecosystem below earth that is twice the size of world’s oceans
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Antibiotic resistant superbugs 'will kill 90,000 Britons by 2050'OECD says superbugs could kill 1.3m people in Europe unless more is done to tackle issue
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Take-up of MMR vaccine falls for fourth year in a row in EnglandProportion of children being immunised down to 91.2% as experts warn of measles risk
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Bacteria becoming resistant to hospital disinfectants, warn scientistsThe alcohol-based handrubs that hospitals use to prevent infection are becoming less effective, research has shown
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Scientists aim to stop the devastation of Zika-like pandemicsKiller viruses can ravage countries, but now a new project hopes to spot diseases likely to jump from animals to humans -
No clear evidence probiotics can help with human anxiety, study findsBut beneficial bacteria do appear to reduce anxiety in rodents with various problems
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Flesh-eating ulcer: Coalition will spend $1.5m to try to control disease's spreadBuruli ulcer funding will be matched by Victorian government and two local councils -
The Guardian view on friendly bacteria: an ally against plasticEditorial: Thanks to a genetically engineered enzyme, a bug that eats plastic bottles developed a much bigger appetite for our rubbish. It is a hopeful sign -
Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottlesThe breakthrough, spurred by the discovery of plastic-eating bugs at a Japanese dump, could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis -
Flesh-eating ulcer spreading rapidly in AustraliaBuruli ulcer cases surging and now at epidemic proportions in parts of Victoria, researchers say
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Letters: Decision-makers must acknowledge the pivotal role that water, sanitation and hygiene play in preventing infection, writes WaterAid’s Margaret Batty. Meanwhile Matt Ball of the The Good Food Institute says moving to plant-based and clean meat is the best thing we can do to avoid pandemics of antibiotic-resistant superbugsWays to step up the fight against global antimicrobial resistance
The week in radio and podcasts: Pitch; Futureproof Yourself; The Reith Lectures