LND topic: myc page 1

myc

How Tiny Germs Trick the Immune System

December 13, 2025

Have you ever wondered how some germs manage to hide from the body's defenses? Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) is a tiny, cell wall-less bacterium that can cause disease in goats and cattle. It has a clever trick: it can switch on and off a sugar-like coating called capsular polysaccharide (C

science

Smart Sponges for Food Safety: The Rise of MOF Sensors

December 1, 2025

Food safety is a big deal. Harmful substances called mycotoxins can sneak into food. They cause health problems and cost a lot of money. Detecting them is tricky. Old methods are precise but need lots of prep work, fancy tools, and experts. This is where metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) come in. MOFs

science

Maize's Secret Weapon: How Tiny Fungi Fight Pollution

November 20, 2025

Maize, a staple crop, faces a big problem: antimony (Sb) pollution. This harmful substance sneaks into the soil and messes with the plants, making them grow poorly and reducing their nutritional value. But here's a twist: tiny fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might just be the heroes

science

Cleaning Up Our Food: How Charcoal Can Help

July 16, 2025

Food safety is a big deal. Pesticides and mycotoxins can linger in our food. These leftovers can be bad for our health. So, how do we get rid of them? One answer might be biochar. This is a special kind of charcoal. It can help clean up our food. Biochar isn't just good for cleaning. It can also he

science

Unlocking Nature's Tiny Factories: The Streptomyces Mystery

July 11, 2025

In the world of microbes, Streptomyces sp. NRRL S-1813 is a standout. This special bacterium is like a tiny factory, capable of producing useful chemicals. Scientists wanted to see what this microbe could make when given different food sources. They found something interesting: two related chemicals

environment

How Tiny Fungi Help Trees Survive Harsh Conditions

July 11, 2025

In the world of plants, tiny helpers called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are making a big difference. These fungi team up with trees, like the Casuarina equisetifolia, to help them survive tough conditions. Scientists wanted to see how these fungi help the trees when they are growing in coral

science

Tuberculosis and COVID-19: A Double Whammy on Lungs

July 5, 2025

Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 are both nasty lung infections. They can cause a lot of damage to the lungs. Scientists wanted to see what happens when someone has both infections at the same time. They used a special type of lung cell, called A549 cells, to study this. First, they infected the cell

science

Bison in Trouble: The Hidden Threat of Mycoplasma bovis

June 27, 2025

Bison in the United States are facing a serious problem: Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis). This sneaky germ is causing big issues for bison herds, making them sick and even killing some. It's not just bad for the animals; it's also hurting the people who raise them and the efforts to protect bison. A re

health

Spotting Talaromycosis: New Tools for a Tough Fungus

June 26, 2025

Talaromycosis, a sneaky fungal infection common in Southeast Asia, has been a challenge to diagnose. The usual method, growing the fungus in a lab, takes too long and often misses the mark. But there's hope on the horizon. Scientists have been cooking up new ways to spot this tricky infection. They

environment

Fungi's Surprising Role in Desert Soil

June 25, 2025

The Earth's surface is always changing. Both living things and non-living processes shape it. Recently, scientists have realized that these two forces interact more than we thought. One interesting process is biogenic weathering. This is when plants and fungi team up to break down rocks. They do thi