Atopic dermatitis: Viruses discovered as new therapy option

Up to 15 percent of children and five percent of adults are affected by the chronic inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis. Despite advanced therapy measures, the severe itching and eczema, especially on the elbows or knees, cause great distress to the patients. In the course of a study conducted at MedUni Wien a research team led by Wolfgang Weninger, Head […]

Gut bacteria play role in CAR-T cancer therapy

CAR-T cell therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating some cancers. However, responses to this relatively new form of immunotherapy can vary, making it difficult for patients and doctors to predict cancer outcomes. Scientists have been puzzled by the range of responses. Now a new study by the German Cancer Research Centre (KDFZ), in collaboration with researchers […]

Promising skin probiotic could be a way to reduce antibiotic treatments for acne

Acne on the face is often treated with topical antibiotics, which tend to be used for an extended period of time and contribute to the serious problem of antibiotic resistance. Scientists are investigating an alternative approach: using probiotics to alter the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms residing on the skin. Although the microbial ecosystem (or “microbiome”) on the skin […]

Microbes turn back the clock as research discovers their potential to reverse aging in the brain

Research from APC Microbiome Ireland (APC) at University College Cork (UCC) published in the leading international scientific journal Nature Aging introduces a novel approach to reverse aspects of aging-related deterioration in the brain and cognitive function via the microbes in the gut. As our population ages one of the key global challenges is to develop strategies to maintain healthy brain function. This […]

Enzyme treatment of skin samples improves microbiome analysis

In many skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne, the bacterial layer protecting the skin is damaged. “Our goal is to learn the role played in such illnesses by the various kinds of skin bacteria,” says Dr. Martin Köberle, head of the Dermatoinfectology Laboratory at the Klinikum Rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Past efforts […]

Persistence pays off in the human gut microbiome

The human gut microbiome is a complex community of trillions of microbes that are constantly interacting with each other and our bodies. It supports our wellbeing, immune system and mental health — but how is it sustained? Researchers in the UK and Germany, alongside other international collaborators, have investigated the evolution of bacteria in the human gut microbiome — asking […]