Study suggests glaucoma may be an autoimmune disease
Unexpected findings show that the body’s own immune system destroys retinal cells.
MIT engineers recruit microbes to help fight cholera
Probiotic bacteria can diagnose, prevent, and treat infections.
Ingestible “bacteria on a chip” could help diagnose disease
Ultra-low-power sensors carrying genetically engineered bacteria can detect gastric bleeding.
New theory describes intricacies of a splashing droplet
Findings may help track movement of pesticides and biological contaminants.
Artificial antimicrobial peptides could help overcome drug-resistant bacteria
With aid of computer algorithm, researchers develop peptides more powerful than those found in nature.
With The Herman Project, home bakers become citizen scientists
Network tracks the evolution of microbial communities in sourdough starter mixtures shared around the world.
Simple, low-cost E. coli test wins MIT Water Innovation Prize
Nine student teams pitched solutions to global water issues at annual event.
Exploring the many roles of mucus
Katharina Ribbeck studies the sticky substance to uncover its impacts on health and disease.
Scientists find different cell types contain the same enzyme ratios
New discovery suggests that all life may share a common design principle.
A microbial approach to agriculture
A new special subject, Agricultural Microbial Ecology, takes students to Israel.
Reading and writing DNA
Department of Biology kicks off IAP seminar series with a lecture by synthetic-biology visionary George Church.
New type of virus found in the ocean
The unusual characteristics of these abundant, bacteria-killing viruses could lead to evolutionary insights.
Boosting the antibiotic arsenal
New strategy could enable existing drugs to kill bacteria that cause chronic infections.
Revealing an imperfect actor in plant biotechnology
Whitehead Institute researchers detect the chemical mistakes of a common herbicide-resistance enzyme, then successfully re-engineer it for enhanced precision.
Studies help explain link between autism, severe infection during pregnancy
Bacterial populations in mother’s GI tract may play a central role.