World Microbiome Day (28 June 2021) encouraged people around the world to explore all things microbial from the microorganisms in and on humans, animals, water, plants, soil and food. Over half of the cells in the human body are microbial in origin and the gut microbiome plays an important role in health. The gut has become a source of great scientific research in the last decade or so. Companies such as Australia's Microba Life Sciences are using precise and comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiome to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics to advance medicine globally. | shorturl.at/jwABE   

US-based biopharmaceutical company Qpex Biopharma Inc. have joined forces with Monash University researchers to drive clinical development of their APX9003 antibiotic. The researchers discovered this antibiotic to address an urgent unmet medical need to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria or superbugs. This new antibiotic has shown improved safety and efficacy over the currently used antibiotics. | https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/new-antibiotic-to-combat-deadly-bacterial-superbugs-enters-clinical-trials

A research team from Australia and the United States, comprised of leading universities, hospitals and industry, will embark on the world's first durable total artificial heart. The group - led by Monash University and BIVACOR, have received $1 million in Australia's Federal Government MRFF funding to develop and commercialise this new device through novel, innovative technology. They aim to take this technology to market within six years, saving lives, creating jobs and establishing Australia as world leaders in medical device development. | https://www.biospectrumasia.com/news/98/18388/australia-us-team-brings-world-first-durable-total-artificial-heart.html

The Microbiome Data Congress 2021 brought together leaders from academia and industry to discuss biostatistical methods and cutting-edge bioinformatic tools for advancing microbiome research. This year's event also featured a session on the 'dark matter' of the gut microbiome and the importance of precise measurements which could lead to diagnostic and therapeutic discovery from the gut. Leading Australian bioinformatician, Dr David Wood of Microba Life Sciences, spoke about the importance of precision microbiome analysis and the potential of the gut microbiome in future diagnostic and therapeutics in clinical practice. | shorturl.at/grCM3

A new biomaterial has been developed by researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to aid in bone repair. The biomaterial uses discarded bullfrog skin and fish scales from local aquaculture farms, with experiments finding human bone-forming cells seeded onto the material successfully. They also multiplied which is a sign of growth, with low risk of triggering an inflammatory response. The applications are vast, meaning the biomaterial could be used to help regenerate bone tissue lost to disease or injury or around surgical implants. It provides a great alternative to using a patient's own tissue. | shorturl.at/clqOP

Australia's Microba Life Sciences have demonstrated the superiority of their faecal sample preservation method against others, finding a method designed for preserving forensic DNA outperformed other commonly used faecal preservation methods. The study showed the importance of rigorously evaluating faecal preservation methods to avoid chasing false leads or missing key biomarkers. | https://microba.com/announcements/forensic-dna-preservation-method-best-for-gut-microbiome-samples/