Fishing for new antibiotic inspiration

Microbes that live in fishes' slimy mucus coating could lead chemists to new antibiotic drugs [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 1 April 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note The world needs a new generation of antibiotics since bacteria are growing resistant to those currently in the medicine cabinet. For pharmaceutical inspiration, chemist Sandra Loesgen and her collaborators are looking to the microbes that live in the slimy protective mucus that coats fish. These microbes help ward off infection for the fish – and early results suggest some of the [chemicals they produce are an excellent starting place]( for drug discovery. For decades, children have been boating out in the Long Island Sound on science field trips and the data they collected has actually been useful to scientists. A new study uses the student reports to show that [the Long Island Sound is rapidly changing in response to climate change](, leading to fewer lobster and other species. Transportation in the U.S. remains one of the largest – and growing – sources of pollution. Could expanding rail travel make a dent? Michigan State railway researcher Andreas Hoffrichter explains why rail is cleaner than air or road transportation, and digs into some of the [strategies and emerging technologies]( Americans should consider. Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor Top stories Drug discovery can get an assist from what nature’s already devised. Annie Spratt/Unsplash [Microbes that live in fishes’ slimy mucus coating could lead chemists to new antibiotic drugs]( Sandra Loesgen, Oregon State University As antibiotic resistance increases globally, the heat is on to find new alternatives to treat infections. Chemists can get a head start by looking at compounds produced in nature by fishes' microbes. Project Oceanology class retrieves a bottom trawl at the mouth of the Thames River. Anna Sawin [Citizen science shows that climate change is rapidly reshaping Long Island Sound]( Hannes Baumann, University of Connecticut For decades, New England students took field trips out into the Long Island Sound. Their data show how quickly the sound is warming, leading to fewer American lobster, rock crab and winter flounder. The Northeast Corridor sees millions of riders a year, but expanding rail in the U.S. is always fraught. Loco Steve [Rail travel is cleaner than driving or flying, but will Americans buy in?]( Andreas Hoffrichter, Michigan State University Rail advocates often make the case that trains are a cleaner mode of transportation, but why is that so? And what would it take to expand rail in the U.S.? Science + Technology - [Is it the end of ‘statistical significance’? 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Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Citizen science shows that climate change is rapidly reshaping Long Island Sound]( [Hannes Baumann] Hannes Baumann University of Connecticut [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111