Ancient viral DNA in bacteria helps block new infections, offering a potential path to fight antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of disease, but they have some key differences. Here's what you need to know.

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the human gut, could spread as quickly as swine flu, new ...

In the vast and often unseen world of microscopic life, a recent discovery may force scientists to rethink what it means to be alive. Nestled inside a tiny plankton cell, researchers found a ...

Antibiotics have been the workhorses of modern medicine, but their success has fueled a dangerous rise in drug-resistant ...

The so-called “circle of life” dictates that if a living thing exists, it’s probably food for something else. Viruses, however, have historically managed to escape this unofficial rule. Although ...

A dangerous type of bird flu virus (called H5N1) continues to circulate among dairy cows in the US. The virus targets the ...

Over a single day, in the placid waters of a single pond, a million virus particles might enter a single-celled organism known for the minuscule hairs, or cilia, that propel it through those waters.

Preparing food and washing clothes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or above can kill most germs. Here's what you need to know.

The most common organism in the world's oceans -- and possibly the whole planet -- harbors a virus in its DNA. This virus may have helped it survive and outcompete other organisms. The most common ...

Everyone knows that the fall brings flu season, replete with aches, pains and a new version of the vaccine. But why is cold ...

Bacteria from our toilets, the cold sore virus and thrush-causing yeast can thrive on our toothbrushes. But there are ways to ...