Fighting superbugs with nets and light switches

ETH Zurich

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

How the hydrogel traps bacteria and promotes wound healing. 

view more 

Credit: Xuan Q et al. (2025), Nature Communications 2025, Simplified diagram, CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65976-6

Each year, bacterial infections are responsible for roughly 7.7 million deaths worldwide, with this problem further exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance. Not only are wound infections increasingly difficult to treat, they also impede healing of the surrounding tissue at the same time. This is because the wound infection causes a misdirected inflammatory reaction in which the immune system is constantly activated, damages healthy tissue and blocks the repair processes required for healing. Antibiotics offer little assistance in such situations, even if they are effective against the underlying bacteria.

How our immune cells’ protein nets work

This is the starting point for a new approach, developed by ETH Zurich’s Professor Raffaele Mezzenga and his team, in collaboration with researchers from Shanghai University, and recently published in Nature Communications.

Their approach is inspired by the net-like protein structures that immune cells release to trap pathogens and render them harmless. These neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are a sort of natural snare, preventing infections from spreading throughout the body.

Trials of artificial imitations of these structures have been conducted before. However, the synthetic materials used in past trials turned out to be too unstable, were not sufficiently tolerable or lacked the necessary efficacy against resistant bacteria.

Antibacterial enzyme activated by infrared light

“Unlike many synthetic approaches, we rely on a natural, protein-based system,” explains Mezzenga. The gel is made from the whites of hens’ eggs and comprises a dense mesh of tiny protein fibres made from lysozyme, which remains inactive in this form. Lysozyme is an antibacterial enzyme that also occurs in the human body. The gel acts as a physical net that settles over the wound and detains the bacteria within.

The decisive step in activating the enzyme is as straightforward as pushing a button: subjecting the gel to near-infrared light – a gentle, relatively minimally invasive method – heats up a thermally responsive molecule integrated for precisely this purpose. The heat generated by this molecule causes part of the protein fibre net to disassemble temporarily and release individual lysozyme molecules. In this form, the lysozyme molecules are biologically active. They attack the bacteria, targeting their cell walls, and kill the pathogen.

Replacing chronic inflammation with healing

In parallel with this, the gel also releases magnesium ions when activated by light. Rather than delivering an antibacterial effect, these ions calm the immune system. They reprogramme pro-inflammatory immune cells into a pro-regenerative phenotype. Consequently, instead of maintaining inflammatory response, the cells now actively support cell repair – and thus promote healing rather than impairing it.

When the light pulse is terminated, the protein fibres reassemble to form a stable net. This means that the gel again provides a framework that provides cells with stability while supporting tissue regeneration.

The hydrogel’s key attribute is the reversibility of its fibres, which can be triggered to disassemble and reassemble. “Our technology combines antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects with wound healing. One day, it could open new possibilities, especially for diabetic patients with chronic wounds and for patients battling with antibiotic resistance,” says Qize Xuan of Shanghai University, lead author of the study and former visiting doctoral student in Mezzenga's lab.

Bacterial load in animal models reduced by 95 percent

The hydrogel has already been tested in pre-clinical studies involving mice and pigs. In the murine model, the gel reduced the bacterial load in a wound infected with antibiotic-resistant MRSA by 95 percent. Furthermore, the treated wound closed almost completely within 15 days, while untreated controlled wounds exhibited significantly slower healing. Accelerated wound healing was also identified in the porcine model, along with significantly lower bacterial colonisation. In addition, the material creates a favourable environment for the formation of new bone and soft tissue.

The gel, which is applied directly onto the wound, remains in place throughout the healing process. It is absorbed into the tissue and gradually biodegrades as the tissue regenerates.

However, there is still a long way to go before the gel could reach patients. The next step is clinical trials. “We’re now searching for industry partners to assist us,” says Mezzenga. “Trials like this are laborious, expensive and only possible in close collaboration with hospitals.”

Reference

Xuan Q, Li H, Gao Y, Qiao X, Feng Y, Yu X, Cai J, Jin T, Liu B, Peydayesh M, Su J, Fischer P, Wang P, Chen C, Zhou J, Mezzenga R: Photo-reversible amyloid nanoNETs for regenerative antimicrobial therapies. Nature Communications, 10. Dezember 2025, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65976-6

---

Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-65976-6 

Article Title

Photo-reversible amyloid nanoNETs for regenerative antimicrobial therapies.

 

Cancer’s Achilles’ heel: Monash researchers discover how to ‘switch off’ cancer genes for good

Monash University researchers, in collaboration with Harvard University, have discovered how to permanently ‘switch off’ cancer causing genes, revealing a new approach to cancer treatment.

Monash University

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Monash University researchers, in collaboration with Harvard University, have discovered how to permanently ‘switch off’ cancer causing genes, revealing a new approach to cancer treatment.

The breakthrough, published in the prestigious Nature Cell Biology, could result in shorter treatment periods and dramatically reduce the debilitating side effects that often come with cancer treatment.

The research focuses on epigenetic therapy, where patients take a drug that alters how their genes are switched on or off, resetting the harmful changes brought about by cancer mutations.

This includes some aggressive forms of acute leukaemia driven by a genetic error that hijacks the cell’s normal gene-control machinery, keeping cancer-promoting genes constantly switched on.

Drugs that target this process already exist, but until now, scientists did not fully understand why they work.

Omer Gilan, Senior Research Fellow at Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine and Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, led the research team that discovered that targeting the epigenetic proteins Menin or DOT1L can permanently ‘switch off’ cancer-causing genes in leukaemia cells.

“We have potentially identified a new way to exploit cancer’s weaknesses,” Dr Gilan said.

“But the most exciting part of this is that clinicians can harness our findings to improve response and reduce side effects for patients. 

“Anyone who has watched someone they love go through cancer treatment will attest to how difficult it is, so making treatment easier to withstand and more effective is absolutely vital.”

Monash PhD candidate Daniel Neville, lead author on the Nature Cell Biology paper, said the improvement leverages the ‘memory’ provided by the epigenetic protein DOT1L, found in cancer cells.

“The drugs we use to target Menin erase the memory provided by DOT1L, and continue killing the cancer cells, even after the treatment has stopped,” he said.

“We hope that by reducing the treatment period, patients may tolerate higher doses or be eligible for additional therapies to improve outcomes. 

“This is a big step forward for epigenetic therapy, and one we hope will change how cancer is treated more generally.”

The discovery is set to be tested in a clinical trial run by Monash University and The Alfred, later this year.

Associate Professor Shaun Fleming, clinical haematologist and head of the myeloid disease program at The Alfred and a researcher at Monash’s Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, says this is an exciting step forward for leukaemia treatment.

“As we continue clinical trials of Menin inhibitors, and particularly moving into combination studies, understanding better how these new therapies work may allow us to utilise them more effectively and with a greater degree of safety in future,” Associate Professor Fleming said.

Read the research paper in Nature Cell Biology: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-025-01859-8

For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site 

---

Journal

Nature Cell Biology

DOI

10.1038/s41556-025-01859-8 

Article Title

DOT1L provides transcriptional memory through PRC1.1 antagonism

Article Publication Date

3-Feb-2026

 

Emphasizing the strengths of people with depression helps those affected

Long-term study with over 700 participants shows the influence of social narratives on the situation of people with depression

University of Vienna

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

People suffering from depression demonstrate strength in dealing with their illness on a daily basis, but this is often not perceived as such. Previous studies have shown that instead, they often encounter a contrary narrative in society according to which they are portrayed as weak. Such prejudices have a negative effect on those affected. In her new study, psychologist Christina Bauer from the University of Vienna shows how important it is for those affected to have their strength emphasised. Focusing on the strength of people with depression increases their self-confidence and enables them to better achieve their personal goals. The study was recently published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

People who struggle with mental illnesses such as depression often show great strength in dealing with their condition: they get up in the morning even though their illness robs them of the motivation to do so; they learn to deal with negative thoughts and feelings; and they fight their way through difficult phases. "All of this shows impressive strength," says psychologist and study leader Christina Bauer from the University of Vienna. Previous studies have shown that however, these strengths are often forgotten when people with mental illnesses are talked about; instead, they are often portrayed as "weaklings".

"It stands to reason that such narratives have negative effects: we know from previous studies that people with depression often have less confidence in their own abilities. In our new study, we were able to clearly prove how great the influence of such attributions can be," says Bauer. In her study, the Viennese psychologist, together with colleagues from Austria, Germany and the USA, demonstrates the dangers of such narratives – and shows what can be done about them.

Making strengths visible

To investigate the effect of such narratives, Bauer and colleagues reversed deficit narratives in experiments: Instead of portraying people with depression as weak, the researchers developed a short exercise (approx. 20 minutes) that highlights the often-forgotten strengths of people with depression: how people with depression demonstrate perseverance, the ability to deal with negative emotions, and strength in coping with their symptoms, for example.

In three experiments with a total of 748 participants who had experienced depression, participants were encouraged to reflect on their own strengths that they had demonstrated in dealing with depression. Compared to a randomly assigned control group, this simple exercise was shown to significantly increase participants' self-confidence, regardless of the severity of their current symptoms.

More self-confidence, more goal achievement

Most importantly, this improved self-confidence also had an impact on the participants' ability to pursue their personal goals. In a long-term experiment lasting two weeks, it was found that participants who had reflected on their strengths made 49% more progress towards a personal goal they had set themselves.

"Seeing ourselves as strong rather than weak is important for all of us in order to believe in ourselves and pursue our goals. This also applies to people with depression," Bauer summarises. "We need to understand that people who struggle with depression are not weak. Such narratives can act as self-fulfilling prophecies and prevent people from reaching their full potential."

Summary:

• To investigate the effect of negative narratives about people suffering from depression, psychologists led by the University of Vienna conducted a long-term experiment.
• In doing so, they reversed deficit narratives: instead of describing affected people as weak, they emphasised their strengths.
• The results showed that highlighting the strengths of those affected significantly increased their self-confidence – regardless of how severe their current symptoms were.
• This improved self-confidence also had an impact on the participants' ability to pursue their personal goals.
• "We need to understand that people who struggle with depression are not weak. Such narratives can act as self-fulfilling prophecies and prevent people from reaching their full potential," summarises study leader Christina Bauer from the University of Vienna.

Video about the study

In an interview with Rudolphina, the University of Vienna's science magazine, study leader Christina Bauer talks more about her research.

About the study: 

The research was conducted in three controlled experiments involving a total of 748 participants, all of whom had experienced depression. The studies were conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom and will be published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

About the University of Vienna: 

At the University of Vienna, curiosity has been the core principle of academic life for more than 650 years. For over 650 years the University of Vienna has stood for education, research and innovation. Today, it is ranked among the top 100 and thus the top four per cent of all universities worldwide and is globally connected. With degree programmes covering over 180 disciplines, and more than 10,000 employees we are one of the largest academic institutions in Europe. Here, people from a broad spectrum of disciplines come together to carry out research at the highest level and develop solutions for current and future challenges. Its students and graduates develop reflected and sustainable solutions to complex challenges using innovative spirit and curiosity.

---

Journal

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

DOI

10.1177/01461672251412492 

Article Title

Depression-reframing: Recognizing the strength in mental illness improves goal-pursuit among people who have faced depression

Article Publication Date

3-Feb-2026

 

Probiotics for plants

Less fertilizer, more growth

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

TUM researchers have identified a bacterial genus that improves root growth and nitrogen uptake. The results have been verified in rapeseed cultures. These findings could be applied to develop a "probiotic" for plants.

view more 

Credit: Peng Yu, TU Munich

Plants grow within a complex network of microorganisms. They can actively alter their surrounding microbiome while the microorganisms, in return, influence the plant’s growth. “This interaction can be exploited by applying specific beneficial microorganisms – probiotics for plants” says Peng Yu, Professor for Plant Genetics at TUM.

To investigate the beneficial symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and plants, the research team investigated plant–microbe interactions at the genetic, metabolic and physiological levels.

45% of nitrogen uptake based on host and microbe genetics

Their analyses revealed that 203 bacterial gene sequences are strongly shaped by the host plant, for example through their metabolic products. This underlines that plants actively modulate the composition and function of their surrounding microbiome in line with their current needs. In addition, 45% of natural variation in nitrogen uptake can be explained by the combined host and microbe genetics.

Sphingopyxis as a candidate for plant probiotics

Particularly one bacterial genus was identified that supports plant function and growth: Sphingopyxis. Initial experiments with rapeseed indicate that applying these bacteria can enhance root development even in nitrogen-limited soils, thereby improving nitrogen uptake.

The findings suggest that the use of nitrogen fertilizer could potentially be reduced without compromising plant growth and yields. In this way, Sphingopyxis-based applications could help lower the environmental impact of agriculture by reducing excess nitrogen in soils.

“Our goal is to develop a probiotic mixture of several microorganisms that combines several benefits for the plants”, says Yu. Further research will focus on identifying other microbes that go beyond the uptake of nitrogen and improve its utilization.

---

Journal

Nature Plants

DOI

10.1038/s41477-025-02210-7 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

'Large-scale multi-omics unveils host–microbiome interactions driving root development and nitrogen acquisition'

Article Publication Date

3-Feb-2026