A new study from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) shows that certain gut bacteria found in one-month-old infants are associated with future development of food sensitivities and the development of food allergies, particularly to eggs, while other types of bacteria are not. The study also found factors that predicted which type of bacteria would be present in the guts of newly born babies. Together, the findings suggest that certain probiotic supplements might be a good early defense for preventing food allergies, especially for at-risk infants. The study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a new material that harnesses the power of enzymes more effectively. These materials have improved the reaction efficiency and long-term stability of enzymes in electrochemical biosensors used in health care and other applications. Furthermore, the researchers significantly enhanced device performance.