Tomorrow Today: The Science Magazine

Cholera - a potentially deadly disease transmitted via contaminated water - remains one of the most feared pathogens on the planet. Scientists at the University of Bochum have found a new way of fighting the bacteria. They discovered that the gene in the microbe that makes people sick is inactivated when outside the human body, and is only ‘turned on’ by the body’s internal temperature of 37° C. The researchers now plan to flip off that switch to prevent the cholera bacteria from causing its dangerous symptoms. The idea has already worked in animal experiments. The next step for the team is to use their insights to develop an effective medicine.