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Alison Prodzinski

Bathing, but Not Alone - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...15shower.html

shared by Alison Prodzinski on 08 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Another paradox of city life: it seems it is healthier to inhale the subway’s air than the shower’s mist.
  • the deluge of bacteria that hit your face and flow deep into your lungs in the morning shower
  • Aside from the thought of being sprayed in the face by a bacterial cocktail every morning, the shower bacteria present no serious danger
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Running the water for 30 seconds before stepping in would mean fewer bacteria in one’s face
  • the subway air is remarkably fresh and like outdoor air
  • Another paradox of city life: it seems it is healthier to inhale the subway’s air than the shower’s mist.
  • Alison Prodzinski on 08 Apr 13
     
    Bacteria are everywhere - including the shower!! There are 15 different kinds of bacteria that live in the shower -- they get into your lungs via inhalation and your skin. These bacteria are not all bad though - only Mycobacterium avium - it can cause chest complaints and issues. Research on the shower and bacteria was then compared to a New York City subway - in which the subway was healthier then the shower! WOW!! However, hope is not lost - researchers said to run the shower for 30 seconds and most bacteria will be gone!!
Whitney Hopfauf

Eczema in infants linked to gut bacteria - 0 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...130122231351.htm

eczema gut bacteria

shared by Whitney Hopfauf on 30 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Eczema is a chronic inflammation of the epidermis
    • Whitney Hopfauf
      Whitney Hopfauf on 30 Apr 13
       
      The flora of the gut is being implicated in so many more diseases than ever before. I remember when the probiotic craze first started and now it has become common knowledge. Maybe we could someday treat eczema by repopulating the gut with bacteroidetes (at least in children)
  • The number of bifidobacteria naturally falls with age and in total we found 21 groups of bacteria which changed in this time period.
    • Whitney Hopfauf
      Whitney Hopfauf on 30 Apr 13
       
      I remember when I was growing up, my pediatrician put me on a special kind of milk that had extra probiotics in it to combat my constant ear infections. Maybe there was more validity to that than I realized.
  • early change towards adult-type bacteria which seems to be a risk factor for eczema
    • Whitney Hopfauf
      Whitney Hopfauf on 30 Apr 13
       
      I wonder what would happen in the reverse (if childhood bacterial flora was present in adults). I wonder if there is a pathology associated with that.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • gut bacteria
  • with or without eczema was examined when they were six and 18 months ol
  • normally
  • six months all the infants had the same types of bacteria but by 18 months old the children with eczema had more of a type of bacteria normally associated with adult
  • while the healthy children had a greater amount of Bacteroidetes.
Tiffany Arcand

Scientists Find Bacteria Where It Isn't Supposed to Be: The Brain - The Daily Beast - 0 views

www.thedailybeast.com/...-supposed-to-be-the-brain.html

shared by Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • The researchers found these bacterial molecules in brain samples from people with HIV, as well as people with no known infectious disease but who had undergone brain surgery
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13
       
      So in immunocompromised individuals, as well as those whose brains have been exposed to the operating room - which as we learned in class, can still house bacteria despite all precautions taken.
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13
       
      Sneaky, sneaky viruses!
  • If living bacteria help to maintain brain health in some way, disruptions to them, for example from antibiotics, could contribute to disease
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13
       
      It will be interesting to see what they discover as they research this more. My guess it that the bacteria in the brain are both beneficial and harmful.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Dyes injected into the brain, meanwhile, tended not to appear in the body
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13
       
      Wouldn't a shot into the brain kill you, or at least be very painful?
  • Last fall, for instance, researchers found male genetic material in the brains of women (who almost certainly were not born with it). Perhaps during pregnancy, the scientists suggested, cells from male fetuses had crossed the placenta and entered the women’s bodie
  • Scientists have discovered, for instance, that HIV hides inside white blood cells that enter the brain in order to look for pathogens; they call this the Trojan horse strategy
  • a mind-bending concept
  • Tiffany Arcand on 01 Apr 13
     
    Bacteria Can Bypass Blood-Brain Barrier? It's a surprise to researchers who believed the brain-blood barrier created an impenetrable fortress. How are molecules from dirt getting into white matter-and what are they doing up there? 
Jenna Veldhuizen

Discovery holds potential in destroying drug-resistant bacteria - 0 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...130507155033.htm

shared by Jenna Veldhuizen on 08 May 13 - No Cached
  • Dr. Montelaro and his colleagues found that a particular sequence of amino acids on the tail end of HIV allow the virus to "punch into" and infect cells. The team manufactured a synthetic and more efficient version of this sequence -- called engineered cationic antimicrobial peptides, or "eCAPs" -- that laboratory tests have shown to rapidly destroy bacteria that are otherwise resistant to most standard antibiotics.
  • Traditional antibiotics typically work by poisoning important metabolic processes after being taken up by the target bacteria, a process that may take hours, or days, to clear a bacterial infection. In contrast, the eCAPs are specifically attracted to the surface of target bacteria where they disrupt the bacterial membrane, causing death within seconds, or minutes.
  • eCAPs work well against biofilms
  • Jenna Veldhuizen on 08 May 13
     
    very interesting...the same mechanism HIV uses to infect cells can be manufactured and used to destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Richard Herron

Viruses Can Have Immune System, Study Finds | Biology | Sci-News.com - 1 views

www.sci-news.com/...article00905.html

virology virus immune system

shared by Richard Herron on 03 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • A new research led by Dr Kimberley Seed from the Tufts University School of Medicine provides the first evidence that bacteriophages – viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria – can acquire a wholly functional and adaptive immune system.
  • The study, published today in the journal Nature, finds that a viral predator of the cholera bacteria can steal the functional immune system of bacteria and use it against its bacterial host.
  • Developing phage therapy is particularly important because some bacteria, called superbugs, are resistant to most or all current antibiotics.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • This study focused on a phage that attacks Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera epidemics in humans.
  • Finding a CRISPR/Cas system in a phage shows that there is gene flow between the phage and bacteria even for something as large and complex as the genes for an adaptive immune system,”
Casey Finnerty

The Virus That Learns - Phenomena: The Loom - 0 views

phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/...the-virus-that-learns

microbiology CRISPR

shared by Casey Finnerty on 07 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Likewise, restriction enzymes are a dangerous defense, because they can chop up the distinctive stretches of DNA in a bacterium’s own genes. It avoids attacking itself by capping those sequences in its own DNA, so that the restriction enzymes can’t reach them.
  • Some species can muck up the production of new viruses, stealing their proteins before they can form shells. Others commit suicide upon infection, so as to avoid becoming an incubator for new viruses that would then kill their nearby relatives.
  • CRISPR genes can produce RNA molecules with a matching sequence. They grab onto the virus’s RNA and prevent them from being turned into proteins. The virus factory grinds to a halt.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • The bacteria hold onto an invading virus’s DNA, so that they are now prepared for a fresh attack. And over time, bacteria can build up little libraries of these virus barcodes. 
  • Last year, scientists at Indiana University surveyed the bacteria in people’s mouths and discovered 8,000 different viral barcodes–many of them corresponding to viruses scientists have yet to discover.
  • But if you build up a healthy store of antibodies to various strains of flu, smallpox, and other diseases, all that knowledge dies with you.
  • Not so for bacteria. When a microbe reproduces, it passes down its CRISPR genes and all of their viral barcodes to its descendants–including the ones it acquired in its own lifetime.
  • Last fall, for example, University of Cambridge scientists discovered viruses that carry an antidote for the suicide toxin made by their hosts. When the bacteria want to die, the virus forces them to live on. And just last month, University of Toronto scientists even discovered anti-CRISPR genes in viruses, which the viruses use to shut down the production of virus-killing molecules.
  • the scientists demonstrated that the ICP1 virus uses its CRISPR immune system to attack its host’s virus-attacking genes.
Abdirizak Abdi

New Method Developed To Kill Pathogenic Bacteria Without Antiobiotics Or Chemicals - 0 views

www.medicalnewstoday.com/...258549.php

shared by Abdirizak Abdi on 05 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Abdirizak Abdi on 05 Apr 13
     
    Researchers have developed a new method to eliminate deadly pathogenic bacteria in food products and packaging, without the need for antibiotics or chemicals. The method can kill various types of pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria, which is among most common cause of food-borne illness. The team of engineers managed to successfully attach cell lytic enzymes to silica nano particles, which are entirely safe to be used with food products, and created a coating that could selectively kill Listeria, when it gets contact with the bacteria, without affecting other chemicals or bacteria present. The process takes few mins and can tackle listeria even in high concentration.The lytic enzymes could be attached to starch nanoparticles that are typically used for food packaging.
Tyrell Varner

Bacteria evolve resistance more quickly when stronger antibiotics are used - 1 views

phys.org/...sistance-quickly-stronger.html

resistance antibiotics

shared by Tyrell Varner on 24 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • they found that the rate of evolution of antibiotic resistance speeds up when potent treatments are given because resistant bacterial cells flourish most during the most aggressive therapies.
  • Tyrell Varner on 24 Apr 13
     
    Hmm common sense?
  • Casey Finnerty on 25 Apr 13
     
    Kind of. So if you remove the competition more completely with aggressive antibiotics, the proportion of remaining bacteria that are resistant is higher. Of course, the opposite happens when you treat incompletely with antibiotics (i.e. stop taking them early). In that case our thinking is that the immune system is unlikely to kill all the remaining bacteria, increasing the chance resistant bacteria will survive.
Sean Hogan

Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of di... - 1 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...130410103924.htm

shared by Sean Hogan on 05 May 13 - No Cached
  • Sean Hogan on 05 May 13
     
    Mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria are unable to infect humans with diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and possibly malaria. The bacteria the amount of productive eggs the mosquitoes can lay which makes passing along the bacteria difficult. To combat this the mosquitoes that are infected with the bacteria are also given a insecticide resistance gene. Because insecticide is a common preventative measure in parts of the world where the diseases are common, only those mosquitoes that are unable to spread disease would survive and pass along the bacteria.
Tiffany Arcand

Russia finds 'new bacteria' in Antarctic lake - 2 views

phys.org/...a-bacteria-antarctic-lake.html

shared by Tiffany Arcand on 09 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • interest surrounded one particular form of bacteria whose DNA was less than 86 percent similar to previously existing forms
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 09 Mar 13
       
      That's crazy. It's difficult for me to fathom the implications of that big of a difference in DNA because even the DNA of humans and apes is 95-98% similar.
  • Lake Vostok, which is believed to have been covered by ice for more than a million years but has kept its liquid state
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 09 Mar 13
       
      I wonder how that works, that the lake can remain liquid yet all the surrounding water is frozen as ice?
  • Exploring environments such as Lake Vostok allows scientists to discover what life forms can exist in the most extreme conditions
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 09 Mar 13
       
      Maybe this new bacteria could be similar to the domain Archaea since it can survive in such extreme conditions.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • The possibility that the lake existed had first been suggested by a Soviet scientist in 1957
    • Tiffany Arcand
      Tiffany Arcand on 09 Mar 13
       
      The intelligence of scientists always astounds me. Even back in 1957 when technology was not as advanced as it is now they were able to make amazing discoveries such as this.
Elijah Velasquez

Bacterial byproduct offers route to avoiding antibiotic resistance - 0 views

phys.org/...ute-antibiotic-resistance.html

resistance

shared by Elijah Velasquez on 24 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Elijah Velasquez on 24 Mar 13
     
    Increasing ROS (reactive oxygen species) in bacteria allow current antibiotics to be more potent. This approach weakens the bacteria allowing lower doses of antibiotics to be effective. This is can potentially help reduce the rate of antibiotic resistance. As we continue to develop a greater understanding about disease causing bacteria we can expose numerous ways to weaken the bacteria.
Casey Finnerty

Eggs, Too, May Provoke Bacteria to Raise Heart Risk - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...teria-to-raise-heart-risk.html

microbiology diet microbiome

shared by Casey Finnerty on 25 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • The lecithin study, published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, is part of a growing appreciation of the role the body’s bacteria play in health and disease. With heart disease, investigators have long focused on the role of diet and heart disease, but expanding the scrutiny to bacteria adds a new dimension.
  • “Heart disease perhaps involves microbes in our gut,”
  • Casey Finnerty on 25 Apr 13
     
    First carnitine and meat, now lecithin and eggs! Darn it! All things in moderation, I guess.
Jeremiah Williamson

Cold Plasma Kills Bacteria Better Than Antibiotics : Discovery News - 0 views

news.discovery.com/...ia-better-than-antibiotics.htm

shared by Jeremiah Williamson on 26 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Jeremiah Williamson on 26 Apr 13
     
    If we could somehow find a way to work in on humans this could be huge. Many burn victims and other people with wound infections could be save from deadly bacteria, and without some of the harmful side effects of antibiotics.
Megan Rasmussen

Tumors Fall to Radioactive Bacteria | The Scientist Magazine® - 0 views

www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35255/title/Tumors-Fall-to-Radioactive-Bacteria/

microbiology

shared by Megan Rasmussen on 28 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Megan Rasmussen on 28 Apr 13
     
    Researchers use bacteria to deliver radiation to shrink pancreatic tumors in mice. This is really cool because I work with Listeria to form biofilms. It is known for causing food poisoning outbreaks from contaminating ready to eat deli meats or soft cheeses in food processing plants, so it is interesting to see a different take on this bacteria!
Megan Rasmussen

Feds blame combination of parasite, virus, bacteria, pesticides for strange bee disappe... - 1 views

www.foxnews.com/...ria-pesticides-for-strange-bee

microbiology virus

shared by Megan Rasmussen on 05 May 13 - No Cached
  • Megan Rasmussen on 05 May 13
     
    A report blames colony collapse disorder on pesticides for possibly damaging the bee's immune system and making them more susceptible to parasites, viruses and bacteria. I know a lot of people are allergic to bees or hate them but check out this quotation: "About one-third of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and the honeybee is responsible for 80 percent of that pollination." Bees are important!!!
Elijah Velasquez

Storm Clouds Crawling With Bacteria - 2 views

www.livescience.com/iding-out-in-storm-clouds.html

shared by Elijah Velasquez on 31 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Elijah Velasquez on 31 Jan 13
     
    Some of the bacterial species can seed the tiny ice crystals that lead to rain, suggesting they play a role in causing rain. Bacteria have been found as far up as 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) and may even survive as spores into space.
  • Katelyn Madigan on 07 Feb 13
     
    This was a very interesting article - I had never thought of bacteria as the cause for some rain. This also would contribute to the growing issues with endospores.
Elijah Velasquez

Poultry probiotic cuts its coat to beat bad bacteria - 0 views

phys.org/...obiotic-coat-bad-bacteria.html

probiotics

shared by Elijah Velasquez on 30 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Elijah Velasquez on 30 Mar 13
     
    The probioitc L. johnsonii has the ability to alter its coat. The alteration protects the bacteria from stomach acids and helps them come together to form biofilms. This increases colonization within the gut and could prevent C. perfringens from colonising the gut. This is a very interesting approach and is comparable to the actions of natural flora within humans.
Casey Finnerty

Bacteria make major evolutionary shift in the lab - life - 09 June 2008 - New Scientist - 0 views

www.newscientist.com/...utionary-shift-in-the-lab.html

evolution microbiology

shared by Casey Finnerty on 10 Jun 13 - Cached
  • But sometime around the 31,500th generation, something dramatic happened in just one of the populations - the bacteria suddenly acquired the ability to metabolise citrate, a second nutrient in their culture medium that E. coli normally cannot use.
Jenna Veldhuizen

Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of di... - 0 views

phys.org/...-mosquito-techniques-halt.html

mosquito disease

shared by Jenna Veldhuizen on 12 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • When infected with the bacteria Wolbachia, mosquitoes are unable to spread viruses such as dengue
  • by introducing an insecticide resistance gene alongside the Wolbachia bacteria into the mosquito, that the insects pass on the disease-blocking bacteria to other mosquitoes faster
  • Our results show that Wolbachia-based strategies could hold the key to a cheap and sustainable approach to disease control
  • Amy Jorgenson on 12 Apr 13
     
    This in an interesting application in slowing the spread of diseases such as dengue and yellow fever, but one also has to wonder what this will do to the mosquito population as it reduces the mosquito's ability to lay viable eggs. How controlled will this application be and how often will it be utilized?
anonymous

Food poisoning: What you need to know - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

shared by anonymous on 23 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 23 Apr 13
     
    Salmonella and Campylobacter are the leading causes of food borne illness. It is on the rise for resistant bacteria to be within food, so doctors can not treat the bacteria properly. Cleaning food is essential, but this not include uncooked meat because the bacteria in the juices could go into hidden places.
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