WSU BIOL209 Microbiology

very cool!

Outbreak of hepatitis A infection in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The exposure is taking place within the countries and may be foodborne from a persistent common source.

Pain is exactly that - no matter what kind! Pain from sunburn or pressure initiates the same pain... Researchers will be using this to test how much pain they have. Using the research that they have found, they will be able to deduce how much pain a person is in!!

But aren't there different types of pain sensation? Sharp/stabbing vs. dull/pounding, for example? And doesn't the perceived source/location matter?

They are looking for commercial entities that are interested in licensing the technology for human clinical trials and treatment. In addition, the researchers have also received a National Institutes of Health exploratory grant to develop the cell type-specific disease virus for several other types of cancer cells, including breast, pancreas, brain, prostate, and multiple myeloma. Although, it will work most effectively in prostate cancer.

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!!

The possibility of modeling fruit flies for wound healing is mind blowing. Fruit flies were used since their genetics are not as complicated as mammals. However their exterior defense is quite similar to mammals.

Bioterrorism is a scary thought, but is the government going too far?  A vaccine against anthrax may be a bit much, especially testing it on children.

Using this new microscope resolution power, doctors may finally be able to deliver drugs to effectively defeat some of the deadliest pathogens.

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.

With the further studies in ratios of gut microbes found in people of varying weights, there are different treatments also being performed on people that undergo bypass surgery to alter the gut microbes to sustain weight loss.

This is the shocking article that was talked about during class. This just shows how we all have to take these warning signs seriously and realize there are risks with exposure in every day incidents.

This is slightly out of date but very interesting

How big of a part do you think this finding plays in the rise of biofilm formations?

Well, I think this result will pop the balloon of enthusiasm many had for new nanotechnologies that were supposed to prevent colonization/biofilm formation. #$%&! E. coli!

This is so scary. I am always wary when China says, "Don't worry everything is under control". China was criticized during the SARS outbreak for failing to release information. If bird flu ever gains the ability to spread from human to human, we have a very bad situation.