Microbiology

Endocytosis: How Cells Swallow Nutrients

Scientists have combined the power of two kinds of microscope to produce a 3-dimensional movie of how cells ‘swallow’ nutrients and other molecules by engulfing them- the first to follow changes in the shape of the cell’s membrane and track proteins though ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 5 2012 - 2:57pm

Light In The Dark: The Secret World Of Microbial Life In Undersea Volcanoes

A little nuclear robot on Mars is getting all of the attention this week but Earth has plenty of undiscovered life-  a third of Earth's organisms live in our planet's rocks and sediments and they are almost a complete mystery. ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 8 2012 - 2:09pm

Antibiotic Residues In Uncured Sausage Meats Potent Enough To Weaken Helpful Bacteria

Helpful bacteria that processors add to acidify the sausage and make it safe for consumption are weakened by antibiotic residues in uncured pepperoni or salami meat, according to a new small-scale lab study in mBio.  Researchers studying the effects antibi ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 28 2012 - 10:57am

Soil And Human Bacteria Recently Swapped At Least Seven Antibiotic-Resistance Genes

Soil bacteria and bacteria that cause human diseases have recently swapped at least seven antibiotic-resistance genes, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Most of the antibiotics used to fight illness today or ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 4 2012 - 7:31pm

Microbial Alchemy: Bacteria Turn Toxic Material Into Gold Nuggets- And Art

Gold has reached an all-time high and researchers have discovered a bacterium's ability to withstand incredible amounts of toxicity is key to creating 24-karat gold.   Alchemy was once a pipe dream of ancient chemistry but now it is entirely possible, ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 2 2012 - 10:17am

Probiotics: Because Asians Can Sell Anything

Are you a probiotic manufacturer who has become annoyed you are not allowed to market microbes that can help cultivate “intestinal flora” for consumers? Did the European Food Safety Authority tell you to stop claiming your magic potion reduces the chances ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Oct 5 2012 - 4:01am

Oral Health: In Mouth Microbiology, Nurture Triumphs Over Nature

Unless you are a microbiologist, you probably don't want to think about all of the things that are happening in your mouth right now.  One thing you share with microbiologists is incomplete knowledge regarding what determines the specific types of mic ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 11 2012 - 6:30pm

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter is a good example in our changing understanding of the role of microbes and the human body environment.  Some may recall that this particular bacteria was introduced to the public in a rather striking experiment where it was suspected of caus ...

Article - Gerhard Adam - Oct 19 2012 - 8:03am

The 5 Second Rule Gets Its Annual Debunking

Every few years, San Diego State researchers and Clorox get together and produce a study showing that the 'five second rule'- how long food can be on the floor and still be safe to eat- is not really true.  Instead, germ transmission, like electr ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - Oct 17 2012 - 5:16pm

Top 10 List Of Plant-Damaging Fungi

People love Top 10 Lists.  So  a ranking system of the ten most important phytopathogenic fungi on a scientific and economic level should be a big hit. If you don't want to spend five more minutes reading, the rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae) is ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 18 2012 - 11:00am