Microbiology

The Three Important Bacteria And Fungi Living On Your Cheese

After studying 137 varieties of cheese collected in 10 different countries, systems biologists at Harvard University have been able to identify three general types of microbial communities that live on cheese, opening the door to using each as a "mod ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 18 2014 - 4:00am

Newly Found Gut Virus CrAssphage In Half The World's Population

A newly discovered gut virus, crAssphage, probably isn't new at all, it was just discovered. But it's in half the world's population, according to estimates.  A new paper in Nature Communications says crAssphage infects one of the most comm ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 24 2014 - 10:01am

Not Just Wine: Sake Brewery Has Its Own Microbial Terroir

A sake brewery has its own microbial terroir, meaning the microbial populations found on surfaces in the facility resemble those found in the product and help create the final flavor. This is the first time investigators have taken a microbial census of a ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 24 2014 - 6:00pm

Look At The Biosaline Patterns Formed By E. Coli In Salt

Researchers have detected a previously unknown interaction between microorganisms and salt. When Escherichia coli cells are introduced into a droplet of salt water and left to dry, bacteria manipulate the sodium chloride crystallisation to create biominer ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 26 2014 - 10:31am

Probiotics To Fight Obesity?

A probiotic that prevents obesity could be on the horizon, at least if an animal model translates to humans. Bacteria that produce a therapeutic compound in the gut inhibit weight gain, insulin resistance and other adverse effects of a high-fat diet in mi ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 26 2014 - 7:50pm

Gulf Oil Spill: Microbiology Approach Worked But Toxic Contaminants Remain

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a BP project in the Gulf of Mexico, began in April of 2010. The oil rig collapsed and it took some three months to cap the gusher. During that, concern was also on how to clean up the over four million barrels of oil in th ...

Article - News Staff - Jul 31 2014 - 5:15pm

How Smart Bacteria Help Each Other Survive

The body's assailants are cleverer than previously thought. New research from Lund University in Sweden shows for the first time how bacteria in the airways can help each other replenish vital iron. The bacteria thereby increase their chances of surv ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 9 2014 - 11:00pm

Immune System Stealth War: RIG-I Attacks Viruses On A Molecular Level

Our immunosensory system detects virus such as influenza via specific characteristics of viral ribonucleic acid- and the immune system's ability to prevent viruses from using molecular camouflage to escape detection is quite good. But how that works ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 11 2014 - 1:00pm

Drug Resistant, Virulent Strain Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Found In Ohio

Researchers have discovered a highly virulent, multi-drug resistant form of the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in patient samples in Ohio. Their investigation suggests that the particular genetic element involved, still rare in the United States, has be ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 11 2014 - 7:01pm

Since Bacteria's Immune System Can Kill Viruses, Let's Use That

Bacteria's ability to destroy viruses has been a mystery but researchers say they now have a clear picture of the bacterial immune system and say its unique shape is likely why bacteria can so quickly recognize and destroy their assailants. The resea ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 15 2014 - 4:00am