On the drive home yesterday afternoon I heard a fascinating story on NPR about an ecosystem near and dear to all humans - our skin. Even if bacteria aren't your thing, the story and the findings are really interesting (and actually could be applicable to a wide host of conditions and diseases).

Scientists in Portugal and France managed to follow the patterns of gene expression in food-poisoning bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) live during infection for the first time. The work about to be published in PLoS Pathogens shows how the bacterial genome shifts to better adapt to infection by activating genes involved in virulence and subversion of the host defences, as well as adaptation to the host conditions.

COLLEGEVILLE, Pennsylvania, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

LONDON, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Tim Brown, ex CEO of Behavioural Targeting Specialist Touch Clarity, Joins Maxymiser to Further Develop Rapidly Expanding Conversion Management Software Business

Online content optimisation specialist, Maxymiser http://www.maxymiser.com has appointed Tim Brown as Chief Executive Officer, as part of the company's drive to further increase market penetration of its conversion management software portfolio. Brown is an experienced venture capitalist (3i and Alta Berkeley) and he is also the former CEO of Touch Clarity (acquired by Omniture Inc. in March 2007).

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Corning Cable Systems GmbH Co KG, part of Corning Incorporated's (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, has recently completed a multi dwelling unit (MDU) trial project for Southern Telecommunications Company (STC) in the city of Rostov-on-Don with the support of its distributor in Russia, JSC Technocom, and the construction company, CJSC Business Computer Center.

STOCKHOLM, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Red Cross are asking people to pledge their support to refugees by collectively 'changing their online status' across all social networks, instant messenger and email during Refugee Week (15th-21st June).

This is the first time that a charity has created an online movement to pledge support and tackle discrimination via online profiles.

Refugees arriving in the UK are often labelled as a group, saddled with the same refugee label and not seen as individuals. To highlight this issue, the British Red Cross are asking us to sacrifice our online identity by 'changing our online status profile' to the one uniform label, to communicate the message of looking beyond the label.

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Now Seven Plants in China

The Gerresheimer Group today opened a new plant for pharmaceutical glass packaging in China. The high-tech production facility constructed in Danyang (Jiangsu Province) covers 16,000 square meters. Specializing in high-quality pharmaceutical vials and cartridges for injection systems it serves the pharma life science industry on both a local and international level. Dr. Axel Herberg, CEO of Gerresheimer AG, describes the investment as a very important strategic step for further business expansion in Asia. In China, Gerresheimer now operates seven production plants for highly specific glass and plastic products.

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Now Seven Plants in China

The Gerresheimer Group today opened a new plant for pharmaceutical glass packaging in China. The high-tech production facility constructed in Danyang (Jiangsu Province) covers 16,000 square meters. Specializing in high-quality pharmaceutical vials and cartridges for injection systems it serves the pharma life science industry on both a local and international level. Dr. Axel Herberg, CEO of Gerresheimer AG, describes the investment as a very important strategic step for further business expansion in Asia. In China, Gerresheimer now operates seven production plants for highly specific glass and plastic products.

SAN RAFAEL, California, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Telltale Also Introduces Individual Wallace Gromit PC Episode Purchase Options

Telltale's first episodic game for Xbox LIVE(R) Arcade, Wallace Gromit: Fright of the Bumblebees, releases worldwide today. The first of four episodes comprising Wallace Gromit's Grand Adventures, the English language game is available for 800 Microsoft points and includes subtitles in German, French and Spanish.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Powerful New FCC Catalyst Dramatically Improves Naphtha Yields While Reducing Coke

Albemarle Corporation, (NYSE: ALB) www.albemarle.com, a global leader in developing innovative specialty chemicals, catalysts and sustainable clean energy solutions, has launched the latest addition to their leading portfolio of refining products and technologies.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/ALBEMARLELOGO )