Microbiology

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

Desulfobulbus: Filamentous Bacteria Are Living Power Cables

Researchers have discovered bacteria that transmit electrons thousands of cell lengths away. The Desulfobulbus bacterial cells, which are only a few thousandths of a millimeter long, are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye. And yet, under the ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 24 2012 - 3:20pm

Microorganism Mystery Of Marine Methane Oxidation

Microbiologists and geochemists have shown that marine methane oxidation coupled to sulfate respiration can be performed by a single microorganism, a member of the ancient kingdom of the Archaea, and doesn't need to be carried out in collaboration wit ...

Article - News Staff - Nov 12 2012 - 10:48am

Ancient Microbes Found In Antarctic Lake

A community of bacteria that survives in a dark, salty and sub-freezing environment has been discovered beneath nearly 20 meters of ice in one of Antarctica's most isolated lakes. Lake Vida, the largest of several unique lakes found in the McMurdo Dr ...

Article - News Staff - Nov 26 2012 - 8:30pm

Dogs May Be Even More Awesome: Canine Virus May Lead To Better Vaccines

Researchers have discovered that a virus commonly found in dogs may lead to a breakthrough in human vaccine development. Parainfluenza virus 5, or PIV5, is harmless to humans but is thought to contribute to upper respiratory infections in dogs, and is a c ...

Article - News Staff - Nov 27 2012 - 3:30pm

Probiotics Better For Zebrafish, At Least

Probiotics are the miracle product of the decade because of the belief they can help cultivate “intestinal flora”, whatever that is supposed to mean.   It's a $32 billion industry by 2014 but there is one species that scientists can confirm have a be ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 4 2012 - 7:43am

Antibiotic-Eating Bug Unearthed In Soil

Bacteria exposed to antibiotics for long periods find ways to resist the drugs — by quickly pumping them out of their cells, for example, or modifying the compounds so they're no longer toxic. ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 8 2012 - 8:00am

Toxoplasmosis: How Common 'Cat Parasite' Gets Into The Brain (And Stop Eating Cats)

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which experts estimate infects 30 to 50 percent of the global population.  ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 7 2012 - 1:34pm

Blood Vessel Glue Is Like Mussel Goo

A gel similar to the amino acid that enables mussels to resist the power of churning water can be painted onto the walls of blood vessels and stay put, forming a protective barrier with potentially life-saving benefits.  Mussels have a knack for clinging ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 11 2012 - 6:58pm