Microbial World News
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Share the latest news on how microbes impact our planet and human society. See also Moselio Schaechter's blog, Small Things Considered, and the Microbiology Blog. And don't miss Lost in Translation at USF, Johnny El Rady's colorful remake of the bacterial translation machine.
April, 2009
Alfalfa Sprout Warning
The FDA issued a warning not to consume raw alfalfa sprouts, which have recently been linked to salmonella saintpaul outbreaks in Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Minnesota, Utah, and West Virginia. Though 31 salmonella cases have occurred in these six states, no deaths have been reported. It is thought that this outbreak is related to the outbreak in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa that occurred in February and March that included 100 reported cases. [1]
Novel Treatment of Flu on the Horizon
Nanoviricides, Inc. has recently announced a novel treatment for flu that isn’t dodged by the influenza virus’s exceptional ability to mutate. Their drug, FluCide, functions by targeting viruses in the bloodstream and lungs. It then neutralizes and disables the viral particles, regardless of strain. This could be more effective than antibody treatments because antibodies are extremely specific and unable to bind viruses that have a high rate of mutation. It also has an advantage over vaccines because they also utilize antibodies to treat viral infections. FluCide is particularly interesting and relevant at this point in time because of the recent outbreak of swine flu in various areas of the United States. Swine flu is a highly variable type of infection because pigs are able to act as a transitional species for influenze viruses. This means that the genes of various types of flu (bird, human, and swine) can be re-assorted in their bodies, which creates extremely variable viruses that are particularly resistant to traditional treatment. FluCide is still in the process of being tested, but if it passes, it would change the way shifty flu infections are treated. [2] [3]
In Hospitals, Air Ducts with Silver-Based Coating Stay Germ-Free
In recent history, hospital-acquired infections have been a serious problem. Post-operative infections in open wounds are difficult to treat and have gained antibiotic resistance from overuse. Recently, AgION Technologies has developed an anti-microbial, silver-based compound that has been effective in hospital use. Hospitals have begun to coat air ducts, commonly-contacted surfaces, and medical instruments with this compound (known as AgION) in order to prevent the spread of infection. It has been known for centuries that silver has significant anti-microbial properties, and its use has seen a resurgence due to the rise of anti-microbial resistance. This non-toxic compound works by releasing silver ions whenever microbes are detected on its surface. Hospitals that have put this compound to use have found surfaces to be essentially microbe-free. [4]
U.S. Declares Public Emergency Over Swine Flu
The swine flu, usually diagnosed in pigs, has mutated to a form that can now spread person to person. The flu started in Mexico, claiming more than 80 lives, but has now reached the United States. American health officials declared a public health emergency on Sunday, as cases were confirmed in the US. Debate is ongoing as to the pathogenicity and virulence of this virus, but officials also say this emergency is one more of preparedness rather than threat. Among the states that have reported cases of the flu are Ohio, New York, Texas, Kansas, and California. Dr. Fukuda of the WHO related that his agency would decide on Tuesday whether to raise the threat level to 4, which would lead to travel bans and economic disparities. Flu experts have begun to decide which virus strains to include in the 2009 vaccination. [5]
New Cases of the Avian Flu in Egypt Spur Anxiety
While the bird flu, which has so far mutated into over 10 different strains, has evaded recent headlines and has not caused a pandemic, the virus continues to circulate in poultry in the countries of China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt. An interesting pattern of the avian flu in Egypt is being noticed: almost all of the infections are occurring in toddlers, and all of the infected individuals have so far survived. The discovery of this pattern is raising concern that the virus is silently circulating among the population. While there is still no direct evidence pointing to a new mutation in the H5N1 viral strain, this summer, the Egyptian government will test healthy people's blood for possible antibodies to the flu, which would suggest that the individual was previously infected with the virus without knowing it. Experts suggest that the reason almost all of the infected were toddlers, is because poultry workers will avoid touching dying birds, while children may not. [6]
Subsidy Plan Seeks to Cut Malaria Drug Cost
A coalition of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Unitaid, the Netherlands, Norway, and Britain recently revealed a new subsidy program, the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria, designed to lower the cost of malaria treatments. The program plans to push pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices from $4 to $1 per treatment. Of that dollar, the program will pay 95 cents, thus allowing consumers to by effective malaria treatments for only a nickel. The program will subsidize combination treatments that use artemisinin and at least one other drug, hoping to drive older drugs, to which resistance quickly develops, off the market. So far, the United States has not joined the program. [7]
Parasite's Conjugal Bed Discovered
The parasite that causes leishmaniasis disease has been found to engage in sexual reproduction. Leishmania parasites infect 12 million humans with the leishmaniasis disease, which can cause painful skin infections or even death. Finally hard evidence has been found to support the long-time suspicion that this parasite reproduces sexually. The discovery was made in sand flies, a host organism for Leishmania. When two strains of Leishmania with two different drug resistances were inserted in the fly, later hybrid offspring were analyzed resistant to both drugs. Nevertheless, sexual reproduction isn't the only or most common form of reproduction in Leishmania. Researches hope this discovery can be used to more accurately determine species interrelatedness and also better understand the leishmaniasis disease. [8]
Tobacco Prevents HIV Infection
Researchers have successfully discovered how to manipulate the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)to produce anti-HIV drugs. Griffithsin, a red algae that grows off the coast of New Zealand, protects some people from HIV infection. It is however, expensive to obtain griffithsin because they grow in low abundance. Scientists injected griffithsin, gene into tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)and allowed the virus to infect tobacco plants. The plants were then harvested and processed for griffithsin. The griffithsin is used in vaginal cream to prevent HIV infection. [9]
Bacteria Thrive in Inner Elbow; No Harm Done
Julia A. Segre of the National Human Genome Research Institute has identified a plethora of bacteria that colonize the inner elbow. These bacteria have been found to be different species than even those colonizing the forearm mere inches away, indicating that they are highly specialized for the exact conditions and nutrients found there. No fewer than 6 ‘tribes’ of bacteria have been found on the inner elbow and these bacteria seem to perform important functions in moisturizing the elbow. The identification of these bacteria is part of the human microbiome project. [10]
Pistachio Recall Signals Tough Stance on Safety
The recent pistachio recall is causing the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on procedures and protocols. Although the salmonella outbreak on pistachios has yet to cause any reported illnesses, Dr. David Acheson, the associate commissioner for foods at the FDA, states that they are going to be taking a more proactive approach now. There are reports of several proposals circulating on capitol hill that would require producers to take more preventative measures. [11]
U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
After 18.8 billion dollars in funds from the United States government, the PEPFAR program created by George W. Bush has been more effective than expected. At its inception in 2003, it was predicted that 2 million people would receive treatment as a result of the funding. As of September 2008 2.1 million men, women, and children have received treatment in over 15 countries. Analysts estimate that a total of 3.28 million adult years of life have been saved by this treatment. In addition to the treatment of people, the program has also begun to take steps that will help in preventing infection. 57 million people have been counseled and tested for HIV/AIDS, which will help people in high-risk areas to become more aware of how to avoid contracting the disease. 58.3 million people have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases and over 2.2 billion condoms have been distributed worldwide to help reduce the contraction of STDs worldwide. All in all, the program has been widely successful and millions of people have benefitted from the funding provided by the United States government. [12]
Novel Treatment for Hospital Infections Involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa are one of the most threatening pathogens that one can acquire in hospitals. Typical treatment for people infected by these bacteria include the use of antibiotics that kill not only the pathogenic bacteria, but also non-pathogenic bacteria that are beneficial to the person's health. For this reason, scientists at the University of Chicago have worked out a novel mechanism for treating infections caused by this pathogen that don’t use antibiotics, but drugs that maintain inorganic phosphate levels host. P. aeruginosa are often non-pathogenic in the host’s organs (liver, intestines, lungs, kidneys) until the host becomes ill, which can sometimes cause their internal inorganic phosphate levels to decrease. Inorganic phosphate is a necessary nutrient for P. aeruginosa and when they can’t obtain it , they try to find it in the host organ’s tissues, frequently damaging or killing the host. By developing drugs that help maintain the host’s inorganic phosphate levels scientists will be creating a treatment that is less harmful to the infected individual [13]
Mousetrap for Bacteria
Scientists at the University of New Mexico and The University of Florida have collarborated to come up with another means of maintaining the sterility of hospital utensils. Bacterial infections that occur as a result of infected medical utensils result in around 1.4 million deaths every year. What the scientists have come up with is a type of bacterial mousetrap that draws bacteria in and then kills them. The “mousetrap” is actually a capsule made of two polymers that conduct electricity. One polymer is negatively charged and the other is positively charged. In the presence of light, these polymers are able to transform nearby oxygen molecules into oxygen radicals that proceed to kill the bacteria located in the capsule. In experiments using both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Cobetia marina, this system was effecting in eliminating 95% of bacteria from various surfaces. The actual mechanism by which the capsules lure the bacteria is unknown but there are several possibilities. First, the positively charged polymer may attract the negatively charged membrane of the bacteria. Second, the capsule and bacteria are both repelled by water molecules, which might help force them together. Finally, fibrils on the polymers may interact with the bacteria and bring them into the capsule. Ultimately, if these capsules are applied to various medical utensils, hospitals can become even more sterile, safer, environments. [14]
Viral-Based Anti-Cancer Treatment Using the Human Reovirus
Cancer stem cells are dangerous because they continuously produce cancerous cells in a system. Scientists have developed relatively effective techniques like chemotherapy and radiation for eliminating cancer cells, but without eliminating the cancer stem cells, cancer cells are quickly recreated and the disease persists. Cancer stem cells, however, tend to be unresponsive to typical cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, requiring the problem to be looked at from another angle. Dr. Patrick Lee at the Dalhousie Medical School in Canada has come up with a potential cure for this problem; the human reovirus. The human reovirus occurs naturally in humans and is entirely benign. It has been shown to target cancer stem cells and eliminate them in fresh breast cancer tissue. Furthermore, the human reovirus has been shown to stimulate the body’s natural anti-cancer immune response. This viral-based anti-cancer treatment has potential to become an effective and practical means of treating cancer. [15]
C. difficile Demonstrates Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
A recent outbreak of Clostridium difficile in Mississippi has demonstrated the potentially deadly rise of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria today. While C. difficile is often inhibited by antibiotics, these cases displayed an unusually high amount of resistance to common antibacterial agents. Instead, the drugs inhibited large amounts of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract of the patients. The overuse of antibiotics and the evolution of these "super-bugs" has urged scientists to look into the development of new drugs targeting new parts of bacterial cells. Unfortunately, C. difficile is becoming more common and more deadly in hospitals around the nation. Not only is this bacteria showing resistance to antibiotic agents, but it is becoming more and more virulent, secreting higher levels of toxins than earlier strains. The prospect of hypervirulent, severe strains of evolved bacteria is something that doctors and medical researchers will need to address as soon as possible. [16]
Norovirus Shuts Down College in Massachusetts
In Late March 100 students from Babson College in Massachusetts became infected by a norovirus that caused stomach flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is transmitted when fecal matter from an infected individual enters the oral cavity of another individual. Wash your hands! The norovirus is the most common cause on non-bacterial intestinal flu and is extremely common on cruise ships. In total, it infects 23 million people across the nation every year. College officials have dealt with the problem using bleach-based disinfecting techniques. Fortunately, it is not a deadly disease. [17]
March, 2009
Slow-growing TB Bacteria Point The Way To New Drug Development
Recent findings by Dr. Simon Waddell and colleagues from St. George's University of London and the University of Leicester suggest that the microbe Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which inhabit the lungs of TB patients, may be dividing very slowly, or not at all. Slow-growing bacterium in TB patients are non-responsive to commonly used anti-TB drugs such as isoniazid and this may be the reason that TB takes 6 months to effectively treat. This allows for more opportunities for these bacteria to be passed onto new hosts and to gain antibiotic resistance. Further research in this field will be vital in determining more effective treatments for tuberculosis. [18]
MRSA: Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health
The findings that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was able to be passed from pigs to humans was in 2004 in the Netherlands, where the new strain ST398 spread quickly. Now this same strain is being found in the U.S., where 45% of pig farmers sampled carried MRSA as did 49% of the hogs tested. The cause of these antibiotic-resistant infections likely comes from the fact that the U.S. (unlike Europe, and even S. Korea) still permits the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feed. This system allows the breeding of virulent "superbugs" within pigs to pose a huge threat to the food supply and human life. [19]
The Norovirus sickens 400 at London's Fat Duck Restaurant
Heston Blumenthal, regarded as one of the world's greatest chefs placed the blame on the Norovirus. The Norovirus is a highly infectious virus that brings on symptoms of nausea, vomiting fever, diarrhea and muscle pain. This virus is very common in Britain over the winter months. News of the virus has not prevented bookings for customers ready to try snail porridge and bacon-and-eggs ice cream at the Fat Duck. ABC News, March 20
Salmonella in Pistachios Spurs Recall
As peanut butter is putting back on the shelves, another type of nut is now being recalled for salmonella: pistachios. Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella is recalling pistachios after Kraft Foods, one of their customers, found contamination of their products in routine analysis. The salmonella on pistachios is not tied to the peanut outbreak and no illnesses have been tied to the pistachio contamination yet. Since Setton sent the pistachios to about three dozen wholesalers, who packaged the pistachios into foods like ice cream and cake mixes, the recall is likely to expand. NY Times, March 31
Experimental vaccine used in Ebola exposure case
In Berlin, Germany, a researcher accidentally pierced her finger with an Ebola contaminated needle. 48 hours later she received an experimental vaccine from a Canadian lab. The researcher so far remains healthy, having passed the virus’s 21-day incubation period. However, it is not certain that the virus infected the scientist as the syringe plunger had not been pressed during the incident, leaving researchers unsure if the vaccine actually worked. Future immunological tests will help determine the effectiveness of this vaccine. [20]
February, 2009
Business ramifications of Salmonella outbreak in peanut products
Although there has been a lot of attention focused on the two companies that manufactured the tainted peanut butter, small businesses, too, are experiencing negative effects from the resulting recalls. These businesses are spending unexpected time and money to correct the mistakes of their suppliers and it is causing a significant dent in this year's profits. The challenges experienced by small businesses have highlighted the gaps in communication between businesses, suppliers and consumers of the food industry. [21]
January, 2009
Wolbachia aids in fight against dengue fever
A team of scientist in Australia have genetically engineered a bacteria called Wolbachia. This bacteria infects the adult female Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the primary vector of the dengue virus. Wolbachia bacterial infection is spread to the offspring of the A. aegypti mosquito and also cuts the life span of the mosquito. The shorter life span of mosquito infected Wolbachia disrupts the two week incubation period necessary for the dengue virus. The team of researchers are hopeful that Wolbachia may also be useful in fighting malaria. Reuters, January 03
June, 2008
Martian Arctic: Does it Support Microbial Life?
The Phoenix Mars Lander finds that Martian soil has water, minerals, and pH sufficient to support growth of bacteria.
National Geographic, June 24
Extreme habitats on earth, including extreme dryness and subfreezing chill, support a remarkable array of microbes. NASA's Phoenix spacecraft is busy digging into the Martian arctic soil, collecting scoopfuls in hopes of finding life. The scoops will be baked in a test oven and observed under a microscope.
AP, June 22
E. coli outbreak in Ohio and Michigan
A mysterious outbreak of E. coli has sickened people in the area of northeastern Ohio and Michigan. The source is unknown, but the same strain has sickened fourteen people. There is no evidence of water transmission, but food items are suspected. In the past, E. coli transmission has been associated with beef products and with raw produce such as spinach and lettuce. Columbus Dispatch, June 19
May, 2008
Bacteria Computer Solves the Burnt Pancake Problem
E. coli bacteria have been genetically engineered to solve a mathematical problem known as the "burnt pancake" problem. The problem consists of determining the minimum number of times to flip one or more pancakes, each burnt on one side, in order to end up with a stack all facing good side up. The bacteria are engineered to contain short DNA sequences that "flip" by recombining with inversion within a longer sequence. If all the sequences flip in the right direction, an antibiotic resistance gene is expressed. A culture of bacteria can be grown, and the time of growth indicates the minimum number of flips required. Such bacterial cultures can solve this and related types of problems faster than standard computers.Science Daily, May 20
April, 2008
Giant Bacteria contain 200+ Genomes
Giant bacteria of the genus Epulopiscium grow as a single cell large enough to see. How do their genes get expressed throughout such a large cell? The cell appears to have more than 200 copies of its entire genome distributed throughout the cytoplasm, available to be transcribed and translated. Furthermore, as the genomes replicate they acquire mutations--so the giant cell is a genetic mosaic. Ars Technica, Apr 29
February, 2008
Snow Forms around Bacteria
Snow needs to form by water condensing on a particle. The particle most often turns out to be a bacterium, of the species Pseudomonas syringae. These bacteria are very common in nature, often infecting plants. Scientists speculate that rainfall and snowfall could be increased by growing fields of plants that attract P. syringae infections. The bacteria from the plants would be carried by wind up to the clouds, where they could nucleate rain or snow. Associated Press, Feb 29
Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis bacteria strains that resist multiple drugs are have reached epidemic levels in some former Soviet countries, and in China. Some countries are reporting 20% of TB cases are multi-drug-resistant (MDR) or extreme-drug-restistant (XDR). Usually MDR or XDR cases are mainly immunocompromised patients, but with improper treatment the MDR strains can spread more widely in the population. Associated Press, Feb 26
January, 2008
Undergraduates Discover Soil Bacteria to Detoxify Mercury
Soil in West Virginia is polluted by coal sludge ponds, with dangerously high levels of mercury (Hg+2). A researcher team including undergraduates at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology found a way to use soil bacteria to convert Hg+2 to the less harmful form metal mercury. The process enables collection and removal of mercury from the soil. Charleston Daily Mail, Jan 12
December, 2007
Bacteria to Clean Europe's Architectural Gems
Many stone monuments are deteriorating from sulfur dioxide pollution, which generates sulfuric acid and reacts with the limestone. Restorers of the Milan Cathedral have discovered that the pollution can be removed by sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The bacterial clean away the black crust of pollution, while leaving the naturally aged surface of the stone, and without generating toxic runoff. Deutche Welle, Dec. 12
Bacteria Convert Oil to Natural Gas
Bacteria growing in oil sands in Alberta, Canada ferment oil by producing methane, the main component of natural gas. Researchers at the University of Calgary figured out how the oil fermentation occurs, and propose that the process could be developed to convert crude oild into "clean" fuels. Science News, Dec. 18
November, 2007
Plague Kills Man in Arizona
A wildlife biologist working in Grand Canyon National Park appears to have died of plague (Yersinia pestis) after performing an autopsy on a mountain lion that apparently died of plague. Plague is endemic in prarie dog colonies. The causative organism rarely infects humans, but it can do so through a flea bite. Recent die-offs in prairie dog colonies suggest that infection is on the rise, after decline for several years. Medical News Daily, Nov. 10
October, 2007
Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) Infects Thousands in USA
A team of investigators from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that the insidence of invasive MRSA disease was much higher than expected during 2005, and the incidence is rising. MRSA can cause "flesh-eating" staph infection. The researchers concluded, "invasive MRSA disease is a major public health problem and is primarily related to health care but no longer confined to acute care. Although in 2005 the majority of invasive disease was related to health care, this may change." Medical News Daily, Oct. 7
April, 2007
Antidepressant bacteria
Researchers have found that samples of Mycobacterium vaccas, which is normally found in soil, can increase the amount of serotonin produced by the human brain. The result is an improvement in mood similar to that produced by antidepressants. Medical News Daily, April 4
Salmonella in peanut butter linked to leak
The recent outbreak of Salmonella bacteria in peanut butter was found to have been caused by moisture from a leaky roof and a faulty sprinkler. The moisture helped the bacteria to grow, and somehow they entered the peanut butter despite thorough cleaning. Boston Globe, April 6
March, 2007
Legionella found in water cooler in New Zealand
New Zealand health officials have found what may be the world's first case of Legionella in a water cooler. Businesses are being warned to check their water coolers for the deadly bacteria. NZ City, Mar. 10
Klebsiella outbreak in Israel
Israeli hospitals have seen an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria among some of their most severely ill patients. Over 100 of the patients have died as a result, and Israel's Health Ministry has set up an emergency team to deal with the problem. Jerusalem Post, Mar. 8
February, 2007
Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter
A Salmonella outbreak in the U. S. that has caused nearly 300 people to fall ill has been linked to peanut butter. The suspect peanut butter was produced at a plant in Georgia. Yahoo! News
January, 2007
Legionnaires' outbreak in Australia
Four men in Sydney, Australia were infected with legionnaire's disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella. The bacteria could have come from a cooling tower that cools water for use in air-conditioning. Daily Telegraph, Australia, Jan. 19
Ancient remedy may lead to a new antibiotic
Scholars have investigated a 17th-century remedy that could lead to the development of a new antibiotic. A study showed that the plant was effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. New York Times
New water purification system kills nearly 100% of all bacterial contaminants
Engineers have developed a new water purification system that sucessfully kills 100% of microbes in New Orleans water samples left from Hurricane Katrina. Medgadgets
December, 2006
Bacteria-like microscopic robots will help surgeons.
Researchers at Monash University are developing micro-robots they hope will be able to swim through the human body and perform medical tasks. The tiny robots will float through the blood, driven by rotary flagella, like E. coli. Microbots
Link found between Bacteria and Obesity
Researchers have found a link between obesity and the prevalence of certain types of bacteria in the intestines of humans and mice, including fewer Bacteroidetes in the obese. USA Today
October, 2006
Source of spinach E. coli: Cattle manure
The source of the E. coli bacteria that sickened people in 26 states and Canada has been traced to a ranch in the Salinas Valley, California, that raises beef cattle in addition to growing produce. The E. coli strain found exactly matched the strain found in the contaminated spinach, although the ranch area was half a mile away from the spinach fields. Now investigators are trying to figure out how the contaminating bacteria reached the spinache. New York Times, Oct. 30,
Spinach E. coli outbreak
Over 190 people have been sickened by E. coli 0157:H7 from contaminated spinach grown and packaged in California. Ninety-eight people (51%) were hospitalized, and 30 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney condition, hae been reported. Scientists find that no amount of washing with water and chlorine can remove all E. coli bacteria associated with roots and stems. USA Today, CIDRAP
September, 2006
Diesel fuel from E. coli
E. coli bacteria can convert plant materials diesel fuel. Scientists in Germany report in the SGM journal Microbiology how they have engineered bacteria to make esters of long-chain fatty acids with short-chain alcohols. While the amounts produced are small, further engineering could greatly increase the efficiencey of "microdiesel" production. Innovations Report, SGM Microbiology
August, 2006
Microbes eat pipeline!
In Alaska, microscopic bacteria wrought enough damage to BP's pipelines to shut down North America's largest oil field. BP believes its pipeline corrosion was triggered by microbes lodged in fine sediments that mix with crude oil. Sludge in the transit lines allowed the anaerobic microbes to metabolize and produce acids that ate away the metal walls of the pipes. Reuters, Aug. 15
June, 2006.
It's Electric!
Geobacter bacteria are cleaning up pollution--and making electricity. These bacteria conduct anaerobic respiration by catabolizing organic wastes and donating the electrons to oxidized iron, or to a positively-charged electrode. Post-doctoral researcher Kelly Nevin shows off electricity-producing bacterial isolates in Derek Lovley's Morrill Science Center lab. U. Mass. Magazine. [22] Spring 2006.
Flu Scare in Indonesia
The bird flu is worsening and one of its new sites of terror is Indonesia. The fear of human to human transmission is very much real. With already 38 deaths, government officials are in a state of panic.International Herald Tribune, June 16.
Unexpected summer Bacteria?
Bathing suits are not the only things that come out during the summer. Bacteria and fungi also enjoy the summer; they dwell in heat. This is the time for many bacterial infections. Knowledge is power so it is important to know about the infection and prevent it to still enjoy the summer. The Peninsula, June 16.
Human Strain of the Mad Cow Disease Underestimated
Scientists believe that human infection rates of the prion-caused mad cow disease may have been immensely underestimated. They have reached this conclusion based on a research that suggests the incubation period of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is longer than that of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The danger is more significant now because the epidemic might be more persistent than suspected. Guardian Unlimited, June 23.
Salmonella Is Here!!
Salmonella, a type of food poisoning prevalent in the summer, is back. This sickness is caused by Salmonella species, gram-negative enteric bacteria. The bacteria are more infectious to children than the elderly. 23 kids have already been diagnosed with this infection in Franklin County. MetroWest Daily News, June 28
