RxPG News : Microbiology

The Strange Case of the Radiation-Resistant Bacteria

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:55:05 PST

Fifty years ago, scientists experimenting with gamma radiation to sterilize canned foods were surprised to find spoiled meat in cans zapped with what they thought were lethal levels of ionizing radiation (IR). Inside the bulging cans, they discovered a strain of bacteria now called Deinococcus radiodurans. This extremely resilient microbe can endure 100 times the IR levels that kill other bacteria and levels 2,000 times higher than the lethal human dose.

Evolution of typhoid bacteria

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:47:55 PST

In a study published in the latest issue of Science (24 November, 2006), an international consortium from the Max-Planck Society, Wellcome Trust Institutes in Britain and Vietnam, and the Institut Pasteur in France have elucidated the evolutionary history of Salmonella Typhi. Typhi is the cause of typhoid fever, a disease that sickens 21 million people and kills 200,000 worldwide every year. The results indicate that asymptomatic carriers played an essential role in the evolution and global transmission of Typhi. The rediscovered importance of the carrier state predicts that treatment of acute disease, including vaccination, will not suffice to eradicate this malady. The results also illuminate patterns leading to antibiotic resistance after the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Fluoroquinolone treatment in southern Asia over two decades has resulted in the emergence of multiple, independent nalidixic acid-resistant mutants, of which one group, H58, has multiplied dramatically and spread globally. The prevalence of these bacteria hampers medical cure of clinical disease via antibiotics.

New Treatment Using Human Antibodies to Target Harmful Toxins May Protect Against C. Difficile

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 04:23:06 PST

A new therapeutic method using human antibodies to neutralize toxins was found to prevent Clostridium difficile-induced death in hamsters say researchers from New Jersey and Massachusetts. They report their findings in the November 2006 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

Guinea Pig Aerosol Challenge Presents New Model for Q Fever Research in Humans

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 04:20:55 PST

Clinical signs and pathological changes in guinea pigs following an aerosol challenge with acute Q fever were similar to those seen in human acute Q fever indicating an effective animal model of human disease say researchers from Texas A&M University. They report their findings in the November issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

Gut Bacteria Cospeciating with Plataspid stinkbug

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:57:00 PST

With some 1 million species and counting, insects may be the most abundant class of animals living today. Their protective exoskeleton, prolific reproductive rate, and wings help their cause, as do the symbiotic bacteria that inhabit their cells, gut, or body cavity. Endocellular symbionts live inside specialized insect cells and provide essential nutrients for their hosts, which in turn provide suitable habitat for the bacteria. Insect mothers transmit endocellular symbionts to their offspring during egg or embryo development, preserving an intimate bond between host and symbiont that is evident in both species' genomes.

How West Nile virus evades immune defenses

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:05:00 PST

West Nile virus evades the body's immune defenses by blocking immune signaling by a protein receptor, a finding that could pave the way for a vaccine to protect against North American strains of the virus, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

An infectious agent of deception, exposed through proteomics

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:56:00 PST

Salmonella bacteria, infamous for food poisoning that kills hundreds of thousands worldwide, infect by stealth. They slip unnoticed into and multiply inside macrophages, the very immune system cells the body relies on to seek and destroy invading microbes.

Gram positive bacterial membrane mystery solved

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:56:00 PST

A 25-year quest to identify the first biochemical step that many disease-causing bacteria use to build their membranes has led to a discovery that holds promise for effective, new antibiotics against these bacteria, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

E.Coli uses 'shock absorbers' to combat adverse conditions

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:54:00 PST

Bacteria have hair-like protrusions with a sticky protein on the tip that lets them cling to surfaces. The coiled, bungee cord-like structure of the protrusions helps the bacteria hang on tightly, even under rough fluid flow inside the body, researchers report in the journal PLoS Biology.

Innovative method for creating a human cytomegalovirus vaccine outlined

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:43:00 PST

Each year, about 40,000 children are born infected with human cytomegalovirus, or CMV, and about 8,000 of these children suffer permanent disabilities due to the virus almost one an hour. These disabilities can include hearing loss, vision loss, mental disability, a lack of coordination, and seizures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CMV is as common a cause of serious disability as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, or neural tube defects.

Cracking Virus Protection Shield

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:18:00 PST

Ebola, measles and rabies are serious threats to public health in developing countries. Despite different symptoms all of the diseases are caused by the same class of viruses that unlike most other living beings carry their genetic information on a single RNA molecule instead of a double strand of DNA. Now researchers from the Institut de Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale [IVMS] and the Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory [EMBL] in Grenoble have obtained a detailed structural picture of a protein that allows the rabies virus to withstand the human immune response and survive and replicate in our cells. The study that is published in this week's online edition of Science suggests new potential drug targets in rabies and sheds light on how similar approaches can help fighting other viral diseases.

Viruses trade-off between survival and reproduction

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:09:00 PST

Living is an energy-intensive exercise that inevitably involves trade-offs. As many a mother may tell you, expending the energy necessary to raise a clutch of kids can shave years off one's life. Trade-offs between reproductive success and survival have been demonstrated for a wide variety of organisms and, in keeping with life history theory, should arise in any organism striving to maximize fitness under the constraints of finite resources.

Smart Petri Dish could rapidly screen new drugs for toxic interactions

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:41:00 PST

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed what they call a Smart Petri Dish that could be used to rapidly screen new drugs for toxic interactions or identify cells in the early stages of cancer circulating through a patients blood. Their invention, described in the June 20 issue of Langmuir, a physical chemistry journal published by the American Chemical Society, uses porous silicon crystals filled with polystyrene to detect subtle changes in the sizes and shapes of the cells.

Master key to yeasts' pathogenic lifestyles discovered

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:45:00 PST

For some microbes, the transformation from a benign lifestyle in the soil to that of a potentially deadly human pathogen is just a breath away. Inhaled into the lungs of a mammal, spores from a class of six related soil molds found around the world encounter a new, warmer environment. And as soon as they do, they rapidly shift gears and assume the guise of pathogenic yeast, causing such serious and sometimes deadly afflictions as blastomycosis and histoplasmosis.

New hybrid virus provides targeted molecular imaging of cancer

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 19:32:00 PST

Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have created a new class of hybrid virus and demonstrated its ability to find, highlight, and deliver genes to tumors in mice. Researchers say the advance, reported in the journal Cell, is potentially an important step in making human cancer both more visible and accessible to treatment; it may also allow prediction and monitoring of how specific anti-cancer agents are actually working.

Artificial Illumination Using White or Green Light May Prevent Biofilm Formation on Artwork

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:41:00 PST

Using white or green light to artificially illuminate artwork may prevent biofilm formation and surface deterioration, say researchers from Spain. They report their findings in the April 2006 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Mass spectrometry to detect norovirus particles

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:08:00 PST

Scientists have used mass spectrometry for decades to determine the chemical composition of samples but rarely has it been used to identify viruses, and never in complex environmental samples. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recently demonstrated that proteomic mass spectrometry has the potential to be applied for this purpose. Using a two-step process, researchers successfully separated, purified and concentrated a norovirus surrogate from a clinical sample within a few hours. Nanospray mass spectrometry was used to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting norovirus particles in the purified concentrates.

xCT molecule is a major gateway for KSHV to enter human cells

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 13:56:00 PST

Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have identified a critical human cell surface molecule involved in infection by Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), the virus that causes Kaposi's sarcoma and certain forms of lymphoma. Kaposi's sarcoma is a major cancer associated with HIV/AIDS, and it typically manifests as multiple purple-hued skin lesions.

Surprising discovery about the inner workings of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 13:53:00 PST

Biochemists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have made a surprising discovery about the inner workings of a powerful virus a discovery that they hope could one day lead to better vaccines or anti-virus medications.

Salmonella bacteria use RNA to assess and adjust magnesium levels

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:47:00 PST

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have added a gene in the bacterium Salmonella to the short list of genes regulated by a new mechanism known as the riboswitch. The Salmonella riboswitch is the first to sense and respond to a metal ion, substantially expanding the types of molecules that riboswitches can detect to help cells assess and react to their environment.

New human retrovirus - Xenotropic MuLV-related virus (XMRV)

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 19:27:00 PST

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers and their colleagues have discovered a new retrovirus in humans that is closely related to a cancer-causing virus found in mice. Their findings describe the first documented cases of human infection with a retrovirus that is native to rodents.

Genomics Sheds Light on Metabolism of Cryptic Marine Microbes

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 12:02:00 PST

In 1977 Carl Woese and George Fox expanded our appreciation of microbial diversity by analyzing the genetic sequence of a molecule (ribosomal RNA) found in all cells. They discovered that species previously classified as bacteria, called methanogenic bacteria, possessed unique enzymes and an unusual metabolism based on reducing carbon dioxide to methane. These traits were foreign to both uber domains of life, Eurkaryota and Bacteria, prompting Woese to create a new category, which he called Archaebacteria (archae means ancient in Greek), acknowledging a metabolism that would have suited the putative conditions on earth over 3 billion years ago.

How deadly toxin botulinum neurotoxin A hijacks cells

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:02:00 PST

Scientists have pinpointed exactly how botulinum neurotoxin A - a potential agent of biological warfare and one of the most lethal toxins known to man - is able to sneak into cells. The finding is crucial for the development of new treatments against botulism, a paralytic illness caused by the toxin more commonly known as botox. As small amounts of botox are also known to alleviate many medical problems, the recent work could help to quell any risks associated with the toxin's clinical use.

String Test: Effective and Inexpensive Method for Detecting Helicobacter pylori

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:37:00 PST

Swallowing a string may offer a simple and effective alternative to costly and invasive techniques used for detecting Helicobacter pylori in patients say researchers from the U.S. and abroad. They report their findings in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Multivariate Linear Regression May Assist in Determining Virulence Factors for Microbes

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:37:00 PST

A well established statistical tool known as multivariate linear regression may offer a new approach in determining contributions of multiple virulence factors to the overall virulence of pathogenic microbes say researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York and Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. Their findings appear in the March 2006 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

Scientists develop biosensor to detect E. Coli bacteria

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:03:00 PST

Scientists have developed a fast working biosensor that can accurately and rapidly detect an infectious agent that causes food borne illness, including the dangerous E. Coli bacteria.

Found - bacteria with strange magnetic personality

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:26:00 PST

Researchers have reported the discovery of a bacterium with strange magnetic properties - it tends to swim towards south magnetic pole while being in the northern hemisphere.
While 'Magnetotactic bacteria' are known to swim toward geomagnetic north in the northern hemisphere and geomagnetic south in the southern hemisphere, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Iowa State University have found a bacterium in New England that does just the opposite: a northern hemisphere creature that swims south.

Student discovers protein in yoghurt that fights E. coli

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 02:23:00 PST

A high school student in the US has discovered a protein in yoghurt that has the potential to fight E.coli, the leading cause of diarrhoea in the world.

Viruses can be forced to evolve as better delivery vehicles for gene therapy

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:34:00 PST

Viruses and humans have evolved together over millions of years in a game of one-upmanship that, often as not, left humans sick or worse. Now, a University of California, Berkeley, researcher has shown that viruses - in this case, a benign one - can be forced to evolve in ways to benefit humans. The adeno-associated virus, or AAV, is a common, though innocuous, resident of the body that has received a lot of attention in recent years as a possible carrier for genes in gene therapy. Because as many as 90 percent of people already have the virus, however, their immune systems are primed with antibodies to quickly tackle and neutralize it, thwarting any attempt at gene therapy.

Slugs May Spread E. coli to Salad Vegetables

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:01:00 PST

A new study suggests that slugs have the potential to transmit E. coli to salad vegetables. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, report their findings in the January 2006 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Epstein-Barr Virus Found in Breast Cancer Tissue May Impact Efficiency of Treatment

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:01:00 PST

Epstein-Barr virus has been detected in breast cancer tissue and tumor cells and may impact the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drug treatment say researchers from France and Japan. They report their findings in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Virology.

Honeybees May Transmit Viruses to Their Offspring

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:56:00 PST

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture report what may be the first evidence of queen honeybees transmitting viruses to their offspring. They report their findings in the January 2006 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Escherichia coli doesnt gamble with its metabolism

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 15:58:00 PST

The ubiquitous and usually harmless E. coli bacterium, which has one-seventh the number of genes as a human, has more than 1,000 of them involved in metabolism and metabolic regulation. Activation of random combinations of these genes would theoretically be capable of generating a huge variety of internal states; however, researchers at UCSD will report in the Dec. 27 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that Escherichia coli doesnt gamble with its metabolism. In a surprise about E. coli that may offer clues about how human cells operate, the PNAS paper reports that only a handful of dominant metabolic states are found in E. coli when it is grown in 15,580 different environments in computer simulations.

Understanding how Rickettsia conorii interacts with host cells

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 15:41:00 PST

New research by a team of scientists in France and the United States has identified both the bacterial and host receptor proteins that enable Rickettsia conorii, the Mediterranean spotted fever pathogen to enter cells. Understanding how this bacterium interacts with the cells of its host could lead to new therapeutic strategies for diseases caused by related pathogens, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus.

CO2 sensing proves critical for fungal pathogens

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 01:34:00 PST

By using pathogenic fungi as model systems for understanding fungal diseases, two groups of researchers are reporting new work that offers insight into how carbon dioxide (CO2) governs the morphogenic changes that allow pathogenic fungi to survive in different environments and invade the human body, and they provide new evidence for how CO2 sensing and metabolism utilize evolutionarily conserved enzymes to control the growth and sexual reproduction of pathogenic microbes.

Human Papillomavirus Could Spread Through Blood - Study

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:40:00 PST

Potentially transmissible human papillomavirus DNA has been identified in human blood cells suggesting that the virus, traditionally thought to be sexually transmitted, could also be spread through blood products. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health report their findings in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Gene Identified in Epstein-Barr Virus that May Contribute to Cancer

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:37:00 PST

Researchers have identified a gene in the Epstein-Barr virus that may contribute to the development of lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) in humans. Their findings appear in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.

New Gene Identified for Antiviral Activity

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:37:00 PST

Researchers have identified a gene in mice capable of producing an innate antiviral response to infection. Their findings appear in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.

Rapid tests for meningitis and MRSA are being developed

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:21:00 PST

Rapid tests for serious disease such as meningitis, chlamydia and the hospital superbug MRSA are being developed by a new company, Atlas Genetics Ltd, which is being launched using £500,000 funding and the expertise of academics at the University of Bath.

Getting Closer to a Vaccine for Hookworm

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:12:00 PST

Hookworms are intestinal parasites of mammals, including humans, dogs, and cats; in humans, these infections are a leading cause of intestinal blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia. These infections occur mostly in tropical and subtropical climates, and are estimated to infect about 1 billion people worldwideâabout one-fifth of the world's population. People who have direct contact with soil that contains human feces in areas where hookworm is common are at high risk of infection; because children play in dirt and often go barefoot, they are at highest risk.

E.colis Defense Mechanism Uncovered

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:28:00 PST

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the John Innes Centre in the United Kingdom have uncovered a mechanism with which disease-causing bacteria may thwart the bodys natural defense responses. The findings, which could ultimately lead to the development of more effective antibiotics, appear in the September 29, 2005 issue of the journal Nature.

Secrets to monoclonal antibody's success against West Nile Virus

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:54:00 PST

A monoclonal antibody that can effectively treat mice infected with West Nile virus has an intriguing secret: Contrary to scientists' expectations, it does not block the virus's ability to attach to host cells. Instead, the antibody somehow stops the infectious process at a later point.

Flaviviruses use a novel mechanism to evade host defenses

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 06:24:00 PST

Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have made the surprising discovery that flaviviruses, which cause such serious diseases as West Nile fever, yellow fever and forms of encephalitis, evade immune system defenses in different ways depending on whether they are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks. This finding could lead to new approaches to developing vaccines and treatments against these illnesses.

Adenovirus may deliver bird flu vaccine

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 01:46:00 PST

A harmless virus used as a delivery vehicle may help set a roadblock for a potentially catastrophic human outbreak of bird flu, according to researchers at Purdue University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A fat-sugar complex that anchors LTA could be target to block bacterial CNS infection

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:22:00 PST

A single molecular anchor that allows bacteria to invade the nervous system may hold the key to treating many types of bacterial meningitis, a UCSD School of Medicine study has found.

Coronavirus HCoV-NL63 associated strongly with croup

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 21:07:00 PST

A forthcoming paper in the international, open-access journal PLoS Medicine makes the strongest association yet between a newly identified virus and the pediatric respiratory disease commonly known as croup. Following their recent description of the coronavirus HCoV-NL63, Lia van der Hoek and colleagues suggest this is one of the most frequently detected viruses in children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). These infections are estimated by the World Health Organization to be responsible for one fifth of all deaths in children under five years old.

Listeria monocytogenes uses receptor-mediated endocytosis to infect hosts

Mon, 22 Aug 2005 15:24:00 PST

French scientists have learned how Listeria monocytogenes, which causes a major food-borne illness, commandeers cellular transport machinery to invade cells and hide from the body's immune system. They believe that other infectious organisms may use the same mechanism.

One bacterial cell can stop the growth of another on physical contact

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 22:29:00 PST

Scientists have discovered a new phenomenon in which one bacterial cell can stop the growth of another on physical contact. The bacteria that stop growing may go into a dormant state, rather than dying. The findings have implications for management of chronic diseases, such as urinary tract infections.

Oral Vaccine from Bacterial Ghosts May Protect Against E. coli

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:45:00 PST

Researchers from Austria and Russia have developed an oral vaccine comprised of bacterial ghosts, or empty bacterial envelopes, which may protect against E. coli in animals and humans. Their findings appear in the August 2005 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.

Olives May Successfully Transmit Beneficial Bacteria to Humans

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:43:00 PST

Table olives may serve as a carrier for delivering beneficial bacteria to humans, according to researchers from Italy. Their findings appear in the August 2005 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

New Test May Simultaneously Identify Herpesviruses, Enteroviruses, and Flaviviruses

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:40:00 PST

Researchers from France may have developed a new method of simultaneously detecting viruses from three different families that cause diseases of the central nervous system in humans. Their findings appear in the August 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Research team isolates receptor for deadly viruses

Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:13:00 PST

A collaborative research team from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have made a major breakthrough in efforts to combat two deadly viruses that could be engineered for use as bioweapons. The team isolated the functional receptor for the Nipah and Hendra viruses--naturally occurring and highly pathogenic paramyxoviruses for which no treatments or vaccines are currently available.

Mechanism that lets herpes simplex virus infect is discovered

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:12:00 PST

It's one of the most common viruses in America, and one that causes the most guilt and shame. It can get inside almost any kind of human cell, reproduce in vast numbers, and linger for years in the body, causing everything from recurrent genital blisters to sores around the mouth. Its complications can kill, and it may increase susceptibility to many nerve and brain disorders.

Why 2003 Monkeypox outbreak in the US wasn't deadly

Sat, 16 Jul 2005 00:11:00 PST

An outbreak of 72 cases of monkeypox in the United States during the summer of 2003 didn't produce a single fatality, even though the disease usually kills 10 percent of those infected.

Biologists see combined structure of Coxsackievirus A21 and ICAM-1

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:30:00 PST

Biologists at Purdue University have determined the combined structure of a common-cold virus attached to a molecule that enables the virus to infect its host, information that ultimately may help researchers develop methods for treating certain viral infections.

How Nipah and Hendra viruses gain entry into cells

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 18:05:00 PST

Working independently, two research teams funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have identified how Nipah and Hendra viruses, closely related viruses first identified in the mid-1990s, gain entry into human and animal cells.

Threadworms dependent on bacteria to survive

Sat, 25 Jun 2005 21:20:00 PST

The disease is triggered off by the bite of an infected mosquito: together with its anticoagulant the mosquito pumps threadworm larvae into its host's body. These gravitate towards the lymph nodes, where they grow into threadworms which may be up to ten centimetres long. The body reacts by producing inflammation which halts the flow of lymphatic fluid. The consequence of this is that arms, legs and genitals swell to monstrous proportions hence the name elephantiasis. More than 120 million people worldwide are infected with the pathogen wuchereria bancrofti.

The Role of the Rab7 Protein

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:05:00 PST

When Robert Hooke first looked at cork bark with a light microscope in 1655, he saw small empty chambers, reminiscent of monastery cells. We now know that living cells are full of organellesspecialized subcompartments surrounded by membranes in which different cellular life functions occur. This complex organization raises major transport and sorting problems similar to those encountered in a large city in which trains and trucks carrying different cargos arrive at peripheral distribution centers.

Phages Affect Gene Expression and Fitness in E. coli

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:05:00 PST

Life is hard for bacteria. Not only must they constantly compete against their comrades for resources and living space, theyre also subject to infection by pathogensviruses called bacteriophageswhich can affect their ability to survive and prosper. Two types of bacteriophages threaten bacteria: lytic phages and lysogenic (or temperate) phages.

Three New Phases of Repairing DNA Damage in E. coli

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:05:00 PST

Any cell that receives a dose of radiation is placed in a dangerous situation. The DNA damage resulting from exposure to such radiation (or any other mutagen) can cause massive rearrangements to genetic information and potentially kill the cell. Bacteria have learned to cope with this threat by activating genes that repair DNA damage and by preventing a cell from dividing before these repairs are completed. In the bacteria Escherichia coli, these repair genes form what is known as the SOS response.

Virus Uses Tiny RNA to Evade the Immune System

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 16:53:00 PST

In the latest version of the hide-and-seek game between pathogens and the hosts they infect, researchers have found that a virus appears to cloak itself with a recently discovered gene silencing device to evade detection and destruction by immune cells.

Virus Subverts Cellular Defense for Reproduction and Escape

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 02:27:00 PST

Against the constant threat of infection by bacteria or viruses, one line of defense for the eukaryotic cell is the autophagosome. This double-membrane structure, which buds off from the endoplasmic reticulum, traps cytoplasmic intruders and, upon maturation, merges with a lysosome to destroy them. In this issue, however, Karla Kirkegaard and colleagues show that for one class of viruses, the autophagosome is not a holding cell but a breeding ground, and may even provide a novel escape route.

Monoclonal antibody cures West Nile Virus

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:59:00 PST

A newly developed monoclonal antibody can cure mice infected with the West Nile virus, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report. If further studies confirm the effectiveness and safety of the antibody, it could become one of the first monoclonal antibodies used as a treatment for an infectious disease.

Genomes Offer Ecological Clues to Viruses

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 17:12:00 PST

Cyanobacteria have a long and checkered past. When their ancestors first appeared some 3 billion years ago, earths atmosphere likely contained mostly carbon dioxide, along with hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrogen, and water vapor. Thought to be the first photosynthesizers, cyanobacteria forebears used water from their ocean habitat, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to make sugar, and produced oxygen as wastethe kiss of death for most ancient microorganisms, which eventually died from oxygen poisoning.

Tegument Proteins Help Route Herpesvirus

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:50:00 PST

Tegument proteins, which lie between the viral capsid and membrane envelope, route herpesviruses to either the cell bodies or axon terminals of neurons, according to Gant Luxton et al.

Clues to a Parasitic Nematodes Bacterial Partnership

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:32:00 PST

More than a billion people are at risk for infection with filarial nematodes, parasites that cause elephantiasis, African river blindness, and other debilitating diseases in more than 150 million people worldwide.

The Bacterias Guide to Survival

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:51:00 PST

From The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbookwith handy entries like How to escape from killer bees and How to escape from quicksandto The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, survival guides are one of the latest publishing fads.

How a Latent Virus Eludes Immune Defenses

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:51:00 PST

For a virus to survive, it must elude the ever vigilant immune sentinels of its host. A latent virus can escape immune detection if it resides in nondividing cells and doesnt produce any proteins.

Host Cell Lipids Facilitate Listeria monocytogenes Movement

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:45:00 PST

When the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes invades the body, it commandeers its host cell's actin cytoskeleton to invade other cells. In a report published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a group of scientists provide insight into the molecular mechanisms behind this infection technique.

Norovirus Prevalent in Those Suffering from Traveler's Diarrhea

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 15:07:00 PST

Norovirus may be the most common cause of travelers' diarrhea for United States citizens returning from Mexico and Guatamala say researchers from the U.S., Guatemala, Mexico and Sweden.

Oysters in US showed high prevalence of Salmonella

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:39:00 PST

Known carriers of viral and bacterial pathogens, seafood and shellfish accounted for 7.42% of food poisoning related deaths attributed to Salmonella between 1990 and 1998. Characterized by fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, salmonellosis is responsible for approximately 500 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. Current guidelines require the shellfish industry to test for evidence of bacterial contamination, however previous studies indicate that Salmonella could be present in oysters appearing otherwise healthy, indicating the need for testing specific to Salmonella. Oysters harvested from thirty-six bays around the United States showed high prevalence of Salmonella according to a report that appears in the February 2005 journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

New Test May Differentiate Between Poultry Vaccinated Against or Infected with Avian Flu

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:35:00 PST

Avian influenza (AI), a viral disease of poultry, causes a wide range of diseases affecting multiple organs and often resulting in death. In recent years, new strains of the virus have continued to emerge and cross over from the wild bird reservoir to domestic poultry. A new diagnostic test monitoring antibody response to the NS1 virus protein may allow for differentiation between poultry vaccinated or infected with avian influenza say researchers from Georgia.

Bat-CoV - New Coronavirus in Bats

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:31:00 PST

Transmission of animal viruses to humans poses a growing threat worldwide. The recent emergence of SARS, a coronavirus transmitted to humans from wild animals in live animal markets, reinforces the need for virus surveillance in exotic wildlife. Chinese researchers have identified a novel coronavirus found in bats.

Household Dust May Be Source of Infant Botulism

Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:29:00 PST

Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that produces the toxin responsible for botulism, is typically harmless in adults because it cannot grow in the presence of oxygen. But the bacteria have been known to grow in the intestines of infants under the age of 1, often resulting in weakness, paralysis and even death. The sudden onset of infant botulism followed by unexplained death bears a resemblance to circumstances associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

New Coronavirus Identified in Pneumonia Patients

Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:27:00 PST

The new virus, labeled CoV-HKU1, was first identified in a 71-year old pneumonia patient that had just returned from China. Following the discovery, nasal samples were taken from patients suffering from respiratory illness, but negative for SARS and screened for the presence of CoV-HKU1. Samples taken from a 35-year old woman suffering from pneumonia were positive for the virus, supporting the identification of a new group 2 coronavirus.

Llama Antibodies May Help Prevent Dandruff

Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:25:00 PST

The addition of llama antibodies to shampoo could be a new strategy for fighting dandruff, say European researchers. Their findings appear in the January 2005 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Malassezia furfur, a fungus frequently found on the human scalp, is often associated with the formation of dandruff. Current methods of treatment consist of shampoos containing antifungal compounds.

Bacteria can use a Sonar-like system to spot other cells

Fri, 24 Dec 2004 15:57:00 PST

For the first time, scientists have found that bacteria can use a Sonar-like system to spot other cells (either normal body cells or other bacteria) and target them for destruction. Reported in the December 24 issue of Science, this finding explains how some bacteria know when to produce a toxin that makes infection more severe. It may lead to the design of new toxin inhibitors. "Blocking or interfering with a bacterium's "detection" mechanism, should prevent toxin production and limit the severity of infection," says Michael Gilmore, PhD, lead author of the study, and currently director of research at the Schepens Eye Research Institute and professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

C. jejuni May Survive Refrigeration and Frozen Storage Combined

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 12:59:00 PST

A common cause of foodborne disease from poultry products can survive refrigeration and freezing say researchers from Pennsylvania. Their findings appear in the December 2004 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Campylobacter bacteria are estimated to be responsible for 2.5 million cases of infection in the United States each year and 50% of those cases are attributed to contaminated poultry. Campylobacters are believed to achieve optimal growth in extremely warm temperatures while failing to thrive in temperatures below 86 degrees. Campylobacter jejuni appears to be the exception. Previous studies have shown a small portion able to withstand refrigeration and freezing independently, but the combined effect of both has yet to be tested.

Houseflies on cattle farms may contribute to the spread of Escherichia coli

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 12:58:00 PST

Houseflies on cattle farms may contribute to the spread of Escherichia coli O157:H7 among animals, their food supply and potentially humans say researchers from Kansas. Their findings appear in the December 2004 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

New Herpes Vaccine May be Ready for Human Trials

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 12:51:00 PST

New research suggests that a promising herpes vaccine may be ready for testing in humans say researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard Medical School. Their findings appear in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.

RxPG News : Microbiology

The Strange Case of the Radiation-Resistant Bacteria

Evolution of typhoid bacteria

New Treatment Using Human Antibodies to Target Harmful Toxins May Protect Against C. Difficile

Guinea Pig Aerosol Challenge Presents New Model for Q Fever Research in Humans

Gut Bacteria Cospeciating with Plataspid stinkbug

How West Nile virus evades immune defenses

An infectious agent of deception, exposed through proteomics

Gram positive bacterial membrane mystery solved

E.Coli uses 'shock absorbers' to combat adverse conditions

Innovative method for creating a human cytomegalovirus vaccine outlined

Cracking Virus Protection Shield

Viruses trade-off between survival and reproduction

Smart Petri Dish could rapidly screen new drugs for toxic interactions

Master key to yeasts' pathogenic lifestyles discovered

New hybrid virus provides targeted molecular imaging of cancer

Artificial Illumination Using White or Green Light May Prevent Biofilm Formation on Artwork

Mass spectrometry to detect norovirus particles

xCT molecule is a major gateway for KSHV to enter human cells

Surprising discovery about the inner workings of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)

Salmonella bacteria use RNA to assess and adjust magnesium levels

New human retrovirus - Xenotropic MuLV-related virus (XMRV)

Genomics Sheds Light on Metabolism of Cryptic Marine Microbes

How deadly toxin botulinum neurotoxin A hijacks cells

String Test: Effective and Inexpensive Method for Detecting Helicobacter pylori

Multivariate Linear Regression May Assist in Determining Virulence Factors for Microbes

Scientists develop biosensor to detect E. Coli bacteria

Found - bacteria with strange magnetic personality

Student discovers protein in yoghurt that fights E. coli

Viruses can be forced to evolve as better delivery vehicles for gene therapy

Slugs May Spread E. coli to Salad Vegetables

Epstein-Barr Virus Found in Breast Cancer Tissue May Impact Efficiency of Treatment

Honeybees May Transmit Viruses to Their Offspring

Escherichia coli doesnt gamble with its metabolism

Understanding how Rickettsia conorii interacts with host cells

CO2 sensing proves critical for fungal pathogens

Human Papillomavirus Could Spread Through Blood - Study

Gene Identified in Epstein-Barr Virus that May Contribute to Cancer

New Gene Identified for Antiviral Activity

Rapid tests for meningitis and MRSA are being developed

Getting Closer to a Vaccine for Hookworm

E.colis Defense Mechanism Uncovered

Secrets to monoclonal antibody's success against West Nile Virus

Flaviviruses use a novel mechanism to evade host defenses

Adenovirus may deliver bird flu vaccine

A fat-sugar complex that anchors LTA could be target to block bacterial CNS infection

Coronavirus HCoV-NL63 associated strongly with croup

Listeria monocytogenes uses receptor-mediated endocytosis to infect hosts

One bacterial cell can stop the growth of another on physical contact

Oral Vaccine from Bacterial Ghosts May Protect Against E. coli

Olives May Successfully Transmit Beneficial Bacteria to Humans

New Test May Simultaneously Identify Herpesviruses, Enteroviruses, and Flaviviruses

Research team isolates receptor for deadly viruses

Mechanism that lets herpes simplex virus infect is discovered

Why 2003 Monkeypox outbreak in the US wasn't deadly

Biologists see combined structure of Coxsackievirus A21 and ICAM-1

How Nipah and Hendra viruses gain entry into cells

Threadworms dependent on bacteria to survive

The Role of the Rab7 Protein

Phages Affect Gene Expression and Fitness in E. coli

Three New Phases of Repairing DNA Damage in E. coli

Virus Uses Tiny RNA to Evade the Immune System

Virus Subverts Cellular Defense for Reproduction and Escape

Monoclonal antibody cures West Nile Virus

Genomes Offer Ecological Clues to Viruses

Tegument Proteins Help Route Herpesvirus

Clues to a Parasitic Nematodes Bacterial Partnership

The Bacterias Guide to Survival

How a Latent Virus Eludes Immune Defenses

Host Cell Lipids Facilitate Listeria monocytogenes Movement

Norovirus Prevalent in Those Suffering from Traveler's Diarrhea

Oysters in US showed high prevalence of Salmonella

New Test May Differentiate Between Poultry Vaccinated Against or Infected with Avian Flu

Bat-CoV - New Coronavirus in Bats

Household Dust May Be Source of Infant Botulism

New Coronavirus Identified in Pneumonia Patients

Llama Antibodies May Help Prevent Dandruff

Bacteria can use a Sonar-like system to spot other cells

C. jejuni May Survive Refrigeration and Frozen Storage Combined

Houseflies on cattle farms may contribute to the spread of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli doesnt gamble with its metabolism

E.colis Defense Mechanism Uncovered

Clues to a Parasitic Nematodes Bacterial Partnership

The Bacterias Guide to Survival