MicrobeWorld

Want to know what illnesses are flourishing nearby without getting sick yourself? The builders of HealthMap, an online service that collects and maps various reports of infectious diseases such as the H1N1 swine flu, have launched a similarly ill application for the iPhone.

Outbreaks Near Me,... Read More

Using genetic analysis, scientists discover that a type of germ used for cleaning up toxic sites is actually many types of germs that gobble up different kinds of crud. This suggests that a smorgasbord of microbes could be customized for different applications – ranging from cleaning nuclear dum... Read More

Biotransformation of the blueberry juice was achieved with a new strain of bacteria isolated from the blueberry flora, specifically called Serratia vaccinii, which increases the fruit's antioxidant effects. "The identification of the active compounds in biotransformed blueberry juice may result ... Read More

Even if recognizing that microorganisms cause bad breath and "most" other bad odors, microbiologists who study odor makers have "never gotten together, and we're not sharing information on how to sample and characterize [these phenomena]," says Mel Rosenberg of Tel-Aviv University in Tel-Aviv, I... Read More

All primary school-age children in New York City will be offered free vaccines for seasonal and H1N1 flu this year under a plan announced on Tuesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The vaccines are part of the city's strategy to combat the new H1N1 swine flu strain that hit the city hard during t... Read More

In the fight against tooth decay, an Australian native plant’s antibacterial properties could provide a natural alternative to medicated mouthwashes.

Research conducted at Swinburne University’s Environment and Biotechnology Centre has found that extracts from the emu bush (Eremophila longifo... Read More

In Room 519 of Kindred Hospital, Linda Rivera can no longer speak.

Her mute state, punctuated only by groans, is the latest downturn in the swift collapse of her health that began in May when she curled up on her living room couch and nonchalantly ate several spoonfuls of the Nestlé cookie d... Read More

This essay, by Donald McNeil Jr, examines the historical need for societies to place blame in the aftermath of an epidemic.

“When disease strikes and humans suffer,” said Dr. Liise-anne Pirofski, chief of infectious diseases at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an expert on the history... Read More

In case we have not seen enough articles on H1N1, the Washington Post has a short article with answers to several common questions. Nothing groundbreaking, but this may be useful with flu season rapidly approaching. Read More

Batteries made with microbes could help generate power by cleaning up organic waste at the same time.

Sewage is loaded with energy-rich sugars that researchers have struggled for years to convert into useful power. To do so, investigators have experimented with nature's experts on breaking do... Read More

Swiss scientists say a mosquito capable of spreading the deadly West Nile virus has been detected in central Europe for the first time.

Zurich University researchers say the Asian rock pool mosquito has colonized an area of 1,400 square kilometres (540 square miles) in central Switzerland.
... Read More

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959 to great fanfare. The system of canals connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the five Great Lakes cut a lucrative international trade route through the heartland and gave the United States a refuge and staging ground for ships and submarines in case of war with... Read More

Oxygen is made possible in part by ocean viruses. The viruses which infect single-celled algae called cyanobacteria, are hyperefficient photosynthesisers thanks to a unique set of genes.

"Previous work had shown that cyanophage viruses have some photosynthesis genes, apparently used to keep t... Read More

In 2000, researchers from the University of Washington's toxicology department published a paper that looked at the validity of "auto-brewery syndrome," a tactic lawyers apparently have used to get their clients off of a DUI charge.

"The concentration of ethanol in blood, breath or urine cons... Read More

A new national commission, the One Health Commission, has been established to spotlight the connections between human, animal, and environmental health, as well as the benefits of proactive and collaborative approaches toward better health for all.

The formation of the Commission comes at a ... Read More

On 23 Aug 2009 the Institute of Public Health (Chile) announced the first isolation of a A(H1N1) swine virus in turkeys. The finding was done by the Chilean farming agency SAG and the confirmation and genetic studies are being done in Chile's national reference laboratory.

The conclusion of t... Read More

"Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have shown that enzymes from bacteria-infecting viruses known as phages could have beneficial applications for human and animal health.

Phage enzymes called endolysins attack bacteria by breaking down their cell walls. Unlike antibiotic... Read More

This article, from USA Today, goes over the state of the science for synthetic biology. Topics covered include current research and developments in synthetic biology as well as risks and doubts about the field. Read More

In California, tests are under way on at least 100 insects that can carry a deadly citrus bacterium that were found inside a FedEx package .

"The finding this week by a sniff dog in Sacramento is the latest bad news for the state's $1.6 billion citrus industry, which has seen the Asian citru... Read More

According to U.S. News and World Report, in 2008 some people got sick or died after receiving probiotics. "What role, if any, these bacteria played remains uncertain. Such events have, however, been giving some researchers and clinicians doubts about the safety of this ostensibly benign and "all... Read More