MicrobeWorld

Contrary to the prevailing view, cereal crops derive the majority of their nitrogen from the soil, not fertilizer. Soils differ considerably in microbial activities that determine nitrogen-supplying power, and these differences must be taken into account if nitrogen fertilizers are to be used ef... Read More

A team of Princeton University scientists may have found a better way to make a vaccine against the flu virus.

Though theoretical, the work points to the critical importance of what has been a poorly appreciated aspect of the interaction between a virus and those naturally produced defensive ... Read More

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Many people suffering from swine influenza, even those who are severely ill, do not have fever, an odd feature of the new virus that could increase the difficulty of controlling the epidemic, said a leading American infectious disease expert who examined cases in Mexico last week.

Fever is a ... Read More

NASA is applying space technology to a decidedly down-to-earth effort that links the production of algae-based fuel with an inexpensive method of sewage treatment.

The space agency is growing algae for biofuel in plastic bags of sewage floating in the ocean.

The effort has three goals: Pro... Read More

Here's an interesting article about biohackers, people who create homemade labs and tinker with microbes, and the national security issues these endeavors inevitably bring up. What's also of note is that it seems the Dept. of Homeland defense is monitoring this activity closely.

In Massachuse... Read More

Do you know where your cell phone has been? Probably in your lint covered pocket, after being handled by fingers that have eaten food and touched many surfaces, and covered in your own spittle after your last call. Hey can I borrow your phone? No.

In a March 2009 study published in the Annals... Read More

University of Florida researchers have learned more about how smallpox conducts its deadly business — discoveries that may reveal as much about the human immune system as they do about one of the world's most feared pathogens.

In findings to be published this week in the online early edition ... Read More

Once Upon a Time there was a little flu virus. It was probably born in Kansas in late 1917 or 1918, although nobody is really sure. Its name was H1N1. It grew up to be very wicked.

The story of the new strain of swine influenza now circling the world actually starts a lot farther back than t... Read More

From the NYTimes - The first case of swine flu in China was confirmed yesterday as the epidemic continued moving around the world, with the World Health Organization reporting about 4,700 laboratory-confirmed cases in 30 countries.

Health authorities are carefully watching the Southern Hemisp... Read More

Childhood vaccinations can be a painful experience, especially for toddlers. Researchers from the University of Toronto decided to see if the order of receiving vaccinations could help alleviate their suffering:

"Typically, infants receive DPTaP-Hib (for diphtheria, polio, pertussis, tetanus ... Read More

Just as the media chatter about H1N1 influenza reached a fever pitch, traders were expressing a more sober outlook.

At least that's the word from the Iowa Electronic Health Markets, which opened H1N1 futures contracts on April 28th to assess the breadth, speed and severity of the outbreak. "O... Read More

HIV co-discoverers Drs. Robert C. Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Luc A. Montagnier, president of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, called on international organizations and governments to immediately i... Read More

H1N1 swine flu is spreading fast enough to justify the preparations for a pandemic, say epidemiologists who've analysed the pattern of spread so far.

"The message is that the epidemic is spreading very much as expected based on past flu epidemics," says Christophe Fraser of Imperial College L... Read More

Iran's four saltmen, unique salt mummies, have found a new resting place is one of the most advanced display cases in the world.

The vacuum chamber in Zanjan can precisely control humidity and airflow and is provided with a nitrogen-rich mixture deadly to known bacteria and mold.

I had no... Read More

The University of California-Berkeley is incorporating volunteers to help pinpoint the flash points of sudden oak death syndrome.

"The furtive, runaway disease earned its name by killing oaks from the inside. After about a year, infected oaks succumb to the disease. Sudden oak disease has ki... Read More

Scientists have created a new antimicrobial paint kills disease-causing bacteria, mold, fungi and viruses. Apparently it can be "recharged" using a simple chlorination process.

"The paint contains a new antimicrobial polymer with a type of N-halamine, a bleach-like substance that kills germs.... Read More

It was the first underground movement in our planet's history: Primitive bacteria that lived 2.75 billion years ago built themselves caves to live in, according to a new study. Today, the traces they left behind are stoking hopes that similar life forms could exist on Mars.

Early Earth was a ... Read More

The oceans still contain mysteries with the potential to help humanity. For example, scientists have discovered a sea sponge they say could help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Peter Moeller: What we found was a sponge growing in a pristine state. It was thriving in an environment that w... Read More

Health officials worldwide have a watchful eye on the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season is about to begin. How H1N1 circulates there may determine how aggressively U.S. health officials approach the flu in the fall.

Although it is far from certain that a vaccine for the bug often called s... Read More