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 On episode #7 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Cliff, Elio, Margaret, and Michael discuss programmed cell death in E. coli, and the daily synthesis and degradation of enzymes needed for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Margaret McFall-Ngai, Cliff Mintz, Elio Schaecter, and Michael Schmidt.

Right click to download TWiM #7 (44.5 MB, .mp3, 64 minutes).

Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Zune Marketplace, via RSS feed, by email or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app.

Links for this episode:

• E. coli extracelluar death factor EDF
• mRNA cleavage by MazF toxin
• Myxococcus programmed cell death
• Using toxins in antimicrobial bacteriophage
• Death as an option (Small Things Considered)
• Cycling of metalloenzyme inventories in Crocosphaera watsonii (PNAS)
• Growing a green future (Small Things Considered)
• Letters read on TWiM #7

Image of Cyanobacteria in Lake Littoistenjärvi by Stefe via flickr

Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@twiv.tv , or call them in to 908-312-0760. You can also post articles that you would like us to discuss at microbeworld.org and tag them with twim.

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On episode #2 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Cliff, and Michael review a fatal laboratory acquired Yersinia pestis infection, and how gut bacteria which are part of the normal flora of all animals control body weight and metabolic activity.

For those of you who may not know, bubonic plague—which killed thousands of people during outbreaks in the Middle Ages —still occurs at a low level in many places through out the world including sporadic cases in the Western US! About 10 to 20 Americans catch plague each year, and 1 to 3 die of it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nowadays, most cases are in the Four Corners area, where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet, and most victims live in rodent-infested rural housing. Despite the fear that the word plague induces in most people, the infection is easily treated with antibiotics if caught earlier enough (modern antibiotics were discovered in the 1940s starting with penicillin).

"Bring out your dead"from Monty Python and The Holy Grail

Y. pestis, the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, lives in the blood of infected prairie dogs and ferrets and other rodents and can be transmitted to human via bites from infected fleas (which are commonly found in wild rodent populations) that have previously had a blood meal on -infected animals. Interestingly, an article appeared in the NY Times last Fall, which linked climate change (aka global warning) to a reduction in the incidence Y. pestis infections in the Western US.

The article cited a study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, which  tracked climatic conditions in 195 counties in 13 Western states, from Washington to Texas, that reported even one plague case since 1950.

Cases of plague have dropped over time, and authors of the study concluded that rising nighttime temperatures since 1990 may have helped to reduce the incidence of plague. They suggested that warmer nights melt winter snow packs earlier than in the past, leading to drier soil in rodent burrows. When the soil gets too dry, fleas die and plague can no longer be transmitted from infected rodents to human hosts. Talk about an upside for global warming!!!!!!

While this may be good news for potential plague victims, the incidence of plague in the US is so low that the public health benefits offered by climate change may be nominal as compared with the damage that global warming will cause if continues unchecked. That said, who knew that climate change and bacterial pathogenesis were interconnected?

To learn more about the less well known interrelationships between bacteria, animals and the planet we invite you to continue to listen to TWiM. You can subscribe to TWiM (free) at the Zune Marketplace, via RSS feed, by email or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Listening!

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This Week in Microbiology (TMiV)—created by BioCrowd founder Vincent Racaniello and sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)—launched today, with episode #1 posted at microbeworld.org/twim. It will soon be available on iTunes and the Zune marketplace.

The first episode focused on the antibacterial properties of metallic cooper and the discovery that Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, had somehow acquired human DNA sequences. Stan Maloy, a past President of ASM, and Michael Schmidt joined Vincent (host) and me (co-host) for the inaugural podcast.  

Future TWiM topics include the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, bacterial food poisoning, adaptation of microbial life in extreme environments and the use of bacteria in green energy production.

The goal of TWiM is to improve the public understanding of microbiology and related topics. To that end, we encourage listeners to contact us with comments, kvetches, suggestions and ideas for future podcasts.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Listening!!!!!!

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BioCrowd co-founders Vincent Racaniello and Cliff Mintz (aka BioJobBlogger) today in association with Microbe World (sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology) created the first episode of This Week in Microbiology (TWiM), a podcast series that explores various topics in microbiology that have relevance for the lay public.

Following in the path of his successful shows 'This Week in Virology' (TWiV) and 'This Week in Parasitism' (TWiP), Vincent and his guests produce an informal yet informative conversation about microbes which is accessible to everyone, no matter what their science background.

This week’s show focused on the antibacterial properties of metallic cooper and the discovery that Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, had somehow acquired human DNA sequences. Stan Maloy and Michael Schmidt joined Vincent (host) and me (co-host) for the inaugural podcast.  

TWiM podcasts will be available at TWiV, Microbe World, BioCrowd and BioJobBlog. They can also be downloaded from iTunes and the Zune Store once we get permission to post them at those sites.

The goal of TWiM is to improve the public understanding of microbiology and related topics. While there are no exams or pop quizzes, TWiM does encourage interaction with the audience email and skype. Listeners can also use Microbe World to suggest topics for the show by submitting articles or papers to the site and tagging them with "TWiM"

I will post the first TWiV installment as soon as Vincent edits today’s podcast!

Until next time...

Good Luck and Listen to TWiM!!!!!!!!!

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As an American I enjoy the freedom of expression guaranteed to me by the first amendment of the Constitution. Likewise, others who may disagree with the things I say can choose to let their feelings be known to me by commenting on my blog posts. 

While I am willing to engage others who may disagree with me, some of the comments (see below) that I  received from anti-vaccine advocates reveal how misinformed and extremist many of them are.

Name: JOHN

Email: KLEINC@JUNO.COM

Phone: 555.555.1555

Comments: YOU PEOPLE SUCK!!!  One word...... DIE 

 

Name: Cynthia

Email:  helenh@aol.com

Phone: 908 343 6778

Comments: your company sucks. Your killing people all over the place.
you don'nt think we know this! All your vaccines are lined with
squalene.you thrive on people staying sick. your workers are all
branewashed. Little do they know u are killing them off too.yu know
what you guys are?  HITLER yes thats right, HITLER. You know where all
you guys are going! 

 

A good friend of mine told me once that “engaging fanatics in discourse is a waste of time; all they want to do is kill you.” I think he may have been right! Nevertheless, I am and will continue to be a staunch support of childhood and other vaccinations. And ironically, the anti-vaccine people who left me those comments (and likely refused to be vaccinated) are probably at greater risk of dying than me! 

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!

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Let me say at the outset of this post that I have a PhD in Bacteriology and admittedly less than objective when it comes to the topic of microbiology education and improving the public understanding of science. However, in today’s New York Times Science Times section there were no fewer than five articles that required some knowledge of microbiology to understand the implications about what was written.

1. Vaccination is Steady, but Pertussis is Surging
2. Really? The Claim: More Sugar Leads to More Cavities
3. Steep Drop Seen in Circumcisions in the U.S.
4. Patterns: Medicare Coverage Drives Antibiotic Use
5. Vital Signs: Nipple Piercings Add to Risk of Abscesses

While it doesn’t require a PhD to decipher the information in this article a basic understanding of microbiology would allow readers to understand the significance and future implications of the material that was presented. For example, in the article about nipple piercings; anybody who has taken an introductory microbiology class knows that bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes can cause pus-laden infections and if left untreated can result in potentially life-threatening abscess formation. Sugar and cavities? Microbiology 101 students all know that bacteria like S. mutans (that live in everyone’s mouths) ferment sugars and produce lactic acid that degrades tooth enamel and can cause cavities. And, most entry level microbiology students understand that the overuse of conventional antibiotics is largely responsible for the emergence of multiple drug resistant bacteria like multiple drug resistant S. aureus MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE).

The point that I am trying to make is that bacteria are all around us; some do good things like fix nitrogen to improve crop yields and produce oxygen during photosynthesis while others cause devastating acute and chronic infections. Nevertheless, the lay public is largely ignorant about the microbes on and around them. Most of my friends, many of whom have advanced degrees in their fields, don’t know the difference between a virus and a bacterium and believe that it is okay to treat a cold with antibiotics! How can people modify their behaviors to effectuate change to improve their lives if they lack a rudimentary understanding of the factors responsible for conditions that afflict them?

Don’t get me wrong—we don’t need more PhD microbiologists. However, requiring all high school biology students and maybe biology degree students to have a firm understanding of the fundamental principles of microbiology would be a great start toward improving the lives of many Americans!

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!

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Virologist and BioCrowd co-founder Vincent Racaniello, PhD recently gave a talk at the Spring 2010 meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The talk, entitled ‘Social Media in Microbiology Education and Research’ reviewed how Professor Racaniello uses blogging, podcasting, and other social media tools to teach the public about viruses.

To learn more about Vincent and how he uses social media to increase the publics’ awareness about viruses and other infectious agents, please visit the BioCrowd website.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to suspend sale of Rotarix, its rotavirus vaccine, because it may contain porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV-1) DNA sequences. The FDA and the company both found traces of PCV-1 DNA in the vaccine. It is not clear whether whole virus is in the vaccine or just pieces of its DNA. Luckily, PCV-1 isn’t known to cause disease in humans and infants vaccinated with the vaccine are not likely to experience any health or medical issues..

The agency insists that this is a temporary and cautionary suspension of Rotarix sales. FDA officials are advising physicians to use Merck’s RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine instead, which is made using a different method and which shows no evidence of PCV-1 contamination. Merck and GSK have been vigorously competing for market share in the US vaccine marketplace.

Unfortunately, things haven’t been going well for the highly regarded GSK vaccines division in the past few years. First, the company had trouble getting its anti-cervical cancer vaccine, Cervarix approved in the US. And the company just recently announced that it may not seek regulatory approval for Synflorix, a new pneumococcal disease vaccine that was suppose to compete with Pfizer’s  (formerly Wyeth’s) second generation 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine called Prevnar.

This isn’t the first time that animal DNA sequences have been found in human biotechnology products. Last June, Genzyme was forced to shut down one of its biomanufacturing facilities to clean up viral contamination that had been slowing down production of two of its main products, Cerezyme and Fabrazyme. The virus, Vesivirus 2117, is known to interfere with the growth of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and is believed to have been introduced through a cell culture nutrient. The virus doesn’t infect humans, but the shutdown cost the company millions in revenue and caused shortages of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme.

Because many vaccine and biotechnology products are manufactured in mammalian tissue culture cell lines, detection of non-human viruses these products are neither uncommon nor unprecedented. However, the recent spate of high profile, virally-contaminated vaccines and biologics suggests that biomanufacturers must be more vigilant when it comes to virus removal and microbiological testing from these products.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!

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Last week, I took a group of Seattle researchers to task about issuing a press release about isolating methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from sand samples taken from public beaches in Washington State. Their findings were neither remarkable nor news worthy and likely did more harm than good. Sadly, another article about MRSA—designed to alarm rather than inform and educate the American public—appeared in today’s Science section of the NY Times.

The article, “Ties to Pets Has Germ Jumping To and Fro” in which the word “germ” appeared several times, reports on the possible transmission of MRSA between humans and their pets, most notably dogs and cats. Much of the article focuses on the “strong link between animal to human transmission,” offers several frightening examples of serious zoonotic cases that have been recently reported and suggests that cats are eight times more likely than other pets to transmit MRSA to their owners. After reading the first part of the article, readers would rightfully believe that we are in the midst of a massive zoonotic MRSA epidemic with family pets at its epicenter.  However, on the second page of the article the author mentions an epidemiological survey study conducted by Dr. J. Scott Weese, a veterinarian from the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada which showed  that only “two to three percent of pets carry MRSA on their fur or skin or in their saliva.” Further, the study suggests that healthy animals that are transiently colonized by MRSA eliminate them “in a manner of weeks.” Compare the 2 to 3 per cent carrier rate in pets with an almost 70% human carriage rate of MRSA. While I am a PhD-trained infectious disease microbiologist, I don’t think it requires a PhD to quickly realize that pets really aren’t a major source or cause of MRSA infections for humans. That said, raising awareness among veterinarians about MRSA might aid in the development of appropriate disease surveillance, diagnostic testing, andinfection control to lessen the impact of MRSA on smallanimals.

I have no doubt that many people will look at and possibly treat their pets differently after reading the Times article. Further, many will unnecessarily spend money to have their pets tested for the presence or absence of MRSA. While informing the American public that pets (like humans) might unknowingly transmit MRSA is a good thing, turning the rare transmission of MRSA from animals to humans into a major epidemiological brou-ha-ha is misleading, scientifically disingenuous and reckless. Good journalism should inform and educate, not alarm and frighten people by presenting misleading and wrong-headed information. 

Until next time....

Good Luck and Good petting your pets (it will do more good than harm)

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Several weeks ago, I blogged about a growing need to improve the American public’s perception and understanding of the life sciences if the US wants to remain competitive in science and technology. Much to my delight, there was an article this Sunday’s NY Times entitled “Microbes R Us” which explores the evolutionary relationship with bacteria and humans. It was written by Dr. Olivia Judson an evolutionary biologist and author of “Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex,” which was made into a three part television program.

While the evolutionary relationship between bacteria and humans isn’t as titillating as the biology of sex, the article sheds light on the importance of bacteria and how genetic changes in bacteria that normally inhabit the human intestinal track can have a positive impact on human nutrition and health. Many lay people believe that bacteria are “bad” because certain species can cause serious and potentially life threatening diseases. However, the benefits, advantages and uses of bacteria e.g., to make food, antibiotics and other medicines, far outweigh their negative impact on society. 

Articles like the one written by Ms. Judson, offer the public unqique insights into  the amazing and often fascinating world of microbiology. I hope that a few aspiring young scientists read the article and tell all their friends about it!

Until next time....

Good Luck and Good Reading!!!!!!

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Salmonella enteriditis, an organism dear to my heart (luckily not my posterior small intestine) is a common cause of food poisoning. As some of you may know, I did my PhD thesis work on Salmonella gastroenteritis (aka food poisoning) and I like to think that I am something of an expert on the topic. 

Typically, Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks are localized and rarely reach epidemic proportions. However, there have recently been two major nationwide Salmonella outbreaks in the US —one in 2007 and now in early 2009.

The current outbreak has afflicted 388 people in 42 states and may be caused by the same strain (Saint Paul) that was responsible for the 2007 outbreak. Ultimately, the 2007 outbreak was linked to contaminated tomatoes. The jury is still out on the cause of the most recent outbreak. Needless to say, CDC scientists are scurrying to quickly identify the source of the current outbreak because it took the agency over 5 months to conclusively identify the culprit in the 2007 epidemic. Not surprisingly, many grocery stores and restaurants suffered financially because of the outbreak.

Many of you may be wondering why Salmonella food poisoning is becoming such a problem in the US. I don’t believe that the strains responsible for the most recent outbreaks are more virulent than the ones that have traditionally caused more localized outbreaks. Instead, the reliance of food manufacturers and grocery store chains on one or two major food distributors (rather than multiple suppliers) is likely responsible for the severity and breadth of these nationwide outbreaks. This suggests that regulatory agencies ought to more closely scrutinize the microbiological quality of the operations of the major distributors. I believe that those efforts would greatly reduce the likelihood of future major outbreaks of food poisoning.

Until next time.

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting (avoid raw vegetables, undercooked poultry and raw eggs)
 

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Yes, even the Ivy League isn’t immune to food poisoning outbreaks from time-to-time. There are currently 10 confirmed cases of Salmonella food poisoning at Princeton U. Another 50 people or so have also fallen ill with gastrointestinal symptoms consistent with Salmonella food poisoning.  As a precaution, university officials have temporarily discontinued doing business with their produce suppliers. For those of you who don’t know, Princeton is famous (infamous?) for its so-called dining clubs. These clubs take the place of sororities and fraternities which are not allowed at this august institution of higher education. Obviously, there is more than eating that goes on at these “dining clubs.”

The reason I am blogging about the outbreak is two-fold. First, I live about seven miles from Princeton and it has been all over the local news. Second, I did my PhD work on the pathogenesis of Salmonella gastroenteritis. So, Salmonella food poisoning is dear to my heart (thankfully, not my gastrointestinal tract). Many infectious disease experts tend to dismiss the seriousness of Salmonella gastroenteritis. This is likely because it is usually not as devastating as shigellosis or infections caused by enteroinvasive strains of Escherichia coli (which is actually Shigella masquerading as E. coli). As my major professor once put it “You know when you have Salmonella gastroenteritis—if you can’t decide than it is not salmonellosis.”

I am happy to report that I never came down with gastroenteritis while working for over three years with enteroinvasive Salmonella strains (even though I was routinely mouth pipetting and eating lunch in the lab; practices which aren’t acceptable by today’s standards). I like to think that “the bugs” were afraid of me. Alternatively I had either a great immune system or extremely good aseptic techniques. Whatever the reason, it is always embarrassing when card-carrying microbiologists come down with the disease(s) that they are studying. Luckily, I never came down with the disease caused by the bacterium that I was studying during my first postdoctoral fellowship—Neisseria gonorrhoeae. That would have been extremely difficult to explain!

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting (remember to wash your hands)!!!!!!!!

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