Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Others Articles

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  Bacterial genetic pathway involved in body odor production discovered

  • Posted by Milton Bertrand
  • March 30, 2015
  • 2 comments
  • 1 endorse
  • 4,547 views

  For many, body odor is an unfortunate side effect of their daily lives. The smell is caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down naturally secreted molecules contained within sweat. Now scientists have studied the underarm microbiome and identified a...  moreFor many, body odor is an unfortunate side effect of their daily lives. The smell is caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down naturally secreted molecules contained within sweat. Now scientists have studied the underarm microbiome and identified a unique set of enzymes in the bacterium Staphylococcus hominis that is effective at breaking down sweat molecules into compounds known as thioalcohols, an important component of the characteristic body odor smell.  
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  Protein-based bioplastics and their antibacterial potential

  • Posted by Milton Bertrand
  • March 28, 2015
  • 1 comment
  • 1 endorse
  • 4,339 views

  Bioplastics made from protein sources such as albumin and whey have shown significant antibacterial properties, findings that could eventually lead to their use in plastics used in medical applications such as wound healing dressings, sutures, catheter...  moreBioplastics made from protein sources such as albumin and whey have shown significant antibacterial properties, findings that could eventually lead to their use in plastics used in medical applications such as wound healing dressings, sutures, catheter tubes and drug delivery, according to a recent study. The bioplastic materials could also be used for food packaging.  
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  Researchers debunk 'five-second rule': Eating food off the floor isn't safe

  • Posted by Milton Bertrand
  • September 11, 2016
  • 0 comments
  • 0 endorses
  • 4,469 views

  Turns out bacteria may transfer to candy that has fallen on the floor no matter how fast you pick it up. Rutgers researchers have disproven the widely accepted notion that it's OK to scoop up food and eat it within a 'safe' five-second window.
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  Microbiomes could hold keys to improving life as we know it

  • Posted by Milton Bertrand
  • November 20, 2015
  • 0 comments
  • 0 endorses
  • 2,849 views

  A consortium of 48 scientists from 50 institutions in the United States -- including Pamela Silver, Ph.D., a Core Faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University -- are calling for a Unified Microbiome...  moreA consortium of 48 scientists from 50 institutions in the United States -- including Pamela Silver, Ph.D., a Core Faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University -- are calling for a Unified Microbiome Initiative that would span national cross-institutional and cross-governmental agency support. The group, called the Unified Microbiome Initiative Consortium (UMIC), envisions that a coordinated effort would drive forward cutting edge microbiome research, enabling breakthrough advances across medicine, ecosystem management, sustainable energy and production of commodities. Their proposal was published online in the journal Science on October 28.  less