Tag

Bacteria

All articles tagged with #bacteria

technology5 days ago•9 min saved

Peering into the Nanoscale: AFM Images Bacteria, Nanoprisms, and More

An atomic force microscope images surfaces by a tiny probe rather than light, achieving sub-nanometer detail; Ben Krasnow’s video shows the probe in action, then uses AFM to image nattō bacteria on a gelatin-coated silicon substrate to immobilize and orient them, and also captures silver nanoprisms, track-etched membranes, and laser-etched diffraction gratings, while noting ongoing work on etching methods and the existence of DIY AFMs.

via Hackaday|

#afm #atomic-force-microscope #bacteria

science16 days ago•14 min saved

Debunking the 10:1 Bacteria Myth: Humans Are Closer to 1:1

A 2016 re-evaluation shows the long-cited 10-to-1 bacteria-to-human-cell ratio is not supported by current evidence. Using updated measurements, the counts are about 3.8×10^13 bacteria and 3.0×10^13 human cells in an average adult, a ratio of roughly 1.3:1 in favor of bacteria. The microbiome remains numerically dominant but not by an order of magnitude; the correction stems from earlier coarse assumptions and a failure to trace the figure to its source. The episode illustrates the value of ordinary scientific due diligence and does not diminish the microbiome’s importance.

via Space Daily|

#bacteria #human-cells #microbiome

health22 days ago•12 min saved

California records fourth known global case of rare tick-borne infection

A California resident diagnosed in April has become the fourth known global case of the tick-borne bacterium Rickettsia lanei, likely acquired in Northern California. The infection is extremely rare and can cause severe illness, including gangrene; doctors are advised to consider early doxycycline treatment if tick exposure is suspected.

via The Independent|

#bacteria #gangrene #health

world25 days ago•10 min saved

Florida teen battles flesh-eating infection after park swim

A 17-year-old Florida boy contracts a rare Vibrio vulnificus infection from a park swim, facing potential limb amputation as doctors treat him at a Pensacola children’s hospital while his family raises funds on GoFundMe.

via The Independent|

#bacteria #florida #hospital

health1 month ago•23 min saved

Target pulls two baby-wipe brands over bacteria contamination risk

Target is recalling two Up & Up baby wipes (Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber) after FDA alerts found contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, including antibiotic‑resistant strains; the bacteria can cause infections in newborns, infants and immunocompromised individuals. Stop using the affected wipes and return them to Target for a full refund; the recall includes specific UPCs and manufacturing/expiry dates.

via New York Post|

#baby-wipes #bacteria #burkholderia-cepacia

science1 month ago•2 min saved

Fog Drops Harbor a Hidden Microbial World

A study in Environmental Microbiology finds fog droplets host millions of bacteria, with concentrations comparable to the ocean; only about 1% of droplets contain bacteria, but a thimbleful can contain around ten million bacteria, including growth of Methylobacteria after fog events that use formaldehyde as food, indicating fog is a habitat that could influence air quality. Harvesting fog for drinking water might remove these microbes, though the ecological impact is not yet clear.

via Futurism|

#air-quality #bacteria #environmental-microbiology

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Ground-Level Fog Hosts Growing Bacteria That Consume Pollutants

Arizona State University researchers found that some ground-level fog droplets host actively growing bacteria—particularly methylobacteria—that consume formaldehyde, turning fog into tiny temporary ecosystems that can reduce airborne pollutants and potentially influence atmospheric chemistry and climate.

via SciTechDaily|

#atmosphere #bacteria #fog

health1 month ago•8 min saved

Summer Heat Elevates Food Poisoning Risk—and How to Stay Safe

Rising temperatures boost bacterial growth, increasing foodborne illness risk—especially with outdoor eating and lapses in hygiene. Common culprits include E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter, with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain that can start within hours to days depending on the pathogen. Prevention centers on good handwashing, proper food handling and storage, thorough cooking, and avoiding the “danger zone” of 40-140°F.

via HuffPost|

#bacteria #food-safety #foodborne-illness

science1 month ago•2 min saved

Space Pneumonia Research Aims to Protect Hearts on Earth

Astronauts aboard the ISS are studying how Streptococcus pneumoniae—a leading cause of pneumonia—affects stem-cell–derived heart tissue in space, using spaceflight’s heightened infection dynamics in the MVP Cell-09 investigation to reveal cellular responses and potential targets to protect heart health on Earth and aid long-duration space missions.

via NASA (.gov)|

#bacteria #health #heart-disease

earth-science1 month ago•4 min saved

540-Million-Year-Old Fossils Reclassified as Microbial Life, Not Animals

New high-resolution imaging of 540-million-year-old filaments initially thought to be animal traces finds cellular structures consistent with bacteria or algae, not animals, suggesting an earlier microbial world and adding nuance to interpretations of the Cambrian timeline and fossil preservation.

via Gizmodo|

#algae #bacteria #earth-science

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Brazilian Microfossil Find Rewrites the Timeline of Early Animal Life

High‑resolution imaging and spectroscopy of Brazilian microfossils show they are microbial bodies (bacteria and algae) rather than traces of tiny animals, challenging the idea that meiofauna existed in the Ediacaran and suggesting ancient oceans may have had too little oxygen for certain animal life before the Cambrian explosion.

via ScienceDaily|

#algae #bacteria #cambrianexplosion

biotech2 months ago•3 min saved

Bacteria-Inspired Peptide Disrupts Cancer Energy, Enhances Radiation Therapy

AurB, a bacteria-derived peptide, enters tumor cell mitochondria and blocks ATP production, starving cancer cells; in preclinical prostate cancer models, its activity is strongest when combined with radiation, slowing tumor growth and prompting plans for clinical trials.

via SciTechDaily|

#aurb #bacteria #biotech

health2 months ago•23 min saved

Biohacker Bryan Johnson touts girlfriend’s vaginal microbiome as elite

Biohacker Bryan Johnson publicly praised his girlfriend Kate Tolo’s vaginal microbiome, claiming her sample is 98.7% Lactobacillus crispatus and in the top 1% of vaginas, linking it to lower infection risks and better IVF outcomes; Tolo acknowledged the post and warned that oral sex carries risks, while the public reveal drew mixed reactions and underscored Johnson’s habit of sharing intimate health details publicly.

via New York Post|

#bacteria #bryan-johnson #health

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Bacteria Build DNA Without a Template, Using the Enzyme as Blueprint

Stanford researchers studying the bacterial DRT3 defense system found that the Drt3b polymerase can synthesize DNA without a separate template, with the protein's own shape acting as the blueprint. The three-part complex—Drt3a, Drt3b, and a non-coding RNA—enables self-contained DNA construction, a previously unseen mechanism with implications for biology, evolution, and future biotech; understanding its role in antiviral defense and potential engineering remains to be explored, and the work was published in Science.

via ScienceAlert|

#anti-phage-defense #bacteria #dna-synthesis

health2 months ago•70 min saved

Airborne antiseptic-tolerant germs detected in ICUs, study hints

A Northwestern-led study finds trace chlorhexidine lingering in ICU rooms can promote antiseptic-tolerant bacteria. In 219 surface samples from six ICUs, about 36% showed tolerance, with sinks highlighted as hotspots and the possibility that aerosols can spread tolerant bacteria to nearby surfaces. Some tolerant strains carry plasmids that could also spread antibiotic resistance, though chlorhexidine remains effective at standard cleaning concentrations. The findings underscore the need for antimicrobial stewardship and more research into how antiseptic use may influence resistance beyond antibiotics.

via Live Science|

#antibiotic-resistance #antiseptic #bacteria