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Science Magazine - 15 January 2016

http://www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagazine/15_january_2016?sub_id=t9szeQOEdQ1w&folio=224&pg=25

sciencemagazinedigital.org In the late 19th century, Robert Koch established his famous postulates as tringent guidelines to evaluate cau- sation in infectious disease (1). These original postulates require isolation of the putative pathogen and reinfection of a healthy host to prove causation. Over the years, Koch’s postulat…

Marine fungi reveal new branches on tree of life: Researchers have discovered several new...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151118071007.htm

sciencedaily.com

CRISPR/Cas9 comes from strep bacteria…

CRISPR is actually a naturally-occurring, ancient defence mechanism found in a wide range of bacteria. As far as back the 1980s, scientists observed a strange pattern in some bacterial genomes. One DNA sequence would be repeated over and over again, with unique sequences in between the repeats. They called this odd configuration “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,” or CRISPR.

This was all puzzling until scientists realised the unique sequences in between the repeats matched the DNA of viruses — specifically viruses that prey on bacteria. It turns out CRISPR is one part of the bacteria’s immune system, which keeps bits of dangerous viruses around so it can recognise and defend against those viruses next time they attack. The second part of the defence mechanism is a set of enzymes called Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins), which can precisely snip DNA and slice the hell out of invading viruses. Conveniently, the genes that encode for Cas are always sitting somewhere near the CRISPR sequences.

What makes the gut microbiome stable?
By Caroline Ash

Classically, we think of our microbiome as stable, benign, and cooperative. Recent experimental work is beginning to unpick essential functions that can be attributed to the stable microbiota of humans. To be able to manipulate the microbiome to improve health, we need to understand community structure and composition and we need models to quantify and predict stability. Coyte et al. applied concepts and tools from community ecology to gut microbiome assembly. Independently developed models converged on a surprising answer: A high diversity of species is likely to coexist stably when the system is dominated by competitive, rather than cooperative, interactions.

A new class of cancer treatments that unleash the power of the immune system on tumors may depend on some unlikely allies. Two studies of mice in this week's issue of Science demonstrate that the gut microbiome—the swarms of microorganisms dwelling in the intestines—determines how effective these cancer immunotherapies are. Known as checkpoint inhibitors, the therapies foil one of cancer's most devious survival tricks: its ability to turn off the immune response that might otherwise attack tumor cells. In one case, researchers found that a checkpoint inhibitor targeting CTLA4, a molecule on T cells, works best in mice if their guts contain bacteria in the Bacteroides and Burkholderia genera. In the other, a drug targeting PD-L1 showed a similar dependency on members of the genus Bifidobacterium.

Recent advances in DNA sequencing and analysis have shown that much of the microbial life on Earth differs from previously described organisms. The organisms in this “microbial dark matter” are globally ubiquitous and numerous but have largely unknown physiologies. Given their great evolutionary distance from all laboratory cultures, these mysterious organisms may harbor unique functions with potentially useful biotechnological applications. Like most environments on Earth, coal-bed reservoirs contain microbial dark matter. In Science Evans et al. show that members of the microbial dark matter phylum Bathyarchaeota from coal beds have the genetic potential to generate methane.

astronomers have detected ethanol, the sugar glycolaldehyde, and other organic molecules spewing from a comet known as comet Lovejoy, New Scientist reports. When comets pass near the sun, their ancient ice and dust boil off to form long tails, and the composition of this v***r gives researchers a glimpse into the conditions of the early universe. Astronomers based their analysis of comet Lovejoy, published last Friday in Science Advances, on observations made in January when the comet passed so close to the sun it could be seen with the naked eye

Happy Easter !!

Bacteriograph: Photographs Printed with Bacterial Growth

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/09/16/bacteriograph-photographs-printed-with-bacterial-growth/

petapixel.com Microbiologist-turned-photographer Zachary Copfer has developed an amazing photo-printing technique that's very different from any we've seen before.

Timeline Photos

PLoS Pathogens: Fungi and the Rise of Mammals

http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002808

plospathogens.org From molecules to physiology

April 1956: Preserve Your Meat and Produce With Atomic Radiation | Australian Popular Science

http://www.popsci.com.au/science/april-1956-preserve-your-meat-and-produce-with-atomic-radiation

popsci.com.au This article originally appeared in the April 1956 issue of Popular Science."Put that hamburger back in the refrigerator before it...

Bacteria, viruses and fungi (oh my!) on the human body

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-bacteria-viruses-fungi-human-body-20120614,0,7687030.story

latimes.com There has been lots of excitement this week as a horde of scientists released their first looks at the trillions of microbes that live in (or on) our bodies.

Tell Amazon.com Japan to Stop Selling Whale Meat

Tell Amazon.com Japan to Stop Selling Whale Meat

secure.humanesociety.org Amazon.com Japan sells whale meat from endangered and threatened species. Many of these products are mercury polluted and a health risk. Send a letter to the President of Amazon.com to help save whales.

Seems legit...

Thank you Warren & Julie Photography for our perfect 2011 corporate Christmas gift wrapping and card writing. All going well we'll do an encore in 2012

Living antibiotics – bacteria that suck the life out of their prey | Lab Rat, Scientific American Bl

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/lab-rat/2011/11/09/living-antibiotics-bacteria-that-suck-the-life-out-of-their-prey/?WT_mc_id=SA_WR_20111110

blogs.scientificamerican.com Bacteria will eat anything. Their highly diverse biochemistry, and ability to adapt quickly to change means that they can adapt to take up nutrients ...

Welcome Heather Riddell to Van Eyk Pty Ltd

Biggest virus in world found at bottom of sea

http://www.theage.com.au/world/science/biggest-virus-in-world-found-at-bottom-of-sea-20111011-1lhz7.html

theage.com.au Biggest virus in world found at bottom of sea

E. Coli-Mail: Microbial Messengers Used to Keep Secrets Safe: Scientific American Gallery

scientificamerican.com

Particles found to break speed of light, challenging laws of physics

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/particles-found-to-break-speed-of-light-challenging-laws-of-physics-20110923-1kntb.html

theage.com.au Particles found to break speed of light, challenging laws of physics

Guest Blog: Scientists Discover That Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps May Be Making You (and Society) S

scientificamerican.com A few weeks ago as I was walking out of a Harris Teeter grocery store in Raleigh, North Carolina, I saw a man face a moment of crisis. You could see it in the acrobatic contortions of his face. He had pulled a cart out of the area where carts congregate,

Scientists fight bugs with poo

reuters.com LONDON (Reuters) - Once a year, every year, Professor Thomas Borody receives a single-stem rose from one of his most grateful patients. She is, he says, thanking him for restoring her bowel flora.It's

New Scientist TV: How can some people shoot lightning from their heads?

newscientist.com It's probably the best party trick you could wish for - the ability to produce lightning out of your own head. But if you thought it was a talent reserved for superheroes, take a look at this video, which shows performers who appear to produce lightning on demand. If you want to find out how they a

Drug-Resistant Genes Spread among Bacteria: Scientific American

scientificamerican.com Unlike other superbugs, a new class of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are gaining their power from easily transferable genes such as NDM-1

New Scientist TV: Malaria caught on camera breaking and entering cell

newscientist.com The video above captures the moment when a malaria parasite invades a human red blood cell - the first time the event has been caught in high resolution.

Guest Blog: The worms within

scientificamerican.com Some of the worms and germs we’ve been warding off may actually keep us well. One solution, some scientists say, is to welcome them back I met William Parker just two days before World Toilet Day, an international campaign to break taboos abo

The staff at Van Eyk Pty Ltd would like to wish their clients a Safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, thank you for your support through out the year. See you all in 2011.