Escherichia coli may be the world’s most recognized bacterial species, but this one species varies tremendously. E. coli is found almost everywhere; from soil to raw meat to human intestines. There are plenty of good E. coli strains such as…
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For years, health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned that antibiotic resistance is a major global threat. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance estimates that at least 700,000 people…
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) is the greatest infectious killer worldwide after HIV/AIDS. Most cases of the disease can be treated by isoniazid and rifampicin, two powerful anti-TB drugs. Unfortunately, a drug resistant strain has emerged…
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After months of anticipation and media coverage about Zika virus and water quality issues in Brazil, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro are underway. Watching rugby players collide and rowers racing across Guanabara Bay made us…
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In 1950, a United States Navy ship spent six days spraying Serratia marcescens into the air two miles off the coast of San Francisco. The spraying was part of a biological weapon test called Operation Sea Spray. Prior to the…
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Quality control testing for microbial identification systems is an important step all laboratories should take to ensure accurate results. However, it can be difficult to decide which strains to use for QC. In this post, we will provide tips and resources…
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The news about Zika virus and the panic it is causing in Central and South America has been taking center stage for weeks. We have been following this story closely and with great interest. With so much information circulating through…
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Staphylococcus epidermidis colonizes moist body surfaces such as the axillae, nares and toe webs. Normally a harmless species, S. epidermidis can cause clinical disease under the right circumstances. Predisposing factors include immunosuppression and the presence of a medical device such as…
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Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the top causes of hospital-acquired infections. Most at risk for illness are the elderly and the chronically ill. Like an unwelcome guest, A. baumannii is difficult to remove once it moves into a health care…
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