Flesh-eating bacteria infections are on the rise in the US − a microbiologist explains how to protect yourself

Warmer ocean waters are fueling the spread of the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. Infections can lead to a rare but fatal condition called necrotizing fasciitis.

Bill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University • conversation
Sept. 25, 2023 ~6 min

Vaginal bacteria must eat to survive — but how?

Chemical analysis brings understudied microbiome into sharper focus.

Anne J. Manning • harvard
Aug. 15, 2023 ~5 min


_E. coli_ is one of the most widely studied organisms – and that may be a problem for both science and medicine

Researchers uncovered the foundations of biology by using E. coli as a model organism. But over-reliance on this microbe can lead to knowledge blind spots with implications for antibiotic resistance.

Tobias Dörr, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Cornell University • conversation
July 5, 2023 ~8 min

Do you crush microbes when you step on them?

You can squash small bugs by stepping on them, but can you crush even tinier microorganisms like viruses and bacteria? It turns out that you’d need to apply a lot of pressure.

Kenneth F. Reardon, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University • conversation
June 26, 2023 ~8 min

Reconstructing ancient bacterial genomes can revive previously unknown molecules – offering a potential source for new antibiotics

Ancient microbes likely produced natural products their descendants today do not. Tapping into this lost chemical diversity could offer a potential source of new drugs.

Pierre Stallforth, Professor of Bioorganic Chemistry and Paleobiotechnology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena • conversation
May 4, 2023 ~9 min

How do _Candida auris_ and other fungi develop drug resistance? A microbiologist explains

Multidrug-resistant fungal infections are an emerging global health threat. Figuring out how fungi evade treatments offers new avenues to counter resistance.

Jeffrey Gardner, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
May 3, 2023 ~7 min

How do blood tests work? Medical laboratory scientists explain the pathway from blood draw to diagnosis and treatment

Lab testing provides doctors with essential information to help them diagnose and treat disease. Here’s what happens behind the scenes after you roll up your sleeve for a blood draw.

Nicholas Moore, Associate Professor of Medical Laboratory Science, Rush University • conversation
Feb. 14, 2023 ~10 min

Louis Pasteur's scientific discoveries in the 19th century revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today

On World Rabies Day – which is also the anniversary of French microbiologist Louis Pasteur’s death – a virologist reflects on the achievements of this visionary scientist.

Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Texas State University • conversation
Sept. 28, 2022 ~11 min


Humans evolved with their microbiomes – like genes, your gut microbes pass from one generation to the next

As early modern humans spread across the globe, their gut microbes genetically changed with them. Understanding the origins of gut microbes could improve understanding of their role in human health.

Ruth Ley, Director, Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology • conversation
Sept. 15, 2022 ~7 min

Which microbes live in your gut? A microbiologist tries at-home test kits to see what they reveal about the microbiome

The types of microbes residing in your gut can affect your mental and physical health. Home microbiome tests promise to help consumers improve the composition of their gut microbes.

Benjamin Wolfe, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University • conversation
Aug. 15, 2022 ~8 min

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