Tag: Microbiology

well-being

The Role of Indoor Air Microbiomes on Lung Health and Asthma

Alex Moir ’23 Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the lungs that can vary in severity and symptoms, usually characterized by difficulty breathing and periodic lung spasms referred to as asthma “attacks.” The direct cause of asthma is unclear; however, recent research has pointed to the human lung myco- and microbiomes as contributing factors. The mycobiome refers to the community of fungi in the … Continue reading The Role of Indoor Air Microbiomes on Lung Health and Asthma

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Biology

A New Potential Vaccine Candidate for Staphylococcus aureus

Alex Moir ’23 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacterium often found in both skin and the upper respiratory tract. Despite its native status in the human body, S. aureus can also act as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. Efforts to create an effective S. aureus vaccine have so far proven unsuccessful due to the diverse array of immunoevasive strategies S. aureus employs. Specifically, … Continue reading A New Potential Vaccine Candidate for Staphylococcus aureus

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2018-19

The Unlikely Relation Between Gut and Brain

By Allan Mai ‘20 With the high selectivity of the blood-brain barrier, it appears unlikely that microorganisms in the stomach could ever be able to reach the brain. However, past studies that have suggested major correlation between depression and specific gut bacteria and even correlation between social behavior and the activities of certain gut bacteria have sparked intense research regarding the “gut-brain” axis. Among these … Continue reading The Unlikely Relation Between Gut and Brain

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2018-19

Different Gut Microbiota for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

By Natalie Lo ‘21 Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of liver cancer and is possibly related to an infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) since it can result in cancer formation through activation of oncogenic proteins, inflammation, and cirrhosis. Through a symbiotic relationship, microorganisms in the gut interact with organs in humans, such as the liver, and play an important role in nutrition … Continue reading Different Gut Microbiota for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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2017-18

Synergistic Products May Possibly Aid Bacterial Survival

By Fatin Chowdhury ‘19 In an introductory microbiology course, students may learn about bacterial synergy. When bacteria synergistically infect a host through a biofilm, for example, different strains work in conjunction with one another, amplifying their effects. Researchers in Germany, led by Dr. Johannes Arp, recently explored the synergetic tendencies of products from a strain of Pseudomonas bacteria designated as QS1027, which in environmental samples … Continue reading Synergistic Products May Possibly Aid Bacterial Survival

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Figure 1. Researchers from Arizona State University found conductive properties in human integrin protein using Scanning Tunnel Microscopy. The image depicts this technique with a single strand of DNA.
2017-18

Finding Conductive Proteins Using Scanning Tunnel Microscopy

By Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 Single molecule detection techniques are used to understand the behaviors of a specific biological molecule and have applications in medical and pharmacological research. This can be critical for understanding how an individual biological molecule, such as a specific protein, functions, as well as its role in a biological pathway. Researchers led by Stuart Lindsay, PhD from Arizona State University found high … Continue reading Finding Conductive Proteins Using Scanning Tunnel Microscopy

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