Hi-tech Vaccine Designed By Students Shows Promise Against Ulcer Causing Bacteria Dec 19, 2008
Their strategy was to modify the flagellin of Helicobacter pylori by transplanting segments of flagellin from another bacterium, which is able to efficiently activate cellular immune receptors ... (July 15, 2008) Remnants of the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, have been discovered in gastric tissue from North American mummies. (Science Daily)
Why A Virus With Unusual Properties Injects Unusual Substance Into E. Coli Bacteria Dec 18, 2008
Part of the N4 phage's DNA is shaped like a hairpin, whereas the E. coli bacterium's DNA is not shaped like a hairpin ... "The N4 virus injects its own RNA polymerase, which is a type of protein, into the E. coli cell. This system could be replicated and used to deliver proteins or drugs that kill the bacterium," said Murakami. (Science Daily)
Swimmers not browned off as beaches clean up Dec 17, 2008
Malabar remains the most polluted and Coogee slid below the recommended safe levels for the presence of enterococci, a bacterium which can pose serious health risks. The apparent contradiction between generally cleaner water but a drop in the number of beaches that passed water quality tests is explained by this year's high rainfall. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
County: Child likely died from MRSA, chickenpox Dec 16, 2008
According to CDC statistics, the MRSA microbe, a strain of a once innocuous staph bacterium that has become invulnerable to first-line antibiotics, is responsible for more than 94,000 serious infections and nearly 19,000 deaths each year across the country. Shrout, who lived with his grandfather, younger sister and a 3-year-old brother, suffered a knee injury Dec. 8 after falling off his skateboard, a Volusia County Sheriff's Office report shows. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Mathematical Model Gives Clearer Picture Of Physics Of Cells, Organelles Dec 16, 2008
(June 18, 2003) Researchers looking inside a pathogenic soil bacterium have found an organelle, a subcellular pouch, existing independently from the plasma membrane. The discovery within a prokaryotic organism. (Science Daily)
Toothbrushing Can Prevent Hospital-borne Pneumonia Dec 16, 2008
A regular toothbrushing kills the growth and subsequent spread of the bacterium that leads to VAP.. Augmenting the Preventative Routine. (Science Daily)
A Patient Guide to Injectable Botox Dec 14, 2008
Botox, botulism toxin A, is a neurotoxin produced by a bacterium which has the effect of relaxing wrinkles. Manufactured by Allergan, the toxin arrives in a small bottle on dry ice. (Suite101.com)
What's Your Flu IQ? Dec 14, 2008
For instance, strep throat is a bacterium, but the flu is a virus. Antibiotics can't help with the flu at all. (CBS News)
In bacteria, vet sees key to human ills Dec 14, 2008
CAUSE: The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by infected black-legged ticks ... CAUSE: The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, carried by the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. (News & Observer)
Easier To Produce Drugs Using New Biosensor Dec 14, 2008
(June 8, 2005) Scientists at Stockholm University in Sweden have now mapped out nearly all of the membrane proteins in the enteric bacterium Escherichia coli. Their study is published this week in Science. (Science Daily)
The medium is the message: Manipulating salmonella in spaceflight curtails infectiousness Dec 13, 2008
S. typhimurium, Nickerson's pathogen of choice, is a rod-shaped, motile bacterium and occasional unwelcome visitor to the human gastrointestinal tract, where it is a leading cause of food poisoning and related illnesses ... To Nickerson, these compelling results now suggested a possible means of limiting or eliminating the enhanced virulence imparted by spaceflight, through manipulation of the ionic content of the bacterium's surrounding environment ... If a rolling stone gathers no moss, a... (EurekAlert!)
Doctors fighting 'fierce battle' against dangerous staph infections Dec 12, 2008
That s because the staph bacterium often adapts to the drugs and grows stronger. So every time we give the antibiotic, they try to look for ways to destroy the antibiotic and survive. (KHOU.com, TX)
Advantages of Botoxmore than just skin deep Dec 11, 2008
Clostridium botulinum -- the bacterium that can cause a paralytic disease called botulism -- has come a long way, baby. This summer, Halifax Health started training its family practice residents in using Botox for cosmetic reasons and offering it to employees at a discount. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Insecticides Or Genetically Modified Crops? Non-Target Insects Affected More By Insecticides Than By Crops Engineered To Make Insect-specific Toxins Dec 11, 2008
11, 2008) Non-target insects are probably affected more by conventional insecticides than by crops that contain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), according to the findings of a study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators ... New studies show that non-target insects are probably affected more by conventional insecticides than by modified crops, such as corn, that have added genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. (Science Daily)
'Border Patrol Agents' Identified In The Gut Dec 10, 2008
Now, scientists have discovered that a molecule produced by a common gut bacterium. (June 26, 2006) University of Oregon researchers have shown that bacteria residing in the intestine shape gut development by means of several distinct signaling mechanisms. (Science Daily)
No ESKAPE! New Drugs Against MRSA, Other Superbugs Still Lacking Dec 10, 2008
6, 2006) A dangerous drug-resistant bacterium is becoming more prevalent in many intensive care units, according to an article in the Feb. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available. (June 23, 2008) Superbugs -- bacteria that are resistant to many commonly used antibiotics -- can seem scary. (Science Daily)
Smart switching could solve communication tangle Dec 10, 2008
Stitching in genes from a yeast and another bacterium helps E. coli to generate an energy-dense form of alcohol. 17:28 08 December 2008 12 comments. (Yahoo News -- Instant Messaging)
Interferon Needed For Cells To 'Remember' How To Defeat A Virus Dec 9, 2008
When a virus or bacterium infects a human, the infected cells secrete several molecules, including a cytokine or signaling protein called interferon alpha. The action of interferon is what makes an infected person feel run down and tired. (Science Daily)
Challenges To Environmentally Responsible Energy Use In Today's Society Dec 9, 2008
Renowned geobiologist Kenneth Nealson of USC College has been perfecting a genetically engineered bacterium that makes electricity from a diet most foul. In just the last year and a half, Nealson s group including computational biologist Steve Finkel of USC College and mechanical engineer Paul Ronney and material scientist Florian Mansfeld of USC Viterbi has improved the efficiency of the bactery many times over. (Science Daily)
Tobacco giant breathes life into medical startup Dec 9, 2008
Next year, Medicago hopes to start clinical trials on an avian flu vaccine produced by injecting a common bacterium into tobacco and harvesting a resulting protein from its leaves. The global vaccine market is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years, with influenza vaccines the fastest-growing adult category, expected to reach $4-billion in sales by 2012. (Globe and Mail)
Johne's disease testing brochures free to producers Dec 9, 2008
Johne's disease is a slow and progressive bacterial disease of the intestinal tract that affects ruminants and is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, states Dr. Michael Carter, National Johne's Disease Control Program Coordina-tor, National Center for Animal Health Programs, USDA-APHIS-VS. Infected animals can shed large numbers of the disease-causing bacteria in their feces, leading to contamination of feed and water sources without ever showing clinical signs.... (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Peptic Ulcer Disease Dec 8, 2008
One is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which uses urease to neutralize stomach acid and induces local inflammation. The other is the family of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which can inhibit production of mucus necessary to protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum. (Suite101.com)
Gordon Brown declares Zimbabwe in state of international emergency Dec 7, 2008
" Harare, the capital, has 179 deaths and has a further 6,448 suspected cases according to the United Nations 's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "The entire health system is collapsing, there are no more doctors, no nurses, no specialists," said spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs. Britain has pledged an emergency aid package to help tackle the spread of the disease, a bacterium infection which leads to dramatic dehydration and can prove fatal within 24 hours if not treated. Mr Brown... (Times Online)
New Strategy For Broad Spectrum Anti-viral Drugs Developed Dec 4, 2008
26, 2004) A new vaccine formulation that utilizes an unusual protein derived from a bacterium that causes food poisoning. Listeria. (Science Daily)
Researchers identify cell group key to Lyme disease arthritis Dec 4, 2008
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium transmitted to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and sometimes skin rashes. (EurekAlert!)
Viral DNA In Bacterial Genome Could Hold Key To Novel Cystic Fibrosis Treatments Dec 3, 2008
2, 2008) The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well known for its environmental versatility, ability to cause infection in humans, and its capacity to resist antibiotics ... 18, 2008) Researchers have used a fruit fly (Drosophila) model of infection to provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a. (Science Daily)
More than 160 mountain bikers made sick by sheep droppings Dec 3, 2008
The cyclists tested positive for the bacterium campylobacter usually caused by uncooked meat and poultry. But following an investigation by health experts, the muddy mountain cycle course was found to be heavily contaminated with sheep droppings. (Telegraph.co.uk)
Woman Says 8-Hour ER Wait Led to Husband's Death Dec 2, 2008
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Robert Sweitzer died at St. Mary's of necrotizing pneumonia, which was caused by the bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. The medical examiner said it appeared it was the methicillin-resistant form of staph or MRSA that caused Robert Sweitzer's pneumonia. (Fox News)
Zimbabwe: UN Calls for $2 Million to Fight Cholera Epidemic Dec 2, 2008
Cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, has a short incubation period from less than one to five days and causes copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. WHO is seeking to reduce the epidemic's spread by ensuring access to safe water and maintaining safe isolation and infection controls in health centres, and to reduce mortality through... (allAfrica.com)
Bill Gates' millions to battle TB Dec 2, 2008
"We are in the midst of a new TB epidemic. The world desperately needs an effect vaccine to prevent TB, particularly in adolescents and adults. Dr Jerald Sadoff: New approaches are promising "Through accelerated research and development, a new vaccine could permanently change the trajectory of the epidemic and save millions of lives every year," he added. Two billion people - one out of every three people on Earth - are infected with the TB pathogen, a bacterium called Mycobacterium... (Yahoo News -- Tuberculosis)
Zimbabwe's Latest Plague: Cholera Dec 2, 2008
To kill the cholera bacterium in water, just boil it. To treat the chronic diarrhea and potentially fatal dehydration that results from cholera, take a liter of water, a teaspoon of salt, eight teaspoons of sugar, mix, and drink; or, for patients too weak to drink, administer intravenously. (Time.com)
Super bug stalks area, state hospitals Dec 1, 2008
She says doctors have told her that her father is infected with a bacterium called Clostridium difficile that's transmitted by hand contact with items contaminated by feces ... It's been getting more attention as a November report from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology found that this life-threatening bacterium is sickening many more people than previously estimated. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Study Documents What May Be First Cases Of Certain Tick-borne Disease In China Nov 30, 2008
9, 2002) When a deer tick bites a human or other mammalian host, it takes more than 24 hours before the Lyme disease bacterium travels from the tick s gut to the tick s salivary glands and then ... (May 6, 2005) New research on a bacterium that can survive encounters with specific immune system cells has strengthened scientists' belief that these plentiful white blood cells, known as neutrophils, dictate. (Science Daily)
New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism' Nov 29, 2008
New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism ... New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism ... 28, 2008) A new species of bacterium that causes leprosy has been identified through intensive genetic analysis of a pair of lethal infections, a research team reports in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. (Science Daily)
New Type Of Vaccines Deliver Stronger And Faster Immune Response Nov 28, 2008
Second, it picks up more of the important genetic information from the inner compartment of the virus or bacterium - where for our purposes - the crucial DNA material is based. Attaching DNA strands from the interior of the virus to the amino acid chain is crucial to developing stable vaccines, since it gives the immune system solid data on the nature of the threat it is faced with, even after the virus or bacteria has mutated". Deadly pathogens such as viruses tend to mutate when they replicate... (Science Daily)
Stopping Germs From Ganging Up On Humans Nov 28, 2008
Most cells such as a bacterium produce materials that ensure their own survival and maintain infections by helping both themselves and their fellows. For pathogens, there's strength in numbers. (Science Daily)
Bacterial Biofilms As Fossil Makers Nov 28, 2008
Species of the common marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas provided the majority of the bacterial flora present inside the embryo cells under aerobic conditions. Under oxygen-poor conditions, a much greater diversity of bacterial species was present, not detectable under aerobic conditions. (Science Daily)
21st Century Plague? Rat Fleas Spread Heart-damaging Bacteria Nov 25, 2008
16, 2001) Cat scratch disease may no longer be the appropriate name for the malady caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae ... 27, 2007) The deadly attack of the bacterium that causes pneumonic plague is significantly slowed when it can't make use of a key protein, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. (Science Daily)
Micro 'Roach Motels' Kill Harmful Bacteria Nov 25, 2008
Often introduced via contaminated medical devices, that bacterium sickens or kills patients suffering from burns, cancer, AIDS other serious conditions. The strain the researchers used was Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, which is a close cousin but poses little health threat. (Science Daily)
Researchers identify new leprosy bacterium Nov 25, 2008
HOUSTON - A new species of bacterium that causes leprosy has been identified through intensive genetic analysis of a pair of lethal infections, a research team reports in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. All cases of leprosy, an ancient disease that still maims and kills in the developing world, previously had been thought to be caused by a single species of bacterium, said lead author Xiang-Yang Han, M.D., Ph ... "We have identified a second species of leprosy... (EurekAlert!)
Stomach Ulcer Bug Causes Bad Breath Nov 25, 2008
Scientists estimate that between 20 and 80 % of people in the developed world and over 90 % of people in the developing world carry the bacterium. "Recently, scientists discovered that H. pylori can live in the mouth," said Dr Nao Suzuki from Fukuoka Dental College in Fukuoka, Japan. (Newsmax)
Lactic Acid Found To Fuel Tumors Nov 24, 2008
28, 2008) Researchers have uncovered how the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including the notorious MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) "superbug" strains, resists our body's natural defenses against. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Taking precautions to prevent staph infection (2) Nov 24, 2008
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people. Our nurses, superintendents, principals are just awesome and they are in contact with us to make sure everything they re doing is up to date, she said. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Inmates may have eaten contaminated meals Nov 24, 2008
They said positive test results for the bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal problems, and in worst cases death, correspond with dates matching food that would have been consumed a week earlier. We didn't get the results of those tests until [Nov. (Globe and Mail)
Blood Component That Turns Anthrax Bacteria Virulent Identified Nov 23, 2008
22, 2008) Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have discovered the key chemical that signals Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, to become lethal ... "How a bacterium recognizes signals in the host that trigger pathogenesis mechanisms, and the nature of the mechanisms necessary to develop pathogenesis, remain poorly understood," said Scripps Research Associate Professor Marta Perego, Ph. (Science Daily)
Irwin C. Gunsalus, Vitamin Biochemist, Dies at 96 Nov 22, 2008
Trained as a bacteriologist and searching, in the early 1950s, for essential growth factors in the digestive system bacterium Enterococcus, Dr. Gunsalus discovered chemical forms of lipoic acid, including lipoate, which he called pyruvate oxidation factor, as well as one of the B6 (pyridoxine) vitamins, now called pyridoxal phosphate. He later discovered the roles the compounds play in the metabolism of microbes, plants and mammals. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Scripps research scientists identify blood component that turns bacteria virulent Nov 22, 2008
LA JOLLA, CA, November 20, 2008Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have discovered the key chemical that signals Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, to become lethal ... "How a bacterium recognizes signals in the host that trigger pathogenesis mechanisms, and the nature of the mechanisms necessary to develop pathogenesis, remain poorly understood," said Scripps Research Associate Professor Marta Perego, Ph. (EurekAlert!)
Study of ancient and modern plagues finds common features Nov 22, 2008
For example, the Black Death (bubonic plague), which killed some 34 million Europeans in the middle of the 14th century, was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. In a broader sense, however, epidemics are caused by complex and not fully predictable interactions between the disease-causing microbe, the human host and multiple environmental factors, the authors note. (EurekAlert!)
Better Tracking of a Childhood Infection Needed, Officials Say Nov 21, 2008
Haemophilus influenzae type B, or Hib, a bacterium that is distinct from the influenza virus, can on rare occasions be deadly, invading the lining of the brain, bloodstream or lungs. Infection can cause meningitis, sepsis or pneumonia, leading to brain damage or death. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Drum skin plea at anthrax inquiry Nov 21, 2008
Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals. (BBC News)
Lytix Presents LTX-109 Anti-Microbial Data at ICAAC Nov 20, 2008
In addition to this it has proven effective against a wide range of 110 European Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates, a problrmatic Gram (-) bacterium. According to Lytix Biopharma spokesperson Anders Fugelli, these are important studies: "The fact that LTX-109 is effective against a broad range of pathogens highlights its potential utility as a truly novel broad spectrum antimicrobial drug. Indeed it is so effective, that although the initial formulation is for the treatment of skin... (PR Newswire)
Inside a flu vaccine lab Nov 20, 2008
If you gowned up the wrong way and if even a single bacterium had managed to sneak past all those other security checkpoints, you might introduce contamination. So you had to open the package and remove the jumpsuit and hood without touching the outfit's outside. (MSNBC -- Health)
Cellular Safety Shelters Allow TB Agent To Survive In Infected Individuals Nov 20, 2008
19, 2008) "Foamy" macrophage formation may be the key to persistence of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, explains a new study. These immunity-related cells are shown to be a safety reservoir where the bacterium can hide for years in infected individuals, before inducing an active disease. (Science Daily)
First Detailed 3-D Glimpse Of Bacterial Cell-wall Architecture Nov 20, 2008
19, 2008) The bacterial cell wall that is the target of potent antibiotics such as penicillin is actually made up of a thin single layer of carbohydrate chains, linked together by peptides, which wrap around the bacterium like a belt around a person, according to research conducted by scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) ... It is the sacculus, Jensen notes, that is targeted by the antibiotic penicillin; penicillin blocks a bacterium's ability to grow and remodel the... (Science Daily)
New Bacteria Discovered In Raw Milk Nov 20, 2008
"We have now identified and described one of these bacteria, Chryseobacterium oranimense, which can grow at cold temperatures and secretes enzymes that have the potential to spoil milk." ... Some people believe the health benefits resulting from the extra nutrient content of raw milk outweigh the risk of ingesting potentially dangerous microbes, such as Mycobacterium bovis, which can cause tuberculosis, and Salmonella species ... "In Israel, dairy companies estimate that cold-tolerant bacteria... (Science Daily)
How Do Bacteria Swim? Physicists Explain Nov 20, 2008
Tang and his team at Brown have just completed the most detailed study of the swimming patterns of one particular bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus ... This creates torque, which helps explain the bacterium s nonlinear movement through a fluid ... The researchers also discovered another clue to the swimming behavior: Caulobacter s swimming circles grew tighter as the bacterium got closer to a surface boundary, in this case a glass slide. (Science Daily)
Antibiotics Can Cause Pervasive, Persistent Changes To Microbiota In Human Gut Nov 20, 2008
Now, scientists have discovered that a molecule produced by a common gut bacterium. (June 20, 2007) E. coli bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics will probably still be around even if we stop using antibiotics, as these strains have the same good chance as other bacteria of. (Science Daily)
Frozen Dinners Recalled, Rising Blood Donations and Bullied Children Nov 20, 2008
A potentially deadly intestinal bacterium called Clostridium difficile, which usually infects hospital patients, has been showing up in supermarket meats, msnbc. com reports, raising the possibility that domestic animals may be a source of infections. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- Nov. 19, 2008 Nov 20, 2008
In controlled laboratory tests, the researchers exposed the capsules to either Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the deadliest and most common hospital-based pathogens, or Cobetia marina, a type of bacterium that fouls the hulls of ships and other marine equipment. After one hour of light exposure, the light-activated capsules killed more than 95 percent of the exposed bacteria, the researchers say. (EurekAlert!)
Drug-resistantdirt germon the rise Nov 19, 2008
LONDON - A dangerous, drug-resistant bacterium normally found in soil and water is on the increase in hospitals worldwide, an infectious disease expert warned on Tuesday. Acinetobacter baumannii is more resistant than the MRSA superbug and accounts for about 30 percent of drug-resistant hospital infections, said Matthew Falagas, director of the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Greece. (MSNBC -- Health)
Uganda: Health Ministry Issues Botulism Alert Nov 19, 2008
Botulism is caused by poisoning with an extremely potent toxin produced by a bacterium known as Clostridium Botulinum. The bacteria breed in soil and aquatic sediment as heat-resistant spores. (allAfrica.com)
Drug-resistant ward bug concern Nov 18, 2008
Hospitals need to be vigilant against an emerging drug-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, infection control experts have warned. Like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, the bacterium poses the greatest risk to seriously ill patients ... Typically, the bacterium causes bloodstream infections, pneumonia or infection of a wound. (BBC News)
Nicotine: A Receptor From The Past Helping To Develop Drugs Of The Future Nov 18, 2008
Two groups of researchers at the Institut Pasteur, the Channel-Receptors 5-year group, led by Pierre-Jean Corringer, CNRS Research Manager, and the Structural Dynamics of Macromolecules Unit, led by Marc Delarue, also CNRS Research Manager, have determined the atomic structure (in 3D) of a nicotinic receptor homolog from a bacterium. This bacterial homolog has been discovered by comparative genomics. (Science Daily)
Al-Bashir declares Darfur ceasefire23 Darfuris sent back to Sudan by EgyptUN official expresses concern over Sudan peace dealEgypt sends aid to Sudanese military Kenya scales up security along Somalia borderHRW urges Kenya, donors to intervene in Somalia refugee crisisEU grants 212 million euros to SomaliaEU to deploy naval force off Somalia Four killed in Congo River robberyCongolese rebel leader committed to ceasefire, says ObasanjoWar in North-Kivu dominates Congolese papersDoctors worried at delivery of deformed children in Katanga Ivorian Prime Minister urges mutinous soldiers to remain calmGbagbo: "Whoever delays Ivorian elections is a criminal"Gbagbo reaffirms his desire for Ivorian peaceGbagbo signs Ivorian amnesty law ON THE WIRE CDC confirms outbreak of Botulism in UgandaKampala, Uganda (PANA) - A poisonous bacterial infection known asBotulism has broken out in Uganda, the US-basedCentre for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed after tests done on a highschool student who died last month. 18/11/2008 Full Text... Nov 18, 2008
"Botulism is a disease caused by toxic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, transmitted by consumption of improperly prepared or handled food products," Zaramba explains. "Such food products include improperly fermented, salted or smoked fish and meat products, inadequately processed home-canned or bottled low acid foods such as vegetables, and in defective commercially canned foods."Current evidence from the investigation suggests that the foods consumed by the affected girls a few hours or days... (Panapress.com)
Caltech researchers get first 3-D glimpse of bacterial cell-wall architecture Nov 18, 2008
--The bacterial cell wall that is the target of potent antibiotics such as penicillin is actually made up of a thin single layer of carbohydrate chains, linked together by peptides, which wrap around the bacterium like a belt around a person, according to research conducted by scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) ... It is the sacculus, Jensen notes, that is targeted by the antibiotic penicillin; penicillin blocks a bacterium's ability to grow and remodel the bag to fit... (EurekAlert!)
