Decoding Microbes

by Jamie Henzy
 

Figure. Colonies of Efruokijtjttpe rpbcpe seen with trans­mitted light. Cultivated on Columbia agar with 5% defibrinated sheep blood, 24 h in an aerobic atmosphere, 37°C. Colonies are sur­roundend by a wide zone of beta-hemolysis. Source

Can you decode the microbes? Each list has its own encryption scheme ¹).

Clinically common bacteria (binomial nomenclature):

1. Cyfcbjtjttpe vpbrye
2. Ycqeecbqr gjyjbbojcrc
3. Efruokijtjttpe rpbcpe
4. Wrtqiipe ryfobrtqe
5. Ociqtjwrtfcb ukijbq
6. Uecpvjajyre rcbpgqyjer
7. Orcajuoqipe qydipcyhrc
8. Wjbbciqr wpbgvjbdcbq

Diseases associated with microbes:

1. zvxofvo
2. tafiazuvfisio
3. byighqwhqux
4. iqrfhvqjx
5. cibgvssoiaoio
6. shfxcvzix
7. zvqiqwisio
8. wixcpixoio

¹) the "public key" of both cryptograms can be seen when clicking here.

 

In addition to being an Associate Blogger for STC, Jamie is a post­doctoral researcher and part-time teaching faculty at Boston Col­lege.