Small Things Considered

Biofilms by Insect Endosymbionts

by Janie
From a microbial perspective, in­sect me­ta­mor­pho­sis is a trea­cher­ous bu­si­ness. The trans­for­ma­tion from little earth­bound craw­ler to lapis-blue flier is a fla­shy eye-cat­cher, but the change is more than skin-deep. Deep with­in the lar­va, the con­tents of the gut are emp­tied, in­tes­ti­nal cells wi­ther away by auto­phagy and apo­pto­sis, and the ca­vi­ty is re-up­hol­ster­ed with di­vi­ding stem cells... Read more →

Talmudic Question #179

There is talk that Vibrio natrigens may supplant Escherichia coli as the model system for many bacterial studies. Do you think that the day of such model systems may have passed and, if so why? Read more →

Family Feud: Commensal vs. Pathogenic Neisseria

by Camille Brzechffa
Although several current research endeavors developing preventative measures focus on vaccines for N. gonorrhoeae, few have examined how resident bacteria of the human body can combat its colonization. Read more →

The Dead Sea Scrolls come under the Genomic ’Scope

by Elio
In this blog, we usually stick to mi­cro­bio­lo­gi­cal to­pics, but when one of bib­li­cal pro­por­tions comes along, we do not fight it. We are in fact plea­sed to con­si­der news about the Dead Sea Scrolls, the 1000 or so frag­ments of an­cient do­cu­ments found in ca­ves and else­where in the Ju­de­an De­sert. Their dis­co­ve­ry is thought to be... Read more →

TWiM 223: The smell of soil

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces in an ophthalmology examination room, the ability of stressed populations of Yersinia bacteria to survive antimicrobial treatment within host tissues, and how volatile organic chemicals produced by soil microbes attract arthropods which in turn disperse bacterial spores. Read more →

These Bacteria are Out of This World: Human Pathogens on the International Space Station

by Rachel Sidebottom
With the successful launch of the Crew Dragon by SpaceX, space exploration is once again in the American spotlight. Outside our planet, space is unconducive to life because of conditions created by cosmic radiation and microgravity. Read more →

Teacher's Corner: Long Before Fleming

by Roberto
Without any doubt, when we think about the early history of penicillin – and antibiotics in general – our minds are quickly drawn to a particularly momentous occasion. Read more →

TWiM 222: Biosensors in bacteria

Nano-sized parasitic bacteria that inhabit humans, and the construction of whole-cell biosensors for detecting arsenic in drinking water. Read more →

Protect Your Genes and Express Yourself

by Roberto
For any complex process to run efficiently, compartmentalization is essential. In my kitchen, results would be inedible if I did not have the information (recipes in my laptop) separate from the reactions (bowls, oven, etc.) and the cleaning (sink) and, importantly, ways to move the process of cooking from compartment to compartment. Read more →

Fine Reading: The Type VI Secretion System.

by Elio
Just like people, microbes communicate with their relatives either positively or negatively, helping each other out or inflicting damage in the process. Read more →