26.04.2012

EMBL-EBI: Bacteria Evolved Way to Safeguard Crucial Genetic Material

EMBL-EBI (European Molecular Biology Laboratory's European Bioinformatics Institute) researchers found out that cells prioritise which genes they guard most closely. The study, published online in Nature, shows that bacteria have evolved a mechanism that protects important genes from random mutation, effectively reducing the risk of self-destruction. The findings answer a question that has been under debate for half a century and provide insights into how disease-causing mutations arise and pathogens evolve. more20.02.2012

Natural Substance Supports Antibiotics in Fight Against Aggressive Infections

Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide due to the alarming development of bacterial resistance. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics. more04.07.2011

When Viruses Infect Bacteria

Viruses are the most abundant parasites on Earth. Well known viruses, such as the flu virus, attack human hosts, while viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus infect plant hosts. More common, but less understood, are cases of viruses infecting bacteria known as bacteriophages, or phages. In part, this is due to the difficulty of culturing bacteria and viruses that have been cut off from their usual biological surroundings in a process called in vitro. more27.06.2011

Bruker and the University of Zurich Collaborate

Bruker and the Institute of Medical Microbiology (IMM) at the University of Zurich Announce a Collaboration for Mass Spectrometry-based Microbial Identification with Focus on Coryneform Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fastidious Gram-negative Rods and Moulds. more09.06.2011

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli (EHEC) Serotype O104:H4 Analyzed

For the current EHEC outbreak the serotype O104:H4 has been clearly identified as the strain causing the disease. It constitutes in all probability a recombinant of two pathogenic E. coli types. Based on the strain analysis of the serotype O104:H4, BfR believes that it is likely that the transfer of the pathogen to the affected foods could have been caused in the current outbreak event via humans or from humans via the environment. The pathogen can be spread through foods. more02.06.2011

Test System Developed to Detect EHEC outbreak strain O104:H4

A specific detection system for the EHEC germ O104:H4 in foods has been developed and evaluated at the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Escherichia coli of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) together with experts from the French Food Agency, ANSES. more01.06.2011

EHEC Test: Results in 4 Hrs

An EHEC test was now developed by the Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster, Germany. more27.05.2011

Suzan Rooijakkers is the Winner of the Eppendorf Young Investigator Award 2011

Assistant Professor Suzan Rooijakkers, PhD, University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Medical Microbiology, Utrecht, The Netherlands, is the winner of the 16th Eppendorf Young Investigator Award 2011. more27.05.2011

Safety in Microbial Analytics and Diagnostics

The detection of bacteria that are pathogenic to humans such as E.coli always places particular demands on laboratory processes. Safety is the key factor here. This means the safety of the employees who handle and analyze the samples as well as safe and reliable results. After all, the treatment of patients depends on the results, therefore utmost care must be taken. more27.05.2011

Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) Caused by EHEC Infection

As reported on May 25 an EHEC (Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli) infection is spreading through Germany that started in the second week of May. The symptoms were bloody diarrhoea associated with so called haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Get background information on EHEC. more