Another paper on how sample processing (and in this case PCR primer choice) can influence microbiome studies. And another one that is definitely worth looking at: 16S rRNA gene-based profiling of the human infant gut microbiota is strongly influenced by sample processing and PCR primer choice. Microbiome 2015, 3:26 doi:10.1186/s40168-015-0087-4 by Alan W. Walker, Jennifer C. Martin, …
Here are the microbiology of the built environment papers that were already featured on my MicrobiomeDigest blog this week, all in one handy edition. The first paper is about dust, so Siouxsie & The Banshees – Cities In Dust would match perfectly. The ecology of microscopic life in household dust – Albert Barberán – Proceedings B …
A moderately new paper is out that is an excellent example of how biases in DNA extraction can have major impacts on inferences from culture independent DNA studies. The paper is in what I think is a generally non open access journal (Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal) for fortunately has been made open access Source: …
Continuing on my theme of scanning in notes from old seminars of interest. Here is one of definite interest to the microbial diversity crowd. These are notes from a talk by Norm Pace on February 7, 1990. My entire career was massively affected by interactions (mostly indirect) with Pace when I was an undergrad …
I have been going through old files and notes and scanning some of the more interesting things. One thing I personally find fascinating are notes from talks from a whiles back. So I am going to post some of these notes – in a method I call “retroblogging”. Perhaps I will fake-live-tweet these past talks …
I was clicking around news stories and found this Huffington Post article called “How Much Bacteria is In Your Burger?” Here’s what they report: “…every sample of ground beef collected by researchers from supermarkets around the country contained enterococcus and/or nontoxin-producing E. coli, which indicate fecal contamination. In other words, all the beef had poop …
Just announced: @ASM Conference on The Individual Microbe: Single-cell Analysis and Agent-based Modeling March 18—20, 2016 ASM Headquarters Washington, DC. @ASM Conferences are designed to foster interaction and facilitate collaboration between 50 invited participants by having in-depth discussions on a single topic and serving as an incubator for bringing new scientific specialty meetings to the …
Three weeks ago I stood in front of the 60 attendees of the STAMPS course and asked, “How many of you are currently working with shotgun metagenomes?” Ten to fifteen people raised their hands. In contrast, almost all had their hands in the air when I asked how many were expecting to work with shotgun …
OK this looks like it will be really really interesting. Laurie Garrett sent me a link to this announcment about a meeting of the Empiricist League in New York: What are the 15,000 microscopic lifeforms that live on the subway? How disgusting are the contaminants in the Gowanus Canal? Can we use technology to stop …
Just got this job announcement by email: Hello, Please see the attached solicitation from Prof. Markus Covert regarding an open search for a faculty member in the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University. We have recently launched a broad area search, open to faculty at the Assistant and Untenured Associate Professor level. Details and application …
