While not directly related to microbiology, this story about house dust caught my eye. The title of the press release really says it all, “House dust spurs growth of fat cells in lab tests”. Looks like the probable guilty compounds are man-made things like fire retardants but there’s certainly a possibility for microbially produced volatiles …
There is a very interesting article by Kate Baggaley in Popular Science from a few weeks ago that is definitely worth a look. “Bacteria and fungi are a menace to paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts.” Source: The world’s art is under attack—by microbes | Popular Science It discusses how microbes are damaging various kinds of …
Next week, the Lublin University of Technology in Lublin, Poland will host the Healthy Buildings Europe conference. Over 300 scientists, engineers, and professionals will gather to present and discuss building science. The Sloan Foundation is sponsoring workshops at the meeting to bring together leaders in the field and advance the state of the science. A …
OK – I am not really sure how much of this is new, but a new paper in AEM is getting some press recently. I first found out about it via a Tweet from Elisabeth Bik Wallpaper May Breed Toxins: Study Wallpaper may contribute to “sick building syndrome,”https://t.co/GdVUNBCYha — Elisabeth Bik (@MicrobiomDigest) June 25, 2017 …
Just a quick post here. Another story on Legionnaires Disease. This time the bacteria behind it was found in the NY Police Station. Source: Bacteria Behind Legionnaires’ Disease Found at New York Police Station – The New York Times From the article Traces of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the water …
This is a pretty big deal. Nick Lyon is the highest-ranking state official to be charged in the crisis. Source: Flint Water Crisis: Michigan Health Chief Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter : NPR The director of the Department of HHS in Michigan, Nick Lyon, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in relation to the Flint, MI …
Just a quick post. Legionnaires’ is in the news again with people picking it up at a Las Vegas hotel. Below is one of the stories. Bacteria causing a sometimes deadly type of pneumonia were found in the water system of the famed Las Vegas Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Source: Guests leave Las Vegas’ Rio …
The microbial interactions we share with built environments play a central role in shaping the microbiota of our surroundings and in the development of our own microbiome. Nowhere does this microbial flux have more profound implications for human health than in hospitals, where rooms are subject to a constant turnover in occupant, each leaving behind …
Microbes indoors DNA metabarcoding to assess indoor fungal communities: Electrostatic dust collectors and Illumina sequencing – Steffi Rocchi – Journal of Microbiological Methods ($39.95) Our study aimed to evaluate metabarcoding and bioinformatic analysis resulting from calibrated samples and samples collected by an electrostatic dust collector (EDC) in dwellings with no moisture problems. Thus, the fungal communities of …
Got pointed to this paper by Sofia Ahsanuddin of the MetaSub project and thought it might be of interest. Source: Exploring the under-investigated “microbial dark matter” of drinking water treatment plants : Scientific Reports Abstract: Scientists recently reported the unexpected detection of unknown or poorly studied bacterial diversity in groundwater. The ability to uncover this neglected biodiversity …