Job posting for Nanopore bioinformatics at NASA

Just got pointed to this really awesome sounding job posting at NASA.   Text below: Job Description Bioinformatics Scientist – 1079705 The Microbiology Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center is seeking a highly motivated individual to fill a bioinformatics research position. The goal of the laboratory is to mitigate microbial risk to crew health, …

Microbial interactions with chemicals in house dust

We are excited to announce that our paper titled “Degradation of phthalate esters in floor dust at elevated relative humidity” was recently published under the Emerging Investigator series in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.                  This is effectively the third paper in a series exploring microbial …

AAAR special symposium: “The air we breathe: indoor aerosol sources and chemistry”

I got this message about a session at AAAR and I thought it would be of interest: Dear colleagues, Rachel O’Brien and I are organizing a special symposium at this year’s AAAR meeting entitled “The air we breathe: indoor aerosol sources and chemistry”. The focus of this symposium will be: – Sources and transport including …

Antimicrobial paints have a blind spot

Spore-forming bacteria survive on surfaces coated with antimicrobial, latex paints Antimicrobial paints kill most bacteria within 24 hours, but some survive Such products are typically tested on pathogens but not common bacteria like Bacillus Antimicrobial paints could favor antibiotic resistance — making harmless bacteria like Bacillus harmful EVANSTON, Ill. — Antimicrobial paints offer the promise of …

Man-made microbial resistances in built environments

Antibiotic resistance has been assessed to rise to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world, and new resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally. At the same time the number of people dying from antibiotic-resistant bacteria is increasing. The World Health Organization considers the spread of antibiotic resistance and appropriate countermeasures as one …

Quick journal club post on Legionella and Mycobacterium in premise plumbing

Came across this relevant article today; “The sporadic nature of Legionella pneumophila, Legionella pneumophila Sg1 and Mycobacterium avium occurrence within residences and office buildings across 36 states in the United States“.   Abstract Aim Premise plumbing may disseminate the bacteria Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium avium, the causative agents for legionellosis and pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterium disease …

Wrap up of Talk by Maria Gloria Dominguez Bello at UC Davis

Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello gave a talk at UC Davis on March 11, 2019.  This talk was part of the Storer Lectureship in Life Sciences series. Her talk was on “The Human Microbiome in an Age of Disruptive Change” and it was really quite good. I live Tweeted the talk and if you are interested the …

Journal Club: Dynamic Human Environmental Exposome Revealed by Longitudinal Personal Monitoring

Just got pointed to this paper by Paula Olsiewski.   Not necessarily a fan of another “-ome” word, but this seems like a really interesting study where they did intensive monitoring of environmental exposures of a few people over time.  Abstract below: Human health is dependent upon environmental exposures, yet the diversity and variation in exposures …

Journal Club: “Microwave detection and quantification of water hidden in and on building materials…”

Just a quick journal club post here, got pointed to this really interesting sounding article by David Thaler recently “Microwave detection and quantification of water hidden in and on building materials: implications for healthy buildings and microbiome studies.” As I understand the problem, it can be hard to quantify water in buildings, particularly water hidden …