Microbiology, features and articles | Educational Science

Jun 11, 2018

Yes, There Are Bacteria on Your Kitchen Towel. No, They Won't Make You Sick

Your kitchen towel may harbor a number of different bacteria, a new study finds. But does that mean your towel can actually make you sick? Although the new finding may sound gross, it doesn't mean you should ditch your kitchen towel; experts said the bacteria found on the towels in...

Jun 15, 2018

How Does Salmonella Get into Cereal?

You probably don't want Salmonella as part of your complete breakfast. But on Friday (June 15), the Kellogg Company announced it was recalling boxes of its Honey Smacks cereal because the product is linked to an outbreak of Salmonella. So far, the outbreak has sickened 73 people in 31 states,...

Jun 29, 2018

Teen Dies from Toxic Shock Syndrome. Why Is It Linked to Tampons?

A Canadian teenager who died on a school field trip was found to have toxic shock syndrome that appears to have stemmed from tampon use, according to news reports. But what is toxic shock syndrome, and why is it linked to tampons? The 16-year-old was on an overnight class trip...

Jun 29, 2018

Source of E. Coli in Deadly Romaine Lettuce Outbreak Finally Found

The recent, nationwide E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce might have stemmed from a contaminated irrigation canal, health officials said. The outbreak that sickened 210 people and killed five since March now seems to be over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A few months ago,...

Jun 29, 2018

Cause of Overpowering Odor on Transavia Airlines Flight Found

Last month, a Transavia Airlines flight had to reroute after a man's overpowering odor caused some passengers to vomit. It turned out, that pungent smell was caused by an infection that was rotting his insides. The 58-year-old man died less than a month later, on Monday (June 25), after his...

Jul 16, 2018

A Rare Outbreak of 'Rabbit Fever' Popped Up at a German Winery. The Surprising Cause? Grapes.

When grape harvesters at a German winery mysteriously fell ill with rabbit fever, a rare bacterial illness, one question in particular stood out: How did they get sick? After a lengthy investigation, officials had an answer: It was the grapes. Rabbit fever, or tularemia, is a serious illness caused by...

Jul 31, 2018

How a Lick from a Dog Led to a Man's Leg and Arm Amputations

A 48-year-old man from Wisconsin recently contracted a rare blood infection that led to the amputation of his legs and parts of his arms, according to news reports. And the most likely source of the devastating infection was his own dog. Greg Manteufel went to the hospital with what he...

Aug 13, 2018

What Is Mitosis?

The primary mechanism by which organisms generate new cells is through cell division. During this process, a single parent cell will divide and produce identical daughter cells. In this way, the parent cell passes on its genetic material to each of its daughter cells. First, however, the cells must duplicate...

Aug 24, 2018

Will Baby Poop Bacteria Become the New Probiotic?

Could the key to better gut health reside in a probiotic cocktail brewed from the contents of an infant's dirty diaper? That's the question driving a new line of research investigating the power of baby poop as a potential source of microbes that could contribute to healthier digestion. And experiments...

Aug 24, 2018

Texas Man Survived a Shark Bite. Now the Wound Has Flesh-Eating Bacteria.

A Texas man who survived a shark bite earlier this month has since developed a flesh-eating bacteria infection in his wounds, according to news reports. In the late morning of Aug. 9, Blaine Shelton, a 42-year-old construction worker, was enjoying a solo dip in the warm water of the Gulf...

Aug 31, 2018

Hundreds of King Bio Homeopathic Products Recalled Due to Risk of Bacterial Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use drug products made by King Bio Inc., a company that makes homeopathic drugs for both people and pets. The products may pose health risks due to bacterial contamination, the FDA said in a statement. Such contamination could...

Sep 4, 2018

Can You Really Get Sepsis from Trying on Shoes Without Socks?

A young girl in the United Kingdom reportedly got an infection and developed sepsis — a potentially life-threatening condition — after going into a store and trying on shoes without wearing socks, according to news reports. The 4-year-old girl, Sienna Rasul from South Wales, became very ill the day after...

Jul 26, 2019

Organic Apples Have Way More Beneficial Bacteria Than Conventional Ones

Next time you chomp into a crunchy apple, in addition to enjoying the sweet taste, you can think about all the possibly beneficial bacteria you are consuming. New research suggests an apple is teeming with about 90 million bacteria. And if you're looking for the best bugs for your gut,...

Jul 31, 2019

Flesh-Eating Bacteria Thrive in Warm Coastal Waters. That Doesn't Mean You'll Get Sick.

Like humans, many bacteria like to spend time at the beach. The so-called flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, don't just like the beach; they need it, and rely on seasalt for survival. And as with human beachgoers, the warmer the water, the more of them there are. V. vulnificus is most...

Sep 19, 2019

These Gut Bacteria Brew Their Own Booze, and May Harm Livers in People Who Don't Drink

It's common knowledge that drinking too much alcohol can lay waste to your liver. But now, researchers have spotted a strain of gut bacteria that produces its own booze in copious amounts — high enough to potentially pose a risk of liver problems in people who don't drink at all....