Personalized gene therapy is here!

Scientists are genetically engineering the T cells of HIV victims in order to fight the infections.  T cells have a receptor CCR5.  People who have a mutation and are missing this receptor are naturally resistant to HIV.  So scientists are modifying a patient's own harvested T cells by genetically removing the receptor and then infusing the cells back into the patient.  Read the summary on ScienceDaily.com

"June and his colleagues, including Bruce L. Levine, PhD, the Barbara and Edward Netter Associate Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the director of the Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility at Penn, used the ZFN technology to modify the T cells in the patients -- a "molecular scissors," of sorts, to mimic the CCR5-delta-32 mutation. That rare mutation is of interest because it provides a natural resistance to the virus, but in only 1 percent of the general population. By inducing the mutations, the scientists reduced the expression of CCR5 surface proteins. Without those, HIV cannot enter, rendering the patients' cells resistant to infection."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140305191158.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

Death by Fungi

This is a repeat post, but since we talked about it in class I thought I would show it again:

Death by Fungi

This is an article about the author, Nicholas Evans, I mentioned who nearly killed members and friends by accidently picking the wrong fungi and cooking it. He was somewhat experienced at picking wild mushrooms but along with whoever was picking with him, made a near fatal mistake.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308997/The-deadly-dish-poisoned-lives-How-The-Horse-Whisperers-Nicholas-Evans-killed-family-wild-mushrooms.html

From a quick web search I couldn't find anything more recent than 2011, at which time they were still waiting on transplants (though Evans did get one from his daughter). Here is his official website:

http://www.nicholasevans.com/

If you google his name and search videos you will find some interviews.

Fungi: good and evil.

Prof. Burke

Bacteria, evolution, disease, biofilms: welcome to the world of microbes!

It's the start of another school year! Topics for the first couple of days include the scope of microbiology and evolution of life. This article touches on these topics and others to come. It's also a good example that one can always find a current event on microbes. Students: Read the article and make a list of things you don't understand and tuck it away in your notebook. I'll try to remind you to take it out at the end of the term and take another look at the article--what did you learn? I encourage you to post comments too!

Watching Bacteria Evolve

Cartoon of the day

DAILY CARTOONclick to enlarge

Cartoon by Andertoons

Death by Fungi

This is an article about the author, Nicholas Evans, I mentioned who nearly killed members and friends by accidently picking the wrong fungi and cooking it.  He was somewhat experienced at picking wild mushrooms but along with whoever was picking with him, made a near fatal mistake.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308997/The-deadly-dish-poisoned-lives-How-The-Horse-Whisperers-Nicholas-Evans-killed-family-wild-mushrooms.html

From a quick web search I couldn't find anything more recent than 2011, at which time they were still waiting on transplants (though Evans did get one from his daughter).  Here is his official website:

http://www.nicholasevans.com/

If you google his name and search videos you will find some interviews. 

Fungi:  good and evil.

Prof.  Burke

Are we human or are we....?

Welcome to Microbiology, spring 2013.  Is microbiology relevant to your life?  I think so, of course.  But do you?  Take a look at this article, and then tell me what you think.  Notice phrases like "100 trillion bacteria".  Or the idea of carrying around 2 pounds of bacteria.  Fat vs. thin.  Heart disease and multiple sclerosis.  Autism.  Are we human, only?

Me, myself, us

Why is Microbiology the Field of the Future?

Why is Microbiology going to be one of the most important fields of study in the future?  Why do I think ALL bio majors should take micro?  Read this article from the Wall Street Journal to find out.  What do you think?  How does micro apply to every aspect of our lives?  How is it changing the medical field?

As an aside, how much more of this article do you think you understand now that you are taking micro compared to before?  Do you see the value of this course in your life and career?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443684104578062734031207640.html