So, what has been breaking the waves during the past year in the world of microbiology? In descending order:
10. Bacteria grow faster if they feed each other was the unusual result of a new science study. Here researchers studied bacteria that were deficient in the production of a certain amino acid. This meant that they instead depended on a partner to provide the missing nutrient. In such situations, the scientists found that bacterial strains complemented each other’s need by providing the required amino acid. Such bacteria showed a fitness increase of about 20 percent relative to a non-deficient strain without partner.
9. Microbial diseases of Ancient Egypt was the next topic, with a focus on the key lessons for today. By comparing the ancient forms of diseases from Ancient Egypt with their contemporary equivalents, researchers can attempt learn how particular diseases evolved; what makes them so harmful; and possibly how to stop them. This field of paleopathology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, aided by advances to scientific techniques. This focused on a short paper written by Digital Journalist Tim Sandle for the Journal of Ancient Diseases & Preventive Remedies.
8. Safety in the laboratory is of great importance. Unsurprising, a popular piece related to a new safety checklist for laboratory users. The check-list posed such questions as “Do you wash your hands before leaving the laboratory?”; “Do you wear appropriate attire in the laboratory (lab coat, safety goggles, gloves, shoes)?” and “Are the appropriate hazard signs and emergency numbers posted on the outside of the laboratory door?”
7. An announcement from the United States Pharmacopoeia about a new method for assessing the numbers of bacteria and fungi in pharmaceutical products and on medical devices provoked a degree of interest. This is partly because many laboratories needed to go back and reassess their test methods. The standard was aimed at making products safer and promoting greater consistency between testing laboratories.
6. Antibiotic resistance is a major subject for current times. For this reason, microbiologists are very interested in how antibiotic resistance develops and moves between species. In some new research, scientists succeeded in producing tools for biologists who are interested in jumping genes and the traits they carry with them. This could provide a deeper understanding about how species have evolved, and even find ways to address antibiotic resistance.
5. In keeping with the antibiotic theme, in 2014 the World Health Organization produced its first report on the state of antibiotic resistance, drawing data from 114 nations. The report indicates “resistance is occurring across many different infectious agents” but the primary focus of the report is on “antibiotic resistance in seven different bacteria responsible for common, serious diseases such as bloodstream infections (sepsis), diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and gonorrhea.” What appears to be of greatest concern is the worldwide presence of bacteria resistant to carbapenems, hard-hitting, “last resort” antibiotics. The report makes for hard hitting reading.
4. One of the unusual things about the horseshoe crab is how it has survived for millions of years and yet it has a fairly basic immune system. One remarkable thing, however, about the crabs immune system is that if the crab contracts a bacterial infection its blood clots Scientists have been able to use this mechanism and develop a test for bacterial toxins. The test has arguably saved many lives and this year the test for bacterial endotoxin reached its fifty year milestone.
3. Research pertaining to the human microbiome frequently makes the news (including on Digital Journal), especially in relation to how our gut bacteria affect our health. By using data from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP), which has sampled the microbial communities of 300 healthy people at 18 body sites and analyzed additional samples from the same individuals scientists have found that specific life-history events—namely, gender, education, and whether a person was breastfed as an infant—affected the composition of the body’s microbiomes as an adult.
2. Keeping medicines safe is of great importance. The second most common reason for the recall of pharmaceutical products is fungal contamination. To assess current trends and to evaluate risks, a review article looked at why fungal contamination can occur. The most common reason was damp environments.
1. The most popular story was the discovery of an ancient giant virus. Here, a new species of giant virus was discovered in the Siberian permafrost, where it had been buried for 30,000 years. The virus was revived in a laboratory. The new virus, dubbed Pithovirus sibericum, measures 1.5 μm in length and 0.5 μm in diameter—even bigger than former record holders, the pandoraviruses, which are only 1 μm long and 0.5 μm in diameter.
The microbiology year in 2014 was very interesting. There is sure to be a lot of equal interest in store for 2015.
For other science stories, Digital Journal recently presented the major science stories of the past year.
