Reflecting on what you eat.

     In a previous blog, I stated that I was doing an experiment to find what bacteria is present when consuming meat and if it would be present in rare or well-down meat.  Well, I can conclude that there is bacteria present in rare and well-down meat.  However, the only difference is that the quantity of meat present is fewer.  There are many different types of bacteria that could be present, but the one we discovered was Variovorax paradoxus.  What exactly is this bacterium?  It is found in plants around the environment and it helps in biodegradability.  On the other hand, what exactly does it do in the body is unknown.  In conclusion, meat should be consumed well-done and never under cooked according to the USDA.

Sterilization

I assume that many people know of the many ways there are to "clean" things, but do they really know what exactly it is they are doing?  Here, I will be briefly discussing 3 ways that are used the most to clean things and what exactly they do.  First of all, I believe that you have heard of sanitize, but do you know what it does?  This basically cleans and disinfects.  For example, when you use sanitizer to clean your hands after using the bathroom.  Second, there is sterilization.  This basically kills all living bacteria.  Last, there is pasteurization.  This process is used as a heating process that kills pathogens.  This is of most importance to humans because it basically cleanses the food you eat.

How much bacteria can exist on raw beef

     During our microbiology class, my lab partner and I are investigating how much bacteria is present in raw meat before being cooked.  At first, we thought our experiment would yield a bit of bacteria because it is present, but after we placed our bacteria on an agar plate to further grow.  To our surprise it grew a substantial amount.  From that strain we did a subcultural and from that strain we did a gram stain.  However, what we saw was something that we were not expecting.  From our strain we found Gram + and Gram -,  but this was inconclusive.  In conclusion, we did another sample and from there we will try to distinguish what bacteria is present.

The Ideal Disinfectant

     Have you ever wondered what makes disinfectants so good or if you could create your own disinfectant how would it be?  Well there are many things that you would want your disinfectant to do.  For example, depending on where you will be using the product, you would want it to be user-friendly and non-corrosive.  Also, you would want it to be non-toxic to the environment, humans, and pets.  On the other hand, you would want it to kill all bacteria and pathogens on many different surfaces.  However, the best part of your disinfectant would be for it be fast-acting, inexpensive, and having a long-shelf life.  Finally, if you ever plan on making your own disinfectant, make sure to keep these things in life.

Investigation of H1N1

     During spring break, I was watching the news and heard that some scientists were trying to discover a new way of detecting the virus before its to late.  These immunologist - experts in the body's immune system, work in well secured bio-hazard labs in Emory University.   They have found a new, faster way to detect specific strains of H1N1.  From just a small amount of infected blood, scientists use a cell sorting system to produce a highly targeted protein called monoclonal antibodies.  "These antibodies can be used for multiple things." Jens Wrammert, Ph.D., an immunologist at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., told Ivanhoe. "They can be used for diagnostic purposes and, ultimately, of course, they can be used for treatment of patients."  I believe it is good that they are looking for a new way to detect the virus and hopefully come up with a better solution than having to get a shot because many people just don't want to get it.  

Naegleria fowleri A startling investigation

     While doing an assignment today on a protozoa called Naegleria fowleri i learned that you can catch this fatal disease while swimming in lakes, rivers, and in hot springs.  I remember this one time watching this show called Monsters inside me on Animal Planet, about a boy who went swimming in a near by lake in Florida and a few days later he ended up in the hospital and eventually died.  However, I don't recall if the disease he got was from this microorganism, but it is scary to think that you can't even enjoy a swim without worrying about protozoan sneaking into your nose.  On another note, while reading about N. fowleri it got me thinking, all the times that I got sick from going to the lake back home in New Jersey, could it have been this.  However, I doubt it was because I'm still here and not 6 feet underground.

microorganisms are they helpful or harmful?

     Microorganisms, tiny microscopic germs that we cannot see, but know that they are around everywhere.  They can be outside in our environment or even in our own body.  However, are these bacterium helpful to us or are they there waiting for a chance to harm us?  Many bacteria, for example, some bacteria and yeast are used to help ferment certain types of food.  The five processes in the nitrogen cycle, which include fixation, uptake, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification are all driven by microorganisms.  In fact, many other bacteria are used to help make medicine that help cure us from many different infections.  On the other hand, there are some bacteria that are not so helpful.  These bacteria are known as pathogens and they can be so harmful that we can die from them.  In conclusion, microorganisms can be either beneficial or harmful and we should take precautions on how to prevent any disease. 

Reflections of Microbiology

     When i was younger, I never thought about "germs" as being good.  I remember the first time hearing this word was probably when I was in grade school, when the teachers would say wash your hands good or you'll catch a cold.  Even when I got older I never really thought about what germs really were, but things that could make you sick.  However, when I started studying microorganisms that helped us in our everyday lives and the ones that are pathogenic towards us, it changed my concept of how I saw things.

     Microbiology, helped me understand why it is that these bacteria exist and what is the purpose of having them in this world.  Not only do I understand better, but I owe that to the current professor that is teaching the course.  She has excellent knowledge about the topics we learn everyday in class.  For example, when I took Biology in high school, we learned about cellular respiration, which is the process of using energy to make ATP.  However, I never really understood it and honestly I've probably heard of it a good amount of times to actually know the process and what is involved to make ATP, but when the professor went over it in class I understood it much better and was actually able to answer questions.  Microbiology is an interesting course and I would recommend everyone to take a better look at the environment and know that the things that surround us are there for a reason.

Encounter with E.coli or not??

   About 7 or 8 years ago, my family and I had just moved back to New Jersey from Texas.  We were all excited to be back to our home town and with our family and old friends.  Make the long story short, my sisters and a couple of my cousins decided to go out to eat at this Dominican spot.  We go in, order what we usually get and sit down to eat.  I remember we were all having fun laughing at each other and enjoying the food.  We end up going home and I believe a week or so goes by and my sister starts having stomach cramps.  Thinking it was nothing my mother gave her some medicine that would take the pain away.  However, that was not the case, she actually got worse.  She started with cramps that led to diarrhea and ended up getting a fever.  We were home just relaxing waiting for my mom to come back home from work when my sister came out and told us that she was bleeding every time she went to the bathroom.

   We all waited for my mom to come home and when she did we told her what was going on.  We ended up taking my sister to the emergency room and she ended  up being there for almost 2 weeks.  They would run test every day to determine what it was she had and everyday she was there it seemed that she got worse.  Little by little she got better with the medicine she was taking, she got discharged and we went home.  In the end I never really knew what it was she had, but from taking this Microbiology class I come to my own conclusion that it must have been E.coli.  I do not know if it truly was this, but with all the symptoms you get from this disease and what my sister had there is a really close resemblance to this bacteria.  

A Deadly Encounter

  Today, I will be discussing with you guys an encounter that occurred to me not to long ago.  I believe this happened about 5 years ago, when i was 15.  I live in a certain part of the United States in where we experience all four seasons.  This particular year winter hit us pretty hard.  However, as a 15 year old teen, I was happy to see all the snow fall and even more delighted because school was closed for about 2 days straight with delayed openings following after.  My brother and I love playing in the snow, no matter how cold it is outside you will always find us out there.  Thus, because of  the snow falling my mother told us not to go outside because it was extremely cold.  In the days to come, I would realize that I should have listened to my mom.

  According to Robert W Derlet, MD, he states that the Influenza is a common infectious disease.  It is a highly contagious airborne disease that causes an acute febrile illness and results in variable degrees of systemic symptoms, ranging from mild fatigue to respiratory failure and death.  At first, I felt like I had nothing but a cold, however, I would soon realize that was not the case.  Two days would pass and my "cold" would not go away, even while taking medicine.  Chills from my neck down followed with severe headaches and body aches.  At this point, I knew I had the flu.  I have experienced the flu before, but never like this.  I lasted with the flu for about a week and on the final days of recovering my temperature rose to 103.  As a result of the high temperature I ended up going to the hospital and got the right medication I needed.  To end, we need to keep in mind, that even though we could just have the flu we need to take it serious.  If I would have stayed at home thinking that this would pass on it's own, I could probably be dead right now.  

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/219557-overview#a0101

What is Motility in prokaryotic cells

Have you ever wondered how cells move around?  The process of a cell moving around is called Motility.  In the prokarytoic cells they move around in 3 different ways:

1. Flagella is the first way they can move around.  Flagella are long and thin, they extend past the surface and their glycocalyx.  They help propel the cell body through its environment.  There are 4 different types of flagella.  Monotrichous, amphitrichous, lophotrichous, and peritichous.  

2.  Fimbriae is the second form in which they move.  Fimbriae are sticky, shorter and abundant.  The    stickiness of their bristles help them to adhere to each other and environment.  Also, when in the biofilm they play an important role by conducting electrical signals among the cells in the biofilm.  Thus, helping in communication.  

3.  Pili does not necessarily move the cell around, but it does help in a different way.  Pili are mid-length between flagella and fimbriae.  They are also know as conjugation pili because they help mediate the transfer of DNA from one cell to another.  

Definition of Prokaryotic, Eukaryotic, and Abiogenesis

Welcome fellow bloggers, hope all of you are doing well! As stated before i will be doing this blog as a way to help us all learn a little something about Microbiology.  This week we will be describing what distinguishes prokaryotic from eukaryotic. 

  

 Prokaryotic:                                                                         Eukaryotic:                                                       

lacks a membrane-bonded organelles           Has a true nucleus 
unicellular                                                          Membrane-bonded organelles
DNA/Chromosomes are circular                    Unicellular/multicellular
Have ribosomes                                                DNA linear
Have cell membrane                                         
Have cell walls

Spontaneous Generation (abiogenesis):

A theory, widely held in the 19th century and earlier but now discredited, stating that living organisms could arise directly and  rapidly from nonliving material.

Introduction of my knowledge

     Hello fellow viewers, this will be my personal blog about my interesting class, Microbiology.  Here i will be updating you guys on the knowledge i learn during my class.  I will write about my interesting encounters, my bone chilling investigations, some admirable reflections and of course a few terms for you guys to further understand.  I hope to make this as simple and mind blowing as possible.