Tag Archives: genetic diversity

Better, faster typing of Salmonella strains

Posted on September 26, 2012 by MicrobiologySociety

Post by Lena Ciric, University College London A new method for classifying Salmonella strains has been developed by scientists, giving faster turnaround times and greater reliability. Salmonella strains are notoriously difficult to identify, or type; however new research suggests that … Continue reading →

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The evolution of a diarrhoeal viral genome

Posted on September 19, 2012 by MicrobiologySociety

Post by Rebecca Gladstone, University of Southampton Two billion cases of severe diarrhoea occur globally each year, representing the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, according to the World Health Organization. Diarrhoeal disease is both … Continue reading →

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The limits of bacterial hitchhiking

Posted on August 22, 2012 by MicrobiologySociety

Post by Rachel Roberts, University of Reading Bacteria are able to move across oceans, deserts and mountain ranges with relative ease, by hitching a ride in clouds of dust or water vapour. The rules that govern the dispersal, or ‘biogeography’, … Continue reading →

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Life in a cold climate

Posted on August 15, 2012 by MicrobiologySociety

Post by Lizzy Andrew, Newcastle University Life can exist and thrive in even the most extreme environments. Investigating regions which are uninhabitable for most organisms can identify species with remarkable tolerance for a number of environmental stresses, including acute temperatures, … Continue reading →

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Bats and their viral tenants

Posted on August 8, 2012 by MicrobiologySociety

Post by Sruthi Raghavan, Freelance science writer Bats are an important natural reservoir of gammaretroviruses, a type of retrovirus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 We all know that bats roost in trees, caves and even houses. But they seem to be oblivious to, and … Continue reading →

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