Think of your daily morning routine. You wake up, shower, get dressed, eat, gather your belongings, and make your way out the door to work or wherever the day takes you. Most everyone has a mental checklist of the items we can’t forget in order to function properly throughout the day. I can’t speak for everyone, but most of our lists  follow these general guidelines; “Phone, keys, wallet, beverage of cho...

In an attempt to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a tool that physicians can use to distinguish between a bacterial or viral infection in a patient that is suffering from an infection. Antibiotics are useless in treating viral infections; sadly, bacterial resistance is stimulated by the indiscriminate and often unnecessary use of...

Marijuana legalization has been a hot topic in the news across the United States over the past few years.  In 2012, Colorado was the first state to pass legalization of recreational marijuana use. Prior to this, many states had legal medical prescription marijuana sales and usage on the books. However, Colorado’s move to legalize recreational cannabis use is a sign that the overarching public view of...

Compounding Pharmacies are specialized pharmacies able to address specific health needs in a way mass produced pharmaceuticals cannot. Compounded medications offer customized solutions for patients' unique conditions. The value of these facilities is significant for those who have experienced an enhanced quality of life or life-saving benefits from compounded medications.

On September 6^th, 2017, the organization known as PETA or the People for the ethical treatment of animals called out to their vegan brethren to donate their stool…for SCIENCE! [1]  For those who are unaware, Fecal Microbiota Transplants or FMT’s are a relatively new but promising treatment for individuals who have had their guts ravaged by the pathogenic bacte...

Throughout history there has been an ongoing conversation about the mystical “living light” that shows up fluttering in the sky, churning beneath the ocean waves, and dancing across the forest floor. Stories have been passed down depicting this fantastical phenomenon stemming from all different cultures and histories. From ocean explorers that discovered the deep sea dwelling animals that illuminate the...

Lake Natron is a vast body of water, 57 kilometers (35 mi) long and 22 kilometers (14 mi) wide, in the Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa right along the Northern border of Tanzania and Kenya. Located at the base of the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, you will first notice the deep red hue of its water, and a water face that appears to be tiled, caused by a thick coat of salt at the surface. Lake Natron i...

Environmental monitoring (EM) is a proactive tool for Quality Assurance and is a critical process within pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The process is important in determining the microbial...

These days, most people are aware that bacteria have benefits to our health and that not all bacteria are to be feared. Probiotic packed yogurts proudly proclaim their rich source of beneficial microbes. Health conscious Americans have taken the time to learn how to balance their intestinal flora based on research showing links between your gut and your mood. Most are now aware that the perfectly...

Around the world, more than 100 million landmines lay buried and undetected in over 70 countries. There is a global need for safe and efficient technologies for detecting buried landmines and explosives.

Worldwide, About half a million people are survivors of mine inflicted injuries and an additional 15,000 to 20,000 people are injured or killed by undetected landmines each year.

Detection...

Some species of streptococci are unique in that they are classified or grouped according to the antigenic structure of their cell walls. Ever wondered how this was discovered? In this article, we will explore the history of how strep grouping came to be in common usage today.

The genus Streptococcus contains many pathogens from numerous body sites. Over 50 species of these gram-positive cocci...

Microbiologists are a very opinionated group of individuals, and it is, at times, difficult to get consensus and standardization on certain procedures. Whether to heat fix or methanol fix slides in preparation for Gram staining is one of those controversial procedures....