Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
Concrete, Heal Thyself!
September 02, 2010
Bacteria are useful for myriad applications. Delft University of Technology's Henk Jonkers has recently shown that water-activated bacteria, when worked into concrete, act like osteoblasts do in bones, allowing the concrete to "heal" itself and patch up small cracks, reports New Scientist's Kate McAlpine. Such adjustments to concrete could save cities and towns a lot of time and money when fixing their infrastructure. "Jonkers thinks the solution is to fight nature with nature: he suggests combating water degradation by packing the concrete with bacteria that use water and calcium lactate 'food' to make calcite, a natural cement," McAlpine says.