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."
Thinking Big About Something Small
September 03, 2010
Microbiologists like to say that 99 percent of bacteria can't be cultured in a lab, and the saying drives Mike the Mad Biologist "up a wall." The problem, Mike says, is that microbiologists aren't being creative enough when it comes to finding way to grow bacteria. When he was a postdoc, Mike did a simple comparison using standard rich lab medium and a home-brew low nutrient agar to grow some microbes, and found that his special plates had 20 to 40 times as many bugs as the standard plates. These days, one of the side benefits of the Human Microbiome Project is that researchers are getting very creative in their methods to grow human bacteria, as well as waiting longer than would be usual for normal cultures. "These are very cool results, and I hope they put the 99 percent of bacteria are unculturable myth to rest," Mike says. "Seriously, have some pride, fellow microbiologists, and be clever when you isolate."