Microbiology and Immunology

Hi: Is it possible to bioengineer a bacterium to generate very-low intensity radio waves? If so, what frequency? Thanks, Green Xenon

Through various gene knock-in and knock-outs, could a microorganism, such as Eschericia coli, turn into another microorganism, such as Staphylococcus aureus?

I'm just wondering why MHCI specifically would be involved in allograft rejections... such as a kidney. My understanding is that since MHCI is found on all nucleated cells, it would be quite prevalent throughout the human body system, therefore easily detecting any foreign molecule. Then how would MHCII be involved in transplant rejections as well?

B220 is a surface marker on B cells. B220 is rather another name for CD45R, the ligand which is present on helper T cells that binds to CD22 on APC to activate T helper cells by cleaving phosphates off certain signalling molecules of the CD3 apparatus. This being so, does it not mean that B cells binds to APC? This confused me, as I knew of B cell – T helper cells interaction, but not the former. B cell itself is an APC, so it further does not make sense. Help?

Hi everyone, Im a student and Im looking for an article: CD28/B7 SYSTEM OF T CELL COSTIMULATION by Deborah J. Lenschow , Theresa L. Walunas and , Jeffrey A. Bluestone It is very very very important! Please if someone has one, can you contact me and send a copy? Please!!! I have already ordered it from the library, but it takes ages and I need it asap! Please help!

Hey guys, I just wanna clear something up. 1. MHC molecule (alpha and beta chains) are held together by non-covalent interactions. 2. Is the peptide held on the hypervariable region of the MHC molecule by non-covalent interactions as well? 3. when the TcR binds to the peptide on the MHC and to the MHC itself, are they also non-covalent interactions? Thanks guys, I appreciate your input.

I was wondering why a disease that causes mononucleosis is associated with polyclonal activation? Isn’t mononucleosis just a rise in the number of monocytes in the blood? B cells are the ones responsible for polyclonal activation, so why are they involved in this scenario?

http://www.labnews.co.uk/laboratory_article.php/5065/5/2/taking-on-the-beeb- Amazing how he was able to get perfect results, but the BBC's 'best brains' weren't able to get anything close to it

Hi, All I feel its my moral responsibility to correct all misconceptions regarding HIV /AIDS. I can do this because I am educated enough to comment on this. This message is from Mayank who is working in Ranbaxy. He is serving as Brand Manager (Product Manager) handling anti HIV/AIDS portfolio (called as Antiretroviral Drugs) in Ranbaxy. Please read following points carefully & don't send emails related to Medical ailments without having complete knowledge about it (even partial knowledge could be grossly dangerous). * HIV (virus) requires *ONLY* *Blood or Semen* as medium to transmit from one body to another. * HIV *can not* transmit even t…

Does anyone know the difference between goat and rabbit IgG? Goat IgG changes its pH after freeze drying in ammonium bicarbonate. Rabbit IgG retains its pH even though it was processed in the same way.

Does the set of MHC alleles an individual possesses significantly affect one's ability to combat certain diseases? Is it feasible to transplant cells (maybe reprogrammed cells...) into an individual before the recipient's immune system has developed (pre-thymic education, etc.) and in that way introduce different MHC alleles or other traits which might be beneficial without the risk of them being rejected by the immune system? Also, I think there have been studies indicating that MHC allelic diversity might influence mate choice. Specifically, one might choose for a mate someone with MHC alleles different from their own. What do others think?

Ok, so I have been coming across various populations of organisms that have their genus listed; however, their species name is not known. I'm guessing that's because lab personnel or overseers have not had the time to define what species they are. Let's say I find a fungus. It looks like Paecilomyces lilacinus, but I am not sure it is Paecilomyces lilacinus. Therefore, it gets put in the genus Paecilomyces. And then I append the term "sp"? Right? Would the correct underlining and "unknown" naming system in terms of binomial nomenclature look like this: Paecilomyces sp. Is the period underlined? Is there anything I'm missing? Thank you for taking th…

How to reduce COD (Chemical Oxigen Demond) in STP?

Hi, i cant seem to find anywhere on the internet a clear answer to a question that i have, i believe (with very little knowledge) the term infectious dose (ID50) is the number of organisms that will cause disease (morbidity) in 50% of test animals (correct??) so my question is what does a low (ID50) indicate about an organism? i hope this question makes sense! thanks, Alice

We know that cancer is cells in the body are malfunctioning and going bad.They are different than viruses has viruses has to go into the body.But Cancer spreads and replicate like a viruses.The only diiferent is a viruses has to go in your body.Well Cancer is cells in the body are malfunctioning and going bad . Cancer is a leading cause of death -- according to the World Health Organization, 12.5% of all deaths worldwide. There is much research into how to treat it or why some people get cancer and other people don't .But all diseases like cancer or viruses seem to be on the rise. My views are food or drugs are why we have cancer .And chemotherapy or surgery …

Dear colleagues, are you aware of any database or list with bacteria that may be infectious to human and the respective disease, or vise versa? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thomas

I have done 2 experiments, one is Enumeration of Bacteria Using The Standard Plate Count and the other is Determination of Bacterial Growth By Optical Density. However my results didn't end well the results of the Standard Plate Count is DILUTION PLATED ML PLATED NUMBER OF COLONIES 1:10000 1.0 0 1:100000 0.1 1 1:1000000 1.0 4 1:10000000 0.1 0 and the theoratical result is DILUTION PLATED ML PLATED NUMBER OF COLONIES 1:10000 1.0 >1000 1:100000 0.1 536 1:1000000 1.0 47 1:10000000 0.1 6 For my results for the Determination of Bacte…

Perhaps not the perfect site for the subject; please re-direct if neccessary. I believe there are plants that are highly sought after for elaboration of medicines, extracts or complex compounds for research or production of much needed chemicals. Could anyone name a few, please ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicobacter_pylori So, H. Pylori are nasty little germs that like to dig into the stomach of various species, humans included, and screw with the acid levels of the organism. They are extremophiles in a sense, and they are microorganisms. But, let's keep in mind that they're still microorganisms. And microorganisms don't like being put in a bottle of alcohol. It ruptures the proteins and cellular structure. So, here's my question to those with a wide knowledge of immunology and microbiology: Could a person drink liquor, wine, or other alcoholic drinks in order to remove and treat an H. Pylori infection? I suspect if a person m…

Hi, I'm performing an oxidase test on a Gram (-) Rod that is Catalase +. I'm using 1% p-aminodimethylaniline oxalate (supposed to be colorless but is slight pink) as my oxidizing reagent. When I transfer colonies (from 4 degree storage plate) onto filter paper and subsequently add a drop of oxalate I get an immediate color change from clear to pink. However, the dark purple color either fails to appear, or appears after 30-60 seconds on the outer edges of the smear/colony. I've also poured oxalate over a nutrient agar plate containing my culture and I get the same results. The dark purple color appears after a while but accounts for a very small area % (rest of colony…

Could someone recommend some beginner books / resources on fermentation? I would like to eventually master the science behind the organisms responsible for things like Viili, Kefir, Buttermilk, Tibicos etc... I want to stress here that I am a science noob. Pretty much everything I learned at school has been forgotten because it was so long ago. Thanks.

Hi Could someone please tell me how alcoholic hand gel works? I know it's something to do with alcohol dehydrating the bacteria but could you explain it in more scientific detail? Thanks!

Does anybody know how someone could use an Ouchterlony (Gel Double Diffusion Assay) test to determine whether or not a culture of E.Coli is producing normal or modified insulin? Basically it's like this; you have two types of genetically engineered E.Coli, one of which produces normal insulin and the other produces modified insulin. What I'm trying to figure out is how to design an experiment that would allow me to determine which type of insulin is being produced by one of the cultures; and only one plate can be used. Any help would be appreciated.

I don't know a lot about this topic, and cancer in general, but I am just curious... Do we actually know for sure that cancer in on the rise, or has any more potential to affect people now, than it did in the past? The reason I am asking is because I have heard that because of what cancer actually is (very basically, cells that have been damaged, causing them to replicate out of control, and have no real beneficial function anymore), every cell would eventually end up cancerous if it was able to live long enough for it to be naturally damaged in such a way to turn it cancerous. This, along with the fact that people have a much longer life expectancy than they use…

Hi, I read up about the cancer jab a few days ago and that it was now a mass program in schools vaccinating people to prevent the cervical cancer types 16 and 18 supposidly causing 70% of cancer cases. Today I read an article and it claims that a 14 y/o girl fell ill and died later on in a University Hospital. Someone very close to me that I love has just been inoculated with the HPV cervical cancer jab and she's feeling a little off colour. I don't know whats in the vaccine and can't find any information on it. What's your take on the situation?