Unlike the chickenpox vaccine and measles vaccine, we should get the flu vaccine every year.  It is because that the influenza virus – the causative agent of the flu – changes over time, making the last year’s flu shot wholly or partially ineffective. But how does the influenza virus changes so much over a year? The influenza virus The influenza virus is an RNA virus. And the RNA genome of the virus is segmented into eight different fragments instead of one continuous genome. Once inside our body, the influenza virus takes over our cells and manipulates our cell’s biochemical machinery t ..read more

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One should always finish the prescribed course of antibiotics! How true is this cardinal rule? It became a debatable topic lately as many news articles are coming up with contrasting standpoints. This could create ambiguity in people’s minds as their doctor advises them to always finish the prescribed course of antibiotics. To clarify on this crucial topic, we have a doctor specialized in microbiology. Dr. Kavita Diddi is not just a practicing health care professional, but also an ardent science communicator conveying the right awareness to the public. With her initiative, an antibiotic stewar ..read more

Image credit Canva Wolbachia bacteria infect a wide variety of arthropods (such as insects, spiders, crustaceans) and nematodes. Wolbachia is a symbiotic bacterium that lives inside the cells of its host. It mainly affects and manipulates the reproductive tissues – testes and ovaries of the host. Applications of Wolbachia bacteria hold great potential for human benefits. The symbiotic relationship of the Wolbachia bacteria with the arthropods and nematodes can be exploited for the control and treatment of certain infectious diseases. Wolbachia, male-hating bacteria affects the birth and develo ..read more

  Most people love the smell of rain and would you be surprised to know that Streptomyces bacteria are associated with that sweet, earthy smell of rain.  Perhaps you could have made a remarkable observation that the smell of rain is more prominent for the first rainfall of the season.  Furthermore, you could have sensed that earthy smell when water hits the long-dried soil, while you are gardening. And there is a reason for this too! Note: Rain doesn’t have any odor, what we are discu ..read more

Image credit Canva We use antibiotics to destroy the bacteria. Over the last century, we were able to exploit the potential of antibiotics for our benefits such as treating infections, increasing agricultural yield, etc. We evoked the mass production of antibiotics by microbial fermentation or chemical synthesis with amplified dose and potency. However, the interesting fact is that antibiotics is been naturally produced by bacteria and fungi for millions of years as secondary metabolites at a concentration much lower than the therapeutic dose. But why the microbes are producing antibiotics if ..read more

Image credit Canva To fight against the infectious disease produced by the bacteria and to ensure the success of a medical procedure or treatment devoid of any infections, antibiotics are widely administered. The administration of antibiotics aroused an evolutionary and survival response among the bacteria producing resistance to the antibiotics, consequently making the bacteria antibiotic-resistant. Therefore, the only reason for antibiotic resistance is the ?antibiotics? itself. Antibiotics stood in the way of bacteria?s survival and like any other organism, bacteria responded by evolving fo ..read more

Image credit Canva What is antibiotic resistance?? Antibiotics are medicines or drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections by destroying the bacteria or keeping their multiplication on a check. ? Antibiotic resistance?is the ability of the bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics?causing?the bacteria to become?antibiotic-resistant.?? Infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance can induce higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.? Bacteria incorporate a diverse ..read more

Image credit Canva The procedures in the healthcare setting involve contact of medical devices with a patient?s body. A major risk of all procedures is the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms by the medical device causing infection in the patient rather than the success of the procedure. The resulting infection not only affects the patient, further it could be transmitted to other people and the environment. During the hospital visits we tend to observe whether the needles are new or reused, the phlebotomist is using gloves or not, the cleanliness of bed linen? However, have you thought ..read more

Thermal spring in the Yellowstone national park, Image credit Canva The story of the bacterium Thermus aquatics describes a harmonious relationship between mother nature and human life in a precise way. Moreover, this bacterium changed the life we live by making a lot of advancements in science and technology, which can be related to everyday life than constricting it in the science workbench.?? However, nobody could have foreseen how famous this bacterium would be at that period.?? Briefly outlining, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique used extensively for differe ..read more