by David Hopwood — We cannot read the popular press – let alone the scientific literature – these days without realising that the resistance of dangerous pathogenic bacteria to currently used antibiotics is increasing at an alarming rate. Methicillin (or multiple) resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is the most talked about, closely followed by vancomycin resistantEnterococcus (VRE) as well as...
by Elio — If you look for them, you'll find them – bacteria that can feed on antibiotics, that is. Here, looking means to make an enrichment culture using a medium whose single carbon source is an antibiotic. Add a soil sample with its resident bacteria and look to see who, if anyone, will grow. As reported in a recent issue of...
by Ronald Bentley and Joan W. Bennett — The year 1946 was one in which it was possible for many of the world's peoples to have a hopeful view for the future. The horrors of World War II were over and rebuilding was in progress. International travel...
...Agent Provocateur, Choreographer by Merry Youle — When first used clinically, tetracycline was effective against members of the genus Bacteroides, gram-negative anaerobes that make up 20–30% of our colonic bacterial population. Though usually well-behaved, Bacteroides are opportunistic pathogens capable of causing life-threatening infections if the colon is perforated. Now, virtually all Bacteroides clinical isolates are...
