#microbenet

MicrobeNet

To study, research and analyze microbiology and related subjects, researchers need data about the various pathogens identifies in our environment. In the case of health providers and clinical laboratories, this data when available helps in faster turnaround time for diagnosing patients. The MicrobeNet database provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is home to information about 2400 rare disease-causing microbes. The website also provides information on protocols and procedures to follow when different pathogens are identified.

Jonathan Eisen wrote a wonderful blog post about the growing field of the "Microbiology of the Built Environment." This is a nascent field that aims to explore all aspects of the microbes that live in the human constructed environment, from urban centers to hospitals to your cubicle. Read on for news about some recent papers and what the future holds for this research.

'When Good Bacteria Go Bad' from the American Museum of Natural History

James Meadow, University of Oregon Biology and the Built Environment Center:

The American Museum of Natural History just released a new short documentary that highlights built environment microbiology research. Actually the film is about antibiotic resistance evolution in Staphylococcus aureus, but the filmmakers also wanted to highlight the not-so-ominous interactions we have with the built environment microbiome every day.