#state microbe

We Got A State Microbe!

We did it, after 2 years of intense lobbying, hundreds of emails and letters from people throughout New Jersey and the world, the governor signed into law that the official State Microbe of New Jersey is Streptomyces griseus.  We are the second state to have an Official Microbe, but the first to have an Official Bacterium!  Thanks to everyone who participated!

This footage is from the news broadcast New Jersey Matters, where I talk about microbes and science with the host, Larry Mendte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgvPK8_Pus8 Please take a look!

Cool tie, huh?

And please don’t forget the book: https://tinyurl.com/Warhol-Small-Guide

New Jersey State Microbe Approved by Assembly

On February 25, 2019 The NJ  Assembly unanimously voted in favor of designating an  Official State Microbe, Streptomyces griseus. This brings NJ one step closer to being the second state in the US (and the world) to have a symbolic microbe.

This action sequence shows me (seated) casting the vote for Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (standing) in the Assembly Chamber. Wow, that was cool, and an honor!  ASW Quijano was the principal sponsor in the Assembly. The vote was 76 to zero.

Strep griseus produces streptomycin, the first broad spectrum antibiotic and the first significant antibiotic found in America. It was discovered in 1943 in New Brunswick, NJ

Talk about pressure “Don’t press the red button!”

Please read my amazing microbiology book: https://tinyurl.com/Warhol-Small-Guide

New Jersey State Microbe

Nice press coverage. Thank you Infectious Disease News!

Read it here:

https://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/antimicrobials/news/online/%7Bc571bc7f-8414-4648-ab27-b69791a92b48%7D/qa-new-jersey-chooses-a-state-microbe?page=3

New Jersey State Microbe

The legislation to establish an official microbe for New Jersey is set for a Senate vote on July 16, 2018.  We had a unanimous “Yes” in the last legislative cycle, let’s hope for a repeat tomorrow!

Get a great microbiology and science book:  https://tinyurl.com/Warhol-Small-Guide

New Jersey State Microbe

This makes it official, we’re presenting at the Microbe 2018 annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

It just struck me that this is an entirely new area of research and activism. Oregon was successful in getting a State Microbe, but I can’t get anyone there to return my phone calls or emails. I think I’m the only one doing this systematically.

Here’s a link to the presentation abstract http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4623/presentation/6277  Abstract embargo period is over, so it’s OK to post.

Here’s a link to the most interesting microbiology book for everyone :

NJ State Microbe at Rutgers Day/Ag Field Day

The Rutgers Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology had an amazingly great day on April 28th. The booth was staffed by students and faculty all day and had lines of people waiting to learn more about the State Microbe and microbiology in general. State Microbe T shirts were very popular. Thank you to everyone who participated!

We collected nearly 400 signatures on a petition to our legislators in support of A3650 and S1729, the legislation that designates Streptomyces griseus as the New Jersey State Microbe.

New Jersey State Microbe

We keep making progress and now have 6 sponsors from both parties in the NJ Assembly.

Get the most entertaining microbiology book ever! https://tinyurl.com/Warhol-Small-Guide

We need an Official State Microbe.