Blog listing

July 30, 2019

Bacteria, germs, poo...these are words that normally don't evoke images of health and happiness. The relationship between humans and bacteria is often understood as a combative one. Bacteria are an enemy that must be fought and we have been fighting them for many years. We have been fighting them in the toilets, we have been fighting them in the kitchens and we have been fighting them in hospitals. All the while bacteria have been mounting a resistance to the weaponry – such as antibiotics – we use to fight them. And so, the fight goes on.

June 20, 2019

This year's first Focused Meeting, Anaerobe 2019: Changing perceptions of anaerobic bacteria; from pathogen to the normal microbiota and back, took place at the Jurys Inn Cardiff, 13–14 June. We’ve turned to Twitter to look at some of the highlights of the meeting.

June 5, 2017

Have you ever noticed when cleaning a sink or a saucepan that certain spots get tougher to clean over time, and the harder you scrub them, the worse it gets?

November 1, 2016

Earlier this month, the Microbiology Society attended Big Biology Day Cambridge, an annual event that attracted over 2,000 families from the local area eager to learn about all things biological. The Society showcased the Antibiotics Unearthed project along with other learned societies as part of the Biology Big Top.

August 11, 2016

Every year, hundreds of millions of patients across the world are affected by Healthcare-associated Infections, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). These infections can result from a surgery, or from the use of a medical device like a catheter, for example, and cause significant mortality and economic losses.

January 20, 2016

Are surfers at greater risk of being colonised by antibiotic resistant bacteria? Anne Leonard, a PhD student at the University of Exeter Medical School, is trying to find out. Anne is part of a research team led by Dr William Gaze studying antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

June 29, 2015

Invisible You. The Human Microbiome is a new permanent exhibition at the Eden Project, exploring the trillions of microbes that live on and within us.

November 4, 2014

If you go down to your local supermarket today, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find a wide array of probiotic-based products (mainly yoghurts), each associated with claims that they will improve your dietary health. Whether probiotics actually provide any specific health benefits remains hotly debated.