Editor’s Selections: Biofilms and bioshields, malaria in 3-D, and living a salty life
December 4th, 2009 Editor's Selections No Comments
Vincent Racaniello selects several notable posts each week from molecular and cellular biology and virology. He blogs at virology blog.
- Polymorphic neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNs) cannot disrupt P. aeruginosa rhamnolipid-containing biofilms. The lipid is produced only in the presence of PMNs, avoiding disruption of the cells on which the bacteria are trying to grow.
- Luciferase-bearing malaria can be used to study the spatio-temporal development of malaria infection in mice. The effects of drugs and vaccines on the parasites can be determined without surgery or other invasive methodologies.
- Despite the name, there is life in the Dead Sea. Halophilic bacteria and archaebacteria that live in the hypersaline environment have evolved two different ways to avoid osmotic shock.
I’ll be back next Friday with more selections.
