Your Washing Machine is Trying to Kill You!

By Elester Williams

Your washing machine cleans your clothes, but what cleans it? In 2015 researchers looked at 70 residential washing machines and tested the detergent drawers and rubber door seals for fungi. Given the locations tested it was rather surprising that nearly 80% of the washing machines tested positive for fungi. But even more surprising was that 44% of the fungi belonged to either the Candida, Fusarium, or Exophiala genera, all of which contain opportunistic pathogens. The researchers pointed to the low soap and low water temperature characteristic of high efficiency washing machines as the factor that promotes fungus growth. Strangely enough three machines consistently imparted a bad smell to clothes and when tested for both fungi and bacteria it was discovered that fungi only made up 8% of the microbes. Maybe you should buy a cleaner for your washing machine BEFORE the clothes start to smell, and before your machine tries to kill you... or at least infect you.

From (Babič et al. 2015). Pictures C-G show microbes cultured from the detergent trays (A) and rubber door seals (B). 

 Original article: Babič MN, Zalar P, Ženko B, Schroers H-J, Džeroski S, Gunde-Cimerman N (2015). Candida and Fusarium species known as opportunistic human pathogens from customer-accessible parts of residential washing machines. Fungal Biology 119: 95-113.

For Peat's Sake!

By Elester Williams,

Tropical peatland In Southeast Asia holds the world’s fourth largest peat based organic carbon reservoir covering up to an estimated 27 million hectares. These reservoirs however are being given up for commercial palm oil farming and an estimated 6% of the annual Carbon dioxide released into the air can be traced back to peatland destruction from agriculture. Researchers in 2015 studied the soil microbe community in a previously disrupted peatland to study the ability of scientists to restore damaged lands. The bacterial community showed 10% similarity to the undisturbed forests, the fungal community showed 61% difference, and the archaeal community showed 66% difference. After 3.5 years no major microbial group studied had a community that was considered fully restored (similar to pre-destruction diversity) suggesting peatland restoration efforts may take decades or longer.

From (Nurulita et al 2016). This figure shows the Southeast Asian (Indonesian) peatlands studied.

Original article: Nurulita Y, Adetutu EM, Gunawan H, Zul D, Ball AS (2016). Restoration of tropical peat soils: The application of soil microbiology for monitoring the success of the restoration process. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 216: 293-303.

Vines to Wines

Wine making had expanded throughout the centuries from Greeks to Egyptians, each having their own technique. In order to produce a good quality wine, they needed to apply the viticulture (grape cultivation) on their land. Vineyards do require certain temperature, moisture, and bacterial community for proper growth. Foguem and Flammang conducted a research in growing a vineyard in China using France’s viticulture technique. In this experiment, it focused on six factors requirement: Geology which is broken down into two categories “macronutrients” and “micronutrients” for soil nutrients supplements requirement, vines (wine quality), climate (vines on different temperature), diseases and treatment (vine disease accumulate), driving mode (vine installment), and irrigation (water stressed condition). In order to compare both countries geographically, graphical software was used for obtaining a glance of China’s biomes that can support the viticulture in soil nutrient supplement and vineyards being able to withstand on different weather conditions. 

Foguem BK and Flammang A. (2014). Knowledge description for their suitability requirements of different geographical regions for growing wine. LPE 38:719-731.

washingtonwinehomes.com

100% Cotton? Yes Please!!!

By: Ashley Garcia

Figure 1. Callewaert et al. (2014). Odor levels of cotton (green) versus polyester (red) based on five odor characterizations ranging in value from 0 (no odor) to 10 (strong odor/intolerable).

Performing aerobic activity has a multitude of health benefits but an aspect individuals may overlook is choice of clothing may encourage the growth of specific microorganisms and enhance the malodor emitted. A study carried out by Callewart et al. analyzed the odor profile of cotton versus polyester t-shirts after an extensive bout of exercise. The researchers found that the polyester t-shirts were more repugnant when compared to their cotton counterparts on all five characteristics analyzed (Figure 1). It was theorized that this finding was based on the fact that polyester is a synthetic fiber, which adsorbs odors less readily and encourages the growth of malodor creating microbes such as Micrococcus spp. This study has several health implications beyond what we find unpleasant due to the growth of these particular microbial species. So the next time you’re thinking of hitting that gym hard, consider reaching for the 100% cotton tee instead of your polyester number.

Original Article:

Callewaert C, Maeseneire ED, Kerchof FM, Verliefde A, Wiele T, Boon N (2014). Microbial odor profile of polyester and cotton clothes after a fitness session. Applied Environmental Microbiology. 88: 6611-6619.

Spooky Time in Airborne Bacteria Haunted Hospital! *o*

It is obvious that a hospital will be one of the most microbial infested places in a community. We tend to think that fomites and ill people are the ones that carry the bacteria around , but what if someone were to show you evidence that most of these bacteria are airborne? In a current study conducted in Setubal, Portugal bacterial counts and fungal loads were performed to identify the variety of bacteria or fungi in specific rooms These rooms were rated from the most prone places to least prone of obtaining contact with a airborne bacteria. The main rooms tested were "the operating theatre, emergency service, and the surgical ward". The samples were taken in different seasons and other protocols were included to provide more specific information.  The bacterial and fungal concentration was more intense in different sampling sites as well as its season. An increase in emergency service increased in summer and surgical ward bacterial counts increased in the winter.  

Verde, Sandra Cabo et. all (2015). Microbial assesments of indoor air quality at different hospital sites. Research in Microbiology

Many different types of bacteria and fungi were found in the air all haunting our existence, so next time you go to the hospital remember its not about what you touch its about what you breathe.

Microbes at the Bay

pictures by google

 

By: EmmaJo Robledo

 

Microbiological organisms in water spread at a faster rate when waters are contaminated. In a study conducted in the Durres bay, researchers studied the microbiological status of the water as compared to the EEA resolution (European Environmental Agency). Another side studied was the improvement ratios seen in the water and identifying risk factors. As far as the detection of the two pollutants, Fecale Coliform (Escherichia Coli FC) and Enterokokut Intestinal (Intestinal Entererococcis –IE), there was improvement in the amount of microorganisms in the water. Fecale Coliform (Escherichia Coli FC) was found only 2 out of 18 monitored results of “bad”. A significant improvement was seen in both microorganisms throughout the bay.

 

 Shoshi O, Sulejman SULÇE, Zamira R. (2014). Microbiological Pollution of Water in the Bay of Durrës. Albanian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 13:57–62. 

Beef Carcasses: Breeding Grounds for Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

By Martha Chapa

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-04/meat-beef-carcass-abattoir/5134404
Beef carcasses hanging at a meat processing plant.
 

Foodborne diseases can arise from human contamination, improper cooking, or countless other careless possibilities. Additionally, a antibiotic resistant foodborne illnesses may potentially originate in slaughter houses where beef carcasses are produced and processed. Cattle grown for beef production are often treated with a wide spectrum of antibiotics to prevent illness; ironically, this preventative measure can potentially have worse adverse effects on human health through building antibiotic resistance in these microbes. A study published in Meat Science assessed the meat contaminating bacteria known to be human pathogens and their drug resistance to 17 antimicrobial drugs. Molecular techniques, such as coagulase gene typing, were performed on 70 swabs of beef carcasses and 70 beef meat samples. Results showed that the carcasses commonly contained Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli even after evisceration. More interestingly, this study found that during carcass processing the identified strains of these bacteria were of significantly greater resistant or polyresistant strains. The gene typing performed in this study suggested that these strains likely originated in the meat processing plants tested. While some may believe that antibiotic treatment of livestock is a necessary preventative step in food health, it is important to think of the long term effect this may have on cattle, the bacterial pathogens they carry and ultimately, human health.

 

Schlegelova, J., Napravnikova, E., Dendis, M., Horvath, R., Benedik, J., Babak, V., Klimova, E., Navratilova, P., Sustackova, A. (2002). Beef carcass contamination in a slaughterhouse and prevalence of resistance to antimicrobial drugs in isolates of selected microbial species. Meat Science, 66, 557-565.