Article Abstract:
A long-held belief that human pathogens are mostly bacteria and eukaryotes is refuted, since recent studies have indicated presence of archael sequences in infected dental root canals. Healthy root canals are sterile environments and microbes that penetrate this must be having some pathogenic features, however, it is still not clear whether the Archaea were participating in the disease process or whether they were in the root canal because disease created the conditions suitable for their growth.
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Article Abstract:
The study of microorganisms that can not be cultivated or cultured in a laboratory has posed problems for researchers, however, Jill Banfiled and J. Craig Venter independently published papers in 2004 which dealt with use of metagenomics to survey and reconstruct genomes from two very different microbial ecosystems. This helps in determining the properties of microbes within complex microbial communities and both are trying to enhance these methods to gain further information.
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Article Abstract:
Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is a method that resolves molecular events specifically at or near the cell surface. While a brand new 'turnkey' TIRF systems costs upwards of $100,000, the existing microscope can be upgraded to this capability.
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