WINNIPEG — Photodynamic inactivation is not a phrase used in everyday conversation, but it could become an effective control of insect and fungal pests in agriculture. “Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) of micro-organisms using natural photosensitizers has shown itself to be a powerful tool to combat bacteria and fungi (in crops),” says a 2019 paper published on […] Read more
Tag Archives bacteria
Yes, kids do need to get dirty
About a decade ago, it became clear to scientists that kids are healthier if they’re exposed to bacteria and microbes early in life. In the 2010s, multiple books were published on this topic, including Let Them Eat Dirt, written by two microbiologists from the University of British Columbia. Related story: Plants and bacteria: friends for […] Read more
Ureaplasma may be more than just a fertility problem
The bacteria Ureaplasma diversum, a common inhabitant of the genital tract of cattle, was first isolated in 1969 and originally wasn’t considered to be a disease threat. However, subsequent research, mostly in Canadian veterinary colleges in the 1970s and 1980s, suggested that Ureaplasma could be associated with failure of pregnancy at various times of gestation […] Read more
Not all microbial pathogens cause disease in the same way
These examples of disease-causing strategies underline that pathogens use different means to survive, spread and cause disease. It is through an understanding of these underlying mechanisms that we attempt to diagnose, treat and control disease in animals.
