Hello once again!
A new study conducted by Dr. Gee Lau at the University of Illinois could help to prevent new drug resistant, particularly antibiotic resistant, bacteria from forming and reproducing!
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. It shares its antibiotic resistant DNA with other bacteria. This can lead to more reproduction of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. If these bacteria continue to multiply, then antibiotic drugs will not be of much use in treating various illnesses and infections.
But despair not, for as I have previously stated there is yet hope!
Researchers have been working to develop a reliable method for shutting down the spread of drug resistant bacteria by interrupting the cellular events that allow S. Pneumoniae to swap their DNA. Dr. Lau and his colleges at the University of Illinois have been focusing on blocking the protein that, as it binds to a receptor in the bacterial cell membrane, spurs the cell to events that allows the bacterium to receive new genetic material. This will cause more drug resistant bacteria to form rendering our beloved antibiotics useless. However, by interfering with the CSP protein, they hypothesize this will hinder the ability for promoting genetic transfer between the bacteria.
These researchers have constructed lab-made CSP-like proteins that block bacterial CSPs' access to the receptors, reduce the bacterial competence, and reduce the infectious capacity of S. Pneumoniae. These researchers then fine-tuned the structure of the amino acid and tested how well the inhibited the S. Pneumoniae CSPs. They also tested the inability to mimic the activity of CSPs in bacterial cells.
This was a success! The researchers found that many of the artificial CSP inhibited the bacterial CSP and reduced the S. Pneumoniae competence by more than 90 percent!
So, watch out all you microscopic pathogens! We will find you....and we will annihilate you!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
How the Sparta Spartans Do Homecoming
Hello everyone,
First off, homecoming week here at Sparta High School is downright awesome! The entire day of homecoming is devoted to the 4 classes in the school competing for the coveted Red Apple Award. This pretigious award is given to the class with the most points at the end of the day. Prior to the day of homecoming, the schoolwide class competitions begins with spirit dress up days, a canned food drive, and penny a point. All of these activities, if participated in, can earn your class points toward obtaining the Red Apple. THen on the day of homecoming the entire school gets out of our classes and competes in games all day long! It's a great way to keep our school united and get everyone fired up for the homecoming weekend extraordinaire!
My personal experiences with homecoming have been nothing short of wonderful. There is always some way in which I can get involved in the rigorous competitions. The homecoming games invite many people of any class or group to participate! Plus, who doesn't like to get a free pass out of your classes for the day to have some fun? Yeah, that's right, 100% of you! Sparta Homecoming is the best place to spend your homecoming! I'm so glad to be a Spartan and I thank all the teachers, students, and volunteers that help to make it not only possible, but memorable as well.
And I would like to add that, as a senior of the Class of 2013, I gladly accept the victory of the Homecoming Games! Go Seniors!
First off, homecoming week here at Sparta High School is downright awesome! The entire day of homecoming is devoted to the 4 classes in the school competing for the coveted Red Apple Award. This pretigious award is given to the class with the most points at the end of the day. Prior to the day of homecoming, the schoolwide class competitions begins with spirit dress up days, a canned food drive, and penny a point. All of these activities, if participated in, can earn your class points toward obtaining the Red Apple. THen on the day of homecoming the entire school gets out of our classes and competes in games all day long! It's a great way to keep our school united and get everyone fired up for the homecoming weekend extraordinaire!
My personal experiences with homecoming have been nothing short of wonderful. There is always some way in which I can get involved in the rigorous competitions. The homecoming games invite many people of any class or group to participate! Plus, who doesn't like to get a free pass out of your classes for the day to have some fun? Yeah, that's right, 100% of you! Sparta Homecoming is the best place to spend your homecoming! I'm so glad to be a Spartan and I thank all the teachers, students, and volunteers that help to make it not only possible, but memorable as well.
And I would like to add that, as a senior of the Class of 2013, I gladly accept the victory of the Homecoming Games! Go Seniors!
Friday, September 21, 2012
An exhibition of humanity's stupidity conveyed through acid precipitation
Hello my fellow bloggers,
On today's blog entry I'm going to discuss the imbecility of humanity demonstrated by the creation of acid precipitation. Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. These chemicals mix in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other components to create pollutants. These pollutants are spread through the wind and water very quickly so it can affect precipitation in various areas all over the world.
Human activities are the main cause of acid precipitation. Power plants are a large contributor to acid rain. They release an abundance of chemicals, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, into the air. The burning of fossil fuels, like coal and gasoline, also emits various gases into the atmosphere. Due to the enormous emission of chemicals into the air, humanity has actually changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere.
Acid rain affects many parts of the environment. Lakes, streams, and rivers are affected in the way that their acidity levels are raised. If the pH level becomes too high in these bodies of water, many fish eggs cannot hatch. This reduces chances of living offspring. If this becomes too severe, individual fish and sometimes an entire aquatic species may become extinct. In additon to this, when the buffering capacity is low, aluminum is released into the water. Aluminum is extremely toxic to plant life and animal life. Acid rain decreases biodiversity because of all of these negative effects. Acid precipitation can harm trees at higher elevations as well as damaging sensitive pH levels everywhere.
Many are asking, what can we do? The government passed a law on how much sulfur dioxide a power plant can emit. This is helping to cut down on pollution levels. One great way we can help out is by conserving energy. Turn off lights when you leave a room or electronics when you are not using them. Carpooling is a great way to burn less fossil fuels. You can buy more energy efficient appliances and electronics. Attempt to use other forms of energy such as wind power or solar power.
These are just a few suggestions as to what we can do to minimize our emission of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Do it for the cute little bunnies!
References:
http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/beingdone.html
Here's a video link for your viewing pleasure and/or disgust:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc6j7zz1_do&feature=related
On today's blog entry I'm going to discuss the imbecility of humanity demonstrated by the creation of acid precipitation. Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. These chemicals mix in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other components to create pollutants. These pollutants are spread through the wind and water very quickly so it can affect precipitation in various areas all over the world.
Human activities are the main cause of acid precipitation. Power plants are a large contributor to acid rain. They release an abundance of chemicals, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, into the air. The burning of fossil fuels, like coal and gasoline, also emits various gases into the atmosphere. Due to the enormous emission of chemicals into the air, humanity has actually changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere.
Acid rain affects many parts of the environment. Lakes, streams, and rivers are affected in the way that their acidity levels are raised. If the pH level becomes too high in these bodies of water, many fish eggs cannot hatch. This reduces chances of living offspring. If this becomes too severe, individual fish and sometimes an entire aquatic species may become extinct. In additon to this, when the buffering capacity is low, aluminum is released into the water. Aluminum is extremely toxic to plant life and animal life. Acid rain decreases biodiversity because of all of these negative effects. Acid precipitation can harm trees at higher elevations as well as damaging sensitive pH levels everywhere.
Many are asking, what can we do? The government passed a law on how much sulfur dioxide a power plant can emit. This is helping to cut down on pollution levels. One great way we can help out is by conserving energy. Turn off lights when you leave a room or electronics when you are not using them. Carpooling is a great way to burn less fossil fuels. You can buy more energy efficient appliances and electronics. Attempt to use other forms of energy such as wind power or solar power.
These are just a few suggestions as to what we can do to minimize our emission of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Do it for the cute little bunnies!
References:
http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/beingdone.html
Here's a video link for your viewing pleasure and/or disgust:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc6j7zz1_do&feature=related
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Decisions, decisions....
Hello again!
Well for this week's post I was told to make a couple of decisons. I have to decide of all the units that we'll be covering in AP Biology which I'm looking most forward to and which I'm not looking forward to much at all. That's a pretty hard decision considering I'm excited about all the units we'll be covering as of now...
I suppose the one I'm looking the most forward to is probably the heredity unit. I've always been fascinated by genetics and what factors influence how we look and act. It appeals to me in some odd way. I enjoy finding out more information on the things that make an organism unique.
As for the unit I'm least looking forward to, I guess since I have to make a choice it would probably be the enzymes and metabolism unit. The only reason I can really give for not looking forward to that one as much is because a lot of it has been drilled into my brain starting in early grade school and working its way up to last year in chemistry.
Anyway I suppose that's all for this week
Well for this week's post I was told to make a couple of decisons. I have to decide of all the units that we'll be covering in AP Biology which I'm looking most forward to and which I'm not looking forward to much at all. That's a pretty hard decision considering I'm excited about all the units we'll be covering as of now...
I suppose the one I'm looking the most forward to is probably the heredity unit. I've always been fascinated by genetics and what factors influence how we look and act. It appeals to me in some odd way. I enjoy finding out more information on the things that make an organism unique.
As for the unit I'm least looking forward to, I guess since I have to make a choice it would probably be the enzymes and metabolism unit. The only reason I can really give for not looking forward to that one as much is because a lot of it has been drilled into my brain starting in early grade school and working its way up to last year in chemistry.
Anyway I suppose that's all for this week
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A Little About Me..
Hey everyone,
First off, I'd just like to say that I'm pretty psyched for this class. I've always liked science courses and this one seems like it's going to be quite interesting. This class is going to be useful to my career, pharmaceuticals, so that's one of the main reasons I'm taking it. The other underlying reason is I'm a geek when it comes to science stuff. I think this class will really open my eyes to college course difficulty level and I'm hoping this will give me a head start with that. Not to mention, all this information this semester will help me in my freshmen biology course. I'm excited to learn all this good stuff. Anyway, I plan on going to Ferris State in Big Rapids for school next year. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, and dancing. I work at Long John Silver's on Alpine with all of my psychotic co-workers. I have two older brothers. Colin is 28 and lives in Washington D.C. Dustin is 24 and he just recently moved out to Washington State with his wife and their new baby, Isabella. I have two younger twin sisters in eighth grade, Clarissa and Vanessa. I have two awesome parents. I'm volunteering at two cat shelters in downtown Grand Rapids twice, sometimes three, times a month. One of the shelters deals with FIV and Feline Leukemia kitties. I love animals so I figured I would give volunteering with them a shot this year. Well, I pretty much feel like I just showed you my life... so, I suppose that's all for this posting!
First off, I'd just like to say that I'm pretty psyched for this class. I've always liked science courses and this one seems like it's going to be quite interesting. This class is going to be useful to my career, pharmaceuticals, so that's one of the main reasons I'm taking it. The other underlying reason is I'm a geek when it comes to science stuff. I think this class will really open my eyes to college course difficulty level and I'm hoping this will give me a head start with that. Not to mention, all this information this semester will help me in my freshmen biology course. I'm excited to learn all this good stuff. Anyway, I plan on going to Ferris State in Big Rapids for school next year. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, and dancing. I work at Long John Silver's on Alpine with all of my psychotic co-workers. I have two older brothers. Colin is 28 and lives in Washington D.C. Dustin is 24 and he just recently moved out to Washington State with his wife and their new baby, Isabella. I have two younger twin sisters in eighth grade, Clarissa and Vanessa. I have two awesome parents. I'm volunteering at two cat shelters in downtown Grand Rapids twice, sometimes three, times a month. One of the shelters deals with FIV and Feline Leukemia kitties. I love animals so I figured I would give volunteering with them a shot this year. Well, I pretty much feel like I just showed you my life... so, I suppose that's all for this posting!
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