Microbiology

Social amoebas are also known as cellular slime molds and dictyostelids. They start life as separate ameboid cells but join to form a multicellular grex or slug when food is scarce. The grex has some interesting abilities.

Stentor is an interesting, single-celled predator. At least one species makes relatively complex decisions. Studying it may help scientists understand the behaviour of our cells.

Planarians are flatworms with an amazing ability to regenerate. Scientists are investigating this ability and hope to apply their discoveries to human biology.

Immunology is the complex study of the immune system and its associated functions. Immunity is how the body attempts to prevent disease. This article will briefly discuss the types of immunity, vaccines, problems with the immune system, and more.

Prions are misfolded proteins that form inside the body or enter the body from the outside. They alter other proteins and can cause serious diseases, including CJD.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium found on skin and mucous membranes. It's often harmless, but some strains have become resistant to antibiotics and are potentially dangerous.

What causes one person to have clear skin and another person to have severe, cystic acne? Discover the genetics behind the development of this skin condition, in addition to understanding how different treatment options work.

Researches have discovered evidence showing that complex life may have first evolved in lakes, rather than in oceans as was previously believed.

Throughout the world there exists numerous viruses and diseases capable of inflicting serious harm (or death) on the human population at large. This article explores the 10 deadliest and most dangerous viruses known to currently exist in the world.

Saprolegnia and Phytophthora are water molds. Some species of Saprolegnia kill fish. One species of Phytophthora caused the nineteenth-century potato famine in Ireland.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium that can live in our body and is sometimes dangerous. It's usually harmless in the digestive tract, but this may not always be true.

Plasmodium vivax is often said to be a less serious cause of malaria than P. falciparum, but it can be deadly. It may become dormant in the liver and later become active.

Bacteria have some amazing abilities. They can live in extreme habitats, produce light or electricity, communicate with each other, and act as predators and magnets.

Antibiotics interfere with vital activities in bacteria by various methods. Unfortunately, microbes are becoming resistant to the drugs. Arylomycins may be helpful in this situation.

Bacteria in the genus Yersinia have major effects on our lives. One species causes bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Others cause foodborne illness. One may eventually help to treat cancer.

Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, single-celled organism that can infect the cornea of the eye. It causes a disorder called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is most common in contact lens users.