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What’s in a name? Three Intricacies of Organism Names in NGS Data
There’s no universal method for cataloging organisms or for converting sequencing data to taxonomic data, so careful examination of methodology, as well as the results, is needed when analyzing DNA-associated data. Three of the intricacies are discussed below: Candidatus The formal naming of organisms is determined by a set of rules called the International… Read More
How Microbial Communities are an Ocean of Possibilities
The oceans of the world have been a source of mystery and wonderment for humans since the beginning of recorded history. They have served as a method of transportation for peoples, products, and ideas while providing sustenance for countless coastal civilizations. But did you realize they are also home to unique microbiological communities? And they… Read More
What is Legionella, and How to Prevent Legionella Contamination
It’s a hot topic when Legionella contamination turns up in apartment buildings, seniors’ homes and other facilities. But what is legionella? And does it really present a risk? What is Legionella? Legionella is a form of bacteria that grows in water and can lead to Legionnaires’ disease (also known as legionellosis) –… Read More
Food Safety Regulations Gets Tighter, Food Testing Gets Easier
Analyzing The Global Food Market Bananas from Ecuador, cashews from Ghana, and rice from India. What do these products have in common? They’ve all traveled thousands of miles to the aisles of grocery stores across North America, and have been exposed to hundreds of microbes along their way. A trip to your local supermarket… Read More
How Cape Town’s Successful Water Conservation Measures Created Unexpected Problems
Water conservation has been a major topic of discussion within the industry for many years now and will, no doubt, be among the most critical issues that mankind faces going forward. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the city of Cape Town, South Africa earlier this year. Water scarcity was so dire… Read More
Microbe Discovery Shows New Branch on the ‘Tree of Life’
Thanks to a bit of luck and lots of dedicated work, researchers at a Canadian university recently stumbled upon two species of a rarely-seen organism. The discovery by a Dalhousie University graduate student and a group of Dalhousie biologists from the Faculties of Science and Medicine is highly significant, with the findings being published in… Read More
Easier ID Amps Up Potential for Power-Generating Bacteria
A new process for identifying bacteria that can produce electricity has been created by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Certain types of bacteria living in oxygen-deprived environments like lake bottoms and deep mines have developed a unique type of breathing. It involves excreting and pumping out electrons. This makes them capable of… Read More
Understanding Net Zero Energy in Wastewater Treatment
Water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) are among the most common pieces of municipal infrastructure. It’s accepted practice for communities of all sizes to treat wastewater in some way before returning it to the environment. As the worldwide focus on issues like water quality and waterborne diseases has increased, so has the attention being paid to… Read More
The Benefits of 2nd Generation ATP for a Manager
In a previous post, we described some of the ways that LuminUltra’s 2nd Generation ATP testing can be used to help operators and field technicians by delivering rapid microbiological water quality data for immediate action. In this entry, we look at how it can be used to help supervisors and managers better allocate their resources,… Read More
Over-allocated: The story of the Colorado River
The Colorado River rises high into the Rocky Mountains and cuts a 2,300 kilometre course southwest to the Gulf of California. It passes through five U.S. (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California) and two Mexican (Baja California and Sonora) states. Its watershed extends even further, expanding to include New Mexico and Wyoming. The Colorado and… Read More