ETF
Well-known member
Thought this was interesting but hope I never experience it up close.
The bacteria that cause brucellosis can sense light and use the information to regulate their virulence, according to a study in the August 24 issue of the journal Science. The discovery comes after 120 years of research into the disease, which causes abortions in livestock and fevers in humans......
Swartz and Bogomolni are still not sure how the regulation of virulence by light benefits the pathogen. They suspect that it allows the bacterium to determine when it is outside of its host--such as when a cow's infected fetus has been aborted and is lying in the field. By increasing its virulence under those circumstances, the bacteria are more likely to survive and infect a new host.
The rest is here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070823141044.htm
The bacteria that cause brucellosis can sense light and use the information to regulate their virulence, according to a study in the August 24 issue of the journal Science. The discovery comes after 120 years of research into the disease, which causes abortions in livestock and fevers in humans......
Swartz and Bogomolni are still not sure how the regulation of virulence by light benefits the pathogen. They suspect that it allows the bacterium to determine when it is outside of its host--such as when a cow's infected fetus has been aborted and is lying in the field. By increasing its virulence under those circumstances, the bacteria are more likely to survive and infect a new host.
The rest is here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070823141044.htm
