In 1969, when microbiology of the built environment was a hot topic 

So just yesterday I was looking for the original paper describing the isolation of Thermus aquaticus (which is by the way the name I have given my hiking thermos, but that is another story).  I wanted to see from which hot springs Brock and Freeze (yup, his real name) had isolated this important (e.g., the …

Nominate an Expert: Managing Legionella in Water Systems

An update on this story Managing Legionella in Water Systems Nominate Experts for an Upcoming Consensus Project The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will undertake a project on the management of Legionella in water systems. An ad hoc committee will review the state of science with respect to Legionella contamination of water systems and issue a report that will: describe the microbial …

BE microbiome as biosensors

  Hi MoBE blog, I just wanted to share a piece that I recently wrote for a Special Issue on the journal Microbial Biotechnology. The Special issue presents a collection articles about “The contribution of microbial biotechnology to sustainable development goals”, and the title of my article is “Microbial communities as biosensors for monitoring urban …

History repeats itself – mold and hurricane recovery

This seems worth looking over: The Looming Consequences of Mold in Houston by James Hamblin in The Atlantic.  The article has a discussion of mold and moisture and the microbiology of the built environment. It includes a discussion of some of the experiences and work of Joan Bennett who is a well known expert in …

What is the Exposome of the Built Environment and What are the Opportunities for Intentional Design?

  Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Center for Science and Engineering of the Exposome (SEE) recently published a critical review in ES&T examining the “exposome of the built environment” and proposed engineering strategies for its control. The exposome is defined as our lifetime exposure to chemicals, microbes, and radiation and derives from anything we come into …

Everyone should read this piece by Ed Yong: Norm Pace Blew The Door Off The Microbial World

There is a wonderful tribute to Norm Pace in the Atlantic by Ed Yong. Norm Pace truly did blow the door off the microbial world. Source: Norm Pace Blew The Door Off The Microbial World – The Atlantic Lots of good stuff in there about Pace and his career.  See for example this: Pace also …

Legionnaires’ Bacteria Found at New York Police Station 

Just a quick post here.  Another story on Legionnaires Disease.  This time the bacteria behind it was found in the NY Police Station. Source: Bacteria Behind Legionnaires’ Disease Found at New York Police Station – The New York Times From the article Traces of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the water …

Alleged mishandling of Flint Legionnaire’s outbreak leads to manslaughter charges for MI health chief

This is a pretty big deal. Nick Lyon is the highest-ranking state official to be charged in the crisis. Source: Flint Water Crisis: Michigan Health Chief Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter : NPR The director of the Department of HHS in Michigan, Nick Lyon, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in relation to the Flint, MI …