There's something not right about the most recent samples of the Masque MRSA strain that I've tested.
Last week, I plated a new batch of the bacteria and allowed it to incubate, as normal. Then, I proceeded to drop antibiotic on the plate, and let it sit for a few days. The results, as usual, were promising - the colonies where the antibiotic was placed died as usual, and growth of additional ones seemed to have stopped.
But the next day, when I checked the agar again, I saw something odd.
The colonies had started to grow back. And after testing the agar, I found the antibiotic still present on the plate.
This makes little sense, and it deeply worries me. I'm beginning to grow concerned that the Masque strain is adapting quickly. A bit too quickly...
I'm convinced it's a fluke, or an outlier, or something. This... simply isn't possible. It's not possible for a bacterium to become that resistant to a medicine and mutate that quickly. Even viruses don't mutate that fast.
I must be overthinking it. There's clearly an explanation for these odd happenings, I just need to find it. That, or I really, really need a rest from this project.
Allison's party is next weekend. I've chosen a simple purple and gold mask and I plan to wear a nice suit with it. No need to go all out, especially for an informal party. Besides, the festivities and the liquor will surely do me good. Lord knows I need to relax a bit, especially after the issues this project has faced...
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
Congrats, Allison! :D
Dr. Allison Jade, a longtime friend and close colleague of mine, is celebrating her 10th anniversary in July this year. I've known her for years and I couldn't be happier for her.
Recently, she came to me for suggestions on the party she was going to throw. It was over lunch, I think, when she brought the party to my attention. She had wanted to invite the entire lab to celebrate with her, since so many of us were close friends.
"That's a wonderful idea!" I had told her, grinning. "Your lab techs are going to have a riot, I know how close you are with them."
"Like my little science children," Allison responded, smiling. "Are you going to attend, Rick?"
"I'm considering it. What's the theme?"
"Well that's the problem," she said, brow furrowing. "I haven't had much time to plan anything big, so it's just going to be informal. I've asked people to bring a dish to pass, to make it easier... but I don't know what I want the theme to be."
"Virii." I smirked.
"You are such an ass!" Allison laughed. "No. I was thinking costume party as the theme, but that seems too much, doesn't it?"
"Not at all," I reassured. "In fact, I think a costume party is a great idea. That way people can go all out, or they can just throw on a cheap masquerade mask. As long as they have at least a mask, it should qualify, right?"
"Right. Just as long as Wahlburn doesn't ruin it like he did last time someone threw a party - remember the pool noodle incident?"
I winced. Of course I remembered the pool noodle incident. Everyone in the lab remembered the pool noodle incident...
"Right. Well hopefully he'll be a little more considerate this time around."
"He'd better, or else he's getting thrown out."
The rest of the lunch period went fairly uneventfully as we discussed the Masque project and the promising new antibiotics that had been tested.
As for Allison's party, she's holding it a few weeks from now. I'll likely post about it after the fact, and then it's back to more work on the Masque project.
Recently, she came to me for suggestions on the party she was going to throw. It was over lunch, I think, when she brought the party to my attention. She had wanted to invite the entire lab to celebrate with her, since so many of us were close friends.
"That's a wonderful idea!" I had told her, grinning. "Your lab techs are going to have a riot, I know how close you are with them."
"Like my little science children," Allison responded, smiling. "Are you going to attend, Rick?"
"I'm considering it. What's the theme?"
"Well that's the problem," she said, brow furrowing. "I haven't had much time to plan anything big, so it's just going to be informal. I've asked people to bring a dish to pass, to make it easier... but I don't know what I want the theme to be."
"Virii." I smirked.
"You are such an ass!" Allison laughed. "No. I was thinking costume party as the theme, but that seems too much, doesn't it?"
"Not at all," I reassured. "In fact, I think a costume party is a great idea. That way people can go all out, or they can just throw on a cheap masquerade mask. As long as they have at least a mask, it should qualify, right?"
"Right. Just as long as Wahlburn doesn't ruin it like he did last time someone threw a party - remember the pool noodle incident?"
I winced. Of course I remembered the pool noodle incident. Everyone in the lab remembered the pool noodle incident...
"Right. Well hopefully he'll be a little more considerate this time around."
"He'd better, or else he's getting thrown out."
The rest of the lunch period went fairly uneventfully as we discussed the Masque project and the promising new antibiotics that had been tested.
As for Allison's party, she's holding it a few weeks from now. I'll likely post about it after the fact, and then it's back to more work on the Masque project.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Back to Work
Finally back from my hiatus.
Annie's funeral was beautiful and took place outside. There wasn't a cloud in the sky - just how she'd have wanted it. She was a wonderful, bubbly woman that always had a smile on her face and the sun in her heart, and I like to think when the sun shines it's her smiling on me from Heaven. I miss you, Annie - rest in peace, baby sis...
Work on my pet project has been halted due to a problem with the Masque project - the experimental quinolone is no longer working on the bacterial colonies. Not even at the highest doses.
This disturbs me. I've never seen a bacteria adapt so quickly to an antibiotic, or so easily suppress other bacterial colonies the way this one has. No wonder the Masque epidemic is spreading so quickly.
I'll be sharing my findings with my superiors; word is another lab has found another antibiotic that works well in treating infection with this bacterium. And the good news is, it's been approved by the FDA for use already. My only concern is, if this bacteria could defeat every antibiotic I threw at it so far, and so quickly... could it adapt easily to this one, too?
Clearly, more research is required. I'll be in touch.
Annie's funeral was beautiful and took place outside. There wasn't a cloud in the sky - just how she'd have wanted it. She was a wonderful, bubbly woman that always had a smile on her face and the sun in her heart, and I like to think when the sun shines it's her smiling on me from Heaven. I miss you, Annie - rest in peace, baby sis...
Work on my pet project has been halted due to a problem with the Masque project - the experimental quinolone is no longer working on the bacterial colonies. Not even at the highest doses.
This disturbs me. I've never seen a bacteria adapt so quickly to an antibiotic, or so easily suppress other bacterial colonies the way this one has. No wonder the Masque epidemic is spreading so quickly.
I'll be sharing my findings with my superiors; word is another lab has found another antibiotic that works well in treating infection with this bacterium. And the good news is, it's been approved by the FDA for use already. My only concern is, if this bacteria could defeat every antibiotic I threw at it so far, and so quickly... could it adapt easily to this one, too?
Clearly, more research is required. I'll be in touch.
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