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.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Hiatus
Due to family events, I'll be going on hiatus for a few months. My sister is unfortunately dealing with a particularly nasty skin cancer and is undergoing treatment for it, but is not expected to live much past another month. She's been hospitalized and wants me to visit her in Alabama. I won't be posting again for a while, sorry... :(
Monday, March 17, 2014
Epidemic Warning
There have been increased cases of Masque MRSA strain infection in the western and central United States. The bacteria has been found in hospitals in the following states: California, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Colorado. It is believed that unwashed meats and produce from these states may be spreading the strain even to healthy people due to an increase in food poisoning cases caused by this bacteria.
Please, please be sure to wash any fruits and vegetables you purchase, and cook all meat thoroughly! Wash your hands and be sure to practice basic hygiene - you can spread the Masque strain without even realizing you've got it on you. If at any point you believe that a wound may be infected with this MRSA strain, seek medical attention. Do not wait - this bacteria causes tissue necrosis and can easily kill even healthy people who wait too long. Stay safe and healthy, readers!
Please, please be sure to wash any fruits and vegetables you purchase, and cook all meat thoroughly! Wash your hands and be sure to practice basic hygiene - you can spread the Masque strain without even realizing you've got it on you. If at any point you believe that a wound may be infected with this MRSA strain, seek medical attention. Do not wait - this bacteria causes tissue necrosis and can easily kill even healthy people who wait too long. Stay safe and healthy, readers!
Back on Track, and a New Development...
Back to work, finally! Hope all my readers stayed safe during the flooding these past few weeks - I know it's been a mess for me. Hopefully it hasn't been one for you, too - I know some districts are still dealing with floodwater damage.
Today, I checked on the previously treated samples from a week ago. It seems the experimental quinolone I treated them with has killed nearly all but the most resistant colonies. Success! I'll definitely be trying more trials with that antibiotic and others like it, just to be sure.
I also checked on my pet project with the penicillium and two different Staph strains, and discovered something... interesting. I know for a fact I swabbed some mold spores on there, but when I went to check, all I found were little brown colonies of the Masque strain of bacteria. I also had coughed on the plate, to be sure of other bacterial growth, and noticed there were some other unidentified colonies, but very few of them. This seems to indicate that the Masque strain is particularly persistent in crowding out other bacteria, and perhaps is even preventing them from growing entirely. I'll check the pet project again next week to see if anything new happens, but unless something big occurs I'll be devoting all my time to my research.
Today, I checked on the previously treated samples from a week ago. It seems the experimental quinolone I treated them with has killed nearly all but the most resistant colonies. Success! I'll definitely be trying more trials with that antibiotic and others like it, just to be sure.
I also checked on my pet project with the penicillium and two different Staph strains, and discovered something... interesting. I know for a fact I swabbed some mold spores on there, but when I went to check, all I found were little brown colonies of the Masque strain of bacteria. I also had coughed on the plate, to be sure of other bacterial growth, and noticed there were some other unidentified colonies, but very few of them. This seems to indicate that the Masque strain is particularly persistent in crowding out other bacteria, and perhaps is even preventing them from growing entirely. I'll check the pet project again next week to see if anything new happens, but unless something big occurs I'll be devoting all my time to my research.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Local Warning
Due to heavy flooding from snow melt, the Maryland area has become flooded in many districts, including the one my lab's located at. Unfortunately, this has caused the lower floor of the CDC building to be shut down, meaning I can't get into work and check my samples until the mess is cleaned up. The samples will be fine; they're kept in a sterile environment so no more contamination can happen, and I'm always the last one to lock up at night, so I know things are safe in there.
Until the floodwaters cede, stay safe and make sure to drink only bottled water, as it's likely that many water sources have been contaminated. I know there was a nasty water main and sewage pipe break over on 52nd, backing things up in that district. Keep safe and try to stay dry, guys. :)
Until the floodwaters cede, stay safe and make sure to drink only bottled water, as it's likely that many water sources have been contaminated. I know there was a nasty water main and sewage pipe break over on 52nd, backing things up in that district. Keep safe and try to stay dry, guys. :)
Friday, February 28, 2014
Results of Experimental Antibiotics
Sorry for the hiatus from posting, but I'm pleased to have some good news for once - the experimental antibiotics we've been trying are working beautifully. Due to company policy, I unfortunately cannot reveal much more information about the specific drug tested; however, I can say that it was a quinolone antibiotic. I knew I was on to something with that drug family, and it looks like I was right! If further trials work out, this drug might be the antibiotic that kills off this nasty, destructive bug in suffering victims...
I do have one more update - remember my pet project plate from a couple months back? Well, I continued monitoring it, checking on the growth of the colonies. Turns out that the grey colonies are most likely penicillium mold, while the other unknown colonies were S. mutans, a Strep strain commonly found in the human mouth as dental plaque. I'm not sure how penicillium got onto this plate or why it hasn't retarded bacterial growth yet, but as for the S. mutans I suspect that omeone must have coughed into the plate, soiling the sample. After identifying the grey colonies, I allowed the plate to sit another week, and that's when I began to notice something - both the mold and S. mutans colonies were dying off, and the Masque colonies were becoming more numerous.
The fact that the Masque colonies resisted intrusion from the penicillium colonies is no surprise to me, since this strain is immune to the effects of penicillium mold. But unless there's an antibiotic present in the agar, which there was, colonies shouldn't spontaneously die off like that - especially not penicillium. At first, I thought that it was indeed the quinolone treatment in the agar that had killed the S. mutans colonies, but to confirm I did test the agar for traces of the antibiotic. What I found shocked me.
There was no antibiotic present on the plate, despite my having clearly remembered treating it.
My best guess is that the antibiotic degraded over time, possibly by exposure to sunlight. I'll be replicating this experiment with more Masque bacteria, penicillium spores from our own samples, and plaque samples from my own mouth just to be sure it's not a fluke. Besides, it's an excuse to continue my pet project, even as I continue my research into this devastating MRSA strain...
I do have one more update - remember my pet project plate from a couple months back? Well, I continued monitoring it, checking on the growth of the colonies. Turns out that the grey colonies are most likely penicillium mold, while the other unknown colonies were S. mutans, a Strep strain commonly found in the human mouth as dental plaque. I'm not sure how penicillium got onto this plate or why it hasn't retarded bacterial growth yet, but as for the S. mutans I suspect that omeone must have coughed into the plate, soiling the sample. After identifying the grey colonies, I allowed the plate to sit another week, and that's when I began to notice something - both the mold and S. mutans colonies were dying off, and the Masque colonies were becoming more numerous.
The fact that the Masque colonies resisted intrusion from the penicillium colonies is no surprise to me, since this strain is immune to the effects of penicillium mold. But unless there's an antibiotic present in the agar, which there was, colonies shouldn't spontaneously die off like that - especially not penicillium. At first, I thought that it was indeed the quinolone treatment in the agar that had killed the S. mutans colonies, but to confirm I did test the agar for traces of the antibiotic. What I found shocked me.
There was no antibiotic present on the plate, despite my having clearly remembered treating it.
My best guess is that the antibiotic degraded over time, possibly by exposure to sunlight. I'll be replicating this experiment with more Masque bacteria, penicillium spores from our own samples, and plaque samples from my own mouth just to be sure it's not a fluke. Besides, it's an excuse to continue my pet project, even as I continue my research into this devastating MRSA strain...
Friday, February 7, 2014
Pet Project
Hey, remember that contaminated plate from last post? I found something cool on it today - a mixture of bacteria! So, aside from the lost sample, I did get this nifty picture to show you:
Notice the large brown colonies of Staph present on this blood agar plate. That's the Masque strain sample that I plated. Depressingly, it seems that the particular fluroquinolone that I treated it with hasn't really done much good in controlling the colonies - there's fewer of them, but they're also larger. Notice also the greyish colonies. I have not yet identified these bacteria, but I'll be sure to give you an update as soon as I do. Until then, I'll continue to keep you posted on the Masque project.
Notice the large brown colonies of Staph present on this blood agar plate. That's the Masque strain sample that I plated. Depressingly, it seems that the particular fluroquinolone that I treated it with hasn't really done much good in controlling the colonies - there's fewer of them, but they're also larger. Notice also the greyish colonies. I have not yet identified these bacteria, but I'll be sure to give you an update as soon as I do. Until then, I'll continue to keep you posted on the Masque project.
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