Pathogenicity and virulence of .

, a polyphyletic Gram-positive taxon of bacteria, is classified purely by their ability to produce botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). BoNT is the primary virulence factor and the causative agent of botulism. A potentially fatal disease, botulism is classically characterized by a symmetrical descending flaccid paralysis, which is left untreated can lead to respiratory failure and death.

Hydrogen oxidising bacteria for production of single-cell protein and other food and feed ingredients.

Using hydrogen oxidising bacteria to produce protein and other food and feed ingredients is a form of industrial biotechnology that is gaining traction. The technology fixes carbon dioxide into products without the light requirements of agriculture and biotech that rely on primary producers such as plants and algae while promising higher growth rates, drastically less land, fresh water, and mineral requirements. The significant body of scientific knowledge on hydrogen oxidising bacteria continues to grow and genetic engineering tools are well developed for specific species.

Characterization of the impact of rpoB mutations on the in vitro and in vivo competitive fitness of Clostridium difficile and susceptibility to fidaxomicin.

Objectives: To establish the role of specific, non-synonymous SNPs in the RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) gene in reducing the susceptibility of Clostridium difficile to fidaxomicin and to explore the potential in vivo significance of rpoB mutant strains.

Methods: Allelic exchange was used to introduce three different SNPs into the rpoB gene of an erythromycin-resistant derivative (CRG20291) of C. difficile R20291.

Computer vision for microscopy diagnosis of malaria.

This paper reviews computer vision and image analysis studies aiming at automated diagnosis or screening of malaria infection in microscope images of thin blood film smears. Existing works interpret the diagnosis problem differently or propose partial solutions to the problem. A critique of these works is furnished.