Articles for category: Disease & Medicine

3D rendition of the influenza virus.

Bacteria vs. Viruses: Understanding the Key Differences and Their Impact on Health

Annette Uy

Bacteria and viruses are two of the most common microorganisms that can have a profound impact on human and animal health. Despite their microscopic size, they are responsible for a wide range of diseases and infections. Understanding the key differences between bacteria and viruses is essential for effective diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This article aims ...

Digitally-colorized transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image of Avian Influenza A H5N1 viruses (seen in gold), grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells (seen in green).

Why Viruses Aren’t Quite Alive: The Fascinating Science of Viral Life

Trizzy Orozco

Viruses occupy a gray area in the biological world. These microscopic entities have puzzled scientists for decades, standing at the intersection of living and non-living. While they exhibit some features of life, they lack others. So, why aren’t viruses considered fully alive? To answer this question, we must delve into the fascinating science of viral ...

When Algorithms Predict Your Death: The Morbid Future of Predictive Healthcare

When Algorithms Predict Your Death: The Morbid Future of Predictive Healthcare

Annette Uy

Imagine waking up to a notification that quietly whispers your likely cause of death, or a digital assistant reminding you to avoid risky behaviors based on its calculations of your mortality. It sounds like the plot of a futuristic thriller, but this chilling prospect might soon be reality. Algorithms are already learning to predict not ...

Life science research. Technicians using micro pipette

How to Become a Clinical Research Scientist and Contribute to Medical Breakthroughs

Maria Faith Saligumba

The pursuit of medical breakthroughs often relies on the diligent work of clinical research scientists. These professionals bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world medical advancements. Becoming a clinical research scientist is a fulfilling career path, offering a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to health sciences. For those with an interest in animal science, ...

Common Hairworm.

Hairworms Make Their Hosts Jump Into Water to Drown Themselves

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine an insect confidently hopping through the grass, blissfully unaware that its every move is being manipulated by a hidden invader. Suddenly, this unsuspecting creature makes a frantic leap—right into a nearby stream, where it quickly drowns. What invisible force compels such a bizarre and tragic fate? The answer is as astonishing as it is ...

person holding samples in the laboratory

Antibody Engineering: How Biotechnology is Advancing the Fight Against Infectious Diseases

Annette Uy

Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that play a crucial role in identifying and neutralizing foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. With advancements in biotechnology, scientists have developed methods to engineer antibodies, tailoring them for enhanced specificity and efficacy against infectious diseases. Antibody engineering is a dynamic field that combines biology and ...

Orange plastic bottle of antibiotic

The Mystery of Antibiotics: How Microbes Produce Natural Defenses Against Pathogens

Annette Uy

Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine since their discovery in the early 20th century, saving countless lives by combatting bacterial infections. Originally discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 with penicillin, antibiotics are naturally occurring compounds produced by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to defend against other microbes in their environment. This biologically competitive arsenal is a wonder ...

A palm holding three antibiotic medicines.

The Future of Microbial Therapy: Can We Replace Antibiotics with Good Bacteria?

Trizzy Orozco

Antibiotics have long been hailed as miracle drugs of modern medicine, combating bacterial infections that once led to severe health complications and even death. However, with the rise of antibiotic resistance, there’s a growing need to explore alternative treatments. One promising avenue is microbial therapy, specifically the use of beneficial or ‘good’ bacteria to replace ...