My Week in Youtube

More and more, we see scientific videos popping on Youtube. Most are educational. I like a lot this phenomenon because it may draw even more attention to science from the public.
I will share with the ones I found interesting this week. Feel free to recommend me some.

The first one is a funny animation about the scientific method. I was posted by the university of Barcelona.

Looking forward to 2017 science news, check the prognosis posted by Science News.

Happy New Year 2017 !!!

Dear followers,

May this new year bring you happiness and success for you and your family.

When I started the facebook page that led to this blog, my goal was to share with people who like science, the piece of current discoveries I found interesting. I love reading and talking about science. Not only it keeps me updated but it also allows me to share my passion with you. It is true that I biaised by my speciality which is molecular, cellular biology but I like reading about other topics.

Unfortunately, I realise that this principle doesn't lead to a lot of interaction and discussion on the blog nor on the facebook page.

So I would like to ask you, for 2017, would like to read or see different formats ? Let me know what you would prefer to read on my blog/FB page ?

Thanks a lot for your feedback,

The Science I like likes you too :)

Propionibacterium acnes,the most common skin bacteria, secretes a protein with antioxidant capacity.

Nowadays, it is known that almost half of human being are bacteria. We call it microbiome. We read a lot of studies about gut microbiota as it is linked to gastrointestinal diseases.

Interestingly, in this study, the researchers studied skin microbiota.

P. acnes is the most ubiquitous bacteria in skin. It is well known for being associated with acne vulgaris. This bacteria is anaerobe meaning it grows in absence of oxygen. However, the skin can be subjected to several enviromental stress conditions like oxidative stress (ROS). In this study, the scientists show that P. acnes release an enzyme, RoxP that helps protecting the skin from oxydative stress.

RoxP is highly conserved amongst P.acnes strains. Using assays with heme, they showed in vitro that P. acnes acts as an antioxidant.

In previous studies, psoriasis was linked to decrease in P. acnes. We could think that the lack of RoxP is a significant element causing the disease. Other studies need to be led in other to know the extend of the benefit of RoxP.

Please I am thinking of was to improve my blog. Could you please leave me comment below ?

Thanks a lot,

USB stick: 

A new method to measure HIV-1 viral load in the blood stream!

Ok, ok, ...I extrapolate a lot.
However it could happen in a near future. A team of scientist in London developed a pH sensing semiconductor in order to measure HIV-1 viremia. A small sample of blood can be placed on phone chip and onto a USB spot. Any HIV-1 virus present will change the pH which translated into an electric signal. Innovative!

The technology could be used for other viruses like hepatitits.

If you want to read more:

HIV test performed on USB stick
Novel pH sensing semiconductor for point-of-care detection of HIV-1 viremia

Enjoy!