Microbes in a Frenzy

Microbes don’t give a hoot whether global warming is a natural cycle or human induced. They like it hot. They respond with increased virulence and more frequent outbreaks. In a way its like the basic chemistry of boiling water. The more heat you add to a pot of water, the faster the water molecules move around, until they eventually boil in a frenzy. Increase the earth’s temperature and the microbes grow faster and mutate quicker. A scary scenario indeed. I would rather not encounter a frenzy of microbes, and if I do, I’d like to have a good arsenal to fight back with. That is something microbiologist need to work on. I’m working on nanotech with my colleagues at Oak Ridge National Labs to keep nasty microbes in check. I’ll discuss that technology at some later date. For now this Popular Science article on Salmonella is a good read. WARMER TEMPERATURES COULD MEAN MORE SALMONELLA OUTBREAKS

The pink rods are Salmonella bacteria.

About the Author: Edward Sobek, PhD, MBA

Dr. Edward Sobek has 25 years of experience in microbiology and indoor air quality. He has a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University, where he studied Fusarium disease transmission in field crops. He received his doctorate degree from Texas Tech University where he studied the ecology of desert molds (mitosporic fungi). He obtained his Executive MBA in Healthcare leadership from the University of Tennessee's presidious Haslam School of Business in 2016. Dr. Sobek is an active researcher. He holds the appointment of Senior Research Scientist with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Environmental Biotechnology CEB and has developed and patented several mold detection technologies. He is a sought after speaker on the scientific circuit by educational and governmental organizations that are anxious to learn how to use DNA to detect mold in residential and commercial properties. He has also published a variety of scientific papers, book chapters, white papers, and trade articles for the IAQ industry.