Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: thedoc on 25/02/2011 14:06:21

Title: Is a glowing-green wound a sign of good health?
Post by: thedoc on 25/02/2011 14:06:21

Microbial warfare is constantly happening all around us, and often humans can reap the benefits if the right bacteria are fighting our corner. One such species, Photorhabdus luminescens, harbours a secret weapon...it glows...  

Read the article (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/angel-glow/) then tell us what you think...

Title: None
Post by: thescienceofacne on 27/02/2011 02:25:02

Sweet!

Title: None
Post by: Nathan on 07/05/2012 03:35:37

To say that Photorhabdus luminescens is harmless in humans is completely false. Not only is it capable of infecting people, it can cause severe infections. I am aware of at least 12 published case reports of known Photorhabdus luminescens infections several of which required intensive hospital care and one where there was colonization identified in a patient's sputum.

You need to be more careful about what you publish. The facts on Photorhabdus luminescens are easily discovered using a simple Google query.

Title: Re: Is a glowing-green wound a sign of good health?
Post by: Biotech14 on 24/10/2013 18:48:58

Nathan,

There are publications that specifically say Photorhabdus luminescens is linked to these infections; however, this is not the case. Upon genetic squencing, these cases were actually caused by a newly identified species of Photorhabdus, Photorhabdus asymbiotica. P. asymbiotica is also luminescent when cultured in the clinical laboratory. The nematode host carrying this bacteria was recently (< 2 years ago) discovered in Austrailia.