There are around 22 species in the genus Acanthamoeba; a group of free-living protozoa that are widely dispersed in the environment. The Neff strain of Acanthamoeba castellani (recovered from Golden Gate Park in the 1960s) has been a significant contributor to the development of eukaryotic cell biology, since it has similarities to mammalian cells and can be grown easily in the laboratory.
Fascinella #002
November 10, 2009 By View Comments
Thermus aquaticus Despite the fact that Thermus aquaticus does not cause infection it is probably more important to microbiology than any other bacterial species. Yet few clinicians have heard of it. At least under its proper name. Many more will have mention of Taq, in ‘Taq polymerase’, the enzyme needed to run the polymerase chain [...]
Fascinella #001
September 27, 2009 By View Comments
Escherichia blattae A close relative of common-or-garden bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli), first found in the hindgut of the oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis. E.blattae is as rare as E.coli is common; an oddity still looking for a role in any kind of infectious disease. Its main significance is that is was the second bacterial species added to [...]
