FortySouth

How do bacteria know when to attack a human body system? How do the bacteria such as the Vibrio fischeri (found in the Hawaiian bobtail squid) know when to create light (bioluminesence) in unison?

In a fascinating study, Bonnie Bassler and her team of researchers at her Molucular Biology lab, discovered that bacteria are able to communicate with each other (intra- and inter- species) and effectively coordinate group behaviors using a process dubbed quorum sensing. The bacteria secrete signaling molecules (autoinducers) that are picked up by neighboring bacteria using their receptors. This process allows them to “turn on” group behaviors by “voting” on group actions and performing a chosen action (e.g. launching a virulent attack, glowing in the dark etc.) in unison.

So what if the chemical signals were sufficiently obfuscated so that the bacteria can’t talk to each other? Could this mean that new medicines modeled in this fashion could effectively prevent the harmful microbes from coordinating with each other and therefore pathogenesis?

Apparently another group of researchers has found a way to successfully disrupt quorum sensing in Vibrio cholerae (cholera-causing) and E. Coli (food contaminant).

A very promising breakthrough that could help with the prevention and/or development of a cure for many diseases.

During his talk, more memorable for the mosquitoes he released into the audience, Bill Gates offered some insight on two global issues his Foundation is working on:

1. How do you stop a deadly disease spread by a mosquito?
2. How do you make a teacher great?

More info on the progress on malaria, AIDS and Education initiatives can be read from his Annual Letter.

From TED Talks in Arusha, Tanzania, Andrew Mwenda is a journalist from Uganda and an active critic of many forms of Western aid to Africa.

In this provocative talk, he asks us to reframe the “African question” — to look beyond the media’s stories of poverty, civil war and helplessness and see the opportunities for creating wealth and happiness throughout the continent.

Most important, he says, the solution to Africa’s problems is not more aid.