How gut bacteria messes with your mind: Psychobiotics

Microbes in your gut!
http://www.rescuepost.com

       Did you know that the bacteria in your gut actually affects your mood. A fairly new discovery has been made, that many neurobehavioral problems such as depression, OCD and possibly autism can be cured by adding certain bacteria to your gut. We all have bacteria in our gut and have had it since we where born and they live in a symbiotic relationship with us. In fact we have more bacteria in our gut then cells in our body. These bacteria can produce different chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which influence our brain.
For example anxiety is a very common problem in today's world and a bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus which is found in dairy products has a very potent anti-anxiety effect. This natural alternative can cure anxiety with out so many side affects, like the ones that our modern medicine have. Lactobacillus rhamnosus has also shown to alleviate OCD behaviors.
In today's world we have reached an all time high in prescriptions for antidepressants, but these pills have very serious side affects. So should we start turning more to Psychobiotics rather then antidepressants? After all psychobiotics really have no side affects like antidepressants do and there have been a lot of questions about whether or not antidepressants work. I do believe that if there is a natural way of combating a problem then it should be done, because these pills that are given to people are helping them in a way, but also hurting them.
With this information we can change modern medicine as we know it and turn to a more natural medicine. Perhaps psychobiotics can be a start to new generation of healthier medicine. And with such a high demand of antidepressants it is crucial to find a solution to all these problems. I know for a fact that if I was suffering from depression I would choose a natural alternative over dangerous pills.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129530.400-psychobiotics-how-gut-bacteria-mess-with-your-mind.html?page=1#.UuntxHlq9j5

Bioterrorism are we ready?

         Bioterrorism are we prepared?

A wanted poster of the people who did the attack
www.bioprepwatch.com 

Bioterrorism is defined by google as, "the release of toxic biological agents." Bioterrorism is
extremely dangerous but only some know the true magnitude behind it. Joseph M. Henderson is the Chief of Program Operations for the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Initiative at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He explains that Bioterrorism is extremely dangerous because it could wipe out an entire town and no one would know who did it or how they got it. The illness or virus would go unnoticed until several patients show up at a hospital with the same symptoms, but until that happens many could die. Some of the viruses or illnesses that can be used in bioterrorism are: Smallpox, Anthrax, Plague, Botulism, Tularaemia, Filoviruses, and Arenaviruses. These could cause sickness to the point of death in some cases or severe injury. These viruses are categorized in category A because they are contagious, can cause social disruption, high mortality and require special attention.
  Bioterrorism is not a thing of the present. It has existed for many years, for example in 1995, Sarin gas was used by the Aum Shinryko Cult in Tokyo, which killed 12 people and injured hundreds. It has always existed, but in today's world with all technology it seems that it could be used with much more ease and accuracy then 20 years ago.
  Henderson states that it could be possible for an ordinary person to find information on  chemical agents and infectious diseases. So the argument is the following, what can our government do to prevent bioterrorism and prevent the wrong people from accessing this kind of information. Well the Government is way better prepared today then it was 16 years ago. Today Congress is in support of federal, state, and local bioterrorism preparedness and response efforts. This means if bioterrorism where to happen, there would be measures taken immediately to prevent further outbreaks. Unfortunately the government can only do something when the virus or illness is released into the population, so there really isn't any way to prevent bioterrorism. What the government can do to (in a way) prevent, is monitor and block  information on biochemical agent and other bioterrorism information. On the other hand this  breaks an amendment, "Freedom of Press." So how far can the government go in protecting us without taking away our rights? That is the question that has been a problem for many years.
      I believe that yes, it does break an amendment, but honestly who wants to know how to kill or hurt people with biochemicals. Information like this should be blocked, because there are a lot of crazy people in the world and this information shouldn't be available to them. I believe that if you can kill off a group of people with that kind off information then it shouldn't be accessible to the average person.

http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/henderson.html

Hello Fellow Bloggers,

Microbes rule the world!
microbes.nres.illinois.edu 

        My name is Steve Cabrera, I am a freshman at UNM and I plan on majoring in some field of biology. I chose this course because microbiology and English 102 control the world. From your body to the hottest hot spring in NM.