Dr. Elizabeth Stuart and Dr. Wilmore WebleyIn this edition of TechCast at UMass we discuss a startling connection between a common microbe and major diseases like childhood asthma. We talk with Dr. Elizabeth Stuart and Dr. Wilmore Webley of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Department of Microbiology about their work in redefining the role that bacteria can play in chronic illness and the possibility of more effective methods of prevention and treatment.
(left) Giemsa stain; (right) Immunofluorescence stainThe bacteria chlamydia is the leading cause of sexually transmitted disease in the United States today. It is so common that more than half of us have been exposed to it by the age of 20. But that doesn’t mean we’re all getting infected by having sex.
a 96 hour culture of mouse macrophages infected with a genital strain of ChlamydiaMicrobiologists Stuart and Webley discuss how they have been examining the way the bug spreads, both inside and outside the body. They have found it in the lungs, where it causes inflammation and asthma – and can travel from person to person through the air. They have also found it in the blood, where it causes hardening of the arteries—and can also pass to a child as it is being born. They also think chlamydia may be a co-factor in cancer.
Listen to the podcast to hear more about their findings and to hear about how Drs. Stuart and Webley are developing new protocols for diagnosing and treating chlamydia infections.
Related Links:
Dr. Elizabeth Stuart
Dr. Wilmore Webley and this link too
UMass Amherst Microbiology Department
Chlamydia
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Techcast at UMass #5: Microbiologists Uncover New Disease Connection and Potential Treatment [21:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
