Microbial Sciences Association

10/22/2025

are you a cal student interested in biology and/or want a leadership position? fill out this form and we’ll get you all sorted 😁🧬
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10/22/2025

are you a cal student interested in biology and/or want a leadership position?? fill out this form and we’ll get you sorted 😁🧬
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02/13/2023

Welcome back! We’ll be having our first general meeting this Thursday, February 16th and can’t wait to meet you all. We have a lot of exciting ideas for events this semester and will be having regular biweekly meetings so come out this Thursday to learn more! Fill out the interest form in our bio to get emails about our events this semester 🧫🔬

02/13/2023

Join us this Wednesday for a PMB seminar by guest professor Marie Elliot! We’ll be meeting on the GPB lawn at 12 to walk to the event together. Fill out our interest form www.tinyurl.com/calmsa2023 to stay updated with our events this semester 🦠🧬

02/15/2020

Did you know that microbes celebrate Valentine's Day too? In fact, today happens to be one of the busiest days of the year for microbes, especially in people aged 15-24! While all venereal diseases feel the love a little more this time of year, none are more prolific than our dear friend Chlamydia. Chlamydia infections have skyrocketed in the past 10 years, and as many as 60% of infections in women may show no symptoms at all. But if you think that means you're okay, guess again - asymptomatic chlamydia infections are one of the leading infectious causes of infertility. This is because the infection causes chronic inflammation of the Fallopian tubes, leading to a loss of the fine cilia that sweep ova toward the uterus. So if you're thinking of getting down this Valentine's Day, just remember that microbes will always party harder, and have no trouble finding a date. If you think that date may be you, don't worry, you can get tested for free at the Berkeley Free Clinic, or you can self-refer to the lab at the Tang Center for quick and easy testing. For more information, go here:
https://uhs.berkeley.edu/medical/primary-care/sexual-health-care-tang/get-tested-sexual-health-care-tang
http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/sti-hiv-testing
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04/27/2019

Ever wonder what incoming freshmen (and company) can bring to the campus?
..

If you stopped by our booth on Cal Day to see what gross, germy friends grow on your hands, here are the results!!!

(PM us if you can’t remember your number - we might know!)

04/14/2019

04/11/2019

This week's microbe may be a massive problem in clinical microbiology.
Antibiotic resistance is a huge problem in modern medicine and it was only a matter of time until bacteria developed resistance against even the last resort antibiotics. In November of 2015, that very thing happened: e-coli with a gene now known as 'MCR-1' was found in China, and it was resistant to the last resort antibiotic colistin. The worst thing is, MCR-1 is a plasmid, meaning that the gene can spread to other bacteria more easily.
The scientific community needs to develop new methods to fight and become less reliant on . Read the sources below to learn more, including a story about a bacteria resistant to ALL antibiotics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCR-1
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/solutions-initiative/stories/gene-reported-mcr.html

04/06/2019

Viruses seemingly do it all! Recent research shows 'megaviruses' using CRISPR (a bacterial defense system against viruses) against bacteria!

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2197422-giant-viruses-have-weaponised-crispr-against-their-bacterial-hosts/

Hundreds of giant viruses that infect bacteria have been discovered. Some seem to deploy CRISPR – the system used for gene editing – to fight their hosts

04/02/2019

Hey everyone! It's time for microbes in the news!

Not only does microbes affect the obesity of people, but it seems like our diet as Americans affects the obesity of the microbes inside of us as well!
Read this news article from the finest news source in America for more information!

https://www.theonion.com/study-american-intestinal-bacteria-most-obese-in-world-1819575874

SEATTLE—A study published Tuesday by the University of Washington revealed that the gastrointestinal bacteria of American citizens are the most obese in the world. “We found that American intestinal microorganisms consume an unhealthy diet rich in sugars, fats, and processed foods, and as a resu...

03/28/2019

Credit: Turhan Pathan

03/25/2019

Artist: Alex

Thank you all who came to our agar art event! Here are the photos of the art YOU guys made! The art is in alphabetical order.
Tag each other and your friends to show off your favorite art!
They're in alphabetical order. There were 3 unnamed ones, if you are the artist of one of those 3, message us so we can fix it!