HWN Suggests

Are Antibiotics Making Us Fat?

Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but it might also do us in. A growing body of data suggests that a wide range of ills, from allergies and asthma to metabolic disease and superbugs, may be the consequence of our war on germs.

The territory in need of a cleansing now ranges from our garage to our gut, from our teeth to our toilet. Whether it's the surface of our kitchen counter or the surface of our face, cleaner is not just better, according to popular culture -- it's safer.

A kind of homeland security mentality has invaded the cosmos of clean. This is a two-front war, the world outside our bodies and the biosphere inside us. The axis of evil here is bacteria…

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Resources

International Society for Microbial Ecology

The International Society for Microbial Ecology is the principle non-profit scientific society for the burgeoning field of Microbial Ecology and its related disciplines. ISME fosters the exchange of scientific information by organizing international symposia as well as specific workshops, sponsoring publications, and promoting education/research. ISME provides services to the scientific as well as the wider community.

International Society for Subsurface Microbiology

Welcome to the home page of ISSM (International Society for Subsurface Microbiology). You will find links to member web pages of the Society, abstracts and past information about meetings, and information about future meetings.

International Union of Microbiological Societies

The objectives of the Union are to promote the study of microbiological sciences internationally: initiate, facilitate and coordinate research and other scientific activities which involve international cooperation; ensure the discussion and dissemination of the results of international conferences, symposia and meetings and assist in the publication of their reports; represent microbiological sciences in ICSU and maintain contact with other international organizations.

Society for Applied Microbiology

The Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) is the voice of applied microbiology and oldest microbiology society in the UK. Its object is to advance for the benefit of the public the science of microbiology in its application to the environment, human and animal health, agriculture and industry.

Society for General Microbiology

The Society for General Microbiology was founded in 1945 and is now the largest microbiological society in Europe. It has over 5000 members of whom 75% are resident in the UK.

Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) is a nonprofit, international association dedicated to the advancement of microbiological sciences, especially as they apply to industrial products, biotechnology, materials, and processes.

Anaerobe Society of the Americas

The Anaerobe Society of the Americas is an international organization, promoting the study and application of knowledge of anaerobic bacterialogy.

American Society for Microbiology

The ASM is the world's largest scientific society of individuals interested in the microbiological sciences. The Society's mission is to advance microbiological sciences through the pursuit of scientific knowledge and dissemination of the results of fundamental and applied research.

American Society for Virology

The stated aim of the Society is to promote the exchange of information and stimulate discussion and collaboration among scientists active in all aspects of virology.

Australian Society for Microbiology

The main objective of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) is to advance the science of microbiology in Australia. The society does this through the production and promotion of reading material, lectures, seminars, symposia and demonstrations on topics relevant to microbiology, as well as establishing and maintaining suitable standards for the practice of microbiology as a profession.

British Mycological Society

Founded in 1896 and has some 2000 members from many countries around the world, reflecting its international status. Its sole objective is to promote mycology in all its aspects.

British Society for Microbial Technology

The BSMT is a not-for-profit organisation of microbiologists working mainly in the NHS and Public Health England (formerly the Health Protection Agency) as healthcare scientists and medical microbiologists. The society's aim is to promote an exchange of information on laboratory practices in clinical microbiology.

Canadian Society of Microbiologists

The Canadian Society of Microbiologists seeks to advance microbiology in all its aspects and to facilitate the interchange of ideas between microbiologists. The membership includes honorary, emeritus, ordinary, student and sustaining members.

European Society for Clinical Virology

This Society is open to all those interested in viruses as causes of disease in man and animals, whether as general, pediatric or veterinary clinicians, infectious disease physicians, diagnostic virologists or microbiologists, pure or applied virologists or simply from curiosity.

European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Promotes the exchange of information among people who have special experience in the field of paediatric infectious diseases (by organizing regular scientific meetings, forming international study groups and networks, participation in advisory boards of other societies, organization of symposia at other international congresses, and through joint publications by members’ publications in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal and other journals).

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

ESCMID strives to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases by promoting and supporting research, education and training in the infection disciplines. ESCMID is a non-profit organization.

Federation of European Microbiological Societies

Our mission is to advance and unify microbiology knowledge. To facilitate the exchange of microbiological knowledge, FEMS publishes five journals, organises a biennial congress of microbiologists and initiates campaigns such as the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) and European Microbiology Forum (EMF).

Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists

The Society is one of the affiliated societies of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The Society also represents and promotes the views of its members in a wide variety of fora such as the HSE, the Department of Health and Children, HPSC and a variety of British bodies such as the British Infection Association

New Zealand Microbiological Society

Our aims are to promote the advancement of Microbiology in New Zealand by helping those studying micro-organisms to exchange ideas and information both within and outside New Zealand.

Polish Society of Microbiologists

The aim of the PSM is to propagate to the public achievements in microbiology, especially those developed by the Society members. To achieve goals, the Society organises scientific conferences, workshops, lectures, training courses etc. as well as competitions for outstanding research works.

Scottish Microbiology Association

The aim of the organisation is to promote clinical and scientific interest in Medical Microbiology in Scotland and maintain a close link with other Celtic microbiology associations: -The Welsh Microbiology Association (WMA) -The Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists (ISCM)

Swiss Society for Microbiology

The SSM is dedicated to the advancement of microbiology both as a medical and scientific discipline. These aims are achieved by organizing an annual meeting, workshops, conferences, courses in continuous education, and by taking part in current microbiology debates.

Welsh Microbiological Association

The aim of the Welsh Microbiological Association is to advance the study of microbiology in Wales by facilitating education and communication.