Cefsulodin is a semi-synthetic third generation cephalosporin antibiotic with a structure similar to penicillins and beta-lactams. Cefsulodin is used by the water and dairy industries to test the quality of their products. AG Scientific continues to provide top quality testing reagents and supplies to water and dairy producers around the world. This article includes a list of our FAQs regarding...
-
Penicillin: How We Made a Global Savior
The name 'antibiotic' was first given to the drugs that exhibit 'antibiosis' (meaning 'against life'), by Selman Waksman in 1942. After Vincenzo Tiberio discovered a mold (penicillium) in a well that displayed antibacterial, it led others to find the reasoning behind this. However, it was Alexander Fleming's (above) observations of fungus working against bacteria and concluded that it was due to the antibacterial compound, Penicillin. -
How Safe Is Your Water?
Water Contamination The common causes of acute diarrhea are viruses and bacteria. Diarrhea is a symptom of infections caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which are spread by feces-contaminated water. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make... -
Carbenicillin Antibiotic - Top 7 FAQs
Using carbenicillin antibiotics in your research? Get to know these top frequently asked questions! 1. What is Carbenicillin? Carbenicillin, also known as carboxybenzylpenicillin, is a member of the penicillin β-lactam antibiotics. Unlike most β-lactams, carbenicillin disodium is limited to primarily gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and common enteric species. It can be used in selection protocols and is often preferred... -
Protease Enzymes - Common Applications
Introduction to Protease Enzymes There are five families of proteases in which serine (eg: proteinase K/protease K/endopeptidase K), threonine, cysteine, aspartic or metallic groups play a primary catalytic role. Protease enzymes break the long chain-like molecules of proteins into shorter fragments. They are ubiquitous, found in all living organisms, and are essential for cell growth and differentiation. While protease enzymes... -
Part 2: Solving Mysteries with Trypsin and Proteinase K
In Part 1, we discussed using trypsin on bone specimens as a cleaning alternative to sanding in preparation for DNA extraction. In this second part of the series, we cover the details of attaining a higher yield of DNA using proteinase K. Proteinase K for Higher DNA Yield from Bone Specimens DNA in bone is located in the osteocytes (Hochmeister et... -
Part 1: Solving Mysteries with Trypsin and Proteinase K
Identifying Human Remains Human remains are fascinating. They have many properties that can be used to identify a person: distinct scars, special features, dental x-rays, fingerprint comparisons, or physical facial characteristics. Forensic scientists attempt to identify human skeletal remains in situations like mass fatality incidents involving military personnel or others recovered from war, fires, explosions, and in criminal matters. However...