Bacteria in Earthquake Prediction?

My question in DicCNet ( American Society for Microbiology) on 20/07/2010.
-----------V.Palanivelan.

[divc] Bacteria in Earthquake Prediction?
Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 9:55 PM
From:
"V.Palanivelan."
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"DivC"
Dear Friends,
Since ancient times people have believed that animals can sense impending earthquakes. Animals behavior may be unusual before earthquakes. Example: Chances of earthquake are found high when 1) Dogs start barking and howling unusually,2) Birds start twittering loudly and start flying high towards sky.

Can we use bacteria in earthquake Prediction by monitoring the motility or enzymatic activity of bacterial cells in a particular region? Is it possible?

With Regards,
V.Palanivelan,
Microbiologist,
Hiran Agroceuticals Pvt.Ltd,
Madurai-2
Tamil Nadu,INDIA.

I got two replies for above question from microbiologists around the world.

1) Re: [divc] Bacteria in Earthquake Prediction?
Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 10:15 PM
From:
"John and Lucy James"
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"DivC"
To List-

Magnetotactic bacteria would be a possibility.

John F. James, Ph.D., MPH, D(ABMM)

Retired Microbiologist
----------------------------

2) RE: [divc] Bacteria in Earthquake Prediction?
Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 10:33 PM
From:
"Garner, Omai"
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"DivC"
This paper suggests that magnetotatic bacteria could be used for earthquake prediction.

http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~jkirschvink/pdfs/earthquakeprediction.pdf



Omai Garner, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
UCLA Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
P: 310-794-2722
F: 310-794-2765
E: ogarner@mednet.ucla.edu

-------------------------------------------------------

My Research Paper on SEB

My research paper on "Analysis of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B ( SEB)
using Bioinformatics Tools" published in “The Internet Journal of
Genomics and Proteomics" ( Volume 6 Number 1) . (ISPUB - Internet Scientific Publications)

Abstract of my research paper is follows....

"Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) is one of the toxin responsible for
staphylococcal food poisoning. This work was carried out to predicate the
primary, secondary and tertiary structure of SEB protein. And also to predicate
the DNA and RNA sequence which responsible for the translation of SEB protein.
The SEB protein sequence having 238 amino acid residues and molecular weight
of SEB protein is 28.23 kDA. SEB protein having high amount of lysine (13.4%)
and aspartate ( 10.1%). SEB having 22.27 % alpha helix and 39.08 % of random coil.
The potential cleavage site of SEB for enzymes were predicated by using bioinformatics tools. Proteinase K and Pepsin produce 93 and 84 cleavages respectively on SEB protein. The SEB amino acid composition is slightly similar with Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Type C 2and Streptococcal superantigen"

To read my full research paper, please cut the following link and paste in your browser.

http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_genomics_and_proteomics/volume_6_number_1_50/article_printable/analysis-of-staphylococcal-enterotoxin-b-seb-using-bioinformatics-tools.html


By,
V.Palanivelan