Fresh input to theory on Legionnaires' disease

Contrary to some scientific beliefs, Flinders University PhD candidate Michael Taylor has literally grown his own evidence to suggest the bacterium which causes the potentially-fatal Legionnaires’ disease is more than ...

'Harmless' microbes may be water risk

(PhysOrg.com) -- Relatively harmless microbes which pass through water treatment systems could be allowing dangerous bacteria, such as Legionella, to reproduce in drinking water supplies, researchers have warned following ...

Unlocking bacteria's survival aid

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have worked out how to control a protective mechanism found in many bacteria that helps them grow and stay alive.

Water tests may fail to detect Legionella

Like false-negative results for virus testing, Flinders University experts have found that standard testing for Legionnaires' disease is not always failsafe.

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Legionella

Legionella is a pathogenic Gram negative bacterium, including species that cause legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease, most notably L. pneumophila. It may be readily visualized with a silver stain.

Legionella is common in many environments, with at least 50 species and 70 serogroups identified. The side-chains of the cell wall carry the bases responsible for the somatic antigen specificity of these organisms. The chemical composition of these side chains both with respect to components as well as arrangement of the different sugars determines the nature of the somatic or O antigen determinants, which are essential means of serologically classifying many Gram-negative bacteria.

Legionella acquired its name after a July, 1976 outbreak of a then-unknown "mystery disease" sickened 221 persons, causing 34 deaths. The outbreak was first noticed among people attending a convention of the American Legion - an association of U.S. military veterans. The convention in question occurred in Philadelphia during the U.S. Bicentennial year. This epidemic among U.S. war veterans, occurring in the same city as – and within days of the 200th anniversary of – the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was widely publicized and caused great concern in the United States. On January 18, 1977 the causative agent was identified as a previously unknown bacterium, subsequently named Legionella. See Legionnaires' Disease for full details.

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