There are probably 10s of millions of specific bacterial species in the world, so I could understand it being difficult to find just one in an environment (soil), where there may be millions? of species in a single shovel-full. I used to work in a water treatment lab, and a single drop of water, when diluted out (because without dilution the numbers would overwhelm the petri dishes), there would be dozens on a single agar test, mixed with various fungi as well. There may very well be cures for every disease in the natural, microbiological world, but to test all the possibilities would probably take a 1000 years.
On another job I had in the past, I did microscopic analysis of various things, one being a water sample from a public hot tub; based on that, I NEVER go in public hot tubs! Because the tubs/spas use heated water, the chlorine is rapidly depleted, resulting in microbes feasting on dead human skin (yes, that hot water causes dead skin to slough off, and unless there is also excellent filtration to go along with high chlorination, it's a recipe for microbial soup :) ). I guess working in a restaurant kitchen has the same effect on people :)
Well, that's kind of suspicious. How has no one ever been able to find this bacteria again?
There are probably 10s of millions of specific bacterial species in the world, so I could understand it being difficult to find just one in an environment (soil), where there may be millions? of species in a single shovel-full. I used to work in a water treatment lab, and a single drop of water, when diluted out (because without dilution the numbers would overwhelm the petri dishes), there would be dozens on a single agar test, mixed with various fungi as well. There may very well be cures for every disease in the natural, microbiological world, but to test all the possibilities would probably take a 1000 years.
Everyone I've known who works in water treatment has told me such disgusting stories that it almost makes me want to swear off water.
On another job I had in the past, I did microscopic analysis of various things, one being a water sample from a public hot tub; based on that, I NEVER go in public hot tubs! Because the tubs/spas use heated water, the chlorine is rapidly depleted, resulting in microbes feasting on dead human skin (yes, that hot water causes dead skin to slough off, and unless there is also excellent filtration to go along with high chlorination, it's a recipe for microbial soup :) ). I guess working in a restaurant kitchen has the same effect on people :)
How bad are like hotel pools, usually?