State microbe


A state microbe is a microorganism used as an official state symbol. Several U.S. states have honored microorganisms by nominating them to become official state symbols. The first state to declare an Official State Microbe is Oregon which chose Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the Official Microbe of the State of Oregon in 2013 for its significance to the craft beer industry in Oregon. One of the first proponents of State Microbes was microbiologist Moselio Schaechter, who, in 2010, commented on Official Microbes for the American Society for Microbiology's blog "Small Things Considered" as well as on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered".

Wisconsin 2009: ''Lactococcus lactis'', proposed, not passed

In November 2009, Assembly Bill 556 that proposed designating Lactococcus lactis as Wisconsin state microbe was introduced by Representatives Hebl, Vruwink, Williams, Pasch, Danou, and Fields; it was cosponsored by Senator Taylor. Although the bill passed the Assembly 56 to 41, It was not acted on by the Senate. The proposed AB 556 simply stated that Lactococcus lactis is the State Microbe and should be included in the Wisconsin Blue Book, an almanac containing information on the state of Wisconsin, published by Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau.Lactococcus lactis was proposed as the State Microbe because of its crucial contribution to the cheese industry in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the largest cheese producer in the United States, producing 3.1 billion pounds of cheese, 26% of all cheese in the US, in more than 600 varieties.
Lactococcus lactis is vital for manufacturing cheeses such as Cheddar, Colby, cottage cheese, cream cheese, Camembert, Roquefort, and Brie, as well as other dairy products like cultured butter, buttermilk, sour cream, and kefir. It may also be used for vegetable fermentations such as cucumber pickles and sauerkraut.

Hawaii 2013-14: ''Flavobacterium akiainvivens'' and/or ''Aliivibrio fischeri''

In January 2013, House Bill 293 was introduced by State Representative James Tokioka; the proposed bill designates Flavobacterium akiainvivens as the State Microbe of Hawaii. The bacterium was discovered on a decaying ākia shrub by Iris Kuo, a high school student working with Stuart Donachie at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The Hawaiian context is strong here because the ākia shrub is native to Hawaii, and the microbe was first found in Hawaii. The shrub was used by ancient Hawaiians for medicine, textiles and for catching fish, while the microbe may have antibiotic properties.
Although it was favored by the House, the Flavobacterium akiainvivens bill failed to get a hearing in the Senate Technology and Arts Committee and could not move forward for a Senate vote.
In February 2014, Senate Bill 3124 was introduced by Senator Glenn Wakai; the bill designates Aliivibrio fischeri as the State Microbe of Hawaii. Senator Wakai was Chairman of the Senate Technology and Arts Committee that squashed the Flavobacterium legislation. Aliivibrio fischeri was selected because it lives in a symbiotic relationship with the native Hawaiian bobtail squid, in which it confers bioluminescence on the squid, enabling it to hunt at night. Although this is an awesome example of symbiosis, political and scientific controversy erupted because even though the bobtail squid is only found in Hawaii, Aliivibrio fischeri can be found elsewhere.
The combined Hawaiian Legislature could not agree on which microbe better suited Hawaii, and the proposed legislation was dropped.
Legislation proposing Flavobacterium akiainvivens'' as the state microbe was re-introduced in 2017.

Oregon 2013: ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'', passed

was the first state to declare an Official State Microbe.
In February 2013, House Concurrent Resolution 12 was introduced into the Oregon legislative system by Representative Mark Johnson; the bill designates Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the Official Microbe of the State of Oregon. The bill was passed by unanimous vote in the House on April 11; it passed in the Senate by a vote of 28 to 2 on May 23. Cosponsors of the measure were: Representatives Dembrow, McLane, Vega Pederson, Whisnant, Williamson, and Senators Hansell, Prozanski, and Thomsen.
HCR-12 recognizes the history of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in baking and brewing, thanks to its ability to convert fermentable sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Most important for Oregon is that the microbe is essential to the production of alcoholic beverages such as mead, wine, beer, and distilled spirits. Moreover, Saccharomyces cerevisiae inspired the thriving brew culture in Oregon, making Oregon an internationally recognized hub of craft brewing. The craft brewing business brings Oregon $2.4 billion annually, thanks to brewers yeast and talented brewers.

New Jersey 2017-2019: ''Streptomyces griseus'', signed into law May 10, 2019

Introduction

Streptomyces griseus was chosen for the honor of becoming the New Jersey State Microbe because the organism is a New Jersey native that made unique contributions to healthcare and scientific research worldwide. A strain of S. griseus that produced the antibiotic streptomycin was discovered in New Jersey in “heavily manured field soil” from the New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station by Albert Schatz in 1943. Streptomycin is noteworthy because it is: the first significant antibiotic discovered after penicillin; the first systemic antibiotic discovered in America; the first antibiotic active against tuberculosis; first-line treatment for plague. Moreover, New Jersey was the home of Selman Waksman, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his systematic studies of antibiotic production by S. griseus and other soil microbes.

Legislative Activity

On May 15, 2017, Senate Bill 3190 was introduced by Senator Samuel D. Thompson ; the bill designates Streptomyces griseus as the New Jersey State Microbe, to be added to the state's other state symbols. On June 1, 2017 Assemblywoman Annette Quijano introduced Assembly Bill 4900 ; the bill also designates S. griseus as the New Jersey State Microbe, and is the Assembly counterpart of S3190. S3190 was referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee and A4900 was referred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee for consideration and review.
On December 11, 2017 S3190, the bill that designates S. griseus as the New Jersey State Microbe, was unanimously approved by the NJ Senate State Government. Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. Committee members were Senators Samuel Thompson, James Beach Shirley Turner, and Patrick Diegnan. Speaking on behalf of the State Microbe were Drs John Warhol, Douglas Eveleigh, and Max Haggblom.
On January 8, 2018 the full New Jersey Senate unanimously approved S3190 to designate S. griseus as the New Jersey State Microbe. The bill was cosponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden. The Assembly did not act on its version of the State Microbe legislation.
State Microbe legislation was reintroduced in the New Jersey Senate on February 5, 2018 by Senator Samuel Thompson ; the bill number is S1729. The bill will be reviewed by the NJ Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee whose members are Senators Samuel Thompson, James Beach Shirley Turner, Chris A. Brown, and Nilsa Cruz-Perez. The new senate bill has bipartisan support and is cosponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan and Senator Vin Gopal.
Similar legislation was reintroduced in the New Jersey Assembly on March 12, 2018; the bill number is A3650. The legislation is sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, ASW Patricia Jones, Assemblyman Arthur Barclay, ASM Eric Houghtaling, and ASW Joann Downey. Assemblyman Ronald Dancer also signed on as a cosponsor. The bill will be reviewed by the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, whose members are ASM Andrew Zwicker, PhD, ASM James Kennedy, ASM Herb Conaway, MD, ASW BettyLou DeCroce, ASM Christopher DePhillips, ASM Time Eustace, DC, and ASW Brittnee Timberlake.
On June 14, 2018 Senate Bill S1729 was unanimously approved by the NJ Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
On July 27, 2018 Senate Bill S1729 was unanimously approved by the full New Jersey Senate. From the well of the Senate, Senator Thompson kindly acknowledged the efforts of State Microbe advocates John Warhol, Douglas Eveleigh, Jeff Boyd, and Jessica Lisa.
On September 17, 2018 Assembly Bill A3650 was unanimously approved by the Assembly Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee. Testifying on behalf of the State Microbe were Drs John Warhol, Douglas Eveleigh, and Jeff Boyd; their testimony can be heard on the New Jersey Legislature Media site starting at 27 minutes. Asm Tim Eustace on The Committee was replaced by Assemblywoman Linda S Carter.
On February 25, 2018 The New Jersey Assembly unanimously approved S1729/A3650 by a vote of 76 to 0. Drs Doug Eveleigh, Jeff Boyd, and John Warhol were present to cheer for the vote.
The final vote in the Senate was March 14, 2019. The Bill passed by a vote of 34 to 0.
On May 10, 2019 Governor Murphy signed S1729/A3650 into effect. This made New Jersey the second state to have an Official Microbe, and the first to have an Official Bacterium.

Education Activity

The Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Science Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology has provided a web page since 2010 on which people can vote for one of three excellent choices for the New Jersey State Microbe. The candidates have been Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Streptomyces griseus. S. griseus has been the winning microbe by a 3 to 1 margin. The Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology has also been actively involved in public education and outreach at annual Rutgers Day events. In 2018, they received hundreds of signatures on a petition urging legislators to recognize S. griseus as the State Microbe. The microbiology community, both within and outside of NJ, has been an advocate for the State Microbe, actively submitting letters of endorsement to the New Jersey Legislature.
The New Jersey State Microbe was the subject of a presentation by John Warhol at the 2018 Rutgers University Microbiology Symposium, video of the presentation is available on YouTube. Dr Warhol also spoke about the New Jersey State Microbe at the Theobald Smith Society Meeting in Miniature at Seton Hall University in April 2018.
The New Jersey State Microbe was the subject of a Science Cafe, titled The New Jersey State Microbe and You—Perfect Together! held at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health on March 1. Presenters were Max Haggblom, Douglas Eveleigh, and John Warhol.
In April 2018, Dr Jeffrey Boyd spoke to students and teachers at the Bartle Elementary School in Highland Park, firing up their enthusiasm for microbial life in general and S. griseus in particular. The students were taught about microbiology, antibiotics, the interaction of science and public service, and how to contact their state legislators. In May, John Warhol introduced the topic of microbiology and the State Microbe to students at the Indian Hill School in Holmdel.
A scientific paper on the political and social process of designating an official state microbe was presented at Microbe 2018, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Titled "How to Get Your Own Official State Microbe" the presentation stressed the importance of clear communication and legislator contact by academic, industrial, and student supporters. The authors were Max Haggblom, Douglas Eveleigh, and John Warhol.
In mid-September, John Warhol gave a public presentation on the New Jersey State Microbe and science communication at the Middletown, NJ Public Library.
An update on the New Jersey State Microbe project was given to students and faculty at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in October 2018 by John Warhol, as part of a seminar on science communication.
In November 2018, the New Jersey Historical Commission Forum on New Jersey History at Monmouth University was the venue for two presentations on the State Microbe. The first was titled "An Official New Jersey State Microbe! Streptomyces griseus" and the second was "The 75th Anniversary of the Discovery of Streptomycin - 2019". Authors of the presentations were Douglas Eveleigh, Jeff Boyd, Max Haggblom, Jessica Lisa, and John Warhol.
In early November 2018, Rutgers University launched a web page recognizing the Selman Waksman Museum at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The museum is housed in Dr Waksman's former laboratory space in Martin Hall. The museum was developed under the leadership of Douglas Eveleigh with grant support from the US Department of Agriculture.
The Eagleton Institute of Politics hosted a Science and Policy Workshop titled "Scientists in Politics" in late November 2018. Douglas Eveleigh and John Warhol participated, and informed the attendees about the history of microbiology in New Jersey and the importance of the State Microbe as a scientific and cultural symbol for New Jersey.
The Liberty Science Center opened a colorful new exhibit on December 13 named "Microbes Rule!" The installation features interactive learning stations in which museum-goers can discover the many ways that microbes shape life on Earth. The New Jersey State Microbe has a prominent place in the exhibit; in fact Liberty Science Center sponsored a petition for the NJ legislature to vote Yes on behalf of the State Microbe. Speaking at the opening ceremony for the exhibit were LSC Chief Executive Officer Paul Hoffman, NJ Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Rutgers University Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Chairman Max Haggblom, Merck Executive Director for Infectious Diseases Todd Black, American Society for Microbiology Outreach Manager Dr Katherine Lontok, and science author Dr John Warhol of The Warhol Institute.

Press and Media Coverage

Following the Senate vote, The New Jersey State Microbe was the subject of local, national, and international media attention. Streaming audio and video interviews were broadcast or posted with Drs Eveleigh, Boyd, Warhol, and Haggblom on CBS News, News 12 New Jersey, NPR, This Week In Microbiology, and KYWNews Radio. Electronic and print media coverage included the Asbury Park Press, NorthJersey.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer, NJ.com, NJ 101.5 dot com, NJ Spotlight, WPG Talk Radio, Rutgers Today, Politico, WSUS, Sky News, and Isle of Wight Radio.
On November 30, 2018 Jeff Boyd was featured on the cover of the Daily Targum in an article titled "Rutgers Professors Nominate Tuberculosis-Curing Bacteria for Official State Microbe". The story summarized the reasons for the State Microbe and the work that scientists have done to get the microbe recognized by the state legislature. Dr Boyd pointed out that “Microbes shape every aspect of our lives, our environment and the earth” and certainly deserve more recognition. Dr Eveleigh was also interviewed for the article and said "I’d like the governor to sign the legislation in the room of the lab in which streptomycin was discovered.”
On December 13, 2018 the State Microbe was highlighted in press and broadcast coverage by NJTV News of the opening of Microbes Rule! at the Liberty Science Center.
On Feb 21, Dr Jeffrey Boyd spoke with NJ Monthly for an article titled "Not Your Average Germ: New Jersey Considers a State Microbe".
On February 26, 2018, after the historic Assembly vote, Dr John Warhol was interviewed by Rebeca Ibarra of National Public Radio/WNYC for comments about the new State Microbe. Assemblywoman Quijano's newsletter, AQ Weekly, featured the State Microbe and its advocates that same week.
Following the final Senate vote, the NJ State Microbe story was carried by NJ.com news
Christopher Maag wrote a comprehensive article in The North Jersey Record, part of the USA Today Network, titled "For centuries, scientists sought a tuberculosis cure. A Passaic man found it in the dirt." Maag interviewed Drs Jeff Boyd, Max Haggblom, and John Warhol in the actual laboratory where streptomycin was discovered in 1943. Now a museum dedicated to the work of Selman Waksman and other members of the antibiotic research team, the laboratory features milestone exhibits from the history of microbiology at Rutgers. The multimedia article includes a print and online text, a photo gallery, and video footage.
After Governor Murphy signed the State Microbe bill into law on May 10, 2019, additional press coverage developed in a variety of outlets from coast to coast.
The New Jersey State Microbe was featured in two televised interviews in July 2019. The first was on CUNY TV's Simply Science hosted by Barry Mitchell "Meet the New Jersey Microbe" featured an inspired Garden State Microbe song rendition on the steps of Dr Waksman's original laboratory. Drs Boyd and Haggblom recounted the story of The New Jersey State Microbe and the importance of microbes in everyday life on Earth. Dr Warhol appeared on Jersey Matters hosted by Larry Mendtke. In the segment titled "Jersey Matters-State Microbe", they discussed the importance of the New Jersey State Microbe and the growing need for improved microbe education and awareness.

Hawaii 2017: ''Flavobacterium akiainvivens'', pending

In 2017, legislation similar to the original 2013 bill to make Flavobacterium akiainvivens the state microbe was submitted in the Hawaii House of Representatives by Isaac Choy and in the Hawaii Senate by Brian Taniguchi. In January 2017, Representative Choy submitted HB 1217 in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives and Senator Taniguchi submitted the mirror bill SB1212 in the Hawaiʻi Senate. This continues the effort started by James Tokioka in 2013, and later contested in 2014 by Senator Glenn Wakai's SB3124 bill proposing Aliivibrio fischeri instead., Hawaiʻi has no official state microbe.

Illinois 2019: ''Penicillium rubens'' NRRL 1951, pending

Introduction

The world's first antibiotic, penicillin, is produced by a strain of the mold Penicillium rubens. Though the history of penicillin is centuries long, Scottish physician Alexander Fleming is usually credited with initiating the modern era of penicillin discovery, research, and development when he found the mold rowing on a culture plate in his laboratory in 1928. Penicillin is effective on gram-positive bacteria. The antibiotic-producing strains of Penicillium in the early years produced relatively low yields of unstable penicillin. The yields were so low that urine from treated patients was collected and the penicillin remaining extracted and reused. Major breakthroughs came in the years between 1941 and 1943, when higher yielding strains were isolated. The strain having the highest production was found on a moldy cantaloupe in Peoria, IL. WW2 necessitated moving of the work on penicillin to the United States. The byproducts of alcohol production had been used for growing mold cultures in the past and the Ag Lab in Peoria, IL had access to these. After the isolation trials selected the most promising mold strain, methods for the industrialized production of penicillin were developed at the USDA in Peoria, Illinois. The mass production techniques developed in Illinois enabled the United States and its allies to have penicillin available for the D-Day invasion in 1944.

Origin of the idea of an Illinois State Microbe

On August 7, 2018, Gary Kuzniar was driving home and listening to National Public Radio's broadcast of "All Things Considered." There was an interesting story about State Microbe designations. Oregon had already passed legislation and other states had started working to declare theirs. The next month Dr. Neil Price was walking in the hallway with two petri dish plasticized mold props and Gary asked him what they were. Neil said that they were penicillin props for a display in "The Ten Most Important Medical Inventions of the World" down at the local museum. I mentioned that I had heard a radio program on state microbes and that the penicillin he had in his hands would be a good candidate for Illinois. He agreed and we decided to approach the whole logistical thing of doing it.

Legislative activity

On February 15, 2019, Senator Dave Koehler introduced SB 1857, legislation that designates Penicillium chrysogenum NRRL 1951 as the Official State Microbe of Illinois. The bill passed the Senate on April 4 and gained Senator Mattie Hunter as a cosponsor. That same day, the bill was introduced into the Illinois House of Representatives with Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth as the primary sponsor. The bill was then referred to the State Rules Committee on 4 April 2019 and later to the State Government Administration Committee on 24 April. During the Spring 2019 Illinois Legislative session, it was learned that current DNA analysis on the famous Penicillium chrysogenum strain from the 1940s resulted in a name change to P. rubens. The original nomenclature was based on physical structure and current science relies on the more precise DNA analysis.

Press and media coverage

Press coverage for the Illinois State Microbe has been enthusiastic. Journalist Phil Luciano of the Journal Star interviewed Neil Price of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research. Dr Price started working on the legislative side of the Illinois State Microbe Designation project by contacting Senator David Koehler about the crucial role that Illinois had in the production of penicillin and its effect on world health. He gave a witness testimony to the Illinois Senate on March 20, 2019. Additional television coverage was featured on WQAD-TV.
Promotion and Support Letters to Legislators
Gary took this aspect of the project and contacted two people that were currently working for New Jersey's State Microbe, Dr. Max Haggblom and Dr. John Warhol. They have been very helpful in shortcutting a path to Illinois getting a State Microbe. Letters of support were requested and put in a folder to be given to the introducer of the Illinois State Microbe bill, each local district legislator and professional organizations throughout the state. Some of the letters were received from Western Illinois University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Bradley University in Peoria Illinois and the William Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford where the original work by Fleming was done. Small Penicillium plushes from Giant Microbes were attached to folders containing the letters of support and then given to local legislators and others along with a cantaloupe. A T-shirt has been planned that includes an illustration from the Manual of Penicillia by Dr. Kenneth B. Raper and Charles Thom. Permission for this was granted by the book publisher. During this time a painting of an iconic character and one of its commissioner were obtained from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with permission of the Bacteriology Department. "Moldy Mary," is a painting of a young woman at a 1940s downtown Peoria Illinois produce market with a moldy cantaloupe in her hand. The second painting is of the paintings' commissioner himself, Dr. Ken Raper. He is standing in a lab also with a cantaloupe in his hand. Both were available for viewing at the "Ten Most Important Medical Inventions of the World" exhibit at the Peoria Riverfront Museum earlier 2019.