Ephi Lu

Gram staining

Gram-staining is a traditional laboratory technique used to rapidly classify bacterial species into two broad categories: gram-positive and gram-negative, according to their type of…

Gram-negative bacteria

Gram-negative bacteria contain outer and inner cell membranes and create pink color colonies upon gram-staining. Most of the gram-negative bacterial species are pathogenic due…

Ghrelin

Ghrelin is often referred to as the “hunger hormone.” It is produced by the stomach and stimulates appetite, signaling to the brain that it’s…

Germ-Free (GF) Animal Model

The germ-free (GF) animal model refers to the study of animals raised in a sterile environment free of microorganisms (i.e., beneficial and pathogenic microbes)…

Genes

Genes are the instruction manuals of living organisms made up of intricate DNA sequences; their function is to direct the production of specific proteins…

Food Security

Food security is a broader concept encompassing not only affordability but also availability, accessibility, and utilization of food. It is the condition in which…

Changing Your Diet Can Help Tamp Down Depression, Boost Mood

Diet, Gut Microbes Affect Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment, Research Reveals

More Evidence Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Health Harms

People who eat lots of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop heart disease and to die sooner than those who stick with foods…

The Link Between Food and Mental Health

Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs

Eating Green Veggies Improves Immune Defenses