Health Tip: Controlling Foot Odor

(HealthDay News) - Sweaty feet and shoes that don't allow for circulation can lead to fungus and bacteria breeding inside your shoes and socks. These germs can cause an embarrassing odor when you remove your shoes.

Here are suggestions on how to reduce foot odor, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Wash feet thoroughly each day with soap and water, then dry thoroughly to prevent bacterial growth.
• Change shoes and socks frequently -- at least once a day.
• Apply daily a non-medicated powder, like baby powder or foot powder.
• Check your feet for any signs of fungal or bacterial infection, and treat any symptoms promptly.
• Wear thick, absorbent cotton socks with shoes.
• Wear shoes made of breathable materials, like canvas, leather or mesh, and avoid plastic or nylon shoes.
• Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row.

Fighting a Fungus That Thrives on Tomatoes

(HealthDay News) -- A molecular-based approach to helping tomatoes fight a fungus that causes wilt has been identified by Dutch scientists.

In agriculture, there's an ongoing battle against the ability of plant pathogens to co-evolve along with their host plant's immune system, according to background information in the study. One way to increase protection is through disease resistance genes that strengthen a plant's immune system.

In this study, the researchers looked at tomatoes and the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, which causes fusarium wilt disease.

The University of Amsterdam team found that a suppressor protein secreted by some strains of the fungus enables it to overcome two of the tomato plant's disease resistance genes. However, a third resistance gene specifically targets the suppressor protein, making the plant fully resistant to any fungal strain that produces the protein.

This means that with the right set of resistance genes, tomato plants can defeat the fungus.

"This molecular analysis has revealed a hitherto unpredicted strategy for durable disease control based on resistance combinations," according to a news release about the study, published Friday in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

More information
Ohio State University has more about fusarium wilt.