1248 Brando-coccus

Wisconsin has got out ahead of the rest of the country in a small way. Very small. They recently were the first state in the union to designate their own official state microbe.
It’s the lactococcus lactis bacterium, and it’s used in the making of cheddar and Monterrey Jack. Some folks think this was a cheesy way to get Wisconsin in the national news, but I’m more excited by the marketing and branding possibilities it gives other states.
If Wisconsin can have lactococcus lactis for cheese, maybe Idaho could have frenchfryus lipsmackus for their famous potatoes.
And it doesn’t have to be about food. It could be about attitude. Nevada could be Lasvegas inStayus. It’s a bacterium than only infects one close to the vest.
Washington DC could have politicococcus gridlockus and parts of Oregon could lay claim to it’s relative, politicus anarchus.
The great state of Texas is so big they may need to have three microbes. As the famous home of the recently divorced, they could house exusi texas. And as the last bastion of conservative values, they could be Alamo-remembrous secessionus or texasbookus rewritus.
California’s laid-back liberal lifestyles naturally suggest their signature microbe ought to be lappococcus californicus. And maybe name a special one after their governor, Terminatus Swartzennegrus.
Washington would never be able to settle on a single microbe. The competing camps of UW and WSU alumni would prevent that. Cougarous palousus would fight a constant battle with huskus snootius. Interestingly, both bacteria have been known to have an injurious effect on sheep.
Suffice it to say, one state’s cheese is another state’s possible branding statement. So state tourism boards need to get on it now.
I’m guessing this marketing idea will really be infectious.
America, ya gotta love it.