This Week in Microbiology

TWiM explains how bacterial endosymbionts enhance fungal virulence by disrupting the protective rhizobiome, and the development of rationally engineered Salmonella typhimurium strains with enhanced safety and antitumor efficacy.  Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Plant, fungus, endosymbiont, and rhizobiome (PNAS) Engineering S. typhimurium to kill tumors (mBio) Music used on TWiM is...

TWiM wonders why archaea are not pathogenic, and reveals how a colibactin produced by a honeybee gut symbiont defends against pathogens. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Why are archaea not pathogenic ? (mBio) Archaeal viruses (Archaea) Colibactin made in honeybee gut (Nat Micro) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your micr...

TWiM explains the finding that Bunsen burners do not decrease deposition of microbe-containing particles, and how gut microbiota generate dinitrosyl iron complexes with cardiometabolic benefits. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello and Michael Schmidt Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Bunsen burners don't do what you thought they did (Micro Spectrum) How does air circulate in passenger planes...

TWiM explains how movement of DNA among gut bacteria drive large-scale genome mosaicism, and validation of a method for detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis in outbreak-linked fresh produce. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson , and Petra Levin Become a patron of TWiM.   Links for this episode:   Natural DNA transformation in the gut (ISME J) The transformation factor (J...

TWiM explains the discovery of an avirulent bacterial signature associated with the development of recurrence following colorectal cancer surgery, and phage-derived proteins and conjugates that induce pilus detachment. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Petra Levin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Bacterial signature is associated with colon cancer recurrence (Nat C...

TWiM explains major implications of the link between plastic pollution and antimicrobial resistance, and the discovery of a new organelle, the nitrogen-fixing nitroplast. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and  Michele Swanson Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Plastic pollution and ant...

TWiM explains how cannibalism shapes biofilm structure and composition in Bacillus subtilis, and the importance of manganese uptake in uropathogenic E. coli during urinary tract infection. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Cannibalism shapes biofilm structure (mBio) Manganese and uropathogenic E. coli (mBio) Regulation of Bacterial MntH Genes (NLM Bookshelf) Music used on TWiM is co...

TWiM explains the connection between inflammation caused by microbial glycogen in the gut and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and how disruption of cysteine metabolism leads to synthetic lethality and in vivo fitness impairment in Acinetobacter baumannii . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Myeloid cell gene prevents i nflammatory response to microbial glycogen (Cell Rep) Cysteine met...

TWiM visits Tufts University School of Medcine and are joined by John Coffin, Michael Malamy, and Verna Manni for a tribute to Elio Schaechter who was chair of Molecular Biology and Microbiology for 23 years. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello ,  Michael Schmidt ,  Michele Swanson , and  Petra Levin Guests:  John Coffin ,  Michael Malamy , and  Verna Manni Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  Apple Podcasts ,  St...

TWiM explains how  Streptococcus mitis  bacteriocins drive contact-dependent lysis of S. pneumoniae facilitating transformation, and microbial dominance in diabetic foot osteomyelitis determined with nanopore sequencing. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello ,  Michael Schmidt , and  Michele Swanson Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  Apple Podcasts ,  Stitcher ,  RSS , or by  email. Links for this episode Streptoc...

TWiM explains how an enhanced domestication method allows for growth of uncultured bacteria, and identification of the oncogene SLC35F2 as is a high-specificity transporter for the micronutrients queuine and queuosine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and  Michele Swanson . Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees an...

TWiM explains a candidate signature of health in the gut microbial community, and how an intestinal bacterium exacerbates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson  and Petra Levin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode A candidate signature o...

TWiM explains how to use microbes to enhance maize yield and reduce corn rootworm damage, and how the human microbiota modulates IgE-mediated reactions to foods through allergen metabolism. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin , and  Michele Swanson . Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for th...

TWiM reveals the archaeal roots of eukaryotic life, and a building a gut malabsorption biosensor with bacteria. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode The archaeal roots of eukaryotic life (PNAS) Building a malabsorption biosensor (Cell) Engineering gut biosensors with microbes (Nature) Take the TWiM...

TWiM discusses the use of bacteriophage-loaded microneedle patches for targeted and minimally disruptive foodborne pathogen decontamination, and a conjugal gene drive-like system that efficiently suppresses antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Become a patron of TWiM.   Links for this episode:   Bacteriophage-loaded microneedle patches for food (Sci Adv) Gene drive to suppress antibiotic resistance...

Nancy and Maggie join TWiM to share how and why they created a freely available ebook of TWiM-based science literacy resources and classroom exercises that support teaching across key microbiology and molecular biology topics. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Podcast annotation and resources in microbiology (Iowa State U) Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate microbiology (ASM) M...

TWiM explains how mechano-bactericidal surfaces made from diverse materials and patterned with spikes kill bacteria on contact, and virus-host evolution is reshaped by microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Mechano-Bactericidal Surfaces (Adv Sci) Piercing pathogens (ASM) Natural bactericidal surfaces (Small) Virus-host evolution in mic...

TWiM explains the finding that owning a dog during adolescence alters the microbiota and improves mental health, and the molecular basis for multidrug efflux by an anaerobic-associated resistance-nodulation-cell division transporter. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson  and Petra Levin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenke...

TWiM explains how S. aureus pathogenicity is a dynamic, niche-specific choreography that constantly recalibrates in response to the host microenvironment, and short chain fatty acids produced by commensal microbiota reduces its competitive fitness.   Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson and Petra Levin . Guest: Mark O. Martin   Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Niche-specific fi...

TWiM explains how competition for nutrients anticipates and potentially mitigate drug side effects on the gut microbiota, and metabolic control of porin permeability influences antibiotic resistance. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt and Petra Levin Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM.   Links for this episode: Nutrient competition predicts drug effects on microbiota (Cell) Me...

TWiM explains a biological mechanism that links sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments, and "swashing," a form of surface movement in which bacteria migrate without active propulsion. Hosts:     Michael Schmidt ,  Michele Swanson , and  Petra Levin Guest:  Mark O. Martin Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  Apple Podcasts , RSS , or by  email. Links for this episode Sulfur and iron cycling in  ano...

TWiM reveals the bacteria, acids, and enzymes behind yogurt made with ants, and a defined set of microbes that reproduces attributes of fine flavor chocolate fermentation   Hosts:   Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Petra Levin Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Making yogurt with ants (iScience) The Alchemist Restaurant How to make classic tuiles (Mast...

TWiM explores two different ways that bacteria defend against phages through the synthesis of cyclic nucleotides. Hosts:  Michael Schmidt and Mark O. Martin   Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Decoy cyclic nucleotides in phage defense (Nature) CRISPR defense with nucleotides (Nature) A decoy defence molecule to set a trap for viruses (Nature) Cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage s...

TWiM explains studies that show that the oral bacterial and fungal microbiome are risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and the gut microbiome and pyruvate metabolism of older adults are a link between sleep quality and frailty. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and  Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of T...

TWiM reveals a Vibrio as the causative agent of sea star wasting disease, and using microcolony-seq to uncover phenotypic inheritance from single cells. Hosts:  Michael Schmidt and Michele Swanson Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM.   Links for this episode: Agent of sea star wasting disease (Nat Ecol Evol) Sea star wasting mystery solved (Nat Ecol Evol) Phenotypic inheritance from sing...