This Week in Microbiology

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...

TWiM explores the varied and distinct microbiome of trees, and an array of biopesticidal metabolites against mosquito larvae isolated from a Mediterranean island. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Microbiome of trees (Nature) Biopesticides from a Mediterranean island (Appl Environ Micro) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send yo...

TWiM pays tribute to Elio Schaechter, former TWiM host, blogger, and microbiologist extraordinaire, then reviews the finding that Archaea produce peptidoglycan hydrolases that kill bacteria - a form of competition. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson  and Petra Levin . Guest Mark O. Martin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald J...

TWiM discusses outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Harlem NY, an automated whole genome sequencing platform for bacterial strain typing in clinical microbiology laboratories, building E. coli with a 57-codon genetic code. Links for this episode Legionnaires' disease outbreak in NY (NY Health) Automated whole genome sequencing for clinical labs (J Clin Micro) Sequencing workflow for outbreaks (J Cl...

TWiM explains a study that examines pathogen presence in ancient humans and concludes that zoonoses emerged 6500 years ago with the domestication of livestock, and determination of universal rules that govern plasmid copy number. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson , and Petra Levin Guests: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Human pathogens in...

TWiM explores the use of gas sensors and machine learning to identify microbes and antimicrobial resistance in clinical specimens, and how a harmful algal bloom species releases thiamin antivitamins to suppress competitors.   Become a patron of TWiM.   Links for this episode: Microbial and antimicrobial resistance diagnostics (Cell Biomaterials) Thiamin antivitamins suppress algal competitors (mBi...

TWiM explains two strategies for bacterial competition for resources: by laying down a slippery lipid and pushing away competitors, or by breaking open cells with a spike, liberating essential nutrients. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Secreting a slippery lipid (mBio) Lysing neighboring cells for nutrients (Science) Underwater hockey (YouTube Music used on TWiM is composed and pe...

TWiM describes how microbiological analysis of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn has revealed an antimicrobial resistance reservoir and bioremediation potential, and fungicide resistance in Fusarium graminearum, the fungus recently smuggled into the US. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and  Petra Levin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. B...