This Week in Microbiology

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...

TWiM explains how a mutualistic model bacterium can become lethal in a non-symbiotic host, and engineering a kill switch into a tuberculosis vaccine for improved safety. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and perfor...

TWiM explains a study of the unique and extreme microbial and chemical environment on the International Space Station, and the connection between the gut microbiome and pain in fibromyalgia. 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 ISS...

TWiM describes isolation of a novel bacterial species isolated from the China Space Station, and how a chemical radar allows bacteria to detect and kill predators. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and  Petra Levin. 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 this episode Niallia tian...

TWiM explains how to recode E. coli so it uses only one stop codon, and an exploration of the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion within dental plaque. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin 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 Engineering E. coli with one stop...

TWiM explains Pasteur's relentless hunt for microbes in the air, and how bacteria hunt for prey by ixotrophy - using grappling hooks! Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin 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 Pasteur's hunt for microbes in the air (NYTimes)...

TWiM describes Shigella infection is facilitated by interaction of human enteric α-defensin 5 with a colonic epithelial receptor, and an amino acid change in RNA polymerase that leads to resistance to β-lactams by preventing dysregulation of amino acid and nucleotide metabolism Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcast...

TWiM explains the remarkable abilities of bacterial ice nucleating proteins to promote freezing of water, and cryoprotective proteins produced by worm microbiomes that prevent freezing. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin 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 episo...

TWiM explores the discovery of microbial enzymes, PETases, that can degrade ubiquitous plastics, and how exogenous peptidoglycan is a danger signal to trigger biofilm formation. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson . Guest Mark O. Martin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is comp...

TWiM reveals that record high atmospheric methane growth has been driven by microbes, and the cecum as an adaptive niche for Salmonella typhi. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. L...

From ASMCUE 2024, the conference on undergraduate education, TWiM speaks with Becky, Melanie, and Katriana about their careers and how they use TWiM in undergraduate microbiology education. Hosts: Michael Schmidt and Mark O. Martin Guests: Becky Seipel-Thiemann , Melanie Melendrez-Vallard , and Katriana Popichak Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Be...

TWiM describes how to make concrete more 'green' by using microbes, and bacterial bioluminescence as an important regulator of multitrophic interactions in the soil. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson and and Mark O. Martin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by...

TWiM explains how ticagrelor alters the membrane of S. aureus and enhances the activity of vancomycin and daptomycin without eliciting cross-resistance, and the development of a novel continuous disinfectant technology that decreases healthcare-associated infections in ICUs by 70%. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode T...

TWiM focuses on recent foodborne outbreaks of bacterial infections, and how nanopore sequencing technology can be used to identify pathogenic microbes and antimicrobial resistance genes in food products. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Foodborne outbreaks (CDC) Race to nourish a warming worl d (Gates Fo...

TWiM travels to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to learn how research conducted at USAMRIID leads to vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and training programs that protect both warfighters and civilians. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Guests: Norman Kreiselmeir, Christopher K Coat, Keersten Ricks, and Eric Nguyen Links for this episode: U.S. Ar...

TWiM explains a project to engineer the cow microbiome to reduce emissions of methane, and the finding of antibiotic resistance genes in the genomes of giant viruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Engineering the cow f...

TWiM explains how bacterial community structure can be used to predict athletic performance in racehorses, and the idea that a tiny fraction of all species forms most of Nature. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Mark O. Martin . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Microbiome picks a winner (Sci Rep) Picking a Winner by Reading the Form Hen's Teeth and Horse'...

TWiM explains unique modifications in the energy conservation pathways linked to methanogenesis in an Archaeon, and mechanisms of white nose fungal invasion of cells from the Little Brown Bat. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Methyl-reducing methanogenesis (Nature) Pathogenic strategies of Pseudogymnoasc...

TWiM describes experiments to explore gut microbiota signatures of vulnerability to food addiction in mice and humans, and how a phage tail-like protein suppresses competitors in populations of bacteria of plants. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Gut microbiota and food addiction (Probiotics) Blautia may...