This Week in Microbiology

TWiM explains how bacterial symbionts regulate tick blood feeding activity, and the reasons why antibiotics exist. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , and Michael Schmidt Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher ,  Android ,  RSS , or by  email. Become a  Patron of TWiM ! Links for this episode: Symbionts help ticks to feed (Cell Host Microbe) Why do antibiotics...

On this episode of TWiM, how phages prevent other phages from invading their hosts without blocking their own reproduction, and plastic-degrading potential of microbes across the Earth. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Prophages encode phage-defense systems with cognate self-immunity (Cell Host Microbe) Prophages self-destruct to eliminate competitors (Cell Host Microbe) Plastic-de...

TWiM discusses antigenic variation within dengue virus serotypes, and an mRNA vaccine that induces antibodies against tick proteins and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , Michael Schmidt and Michele Swanson Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher ,  Android ,  RSS , or by  email. Links for this episode: Dengue v...

TWiM reveals a study showing that positive interactions among bacteria are far more common than previously thought, and how acquisition of a single gene enabled Yersinia pestis to expand the range of mammalian hosts that sustain flea-borne plague. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , Michele Swanson , and Michael Schmidt Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher ,...

Mark Martin returns to TWiM for a discussion of the observation that Gram's stain does not cross the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, and suppression of gingival inflammation and bone loss through host modulation caused by episymbiotic Saccharibacteria.   Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , Michele Swanson , and Michael Schmidt Guest: Mark O. Martin Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  iTunes , ...

Petra Levin joins TWiM to tell three stories from her laboratory: how starvation induces shrinkage of the bacterial cytoplasm; plasticity of E. coli cell wall and how it influences antibiotic resistance across different environments; and induction of antibiotic resistance by Triclosan. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , Michele Swanson , and Michael Schmidt Guest: Petra Levin Become a ...

On this episode of TWiM, using colicins to ferry DNA into cells through an iron transporter, and construction of highly efficient microbial fuel cells that produce more electrical current than previously observed. Links for this episode: Colicins used to ferry DNA into cells (mBio) Highly efficient microbial fuel cells (Science) Silver assists fuel cells (Science) Biological transport goes the ext...

TWiM explores the role of biofilms in infection by coronaviruses, and development of a Shigella vaccine using outer membrane vesicles derived from Salmonella Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Biofilms and coronaviruses (Appl Envir Micro) Outer membrane vesicle vaccine (Appl Envir Micro) TWiM Listener survey Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with...

On this episode, an electrochemical scaffold that delivers safe doses of hypochlorous acid to treat wound infections in humans, and a method for sampling and monitoring bacteria and viruses on surfaces using plain paper stickers. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michele Swanson , and Michael Schmidt Links: E-scaffolds on TWiM 143 The EPS matrix (J Bact) Integrated HOCL-producing E-scaffold (AAM) Surfac...

TWiM reveals how temporal shifts in antibiotic resistance elements govern phage-pathogen conflicts, and the intracellular localization of toxin-antitoxin proteins in E. coli . Become a  Patron of TWiM ! Links for this episode: Phage-pathogen conflicts (Science) A 'Trap-Door' Strategy for Mobile Element Escape (Front Micro) Location of toxin-antitoxin proteins (mBio) Babel-Jerusalem Bookstore Lette...

Mark Martin returns to TWiM to discuss ways to increase diversity in our field, and the discovery of Borgs, giant extrachromosomal elements with the potential to augment methane oxidation. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Elio Schaechter , Michele Swanson , and Michael Schmidt Guest: Mark O. Martin Subscribe to TWiM (free) on  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher ,  Android ,  RSS , or by  email.   Be...

TWiM explores whether 'rewilding' is a way to get back our missing gut microbes, and failure of bacteriophage therapy due to the production of neutralizing antibodies. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Gut microbiota through an evolutionary lens (Science) You're missing microbes (NY Times) There is no 'healthy' microbiome (NY Times) Antibody limits bacteriophage therapy (Nat) Phage t...

The TWiM folk explore disruption of a Burkholderia intracellular niche by a cell death program, and an increase in Brucella infectiousness after intracellular passage. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Disrupting intracellular niche (mBio) Intracellular passage increases infectiousness (Infect Immun) Type IV secretion systems (Front Micro) Music used on TWiM is composed and performe...

In this episode, how polysaccharides keep cyanobacteria afloat in the oceans so that they can carry out photosynthesis, and a symbiotic bacterium that protects honey bees from fungal infections. Become a  Patron of TWiM ! Links for this episode: Bacterial blooms and polysaccharides (eLife) Social life of cyanobacteria (eLife) Bacteria that protect bees from fungi (mBio) First 21 days of a bee's li...

Foodie TWiM reveals that bacteria in human saliva are major components of Ecuadorian indigenous beers, and an unusual E. coli that produces atypical light cream-colored colonies in chromogenic agar. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Saliva bacteria in indigenous beers (Peer J) Unusual behavior of E. coli ST59 (Appl Envir Micro) One Health (CDC) Music used on TWiM is composed and per...

TWiM continues its food arc with an examination of the effect of peroxyacetic acid spray on the microbiome and sensory properties of beef, and explores asymmetry of the cell division machinery during sporulation. Links for this episode: Effect of peroxyacetic acid on beef (Appl Envir Micro) Peracetic acid sterilization (CDC) Different cuts of beef (S. Clyde Weaver) Profiling the Poglianos ( TWiM 1...

TWiM reveals the microbiome of sourdough starter cultures, and discovery of a novel family of prokaryotic nanocompartments involved in the metabolism of sulfur. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Sourdough starter microbiomes (eLife) Prokaryotic nanocompartments (eLife) TWiM Listener survey Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send y...

TWiM explains how Vibrio biofilms are dispersed by polyamine signals, and the induction of inappetence by respiratory virus infection which causes alteration of the gut microbiome. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, Google Podcasts , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Regulation of Vibrio biofilms by polyamines (eLife) Cyclic di-GMP (pdf...

TWiM reviews aspirin modulation of Fusobacterium nucleatum , a microbe that has been associated with colorectal cancer, and Elio tells us 'What are vaccines', a talk he recently gave to members of his community. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Elio's What are Vaccines? ( pdf ) Jenner Museum Aspirin modulation of Fusobacterium (mBio) Fecal transplant for C. difficile (NEJM) Fecal m...

The TWiM team reviews how variants of P. aeruginosa survive antimicrobial treatment, and a decrease in the antimicrobial resistance of the gut microbiome in the presence of the fungus C. albicans . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Phoenix colony variants of P. aeruginosa (AAC) Candida and the gut microbiota (mSphere) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees an...

Elio reveals his thoughts on the big themes of modern microbiology, followed by an analysis of the gut microbiome in patients with Parkinson's disease. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Parkinson's disease gut microbiome (NPJ Parkinsons) Sequencing data as compositions (Bioinformatics) Gut microbiota in mouse Parkinson's model (Cell) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by R...

To celebrate ten years, TWiM asks former hosts and guests to provide their thoughts on how microbiology has contributed to our understanding of the microbial world . Links for this episode: Neisseria LINES up: TWiM #1 Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

In this episode, hiring and training expectations for future biomedical life sciences faculty, and the roles of bacterial symbionts in deep-sea hydrothermal vent tubeworms. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Expectations for life sciences faculty (Life Sci Edu) Academic career readiness assessment (UCSF) Tubeworm bacterial symbionts (eLife) Traveling on the Alvin (Dark Life II) Image...

In this episode, how DNA of giant viruses has contributed extensively to the genome of green algae, and inhibition of E. coli virulence by a metabolic product of arachidonic acid in the intestinal epithelium. Links for this episode: Giant viral DNA shapes genomes of green algae (Nature) James Van Etten Darwin's Radio Arachidonic acid and E. coli virulence (mBio) How a pathogenic E. coli infection...

The TWiM team reviews Salmonella colonization of three-dimensional miniature intestinal organs, and identification of a circadian clock in a non-photosynthetic prokaryote. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Salmonella colonization of enteroids (mBio) Circadian clock in nonphotosynthetic prokaryote (Science) Image credit Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees a...