This Week In Microbiology

At Microbe 2017 in New Orleans, the TWiM team speaks with Arturo Casadevall about his thoughts on the pathogenic potential of a microbe, rigorous science, funding by lottery, and moonshot science. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson and Elio Schaechter. Watch the video version recorded live at ASM Microbe 2017! Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Pathogenic potential of a microbe (mSphere) Rigorous science (mBio) Funding by lottery (mBio) Moonshot science (mBio) Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

The TWiM team ventures into preprint space with an analysis of type VI secretion across human gut microbiomes, and provide insight into urinary tract infection: how bladder exposure to a member of the vaginal microbiota triggers E. coli egress from latent reservoirs. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson and Elio Schaechter. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode ASM Microbe 2017 TWiM Live from ASM Microbe 2017 Landscape of type VI secretion (BioRxiv) Type VI secretion structure (jpg) Activation of dormant E. coli in urinary tract infection (PLoS Path) Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

The TWiMmers get cozy with symbionts: the bacteria that allow a giant shipworm to oxidize sulfur, and algae that live within salamander cells. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Elio Schaechter. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode ASM Microbe 2017 Chemoautotrophic symbiosis in giant shipworm (PNAS) There’s gold in them hills (TWiM 97) Vertebrate-algal symbiosis (eLife) Letters read on TWiM 152 Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

The TWiMsters discuss potential new sources of antimicrobial compounds from unusual places: the skin of bats and the intestines of moths. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode JMBE science communication issue Bat sources of novel antifungals (AEM) White nose syndrome in US (jpg) White nose syndrome fact sheet (pdf) Symbiont-derived antimicrobials (Cell Chem Cell) Bacteriocins (Wikipedia) Letters read on TWiM 151 Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

In recognition of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, Robin Patel speaks with the TWiM team about directing a clinical bacteriology laboratory, and how an observation made by a laboratory technologist lead to the finding that Ureaplasma species can cause a system metabolic disturbance, hyperammonemia. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Guest: Robin Patel Links for this episode: National Laboratory Professionals Week Mayo Clinic Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Murine model of Ureaplasma hyperammonemia (Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis) Ureaplasma and human hyperammonemia (Sci Transl Med) Become a patron of TWiM.  

The TWiM team speaks with Pat Schloss about assigning sequence data to operational taxonomic units, and his experience with mSphere Direct, a new way of submitting papers for publication. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Special guest: Pat Schloss Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Schloss Laboratory OptiClust (mSphere) This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

Vincent, Elio, and Michael reveal what Neanderthals ate from analysis of DNA in their teeth, and new CRISPR-Cas systems found in the genomes of uncultured microbes. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, and Michael Schmidt. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iPhone, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Ancient DNA in Neanderthal teeth (Nature) New CRISPRs from metagenomics (Nature) CRISPR/cas explained (Wikipedia) ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators Image credit Letters read on TWiM 148 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv 

The TWiM hosts reveal why phosphorus is essential for fungal brain disease, and how bacteria kill local competitors to favor the evolution of public goods cooperation. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michele Swanson, Michael Schmidt, and Elio Schaechter. Links for this episode Phosphate needed for Cryptococcus brain disease (mSphere) Type VI killing drives phase separation (Nat Rep) Type VI secretion review (Phil Trans Roy Soc) Microbial cooperation and conflict (TedX) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 147 Become a patron of TWiM. This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@microbe.tv 

Vincent, Elio and Michael discuss the finding of a prion in bacteria, and how communication between bacteria guides the decision between lysis and lysogeny. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Elio Schaechter. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode ASM 2017 Election is Open! VOTE HERE Prions in bacteria (Science) Communication guides lysis-lysogeny decisions (Nature) This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@microbe.tv 

Host: Vincent Racaniello Guest: Robert Heinzen At the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana, Vincent speaks with Robert Heinzen about the work of his laboratory on Q fever and its causative microbe, Coxiella burneti.   Become a Patron of TWiM! Links for this episode Rocky Mountain Laboratory Heinzen Laboratory Small town, big science (TWiM 140) 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

Vincent meets up with Catharine Bosio, Michael Merchlinsky, and Shilpa Gadwal at the ASM Biothreats meeting to talk about careers for scientists outside of the ivory tower. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: ASM Biothreats 2017 Rocky Mountain Laboratory BARDA  

The TWiMers discuss how changes in domestic laundering affect the removal of microorganisms, and assembly of a nucleus-like structure during viral replication in bacteria. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Laundry hygiene (J Appl Micro) Nucleus-like structure in infected bacteria (Science) Video of nucleus assembly in bacteria (YouTube) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 144 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@microbe.tv 

Vincent, Michael, and Michele explain the use of an electrochemical gradient to eliminate bacterial biofilms, and how phage susceptibility can be transferred by exchange of receptor proteins. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson. Right click to download TWiM#143 (32 MB .mp3, 66 minutes). Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Electrochemical scaffold to eliminate persistent biofilms (npj Biofilms Microbiomes) Experimental setup for electrochemical treatment of biofilm (pdf, from article) Acquisition of phage sensitivity by transfer of cell receptors (Cell) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 143 This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for ou

Vincent, Elio and Michele wind up a year of microbial podcasts with a story about the lack of resistance to a crop antifungal compound, and how a bacterium uses a molecular caliper to measure membrane thickness. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Phenylpyrroles: Nearly no resistance (Front Micro) Membrane-thickness caliper (J Bact) Letters read on TWiM 142 This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/microbe and use the promo code MICROBE. Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv 

Jennifer joins Vincent, Elio, and Michael to talk about the work of her laboratory on how a respiratory virus enhances bacterial growth by dysregulating nutritional immunity. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, and Michael Schmidt. Guest: Jennifer Bomberger Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Virus dysregulation of nutritional immunity (PNAS) Podcast article mentioned by Michael Compromised defenses (PLoS Path) This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/microbe and use the promo code MICROBE. This show is sponsored by Drobo, a family of safe, expandable, yet simple to use storage arrays. D

Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Marie Antonioli, Bryan Hansen, Forrest Jessop, Kyle Shifflet and Jim Striebel At the Hamilton, Montana Performing Arts Center, Vincent speaks with three local high school graduates and two high school teachers about how Rocky Mountain Laboratories influenced school science programs and opened up career opportunities.   Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Become a Patron of TWiM! Links for this episode Poster of this event (jpg) Rocky Mountain Laboratories Hamilton, MT high school Video of this episode on YouTube This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/microbe and use the promo code MI

The TWiM team discusses microbial DNA found on ATM machines in New York City, and how hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, alters microbial ecosystems deep in the Earth. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Microbial DNA on ATM machines in NYC (mSphere) NYC OpenData Altering deep microbial ecosystems by fracking (Nat Micro) Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory Chemicals used for fracking (FracFocus) Marcellus and Utica shale formation map Consequences of fracking (GasBuddy) Image credit This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curio

The TWiM team brings you a bacterium from a Colorado field site that grows on uranium, and copper resistance in the emerging pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Elio Schaechter, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Kavli Microbiome Ideas Challenge Uranium-respiring bacterium from a field site (PLoS One) Acid mine drainage (Wikipedia) Copper resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii ASM Grant Writing Online Course TWiM #132: Bacteria learn long division Image credit This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/m​icrobe ​and use the promo code MICROBE​

Highlights of the Recent Advances in Microbial Control meeting in San Diego, and expansion of a gut pathogen by virulence factors that stimulate aerobic respiration. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Fred Neidhardt obituary Recent Advances in Microbial Control Science hero Bill Fenical Virulence factors and aerobic respiration (Science) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 137 This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/m​icrobe ​and use the promo code MICROBE​. This episode is also brought to you by Drobo, a family of safe, ex

Them TWiM team discusses the importance of neutrophils in microbial infections, and evidence that ancient bacteria had two cell walls. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode Conquering neutrophils (PLoS Path) Ancestral outer membrane in firmicutes (eLife ) Were gram positive rods the first bacteria? (Cell) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 136 This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/m​icrobe ​and use the promo code MICROBE​. This episode is also brought to you by Drobo, a family of safe, expandable, yet simple to use storage