297: Bacterial-electronic Sensor Pill

297: Bacterial-electronic Sensor Pill

Author: Vincent Racaniello November 4, 2023 Duration: 59:27

TWiM reviews how a coating of lipoproteins provides a stabilizing environment on the inner membrane of Bacillus subtilis spores, and a miniaturized device that integrates genetically engineered probiotic biosensors with a custom-designed photodetector and readout chip to track mediators of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Petra Levin,

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Dive into the fascinating world of bacteria, viruses, and fungi with This Week in Microbiology. Hosted by Vincent Racaniello, a professor of microbiology & immunology, this regular audio journey explores the latest research, news, and stories from the vast universe of microbes. Each episode feels like sitting in on a lively discussion among experts and colleagues, where complex topics are broken down with clarity and enthusiasm. The conversations are informal and engaging, designed to be understood by anyone with curiosity, whether you're a professional researcher, a student, or simply someone intrigued by the invisible forces that shape our health and planet. Building on the accessible style of Racaniello's other popular science shows, this podcast demystifies the latest scientific papers, emerging infectious diseases, and the everyday roles of microorganisms in a way that is both substantive and surprisingly entertaining. You'll hear genuine dialogue, questions from listeners, and diverse perspectives that make the science feel immediate and relevant. Tune in to discover how the smallest forms of life have some of the biggest stories to tell, all through a podcast that treats microbiology not as a distant textbook subject, but as a dynamic and ever-evolving narrative happening right now, all around us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 354

This Week in Microbiology
Podcast Episodes
TWiM #73: Eyeing root nodule development [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Vincent, Michael, and Michele discuss how soil-dwelling bacteria induce the formation of root nodules on legumes via a protein called CYCLOPS.
TWiM #72: The benefits of virulence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Vincent, Elio, Michael, and Michele review how microbial virulence can be increased as a consequence of community surveillance and adaptation to macrophages.
TWiM #71: Colon cancer's little shop of horrors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:38
Vincent, Michael, and Michele explain how the gut microbiome modulates colon tumorigenesis, and regulation of intestinal macrophage function by the microbial metabolite butyrate.
TWiM #70: A paroxysmal cough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Vincent, Elio, Michael, and Michele discuss evidence that the acellular pertussis vaccine fails to prevent infection and transmission in nonhuman primates, and the use of bacterial cytological profiling to identify pathw…
TWiM #69: Bacterial DNA in the human genome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:42
Vincent, Elio, Jo, and Michele review evidence for bacterial DNA integrated into the human genome, and control of the symbiont population in an insect midgut.
TWiM #68: The fungus among us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:23
Vincent, Elio, Michael, and Michele discuss the amazingly high level of intergenera gene exchange among haloarchaea in an Antarctic lake, and the diversity of fungi on residential surfaces and the human forehead.
TWiM #67: Black mushrooms and RNA thermosensors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:30
Vincent, Elio, and Michael discuss how temperature triggers Neisseria menigitidis immune evasion, and protection of mice from ionizing radiation by feeding them black mushrooms.
TWiM #66: The shape of a container [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:58
Vincent, Elio, Michael, and Michele discuss the curious outer membrane vesicles of Neisseria meningitides, and sources of Clostridium difficile infection revealed by genome sequencing.
TWiM #65: Leanness is transmissible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:11
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Michelle Swanson. Vincent and Michelle reveal how the human gut microbiota can modulate obesity in mice. Links for this episode: Gut microbiota modulate metabolism (Science) Fighting obesity…
TWiM #64: URI and UTI at ICAAC in Denver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:00
Vincent and Michael recorded this episode at the 53rd ICAAC in Denver, where they spoke with James Gern and James Johnson about rhinoviruses and extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli.