TWiM #20: Facebook for bacteria

TWiM #20: Facebook for bacteria

Author: Vincent Racaniello November 17, 2011 Duration: 1:07:51

On episode #20 of the podcast This Week in MicrobiologyVincent, Michael, and Elio follow up on the outbreaks of E. coli in Germany and cholera in Haiti, then discuss genes that confer self-identity to Proteus mirabilis.


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
193: Persisters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:45
The TWiM team explore how Lactobacillus reuteri can rescue social deficits in three mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, and the role of Salmonella persisters in undermining host defenses during antibiotic treatment…
192:  A Qtip for phages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:22
The TWiM team reveals an extremely low rate of mutation in a 2500 year old, 185 acre fungus in Michigan, and how a host-produced quorum sensing autoinducer controls the phage switch between lysis and lysogeny. Please tak…
191: By the pulp of their teeth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:36
The TWiM team reveals the oldest human plague from 4,900 years ago in Sweden, and engineering E. coli to become an endosymbiont in yeast, modeling the evolution of mitochondria. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter…
190: Exosomes in your nose and in your gut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:51
The TWiM-opods consider two stories about exosomes, vesicles that are shed from cells: those that eliminate airway pathogens, and those from the plants we eat that shape our gut microbiome. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Mic…
189: Salmonella BonJovi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:05
The TWiM team considers the state of the world's fungi as revealed by a report from the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, and how Salmonella loses motility to evade host defenses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, E…
188: Turducken antibiotics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:45
The TWiM rock stars show how to modify gram-positive antibiotics so they can kill gram-negative cells, and bacteria that have both DNA and RNA in their genome. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Michael Schmidt Links for this…
187: Rounding up the bees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:29
The TWiM people reveal that phages must cooperate to overcome CRISPR-Cas defenses, and the effect of the herbicide glyphosate on the gut microbiome of honey bees. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter, Michael Schmi…
186: Crypto-metamorphosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:24
The TWiM team describe the involvement of a microbiome in snail metamorphosis, and using Listeria to kill tumors. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcast…
185: There's no moa Moa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:22
The TWiM team considers the increasing tolerance of Enterococcus to handwash alcohols, and how the study of DNA in ancient dung reveals the diet and parasite burden of extinct New Zealand birds. Subscribe to TWiM (free)…
184: CRISPR-Cas immune systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:09
Sam Sternberg discusses his work on exploring and exploiting CRISPR-Cas immune systems, beginning as a graduate student with Jennifer Doudna, at a biotech start-up, and in his laboratory at Columbia University. Host: Vin…