TWiM #62: Breaking bad and protein chain mail

TWiM #62: Breaking bad and protein chain mail

Author: Vincent Racaniello August 21, 2013 Duration: 1:19:54

Vincent and Michael discuss how infection with influenza A virus disperses Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilms leading to disease, and an amazing protein chainmail in a viral capsid 


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
283: Quorum Sensing In The Gut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:07
TWiM reveals quorum-sensing systems that regulate intestinal inflammation and permeability caused by P. aeruginosa, and how plasmids manipulate bacterial behavior through translational regulatory crosstalk. Hosts: Vincen…
282: At-home evolution with yeast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:03
TWiM presents a protocol for evolving caffeine-tolerant yeast by high school students in the home, and how predator-prey dynamics change when multiple bacteria grow together in biofilms. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michae…
281: Microbes Making Jet Fuel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:57
TWiM explains the synthesis in bacteria of new energy-dense biofuels that can replace rocket and jet fuels, and the use of nanopore sequencing to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with serious infections. Becom…
280: They Forget To Divide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:49
TWiM explains how magnesium modulates cell division frequency of a soil bacillus, and killing of fungi by Acinetobacter baumannii via a Type VI DNase Effector. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson,…
279: A Road Map For Successful Phage Therapy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:47
TWiM describes successful phage therapy against a mycobacterial lung infection, and how encapsulation of the cell wall protects S. pneumoniae from its major peptidoglycan hydrolase and host defenses. Become a patron of T…
278: Bacteria Sing The Blues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:29
TWiM explores the relationship between the gut microbiome and depressive symptoms, and how purine nucleotides act as adjuvants to antibiotics. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Subscribe to…
277: To Stop or Not To Stop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:35
On this episode of TWiM, we reveal widespread stop-codon recoding in bacteriophages that may regulate translation of lytic genes, and how Staphylococcus aureus inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth. Hosts: Vincent Racan…
276: Bacterial Multicellularity Near An Underground Stream [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:33
TWiM presents evidence that over half of human pathogenic diseases are impacted by climate change, and considers how a novel prokaryote discovered next to an underground stream illuminates the pathway to multicellularity…
275: The Myth of Clonality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:37
TWiM reveals high rates of co-transformation of plasmids in E. coli overturns the clonality myth, and bacterial membrane vesicles as a novel strategy for extrusion of the antimicrobial bismuth in H. pylori. Hosts: Vincen…
274: Bacterial Endosymbionts Block Giant Viruses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:55
Mark Martin returns to TWiM to join the discussion of how to design a complex gut microbiome, and protection of protists from virus infection by intracellular bacterial symbionts. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmi…