Let's Talk Micro

• 203: What’s New with Brucella?

  Brucella is a familiar name in the lab—but recent updates to the sentinel guidelines are reshaping how we approach this pathogen. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Filkins and Dr. Paige Larkin to discuss the latest changes: updates in nomenclature, the removal of certain Brucella species from the select agent list, and the renewed emphasis on safety in the lab. We dive into taxonomy controversies, clinical features of brucellosis, and practical steps laboratorians can take to protect themselves while delivering accurate results. Whether you’re a student, laboratorian, or clinician, this conversation highlights what you need to know about the evolving landscape of Brucella diagnostics and safety.   Resources from this episode: CDC’s Brucellosis Information Page ASM Updates on Brucella Stay connected with Let’s Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at [email protected] Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi  

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• 202: AI vs. Superbugs: Can AI Help?

  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow as a global health threat, making infections harder to treat and leaving fewer options for patients. The need for new antibiotics is an urgent matter — but traditional discovery methods are slow and limited. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. James Collins, professor at MIT and researcher at the Broad Institute, who is leading efforts to apply AI to antibiotic discovery. We discuss how his team used deep learning to uncover promising new compounds, including NG1 and DN1, which showed activity against drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. We also talk about the challenges of bringing discoveries from computer models to the clinic, and what this approach could mean for the future of the fight against superbugs.   Link to study: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2825%2900855-4   Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

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• 201: Spotlight: Rethinking AST-Disk Diffusion on Early Growth

  Last week, we discussed early growth isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the importance of obtaining results sooner. This week, we revisit an earlier study that looked at early growth but using disk diffusion. In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, Dr. Daniel Webber, and Meghan Wallace to discuss their work. Tune in to hear how this approach could help deliver AST results faster, the challenges of adopting early growth methods, and what it means for clinical microbiology labs. This episode was originally released in 2022 (Episode 39: “Talking disk diffusion performed on early growth”).   Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20   Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

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• 200: Early Growth, Faster Answers: Rethinking AST

  In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Dr. Jennifer Dien Bard and Dr. Lucas Osborn discuss their recent study on early growth antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Traditional AST often requires 18–24 hours of incubation of isolates, delaying targeted treatment. Their research shows that using 6-hour early growth isolates with both automated and manual methods delivers accurate results up to 18 hours faster—without added costs or specialized equipment. The conversation explores the study design, agreement rates with standard methods, and what faster AST means for patient care and antimicrobial stewardship.  Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00236-25 Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20   Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

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• 199: Antibiotics: What’s New in Treatment

  This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Ashlan Kunz-Coyne to discuss some of the newest antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). They explore why extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a growing concern, the impact of E. coli sequence type 131, and where new agents like cefepime–enmetazobactam, sulopenem, and tebipenem fit into treatment. The conversation also highlights clinical data, stewardship considerations, and how the infectious diseases and microbiology communities can work together to preserve these options. Plus, Dr. Kunz-Coyne reveals her favorite bug—Stenotrophomonas maltophilia—and why it’s unlike any other.    Link to sulopenem episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868135   Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

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