Matters Microbial

Matters Microbial #74: Podcasting to Combat Microbial Misinformation January 16, 2025 Today, Dr. Jessica Coates of the Biology Department at Spelman College joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her work combating microbial misinformation in the classroom and to share her journey to the microbial sciences.   Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jessica Coates Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A short talk I gave at ASM some time ago about Louis Pasteur and the term “germ.” An organization devoted to promoting microbial literacy. An example of using podcasting to increase learning outcomes in the STEM classroom. An example of using podcasts by scientists to promote learning by students. The interesting story of Spelman College. An interview with Dr. Coates. The academic website of Dr. Coates. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]

Matters Microbial #73: Seeing the Microbiome January 8, 2025 Today, Dr. Travis Wiles, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work he and his research group have done to visualize the changing dynamics of the gut microbiome—including bacteriophages residing there.  Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Travis Wiles Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Dr Anne Estes’ academic website is found here, along with her blog, and her social media link on Bluesky.  So many interesting ideas! Transgenic zebrafish as pets are called GLOfish. Use of zebrafish as a model system for developmental biology. An article exploring the effects of the microbiome on gnotobiotic (“germ free”) zebrafish. An essay on both lytic and lysogenic bacteriophages. An essay describing how bacteriophage interact with the gut microbiota.  One of my former undergraduate research students, Dr. Danielle Campbell, works in this area! An article suggesting that bacteriophage do in fact interact with eukaryotic cells. The concept of phage conversion:  how some bacteriophages carry bacterial genes, including toxin genes. An article about bacteriophages and bacterial evolution. An article about the study of the zebrafish gut microbiome. An article about research with zebrafish and Mycobacterium.  The article discussed in this episode by Dr. Wiles’ group: “Phollow: Visualizing Gut Bacteriophage Transmission within Microbial Communities and Living Animals .”    Dr. Wiles’ academic website. Dr. Wiles’ very colorful and interesting laboratory group website. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]

Matters Microbial #72: Who is in Your Water? January 2, 2025 Today, Dr. Ameet Pinto, Carlton S. Wilder Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the microbiome of drinking water and how it can be used to optimize safety and health.  Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Ameet Pinto Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A short review of a famous article by Dr. Norman Pace about the microbiome of showers and how microbial populations differed due to chlorination. An old discussion of microbial oligotrophy:  the ability to survive on very low levels of nutrients. The story of John Snow, a water fountain, and cholera in England. The concept of “Live/Dead” staining of microbes. An overview of the concept of metagenomics. An article on the microbiome of shower hoses. A public science outreach program to study the microbiome of showerheads. The Instagram link for Dr. Pinto’s wonderful cat, Nessie. A great book describing exceptions to Mendelian genetics using cats:  “Cats Are Not Peas.”  Highly recommended. An article about water supplies and the pathogenic microbe Legionella. An overview of water disinfection techniques. An introduction to a model system of a microbial soil community, called THOR by Jo Handelsman and colleagues. Thinking of water treatment and related technologies as a series of ecological niches, via Tom Curtis and Bill Sloane. Dr. Pinto’s faculty website. Dr. Pinto’s deeply fascinating research group website. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]

Matters Microbial #71: Disinfecting the Built Environment December 25, 2024 Ever wonder what’s growing on your toothbrush? Today, Dr. Erica Hartmann, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how antimicrobial resistance can occur in the built environment we see all around us every day—and why it is vital to learn more about this association. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Erica Hartmann Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An essay on the Hygiene Hypothesis. An overview of the “built environment.” The trouble with triclosan. An essay on heavy metal resistance. An article from Dr. Hartmann’s group about the toothbrush microbiome (“Project Pottymouth”). A link to the Human Microbiome Project. An overview of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance genes. An article about silver nanoparticles on toothbrushes. A blog post about probiotic cleaning products. An interesting post from Dr. Hartmann’s team about viruses in your bathroom. A video by Dr. Hartmann about her research. Dr. Hartmann’s faculty website. Dr. Hartmann’s research team website. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]