Podcast Directory

Podcast title

BacterioFiles

Website URL

https://www.asm.org/index.php/...

Description

The podcast for microbe lovers: reporting on exciting news about bacteria, archaea, and sometimes even eukaryotic microbes and viruses.

Updated

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:27:58 +0000

Image

Episodes

1. BacterioFiles 303 - Sticky Skin Sows Cells
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 11.14Mb)

Description:

This episode: Roundworms in soil can carry with them bacteria they eat to grow new food, like farmers!

Download Episode (11.1 MB, 12.15 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Equid alphaherpesvirus 1

News item

Journal Paper:
Thutupalli S, Uppaluri S, Constable GWA, Levin SA, Stone HA, Tarnita CE, Brangwynne CP. 2017. Farming and public goods production in Caenorhabditis elegans populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci 114:2289–2294.

Other interesting stories:

Using modified CRISPR for quick detection of infections Modifying cyanobacterium cell length to make extracting biofuels easier (paper) Fusing phage proteins with antibodies to better target pathogens Some amoebas can penetrate biofilms to feed on dangerous bacteria (paper) Phages have some advantages over antibiotics

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

2. BacterioFiles 302 - Message Moderates Microbe Mortality
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 12.73Mb)

Description:

This episode: Even organisms as simple as viruses can communicate with each other!

Download Episode (12.7 MB, 13.9 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Sweet potato virus C

Commentary (paywall)
Great talk about bacterial communication by Dr. Bonnie Bassler

Journal Paper:
Erez Z, Steinberger-Levy I, Shamir M, Doron S, Stokar-Avihail A, Peleg Y, Melamed S, Leavitt A, Savidor A, Albeck S, Amitai G, Sorek R. 2017. Communication between viruses guides lysis–lysogeny decisions. Nature 541:488–493.

Other interesting stories:

Engineering gut bacteria to detect and report gut inflammation Plants give fat to their root fungi in exchange for other nutrients Gut microbe metabolite linked with lower risk of diabetes Making bioelectrodes by embedding bacteria in glass (paper) Using CRISPR to discover new drug-producing bacterial genes

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

3. BacterioFiles 301 - Cells Simulate City Structures
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 10.70Mb)

Description:

This episode: Ancient microbes built underwater structures that look like sunken, ancient cities!

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Actinomadura luteofluorescens

News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Andrews JE, Stamatakis MG, Marca-Bell A, Stewart C, Millar IL. 2016. Exhumed hydrocarbon-seep authigenic carbonates from Zakynthos Island (Greece): Concretions not archaeological remains. Marine and Petroleum Geology 76:16–25.

Other interesting stories:

Insecticide-resistant insects have insecticide-degrading gut bacteria (paper) Microbe spores that can survive in space Fungus-gardening ants are choosy about how much CO2 they want in their gardens (paper) Biochar helps microbes transfer electrons around in soil Exposure of infants to furry pets affects microbiota

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

4. BacterioFiles 300 - Hyphae Help Horizontal (Gene Transfer)
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 13.23Mb)

Description:

This episode: Filament-forming organisms help bacteria swim through soil and exchange genes with each other! Also, new feature: microbe of the episode!

Download Episode (13.2 MB, 14.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Azotobacter vinelandii

News item

Video of bacteria swimming along mycelium

Full statement from Tom Berthold

Journal Paper:
Berthold T, Centler F, Hübschmann T, Remer R, Thullner M, Harms H, Wick LY. 2016. Mycelia as a focal point for horizontal gene transfer among soil bacteria. Sci Rep 6:36390.

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial DNA reduces mouse airway allergies Changes in microbiomes of people in 500-day space simulation (paper) Using advanced electron microscopy to visualize giant virus Bacterial predators find prey by both being trapped by their own whirlpools Many unusual viruses are moving around in the fluids of the rocky ocean floor

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

5. BacterioFiles 299 - Predator Pops Polymer Producers
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.31Mb)

Description:

This episode: Using predatory bacteria to extract valuable bioplastics from other bacteria!

Download Episode (6.3 MB, 6.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Martínez V, Herencias C, Jurkevitch E, Prieto MA. 2016. Engineering a predatory bacterium as a proficient killer agent for intracellular bio-products recovery: The case of the polyhydroxyalkanoates. Sci Rep 6:24381.

Other interesting stories:

Phages could treat infections serious in cystic fibrosis Microbes help protect plants against virus infection (paper) Getting closer to fecal transplant in pill form Microbe communities in overused land recover as vegetation is restored Deep sea phage makes a DNA polymerase that doesn't need primers (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

6. BacterioFiles 298 - Bacteria Boost Bone Buildup
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.52Mb)

Description:

This episode: Gut microbes can even affect formation/remodeling of bones!

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.3 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Yan J, Herzog JW, Tsang K, Brennan CA, Bower MA, Garrett WS, Sartor BR, Aliprantis AO, Charles JF. 2016. Gut microbiota induce IGF-1 and promote bone formation and growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:E7554–E7563.

Other interesting stories:

Raindrops can spread soil bacteria around everywhere Lots to learn from studying sauerkraut (paywall) Only some bacteria in a colony do all the expanding and multiplying (paper) Phage genes help Wolbachia prevent host insects from interbreeding with uninfected hosts (paper) Probiotic bacteria could help prevent damage from heavy metals (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

7. BacterioFiles 297 - Defenders Develop Disease Decrease
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 7.70Mb)

Description:

This episode: Beneficial microbes defend roundworms against a pathogen and pressure it to evolve to cause less disease!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Ford SA, Kao D, Williams D, King KC. 2016. Microbe-mediated host defence drives the evolution of reduced pathogen virulence. Nat Commun 7:13430.

Other interesting stories:

Fungus eats dead insects and keeps bacterial competitors away (paper) Soil microbes are better for green roof soils than chemical fertilizers Soil microbes make tuberculosis-treating chemicals Parkinson's and treatments can have detectable effects on microbiome Aspergillus fungi have a lot of potential uses

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

8. BacterioFiles 296 - Predator Permits Pathogen Penetration
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.08Mb)

Description:

This episode: Tiny crustaceans eat paramecia, allowing viruses to infect algae inside them!

Download Episode (9.1 MB, 9.9 minutes)

Show notes:
Follow-up to episode 259: mass-producing worm spit healing protein

News item

Journal Paper:
DeLong JP, Al-Ameeli Z, Duncan G, Etten JLV, Dunigan DD. 2016. Predators catalyze an increase in chloroviruses by foraging on the symbiotic hosts of zoochlorellae. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:13780–13784.

Other interesting stories:

Microbes are important for protecting bees Ant bacteria produce potential new antibiotics Old microbes discovered living in mine crystals Skin bacteria could protect against pathogens Author is writing poems in a bacterial genome so they survive the apocalypse (paywall)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

9. BacterioFiles 295 - Fly Ferries Fungus Feebleness
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 7.84Mb)

Description:

This episode: Fungus-eating flies transfer viruses that help make fungi less harmful to plants!

Download Episode (7.8 MB, 8.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Another example of viruses doing weird things in this fungus

Journal Paper:
Liu S, Xie J, Cheng J, Li B, Chen T, Fu Y, Li G, Wang M, Jin H, Wan H, Jiang D. 2016. Fungal DNA virus infects a mycophagous insect and utilizes it as a transmission vector. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:12803–12808.

Other interesting stories:

Iron-containing molecules can help various bacteria generate electricity Exercise lifestyle can affect gut community (paper) New discovery of plastic-degrading microbe enzymes Controlling bacterial metabolism dynamically Bacteria in bats could be good at fighting fungal pathogens (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

10. BacterioFiles 294 - Bacteria Benefit Bad Burns
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.34Mb)

Description:

This episode: Probiotic bacteria prevent deadly infections in mice with serious burns!

Download Episode (6.3 MB, 6.92 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Argenta A, Satish L, Gallo P, Liu F, Kathju S. 2016. Local Application of Probiotic Bacteria Prophylaxes against Sepsis and Death Resulting from Burn Wound Infection. PLOS ONE 11:e0165294.

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria can help cotton plants tolerate salt (paper) Fiber stops microbes from eating protective gut mucus Potential new antibiotics predicted and discovered in human microbes Bacteria communicate to work together against viruses Root bacteria help protect plants against arsenic and infections

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

11. BacterioFiles 293 - Millet Microbe Makes Meshes
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 7.54Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in finger millet roots create special killing traps for damaging fungi!

Download Episode (7.5 MB, 8.25 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Mousa WK, Shearer C, Limay-Rios V, Ettinger CL, Eisen JA, Raizada MN. 2016. Root-hair endophyte stacking in finger millet creates a physicochemical barrier to trap the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Nat Microbiol 1:16167.

Other interesting stories:

Animal study of phage cocktail to treat cholera Soil microbes could help clean up arsenic contamination (paper) Bacteria with nucleus-like structure even have nuclear pore-like structures Using bacteria to find best enzymes for degrading lignin (paper) Making microbial fuel cells with paper

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

12. BacterioFiles 292 - Testing Tardigrade Tolerance Tricks
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 7.34Mb)

Description:

This episode: Tiny super-resistant animals, tardigrades, make proteins that can directly shield DNA from radiation!

Download Episode (7.3 MB, 8 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Hashimoto T, Horikawa DD, Saito Y, Kuwahara H, Kozuka-Hata H, Shin-I T, Minakuchi Y, Ohishi K, Motoyama A, Aizu T, Enomoto A, Kondo K, Tanaka S, Hara Y, Koshikawa S, Sagara H, Miura T, Yokobori S, Miyagawa K, Suzuki Y, Kubo T, Oyama M, Kohara Y, Fujiyama A, Arakawa K, Katayama T, Toyoda A, Kunieda T. 2016. Extremotolerant tardigrade genome and improved radiotolerance of human cultured cells by tardigrade-unique protein. Nat Commun 7:12808.

Other interesting stories:

New sunscreen compounds could come from bacteria Bacterial fingerprints don't last forever (paper) Virus infecting bacteria makes structure like a nucleus (paper) Microbes could produce useful, biological nanowires Finding viruses to control fungal pathogens of plants

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

13. BacterioFiles 291 - Pseudomonas Cyanide Supplies Seed Sustenance
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.48Mb)

Description:

This episode: Cyanide-producing bacteria help plants grow, not by harming pathogens but by freeing up nutrients!

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Rijavec T, Lapanje A. 2016. Hydrogen Cyanide in the Rhizosphere: Not Suppressing Plant Pathogens, but Rather Regulating Availability of Phosphate. Front Microbiol 7

Other interesting stories:

Pooling samples from multiple donors could help fecal transplant effectiveness (paper) Phage-resistant bacteria can become vulnerable by taking up sensitive genes How mice are handled affects results of mouse gut microbe studies (paper) Bacteria communicate with electrical signals Shrubland plants and microbes always negotiating

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

14. BacterioFiles 290 - Lichens' Little Lodgers
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.16Mb)

Description:

I'm back! This episode: Lichens, long known to be a partnership between fungi and algae, now discovered to have an important third member!

Download Episode (8.1 MB, 8.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Spribille T, Tuovinen V, Resl P, Vanderpool D, Wolinski H, Aime MC, Schneider K, Stabentheiner E, Toome-Heller M, Thor G, Mayrhofer H, Johannesson H, McCutcheon JP. 2016. Basidiomycete yeasts in the cortex of ascomycete macrolichens. Science 353:488–492.

Other interesting stories:

Some protists like to eat archaea (paper) Bee bacteria can break down harmful sugars in bee food (paper) Testing how best to use mosquito bacteria to block virus transmission (paper) Studying Inuit gut microbes Temperature affects Wolbachia health in mosquitoes (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

15. BacterioFiles Special - Novozymes' Nathan Cude
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 14.12Mb)

Description:

This episode: An interview with Dr. Nathan Cude, team leader at Novozymes BioAg Alliance, working on finding and bringing to market soil microbes that can help crops grow!

Download Episode (14.1 MB, 15.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Novozymes
BioAg Alliance
Nathan Cude on Twitter and LinkedIn

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

16. BacterioFiles 289 - Prehistoric Paired Prokaryote Partners
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.13Mb)

Description:

This episode: Great apes' specific gut microbe communities have been with us for millions of years!

Download Episode (9.1 MB, 10 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Moeller AH, Caro-Quintero A, Mjungu D, Georgiev AV, Lonsdorf EV, Muller MN, Pusey AE, Peeters M, Hahn BH, Ochman H. 2016. Cospeciation of gut microbiota with hominids. Science 353:380–382.

Other interesting stories:

Gut bacteria could help treat kidney disease (paper) Virus that infects viruses acts as genomic antiviral defense for host Microbial archaeology studies bacteria resistant to copper in medieval foundry (paper) Bacteria embedded in porous stones make good water filters (paper) Computers can use microbes to estimate time of death

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

17. BacterioFiles 288 - Caulobacter's Copper Coping Capabilities
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.89Mb)

Description:

This episode: Some bacterial species use multiple strategies within a single population to deal with environmental challenges!

Download Episode (8.9 MB, 9.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Lawarée E, Gillet S, Louis G, Tilquin F, Blastier SL, Cambier P, Matroule J-Y. 2016. Caulobacter crescentus intrinsic dimorphism provides a prompt bimodal response to copper stress. Nat Microbiol 1:16098.

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria help starved, developing rats get more nutrition from the same food (paper) Creating gut microbe communities to resist pathogens (paper) Predatory bacteria can treat infections in zebrafish larvae Nitrogen is an important element for feeding the gut community Bacterial enzymes artificially evolved to make carbon-silicon compounds

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

18. BacterioFiles 287 - Producing Potent Pathogen Prophylaxes
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.22Mb)

Description:

This episode: Polymer-coated bacteria make really good vaccines!

Download Episode (9.2 MB, 10 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Li Y, Beitelshees M, Fang L, Hill A, Ahmadi MK, Chen M, Davidson BA, Knight P, Smith RJ, Andreadis ST, Hakansson AP, Jones CH, Pfeifer BA. 2016. In situ pneumococcal vaccine production and delivery through a hybrid biological-biomaterial vector. Sci Adv 2:e1600264.

Other interesting stories:

Fiber stops microbes from eating protective gut mucus Potential new antibiotics predicted and discovered in human microbes Bacteria communicate to work together against viruses Root bacteria help protect plants against arsenic and infections Fungus helps plants defend themselves against roundworms

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

19. BacterioFiles 286 - Prokaryote Prevents Pregnancy Pathogen
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.12Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in mosquito cells can block transmission of Zika virus!

Download Episode (8.1 MB, 8.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Aliota MT, Peinado SA, Velez ID, Osorio JE. 2016. The wMel strain of Wolbachia Reduces Transmission of Zika virus by Aedes aegypti. Sci Rep 6:28792.

Other interesting stories:

Modified bacteria change behavior as temperature changes Ants' bacteria produce antifungal compounds (paper) Gut microbes may be related to macular degeneration E. coli could be used to make vaccines (paper) Using bacteria to produce testosterone (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

20. BacterioFiles 285 - Sultry Snow Cell Sun Screen
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.82Mb)

Description:

This episode: Algae growing in Arctic snow make red pigments that heat up their surroundings!

Download Episode (6.8 MB, 7.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lutz S, Anesio AM, Raiswell R, Edwards A, Newton RJ, Gill F, Benning LG. 2016. The biogeography of red snow microbiomes and their role in melting arctic glaciers. Nat Commun 7:11968.

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial species benefit from losing genes they don't need Soil fungi help plants grow better in salty conditions (paper) Bacterial predators actually help treat infection in rats Some bacteria produce methane while harvesting phosphorus (paper) Probiotics could help treat skin problems (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

21. BacterioFiles 284 - Remedies Reduce Recipient Rejection
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.60Mb)

Description:

This episode: Modifying mice's microbial communities increased mouse survival before a transplantation was rejected by their immune system!

Download Episode (9.6 MB, 10.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lei YM, Chen L, Wang Y, Stefka AT, Molinero LL, Theriault B, Aquino-Michaels K, Sivan AS, Nagler CR, Gajewski TF, Chong AS, Bartman C, Alegre M-L. 2016. The composition of the microbiota modulates allograft rejection. J Clin Invest 126:2736–2744.

Other interesting stories:

CRISPR system can be used to record info in cells (paper) The history of beer yeasts Bacteria could help treat citrus tree disease (paper) Some viruses bud off from Archaea like in eukaryotes (paper) Infant microbe communities different with vs. without eczema (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

22. BacterioFiles 283 - Phages Furnish Photosynthetic Fortifications
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.79Mb)

Description:

This episode: Viruses infecting photosynthetic bacteria could transfer immunity to other viruses between their hosts!

Download Episode (6.8 MB, 7.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Chénard C, Wirth JF, Suttle CA. 2016. Viruses Infecting a Freshwater Filamentous Cyanobacterium (Nostoc sp.) Encode a Functional CRISPR Array and a Proteobacterial DNA Polymerase B. mBio 7:e00667-16.

Other interesting stories:

Salt-loving bacteria could maintain concrete structures in the ocean (paper) Ancient viral infection changed how mammals develop placentas and muscle Bees and flowers trade microbes Fungi have specific genes that help trees with drought Probiotic can affect Candida yeast's virulence (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

23. BacterioFiles 282 - Mycobacteria Make Mice Mellow
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.80Mb)

Description:

This episode: Vaccinating mice with heat-killed soil bacteria reduced their stressed behavior and inflammation!

Download Episode (9.8 MB, 10.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Reber SO, Siebler PH, Donner NC, Morton JT, Smith DG, Kopelman JM, Lowe KR, Wheeler KJ, Fox JH, Hassell JE, Greenwood BN, Jansch C, Lechner A, Schmidt D, Uschold-Schmidt N, Füchsl AM, Langgartner D, Walker FR, Hale MW, Perez GL, Treuren WV, González A, Halweg-Edwards AL, Fleshner M, Raison CL, Rook GA, Peddada SD, Knight R, Lowry CA. 2016. Immunization with a heat-killed preparation of the environmental bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae promotes stress resilience in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:E3130–E3139.

Other interesting stories:

Art with glowing bacteria Making good bacterial tumor killers (paper) It's worth considering plants' microbes in addition to their genes (review) Virus affects how bees are attracted to plants Finding new biofuels algae in wastewater (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

24. BacterioFiles 281 - Prokaryote Partners Produce Plastic
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 12.09Mb)

Description:

This episode: Microbes with complementary abilities help each other grow and produce useful stuff from the air!

Download Episode (12 MB, 13.2 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Smith MJ, Francis MB. 2016. A designed A. vinelandii-S. elongatus coculture for chemical photoproduction from air, water, phosphate and trace metals. ACS Synth Biol 5:955–961.

Other interesting stories:

Bypass surgery might fix diabetes by modifying gut community Using bacteria to make wrinkly graphene with different properties Figuring out what controls where microbes live in plants Gut bacteria maybe related to rheumatoid arthritis Gut bacteria maybe related to multiple sclerosis

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

25. BacterioFiles 280 - Saccharomyces Smash Small Spaces
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 5.46Mb)

Description:

This episode: Microbes in tight spaces grow so much they can build up pressure and burst out!

Download Episode (5.5 MB, 6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Video: cells expanding walls of chamber
Video: cells squished together
Video: cells bursting out of chamber

Journal Paper:
Delarue M, Hartung J, Schreck C, Gniewek P, Hu L, Herminghaus S, Hallatschek O. 2016. Self-driven jamming in growing microbial populations. Nat Phys 12:762–766.

Other interesting stories:

Fungi can infect and kill mosquito larvae Buildings could enhance our encountering beneficial microbes Bacteria could generate micro amounts of power Microbes could help improve food supply (paper) Modified E. coli can produce more useful fuels, chemicals

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

26. BacterioFiles 279 - Hijacker Heightened Hyphal Heterogeneity
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.90Mb)

Description:

This episode: Fungi control their cell's growth and division with a protein from a virus, unlike all other kinds of eukaryote!

Download Episode (8.9 MB, 9.75 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Medina EM, Turner JJ, Gordân R, Skotheim JM, Buchler NE. 2016. Punctuated evolution and transitional hybrid network in an ancestral cell cycle of fungi. eLife 5:e09492.

Other interesting stories:

Certain starch may help improve gut community Gut bacteria could control insect pests Pathogen produces anti-microbial compounds (paper) Phage feeds on host bacterium's RNA Studying tiny archaea from Yellowstone

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

27. BacterioFiles 278 - Fungal Family Friends and Foes
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.07Mb)

Description:

This episode: Some fungi change from making plants sick to being helpful to plants! How do plants react to them?

Download Episode (8.1 MB, 8.8 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Hacquard S, Kracher B, Hiruma K, Münch PC, Garrido-Oter R, Thon MR, Weimann A, Damm U, Dallery J-F, Hainaut M, Henrissat B, Lespinet O, Sacristán S, Themaat EVL van, Kemen E, McHardy AC, Schulze-Lefert P, O’Connell RJ. 2016. Survival trade-offs in plant roots during colonization by closely related beneficial and pathogenic fungi. Nat Commun 7:11362.

Other interesting stories:

New E. coli can tolerate different stages of biofuel production Microbes can protect each other from toxins such as antibiotics Even grains can benefit from nitrogen-fixing bacteria (paper) Ninja star bacterial disposable battery Evolving E. coli to fix CO2 (when given very rich food source)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

28. BacterioFiles 277 - Sailor Cells Store Selenium
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.13Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria with their own magnetic compass can also clean up and recover toxic but valuable elements!

Download Episode (6.1 MB, 6.7 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Tanaka M, Knowles W, Brown R, Hondow N, Arakaki A, Baldwin S, Staniland S, Matsunaga T. 2016. Biomagnetic Recovery and Bioaccumulation of Selenium Granules in Magnetotactic Bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 82:3886–3891.

Other interesting stories:

Gut microbe communities are affected by genetics New microbe can do interesting chemistry to make antibiotics and stuff Microbes in the gut cooperate with each other (paper) Cyanobacterium's eyeball ability can sense and respond to UV light Fungus can remove mercury from water (paper)

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

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29. BacterioFiles 276 - Single-cell Slime School
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 8.80Mb)

Description:

This episode: Individual slime molds show the ability to learn about their environment!

Download Episode (8.8 MB, 9.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Boisseau RP, Vogel D, Dussutour A. 2016. Habituation in non-neural organisms: evidence from slime moulds. Proc R Soc B 283:20160446.

Other interesting stories:

Lactobacilli could control fungal plant pathogen (paper) Probiotics may not be helpful if one is genetically unable to respond to them Activity of gut microbes can affect nervous system inflammation Biofilms develop good electrical conductivity (paper) Three ways antibiotics affect more than just infections

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30. BacterioFiles 275 - Building Bacterial Batteries
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Description:

This episode: Scientists build a battery out of microbes and electrodes that can store and release electricity repeatedly!

Download Episode (7.5 MB, 8.1 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Interesting articles about anaerobic digesters
Journal Paper:
Molenaar SD, Mol AR, Sleutels THJA, ter Heijne A, Buisman CJN. 2016. Microbial Rechargeable Battery: Energy Storage and Recovery through Acetate. Environ Sci Technol Lett 3:144–149.

Other interesting stories:

Viruses are transferred with fecal transplant, but only ones that attack bacteria (paper) Communities of microbes on skin don't change much Antibodies from mother in milk help babies tolerate good microbes Bacteria could help control insects by killing males More associations between childhood bacteria and asthma

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31. BacterioFiles 274 - Proteobacteria Purify Piscine Pee
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Description:

This episode: Bacteria in the gills of fish help break down their metabolic wastes before they reach toxic levels!

Download Episode (9 MB, 9.8 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
van Kessel MAHJ, Mesman RJ, Arshad A, Metz JR, Spanings FAT, van Dalen SCM, van Niftrik L, Flik G, Wendelaar Bonga SE, Jetten MSM, Klaren PHM, Op den Camp HJM. 2016. Branchial nitrogen cycle symbionts can remove ammonia in fish gills. Environ Microbiol Rep 8:590–594.

Other interesting stories:

How do microbes live in the harsh conditions of salt-secreting tree leaves? (paper) Bacteria inside fungi affect how they interact with plants (paper) Wolbachia may prevent dengue transmission by affecting mosquito lipids (paper) Effects from fungi in soil can be detected from space Bacterial mosquito symbionts block Zika transmission

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32. BacterioFiles 273 - Bottle-Biting Bacteria
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 6.45Mb)

Description:

This episode: Newly discovered bacteria can break down especially long-lived type of plastic!

Download Episode (6.4 MB, 7 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2 (loginwall)

Journal Paper:
Yoshida S, Hiraga K, Takehana T, Taniguchi I, Yamaji H, Maeda Y, Toyohara K, Miyamoto K, Kimura Y, Oda K. 2016. A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate). Science 351:1196–1199.

Other interesting stories:

Worms may help gut health by modifying microbe community Figuring out how breastmilk helps babies' microbes Gut bacteria can affect fruit fly reproduction (paper) Bacteria can crawl along and kill fungal filaments (paper) Feeding mice fiber for bacteria increases their anti-inflammatory effect (paper)

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33. BacterioFiles 272 - Parasite Prevents Pollution Poisoning
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Description:

This episode: Worm parasites infecting brine shrimp help them survive better in arsenic-polluted environments!

Download Episode (7.9 MB, 8.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Sánchez MI, Pons I, Martínez-Haro M, Taggart MA, Lenormand T, Green AJ. 2016. When Parasites Are Good for Health: Cestode Parasitism Increases Resistance to Arsenic in Brine Shrimps. PLOS Pathog 12:e1005459.

Other interesting stories:

French company trying to create lighting using bacteria (paywall) Generating electricity with clever bio-solar panels Microbiome proteins don't change much, not affected by probiotics (paper) Microbes are important for tasty food Plants can withhold food from uncooperative fungal symbionts

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34. BacterioFiles 271 - Dictyostelium Delivers DNA Deathtraps
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 11.22Mb)

Description:

This episode: Slime molds have special cells that capture and kill bacteria using traps made of DNA!

Download Episode (11.2 MB, 12.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Follow-up study from ep 255 group related to this study

Link to Audiommunity episode about Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Journal Paper:
Zhang X, Zhuchenko O, Kuspa A, Soldati T. 2016. Social amoebae trap and kill bacteria by casting DNA nets. Nat Commun 7:10938.

Other interesting stories:

Making E. coli produce propane fuel (paper) Bacteria can convert algae directly into ethanol (paper) Certain chronic virus infections could indicate your family history Viruses can transfer pigment production ability between bacteria Different sizes of bacteria impose different limitations

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35. BacterioFiles 270 - Bacteria Block Bug Babies
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 13.34Mb)

Description:

This episode: Insect gut microbes can be engineered to act as birth control, population control, or disease control for bugs!

Download Episode (13.3 MB, 14.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

This Week in Parasitism episode about Trypanosoma
Unedited statement about this paper from Professor Dyson

Journal Paper:
Whitten MMA, Facey PD, Sol RD, Fernández-Martínez LT, Evans MC, Mitchell JJ, Bodger OG, Dyson PJ. 2016. Symbiont-mediated RNA interference in insects. Proc R Soc B 283:20160042.

Other interesting stories:

Various different yeasts help make coffee and chocolate Maybe treating endangered animals for parasites is not a good idea Empty virus could be useful for carrying things to specific places Fungus treatment could help make more environment-friendly fiberboard (paper) Algae can count how many times they've divided

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36. BacterioFiles 269 - Magnetic Microbes Maim MRSA
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Description:

This episode: Killing pathogens by attaching magnetotactic bacteria to them and then raising the heat with magnetic fields!

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Chen C, Chen L, Yi Y, Chen C, Wu L-F, Song T. 2016. Killing of Staphylococcus aureus via Magnetic Hyperthermia Mediated by Magnetotactic Bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 82:2219–2226.

Other interesting stories:

Plant root symbiont that degrades plastic pollutants (paper) Phages can kill pathogens in gut without affecting other microbes (paper) Mouth bacteria could inhibit other cavity-forming microbes (paper) Plant accepts help from fungus only when necessary Bacteria seem involved in forming deposits of platinum metals

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37. BacterioFiles 268 - Sophisticated Cyanobacterium Sight
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Description:

This episode: Spherical cyanobacterium Synechocystis acts like a tiny eyeball in sensing light, allowing cells to move closer to light sources!

Download Episode (9.7 MB, 10.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Video 1: Synechocystis cells moving toward light sources
Video 2: Synechocystis cells avoiding point of bright light on surface

Journal Paper:
Schuergers N, Lenn T, Kampmann R, Meissner MV, Esteves T, Temerinac-Ott M, Korvink JG, Lowe AR, Mullineaux CW, Wilde A. 2016. Cyanobacteria use micro-optics to sense light direction. eLife 5:e12620.

Other interesting stories:

Discovering how to get more biofuels out of algae Bacteria could help prevent cavities Probiotic carrying virus in its genome fights pathogens better than without virus (paper) Giving probiotic to pregnant mice influences immune system of babies (paper) Combined phage and probiotics could treat E. coli infections (paper)

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38. BacterioFiles 267 - Crust Color Cooks Communities
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Description:

This episode: Cyanobacteria in biocrusts produce pigments that heat their surroundings up to 10 degrees hotter!

Download Episode (7 MB, 7.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Couradeau E, Karaoz U, Lim HC, Nunes da Rocha U, Northen T, Brodie E, Garcia-Pichel F. 2016. Bacteria increase arid-land soil surface temperature through the production of sunscreens. Nat Commun 7:10373.

Other interesting stories:

Engineering better bioplastic production from bacteria Groups of bacteria can show a kind of memory Bacteria in gut are competing and killing each other a lot Exercise helps mice gut health, regardless of weight (paper) Bacteria help insects tolerate cabbage toxin

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39. BacterioFiles 266 - Solar Cyborg Cells Capture Carbon
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 9.73Mb)

Description:

This episode: Adding exotic elements to convert spore-forming bacteria into light-capturing cyborgs that convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals!

Download Episode (9.7 MB, 10.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Sakimoto KK, Wong AB, Yang P. 2016. Self-photosensitization of nonphotosynthetic bacteria for solar-to-chemical production. Science 351:74–77.

Other interesting stories:

Unusual archaeal virus sorta looks like Ebola (paper) Understanding how probiotics could prevent cancer in mice (paper) Giant viruses have immune system against virophages Using evolution to help yeast produce more ethanol from biomass (paper) Remnants of viruses in our DNA helps us fight off infections

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40. BacterioFiles 265 - Predator Protein Protects Predator
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bact... download (audio/mpeg, 7.28Mb)

Description:

This episode: Predatory bacteria have a particular protein that protects them from their own prey-damaging enzymes!

Download Episode (7.3 MB, 7.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lambert C, Cadby IT, Till R, Bui NK, Lerner TR, Hughes WS, Lee DJ, Alderwick LJ, Vollmer W, Sockett RE, Lovering AL. 2015. Ankyrin-mediated self-protection during cell invasion by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Nat Commun 6:8884.

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial proteins could be used to break open cells upon command Animal gut fungi could break down plant material for biofuels Fungal partners help determine which trees can grow in a forest Parasitic fungi contribute to ocean algae turnover (paper) Fungus in tree inhibits other fungi and plants (paper)

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41. BacterioFiles 264 - Small Cells Stimulate Satiety
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Description:

This episode: Proteins from gut bacteria seems to affect hunger and satiety in their (rodent) hosts!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Breton J, Tennoune N, Lucas N, Francois M, Legrand R, Jacquemot J, Goichon A, Guérin C, Peltier J, Pestel-Caron M, Chan P, Vaudry D, do Rego J-C, Liénard F, Pénicaud L, Fioramonti X, Ebenezer IS, Hökfelt T, Déchelotte P, Fetissov SO. 2016. Gut Commensal E. coli Proteins Activate Host Satiety Pathways following Nutrient-Induced Bacterial Growth. Cell Metab 23:324–334.

Other interesting stories:

Now even bacteria could make opiates Soil bacteria slime could help make wound dressings CRISPRs targeting phage RNA instead of DNA can have some benefits for cells Engineering biotech pathways for better processes Bacteria can produce antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (paper)

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42. BacterioFiles 263 - Germ Jettisoned Jellyfish Genes
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 7.66Mb)

Description:

This episode: Microscopic parasites of fish and worms actually came from jellyfish-like animals, after losing most of their genome!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Chang ES, Neuhof M, Rubinstein ND, Diamant A, Philippe H, Huchon D, Cartwright P. 2015. Genomic insights into the evolutionary origin of Myxozoa within Cnidaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:14912–14917.

Other interesting stories:

Deodorant use affects armpit microbes Mammals like dolphins have ocean-influenced microbe communities (paper) Relatively few bacteria may have immune systems (paper) Diatoms are attracted to silica minerals Interesting interactions with bear microbes and hibernation

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43. BacterioFiles 262 - Pathogen Polyketide Protects and Punishes
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.43Mb)

Description:

This episode: Clostridium bacteria that infect potatoes can both kill competitors and tolerate oxygen, thanks to the pink compounds they produce!

Download Episode (12.4 MB, 13.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Shabuer G, Ishida K, Pidot SJ, Roth M, Dahse H-M, Hertweck C. 2015. Plant pathogenic anaerobic bacteria use aromatic polyketides to access aerobic territory. Science 350:670–674.

Other interesting stories:

Soil bacteria protect themselves from amoeba with chemical defense (paper) Understanding how probiotics could help fight rotavirus infection (paper) Bacteria help defend ants from fungi (paper) Modifying useful biofuel yeast with CRISPRs Fungi could make useful adhesives (paper)

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44. BacterioFiles 261 - Pilfered Parasitoid Proteins Protect Prey
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Description:

This episode: Viruses domesticated by parasitoid wasps have transferred wasp genes to caterpillar victims, allowing them to survive deadly infections from other viruses! This means that Monarch butterflies are effectively naturally Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Download Episode (13.8 MB, 15 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Gasmi L, Boulain H, Gauthier J, Hua-Van A, Musset K, Jakubowska AK, Aury J-M, Volkoff A-N, Huguet E, Herrero S, Drezen J-M. 2015. Recurrent Domestication by Lepidoptera of Genes from Their Parasites Mediated by Bracoviruses. PLOS Genet 11:e1005470.

Other interesting stories:

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45. BacterioFiles 260 - Endoriftia Evacuate Expired Employers
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.05Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in hydrothermal vents that feed their host tubeworms evacuate when their hosts perish!

Download Episode (9 MB, 9.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Klose J, Polz MF, Wagner M, Schimak MP, Gollner S, Bright M. 2015. Endosymbionts escape dead hydrothermal vent tubeworms to enrich the free-living population. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:11300–11305.

Other interesting stories:

Making bacteria sensors from phages oriented along electric fields Insecticide-producing bacteria could treat parasite infections Probiotics can help by improving overall gut community (paper) Plant virus could induce immune response against cancer Exercise early in life could develop better microbiome

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46. BacterioFiles 259 - Fluke Froth Fosters Fester Fixing
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 13.44Mb)

Description:

This episode: I converse with Dr. Michael Smout about a liver fluke parasite could help heal chronic wounds more quickly!

Download Episode (13.4 MB, 14.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Smout MJ, Sotillo J, Laha T, Papatpremsiri A, Rinaldi G, Pimenta RN, Chan LY, Johnson MS, Turnbull L, Whitchurch CB, Giacomin PR, Moran CS, Golledge J, Daly N, Sripa B, Mulvenna JP, Brindley PJ, Loukas A. 2015. Carcinogenic Parasite Secretes Growth Factor That Accelerates Wound Healing and Potentially Promotes Neoplasia. PLOS Pathog 11:e1005209.

Michael Smout's research portfolio
Winning presentation about this research on FameLab
The Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine

Other interesting stories:

Good bacteria help protect fish from pathogens (paper) New microbes from glacial ice could be useful (paper) Making hybrid yeast could create potentially useful strains Cooperating bacteria exclude non-cooperators from their colonies Engineered bacteria can have built-in kill switches to control them in environment (paywall)

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47. BacterioFiles 258 - Transformed Toxin Translocates Treatments
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.11Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacterial toxins could be modified to deliver life-saving proteins into neurons!

Download Episode (11.1 MB, 12.1 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Chen C, Przedpelski A, Tepp WH, Pellett S, Johnson EA, Barbieri JT. 2015. Heat-Labile Enterotoxin IIa, a Platform To Deliver Heterologous Proteins into Neurons. mBio 6:e00734-15.

Other interesting stories:

Treating infant formula with bacteriophages could prevent deadly infection Fungus makes silver nanoparticles that fight other, pathogenic fungus (paper) Fungal symbionts affects how plants interact with soil microbes (paper) Bacteria can help control plant-damaging worms (paper) Microbes help fight toxin-producing fungi on coffee (paper)

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48. BacterioFiles 257 - Phage Fibers Fight Phyllosphere Foes
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Description:

This episode: Bacteria have repeatedly captured and used the tails of phages to fight each other!

Download Episode (9 MB, 9.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Hockett KL, Renner T, Baltrus DA. 2015. Independent Co-Option of a Tailed Bacteriophage into a Killing Complex in Pseudomonas. mBio 6:e00452-15.

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial immune system can make plants resistant to viruses Viruses are (usually) tiny but interesting Gut microbes may have surprising effects on our behavior Engineering viruses to use quantum effects for better solar cells Probiotic bacteria could help with Type 2 diabetes (paper)

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Thumbnail image: Cultures of Pseudomonas syringae van Hall taken from bean halo blight colonies. By: Howard F. Schwartz, The Bugwood Network at the University of Georgia and the USDA Forest Service.

49. BacterioFiles 256 - Virus Versus Virus
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.06Mb)

Description:

This episode: Viruses can cause host cells to inhibit other viruses!

Download Episode (8 MB, 8.75 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Chiba S, Suzuki N. 2015. Highly activated RNA silencing via strong induction of dicer by one virus can interfere with the replication of an unrelated virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:E4911–E4918.

Other interesting stories:

Rotating crops helps maintain healthy soil microbe communities Phages can control contamination in biofuel fermentation (paper) Bacteria actually living in wheat plants affect sourdough bread (paper) Fecal transplants of communities can overcome most drug-resistant infections Finding bacteria that can help plants grow (paper)

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50. BacterioFiles 255 - Colonizer Controls Carrier Cultivation
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.46Mb)

Description:

This episode: Some bacteria seem to cause slime mold amoebas to carry around other bacteria for food!

Download Episode (12.4 MB, 13.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
DiSalvo S, Haselkorn TS, Bashir U, Jimenez D, Brock DA, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. 2015. Burkholderia bacteria infectiously induce the proto-farming symbiosis of Dictyostelium amoebae and food bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:E5029–E5037.

Other interesting stories:

Fish oil vs. lard affect gut microbes differently Engineered mix of engineered bacteria produce controlled oscillations Mutation and selection makes better biomass-degrading enzymes Antibodies can be produced inside bacteria (paper) Fungus can be used to kill mosquitoes (paper)

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51. BacterioFiles 254 - Clostridium Consolidates Combustibles Conversion
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 13.94Mb)

Description:

This episode: Engineering bacteria to convert cellulose directly into useful biofuels and chemicals can be tricky!

Download Episode (13.9 MB, 15.2 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lin PP, Mi L, Morioka AH, Yoshino KM, Konishi S, Xu SC, Papanek BA, Riley LA, Guss AM, Liao JC. 2015. Consolidated bioprocessing of cellulose to isobutanol using Clostridium thermocellum. Metab Eng 31:44–52.

Other interesting stories:

Cute photosynthetic protist could do interesting metabolic processes Using advanced technique to link antibiotic production to specific beewolf microbes Termite gut protist has bacterial symbiont that fixes carbon and nitrogen (paper) Geography and household members influence fungi and bacteria of home dust Probiotic ineffective at preventing colonization by drug-resistant pathogens

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52. BacterioFiles 253 - Probiotics Promote Protective Pathway
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.20Mb)

Description:

This episode: In mice and fruit flies, Lactobacillus species induce gut cells to protect themselves from reactive oxygen compounds!

Download Episode (8.2 MB, 8.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Jones, R. M. et al. Lactobacilli Modulate Epithelial Cytoprotection through the Nrf2 Pathway. Cell Reports 12, 1217–1225 (2015).

Other interesting stories:

Gut microbes in mice help prevent development of diabetes Bacteria could degrade nicotine to help people quit smoking Even dead probiotic bacteria protect nematodes against pathogens (paper) Discovery of TNT-degrading yeast for bioremediation Engineered yeast can produce opioids

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53. BacterioFiles 252 - Small Cells Supervise Circadian Cycles
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.62Mb)

Description:

This episode: In mice, high-fat diets affect their gut microbes, which in turn disrupts their circadian cycles and metabolic health!

Download Episode (8.6 MB, 9.35 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper
Other related news item/paper

Other interesting stories:

Fungi could help clean up lead pollution (paper) Fungi growing on rocks in driest desert (paper) Probiotic bacterium inhibited pathogenic bacteria in chickens (paper) Bacteria survive just from very small amounts of hydrogen Developing ways to monitor microbial catalysts

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54. BacterioFiles 251 - Mycophagous Myrmicinae Mutualist Microbes
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.63Mb)

Description:

This episode: Gut bacteria seem to help ants with very restrictive diets flourish more!

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Engineering yeast to talk to each other chemically Root bacteria could protect cocoa plants from pathogen (paper) Microbes important for stress response when mice separated from mother (paper) Bacteria produce antibiotics to compete with rivals in soil Insect pests of cabbage have detoxifying gut microbes too (paper)

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55. BacterioFiles 250 - Bacteria Boost Berry Borer Beetle Babies
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 6.88Mb)

Description:

This episode: Gut bacteria make it possible for coffee berry borer beetles to live entirely on caffeine-rich food!

Download Episode (6.9 MB, 7.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Molecule from plague bacteria could be helpful removing rust and such (paper) Bacteria can clean up toxic chromium pollution (paper) Chemical from a yeast could save bats from deadly fungus Cocktail of phages works better than single kind to prevent food poisoning Fungi help trees survive drought conditions

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56. BacterioFiles 249 - Spores Survive Spaceship Scorching
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.79Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacterial spores can survive atmospheric entry on an artificial meteorite!

Download Episode (10.7 MB, 11.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Fermenting chocolate with domesticated yeasts could make it better than natural fermentation Bacteria could control robot body in fairly complex behaviors (podcast) Plants' hormones affect the microbial communities around their roots Ocean microbes make clouds that reflect extra sunlight Emphasizing the importance of microbes in the soil

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Thumbnail image: A colony of thermophiles in the outflow of Mickey Hot Springs, Oregon, the water temperature is approximately 60 °C (140 °F). By: Wiki user: Amateria1121

57. BacterioFiles 248 - Tiny Travelers Transport Toxin Trashers
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 14.21Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria that swarm around in groups carry other bacteria with them that can be helpful for degrading toxins!

Download Episode (14.2 MB, 15.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper/Explanatory video

Other interesting stories:

Bacterium can help biofuel-producing algae grow better (paper) Super-tolerant yeasts found in high volcanic place in super-dry desert (paper) Bacteria living in even non-legume plants (like rice) could fix nitrogen for their host Algae are becoming more popular as alternative protein in food Microbiome resistance to C. difficile infection depends on many bacteria together

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58. BacterioFiles 247 - Animalcule Acetate Ameliorates Asthma
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.15Mb)

Description:

This episode: Feeding mice high-fiber diets reduces their risk of allergic airway disease, even across generations!

Download Episode (12.1 MB, 13.2 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Challenging bacteria with other bacteria can help for discovering useful chemicals they produce Bacteria's CRISPR systems can affect their own genome structure (paper) Observing bacterial communities to sense pollution in the environment (paper) Fruit fly bacteria reduce aggression and fighting among males Bacterial nanoparticles can enhance x-rays

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59. BacterioFiles 246 - Prowling Protist Predator Packs
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.57Mb)

Description:

This episode: Amoebas in soil gang up on and eat much larger roundworms!

Download Episode (10.5 MB, 11.3 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper
Video of amoebas eating worm
Discussion on This Week in Microbiology

Other interesting stories:

Fungi living inside plants produce potential anticancer compound (paper) Local bacteria help protect and nurture crops in Nigeria (paper) Squished bacteria grow as pancake-shaped cells (paper) Bacteria living in fungi that help plants have many genes taken from their hosts (paper) Engineering yeast that produce opiates cheaply

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60. BacterioFiles 245 - Plant Prokaryotes Produce Protective Plaques
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.17Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria around rice roots help protect plants from arsenic toxicity!

Download Episode (10.1 MB, 11 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Effect on gut microbes is important for benefits from fiber in diet (paper) Which aspects of nose bacterial community affect Staphylococcus colonization? (paper) Bacteria passing electrons to each other might help natural gas production (paper) Gut microbes permit insects to eat new kinds of food There's more than just bacteria and fungi (and plants and animals) in the soil

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61. BacterioFiles 244 - Rabbit Viruses Exploding Cancer
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 39.30Mb)

Description:

This episode: A conversation with Audiommunity hosts about a rabbit virus that may help treat cancer while preventing the treatment from killing the patient!

Download Episode (39.2 MB, 42.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper
Audiommunity podcast
Unedited version of this episode

Other interesting stories:

Microbes could be useful in cleaning radioactive waste Finding algae in glacial ice on mountains Peru Soil bacteria inhibit carcinogen production by fungi (paper) Birds carry around many kinds of plant bacteria Thinking of leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens as biotech fermentations (paper) Making Azotobacter mutants that can produce fertilizer for other organisms (paper)

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62. BacterioFiles 243 - Fungal Friends Facilitate Phytoextraction (feat. Cat Adams)
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 14.68Mb)

Description:

This episode: A conversation with Cat Adams about how fungi help plants clean up toxic zinc nanoparticles in soil!

Download Episode (14.6 MB, 16 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper
About Cat Adams: Blog/Twitter
The Unconscious Bias Project (Twitter)

Other interesting stories:

Microbes could be useful in cleaning radioactive waste Loaded bacteria deliver antibiotic straight to target through immune system (paper) Bacterial interactions help marine algae grow Engineered luminescent probiotics could help detect cancer Bacteria could save bats from deadly fungus

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63. BacterioFiles 242 - Corporeal Communities Create Characterizing Codes
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.33Mb)

Description:

This episode: Features of the microbial communities of people's bodies could be used to identify individuals!

Download Episode (11.3 MB, 12.3 minutes)

Show notes:
Commentary/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Gut bacteria and gut cancer relate in confusing ways More about how giant Mimivirus infects its host Even seemingly helpful microbes may become harmful in certain contexts (paywall) Microbes in sewage seem to rebuild drugs that treatment plants try to remove Microbes could help keep water clean

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64. BacterioFiles 241 - Colon Colonizers Control Cancer Combat
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.75Mb)

Description:

I'm back!

This episode: Gut microbes enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies!

Download Episode (10.7 MB, 11.7 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2/Journal Paper 1/Journal paper 2

Other interesting stories:

Microbiome an important link between diet and colon cancer Viruses can be helpful more often than we realize Fungus breaks down plant matter and makes jet fuel Engineering E. coli for better exploration of other species' genetic potential It's possible our food might be too clean

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65. BacterioFiles 240 - Water Worms Make (carbon) Monoxide Meals
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.16Mb)

Description:

Reminder: this is the last episode for at least a few weeks while I am wrapping up my PhD. See you again when I'm done!

This episode: Marine worms and their microbial symbionts can live on the toxic gas carbon monoxide!

Download Episode (11.1 MB, 12.1 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Salt-loving extremophiles eat carbon monoxide at Mars-level concentrations (paper) Better biotech processes by microbial cooperation (paper) Different ways to engineer microbes to produce propane Not all organisms share exactly the same genetic code Queen bees have different microbes than other bees (paper)

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66. BacterioFiles 239 - Familial Pheromones Fight faecalis
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.46Mb)

Description:

Just to let you know, I'm trying to finish up my dissertation and graduate in the next few months, so after episode 240, I will be putting the show on hold, at least for a few weeks (but not forever). I'll be sure to bring back some good content after I am done feeling so crunched for time though.

This episode: Gut bacteria kill their drug-resistant pathogenic cousins of the same species via pheromone signaling!

Download Episode 10.4 MB, 11.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial compound could inhibit biofilms but not their builders Microbial engineering could free us from petroleum products Studying the immune regulation roles of mouse gut microbes (paper) Finding useful cold- and warm-adapted algae by season (paper) Powerful swimming microbe creates crystals of cells

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67. BacterioFiles 238 - Forcing Fungal Familiarization
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 7.86Mb)

Description:

This episode: Of genes that are similar in yeast and humans, almost half of the yeast versions are functional when replaced with the human version!

Download Episode (7.9 MB, 8.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Turning algae from harmful blooms into useful products Intercropping enriches microbes that help crop yields (paper) Bacteria store energy in magnetic particles that other bacteria later take Certain gut microbes are characteristic of traditional (non-urban) lifestyles (paper) More study into how microbes make tasty foods

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68. BacterioFiles 237 - Proving Protist Predation Parentage
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.43Mb)

Description:

This episode: Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus, a predatory bacterium that feeds on Chlorella algae, is currently lost from science, but its genome has been sequenced and interpreted anyway, to reveal a surprising family history!

Download Episode (9.4 MB, 10.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Appetite-suppressing bacteria could treat obesity Skin bacteria could save frogs from deadly fungus Developing yeast that produce lots of biofuel lipids Vineyard soil microbiome affects vine microbes (and thus, wine) Microbes could make super-sensitive bioelectromechanical sensors

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69. BacterioFiles 236 - Film Formation Favors Fossilization
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.16Mb)

Description:

This episode: Gut microbes' activity in decaying brine shrimp help promote fossilization of their soft parts!

Download Episode (8.1 MB, 8.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Paywalled news item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Baboon friends have more closely related gut communities Lichens are awesome Plants depend on bacteria when producing defensive chemicals Using bacterial communication signal to modify gut microbe communities Deinococcus could be useful biotech species (review)

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70. BacterioFiles 235 - Dust DNA Detectives with Dr. Dunn
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.61Mb)

Description:

This episode: I talk with Dr. Rob Dunn about his team's research into determining where a dust sample comes from based on the microbes present in it!

Download Episode (12.6 MB, 13.7 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper
The Dunn lab
Books

Other interesting stories:

Certain gut bacteria could help animals feed on new foods (paper) Potential for engineering our own microbiome Bacteria could help clean up radioactivity at Fukushima Bacteria could make better fruit fly traps (paper) Acid-resistant bacterium could help with stomach infections (paper)

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71. BacterioFiles 234 - Phone, Floor Phylum Forensics
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 5.40Mb)

Description:

This episode: Learning things about people's identity and movements from microbial communities on their phones and shoes!

Download Episode (5.4 MB, 5.8 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria that live in the deepest part of the ocean Gut bacteria, birth conditions, and weight are related (paper) Bee microbiomes stay pretty constant Early gut bacteria associated with food allergy risk Gut bacteria could relate to ability to control blood sugar

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72. BacterioFiles 233 - Messy Microbes Maintain Mouse Microbiota
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.15Mb)

Description:

This episode: Mice in less sanitary conditions have more diverse gut communities and perhaps less allergy!

Download Episode (8.15 MB, 8.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Fertilizer leads to less-helpful soil bacteria Sponge bacteria help corals get phosphorus Another way to use microbial electricity to produce hydrogen Soap has bacteria too Corals are eating plastic; is it harmful?

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73. BacterioFiles 232 - Exploring Enzymes' Element Effects
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.21Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria can convert soluble uranium to an insoluble form, and distinguish between different isotopes!

Download Episode (8.2 MB, 8.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria could help degrade environmental chemical contaminant (paper) Phage could treat dental infections Bacteria and grass together clean up soil Mutant E. coli keeps getting longer without dividing Algae could produce malaria vaccine

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74. BacterioFiles 231 - Creating Cancer-Killing Cultures
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 7.86Mb)

Description:

This episode: Engineering Salmonella strains that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones alone!

Download Episode (7.9 MB, 8.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Rocks floating on a lake house interesting microbes (paper) Aerobiology - how bacteria affect the weather Modified gut bacteria could control populations of insect disease vectors (paper) Gut microbiome's health effects are not so simple Some traits could be inherited via bacteria

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75. BacterioFiles 230 - Plant Prokaryotes Promote Protein Production
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.18Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in and around plants can help fertilizer them, even in non-legume plants!

Download Episode (11.1 MB, 12.15 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Figuring out what microbes live (or lived) in NYC's subway Duckweed could be good microbe food for making biofuels (paper) Fungal endophytes help barley grow more sustainably Flower wallpaper made of vaccinated cells Plant-raping bacteria could help genetically modify yeast (paper)

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76. BacterioFiles 229 - Spore-formers Stimulate Serotonin
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.41Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in mouse guts control the production of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter!

Download Episode (10.4 MB, 11.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Nitrogen-fixing bacterium could produce ethanol with fewer inputs After fecal transplant from overweight donor, recipient became obese Nitrogen-fixing bacteria partner with tiny animals in ocean (paper) Monitoring microbiome could help diagnose type 1 diabetes Breastfeeding could help prepare infant gut community for solid foods

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77. BacterioFiles 228 - Bacteria Beat Bat Blight
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 7.04Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria isolated from bats' skin inhibits the growth of bat-killing fungus!

Download Episode (7 MB, 7.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria could produce useful emulsifiers (paper) Fast-growing cyanobacteria could be good for producing things Making yeast produce more useful proteins such as insulin Microalga could be good biofuel oil producer Microbes might've helped create large gold deposits

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78. BacterioFiles 227 - Microbe Menaces Meningitis
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.78Mb)

Description:

This episode: Colonizing ourselves with friendly bacteria could drive out more risky ones, such as those that cause meningitis!

Download Episode (9.8 MB, 10.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial vapors inhibit deadly plant pathogen (paper) Finding phages to fight tomato disease (paper) Immune system is important for maintaining gut community health Even the same species can have diversity in the gut Using bacterial power to generate clean water and electricity

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79. BacterioFiles 226 - Deep Dwellers Diversify
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.38Mb)

Description:

This episode: Archaea living in the deep ocean (and their viruses) have clever ways to maintain diversity and adaptability!

Download Episode (10.3 MB, 11.25 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Super-slow-growing bacteria may evolve without reproducing Human gut bacterium is especially able to digest yeast cell walls Soil fungi can convert uranium to more recoverable insoluble form (paper) Viruses may have helped human brain develop through history Accessory genes make each bacterial strain unique

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80. BacterioFiles 225 - Implanting Internal Invader Immunity
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 14.55Mb)

Description:

This episode: Don't have immunity? Create your own! Scientists engineer cells to destroy their HIV infections using the bacterial immune system!

Download Episode (14.5 MB, 15.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Insect bacteria produce small RNAs to communicate with hosts (paper) Yeast can make lots of useful things Engineering E. coli to better tolerate biofuels it produces (paper) Pathogens can resist phage infection, but often at a cost (paper) Microbes can survive on space vessels and cause problems away from Earth

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81. BacterioFiles 224 - Super Small Cells
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.32Mb)

Description:

This episode: Scientists discover what seem to be ultra-small bacteria, possibly smaller than the theoretical minimum size!

Download Episode (12.3 MB, 13.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News items 2/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria could produce good biofuels from renewable resources (paper) Studying quorum sensing by 3D-printing bacterial biofilms (paper) Marine algae could be good source of nutrients alternative to fish oil Caterpillar mind-control virus seems to manipulate response to light 9 cool things about microbes

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82. BacterioFiles 223 - Fecal Fusions Forecast Fatness
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.12Mb)

Description:

This episode: Sampling microbial populations in sewage from cities could reveal differences in the human populations, such as prevalence of obesity!

Download Episode (9.1 MB, 9.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial communities could be evidence about sexual crimes Bacteria around plants could fight plant diseases (paper) Microbes can greatly affect mouse gut's protective mucus layer Cyanobacteria could survive on Mars and produce breathable oxygen Garbage in Yellowstone permitted hot spring microbial rainbow

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83. BacterioFiles 222 - Cells Store Solar Sparks
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.26Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria engineered to produce liquid fuel can eat carbon dioxide and hydrogen from solar-powered water-splitting!

Download Episode (11.2 MB, 12.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Some bugs need their vitamin-producing microbes, but kill them to harvest the vitamins How specific gut microbes influence immune system (paper) Bacteria used to produce various food ingredients Bacteria could produce polyester beads that bind specific proteins (paper) Rainforest bacteria could help plants grow better in poorer soil (paper)

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84. BacterioFiles 221 - Co-culture Close Contact, Cats, and Cockerels
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 12.77Mb)

Description:

This episode: More distantly related bacteria can help each other grow (and produce lots of hydrogen) by temporarily fusing with each other!

Download Episode (12.7 MB, 13.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper/Close contact image

Note: I said C. acetobutylicum was used in WWII to make acetone for bombs, but it was actually World War I, used to make cordite, a replacement for gunpowder.

Other interesting stories:

Gut microbes can affect brain's defensive barrier in mice Getting E. coli to produce higher amounts of nice-smelling biofuel compounds Using fungi to control avocado-damaging pests Bacterial proteins used to modify human cells' immune signaling (paper) Worm gut bacteria could help degrade plastic waste

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85. BacterioFiles 220 - Coliforms Cooperate by Conduit
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.03Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria can connect to each other with tiny tubes to exchange nutrients!

Download Episode (10 MB, 10.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/News item 2/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

If society collapsed, we could eat microbes Archaea could produce useful antibacterials too Tree-killing diseases can help forests be more diverse Animals have taken the genes bacteria use to poison each other Viruses can sometimes survive frozen for centuries (paper)

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86. BacterioFiles 219 - Fungi Facilitate Photosynthetic Fuels
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.31Mb)

Description:

This episode: Fungi can act like sticky nets to help harvest algae for biofuels!

Download Episode (8.3 MB, 9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria produce substance that could control harmful algal blooms (paper) Bacterial proteins in gut can protect mice from rotavirus Beware of contamination in microbial sequence survey studies Passionate kissing can transfer a lot of bacteria (not always a bad thing) Mouse virus can act like gut bacteria in maintaining gut health

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87. BacterioFiles 218 - Parasitoids Pass Protective Prokaryotes
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.91Mb)

Description:

This episode: Parasitoid wasps spread helpful bacterial symbionts between their whitefly prey!

Download Episode (10.9 MB, 11.9 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Making magnetic bacteria do a dance (w/ video) Viruses have influenced evolution and genetics of plants, including wine grapes Deep-sea fungus produces potentially useful chemicals (paper) Effective genetic modification of fungi could lead to useful biotech processes Microbe-shaped (though not microbe-flavored) popsicles

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88. BacterioFiles 217 - Fungus Fortifies Fly Food
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.41Mb)

Description:

This episode: Fruit flies have microbes that help them get more nutrition out of low-quality food!

Download Episode (8.4 MB, 9.1 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Strategies for treating infections without antibiotics Increased interest in microbes for agriculture Our genetics seem to affect our gut microbiota Algae farm over highway consumes CO2 from cars Fly bacteria engineered to prevent sleeping sickness tranmission (paper)

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89. BacterioFiles Special - ASM2015
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 11.50Mb)

Description:

Here's my summary of ASM2015, an exciting weekend full of science.

Download Episode (11.5 MB, 12.5 minutes)

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90. BacterioFiles 216 - Probiotic Promotes Peanut Permissiveness
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 29.07Mb)

Description:

This episode: Kate Franz and Matt Woodruff from Audiommunity join me to talk about a clinical trial of peanut immunotherapy with probiotics to treat peanut allergies!

Download Episode (29 MB, 31.75 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper
Audiommunity - episode about food allergies

Other interesting stories:

Some viruses can survive being frozen for hundreds of years Resistance to certain gut pathogen correlates with certain gut microbes (paper) "Normal" gut microbiome probably as varied as we are ourselves Human gut communities are very different from chimpanzees' Figuring out how to engineer bacteria to tolerate biofuels they produce

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91. BacterioFiles 215 - Plasmid Pirates Piezophile Particles
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.28Mb)

Description:

This episode: Deep-sea thermophile bacteriophage is pirated by another scurvy genetic element!!

Download Episode (10.2 MB, 11.2 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Viral remnants are important for human stem cells and development One Clostridium (scindens) defies overgrowth of another (difficile) Mosquito bacteria hurt dengue and malaria and mosquitoes Mitochondria (and thus eukaryotes) might've come from a parasite Studying phages that kill bee-killing bacteria

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92. BacterioFiles 214 - Cable-Chlorophyte Coop Conducts Current
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 5.96Mb)

Description:

This episode: Cable bacteria and algae set up electric grid in sediments!

Download Episode (6 MB, 6.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Daily rhythms are important for gut microbes and their hosts Wild yeasts are very diverse in the smells they produce (paper) Gut microbiome may be involved in alcoholism (paper) Tiny tiny viruses can have very big effect on ocean carbon Mouse lupus correlates with certain gut bacteria

Image: Green algae o rocks at ShihTiPing (giant stone steps) coastal area in Taiwan. By: Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia

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93. BacterioFiles 213 - Bird Bacteria Bolster Babies
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 6.54Mb)

Description:

This episode: Hoopoes inoculate their eggs with protective bacteria!

Download Episode (6.5 MB, 7 minutes)

Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Effects of whole grains vs. red meat on gut microbes (paper) Pill form might be good method for fecal transplant Algal protein discovery is relevant to biofuels but also cancer Skin microbe produces potentially useful antibiotic Archaea have taken many important genes from bacteria Image by: Didier Descouens

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94. BacterioFiles 212 - Ghosts Get Good Guarding
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.84Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacterial ghosts could make good vaccines for different things!

Download Episode (9.8 MB, 10.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

What would happen if all microbes suddenly disappeared? Probiotics help protect children and pregnant women from heavy metal toxicity Using virus-like particles to kill harmful algae (paper) Yeast make nice beer scent to attract fruit flies Algae-powered electric Grand Prix cars

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95. BacterioFiles 211 - Stenotrophomonas Summons Snare-Setting Saviors
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.95Mb)

Description:

This episode: Bacteria in soil signal to fungi to save them from predatory roundworms!

Download Episode (9.9 MB, 10.8 minutes)

Show notes:
News blog/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria eat photographs to make cool, creepy art Microbial communities in NYC Central Park are as diverse as anywhere Giant clams catch light just right to disperse it to their symbiotic algae Changing yeast's environment can allow it to tolerate (and produce) more ethanol Hydrothermal vent viruses seem to survive by helping hosts adapt (paper)

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96. BacterioFiles 210 - Archaea Acquired Alternative Abilities
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 7.42Mb)

Description:

This episode: Genes taken from bacteria may have been important for the evolution of distinct groups of archaea!

Download Episode (7.4 MB, 8 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial signals could tell cancer cells to stop causing problems (Sulfite-free) wine could have helpful bacteria Probiotic prevents chickens from carrying human pathogen (paper) Plants keep helpful bacteria in their seeds Bacteria are helping break down drugs in waterways

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97. BacterioFiles 209 - Myxococcus Menace Motivates Megastructures
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 8.81Mb)

Description:

This episode: Microbial predators in soil cause microbial prey to build fortifications!

Download Episode (8.8 MB, 9.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Using bacteria to produce adhesives that shellfish use underwater Maintaining gut community may be important for surviving intensive care Human gut might actually have some useful bacteria for biofuels too Termites use mixture of fungal and bacterial symbionts Bacteria help seeds sprout faster

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Thumbnail by: Trance Gemini on de.wikipedia.org - Starving colony of Myxococcus xanthus forms fruiting bodies.

98. BacterioFiles 208 - Discovering Dietary Dwellers
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 21.65Mb)

Description:

This episode: Dr. Angela Zivkovic discusses the microbes present in our food!

Download Episode (21.6 MB, 23.6 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Archaea seem to be producing vitamin B12 in oceans Tree microbiomes differ between species like animals' Some bacteria can help plants form root nodules better (paper) Biofilms can be useful materials for different things, like sticking to steel Electricity from microbe metabolism could power waste treatment

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99. BacterioFiles 207 - Microbe Messages Mire Malaria Movement
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 10.30Mb)

Description:

This episode: Gut microbes may induce an immune response that protects against malaria!

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Show notes:
News item/Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Gut bacteria help immune responses even in the lungs (of mice) Conductive bacteria can encase themselves in uranium Discovering and prepping bacteria to degrade environmental pollutants Using bacteria to reduce arsenic toxicity in rice Soil fungi protect potatoes from parasites

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100. BacterioFiles 206 - Mollusc Maneuvers Microbe Machines to Macerate Maples
http://www.microbeworld.org/po... download (audio/mpeg, 9.73Mb)

Description:

This episode: When digesting wood, shipworms outsource their microbial symbionts from gut to gills!

Download Episode (9.7 MB, 10.6 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper

Other interesting stories:

Swimming alga Euglena could help treat iron overdose (paper) Bacteria in bees could produce useful antimicrobials Tough bacteria could help make nuclear waste storage safer Learning about ancient cultures from their fossilized feces (paper) Using phages to make wastewater treatment better

Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles at gmail dot com. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe at iTunes, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook