This Week in Microbiology

TWiM explains how competition for nutrients anticipates and potentially mitigate drug side effects on the gut microbiota, and metabolic control of porin permeability influences antibiotic resistance. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Nutrient competition predicts drug effects on microbiota (Cell) Metabolic control of porin permeability influences antibiotic resistance in E coli (Nat Micro) Santiago Cano-Muniz Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explains a biological mechanism that links sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments, and "swashing," a form of surface movement in which bacteria migrate without active propulsion. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson , and Petra Levin Guest: Mark O. Martin Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , RSS , or by email. Links for this episode Sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments (Nature) Bacterial surface migration by swashing (J Bacteriol) Become a Patron of TWiM ! Music used on TWiM is by Ronald Jenkees . Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM reveals the bacteria, acids, and enzymes behind yogurt made with ants, and a defined set of microbes that reproduces attributes of fine flavor chocolate fermentation Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Petra Levin Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Making yogurt with ants (iScience) The Alchemist Restaurant How to make classic tuiles (MasterClass) Defined microbes for chocolate (Nat Micro) Microbial chocolatiers of fine flavour (Nat Micro) Blind taste every chocolate bar (YouTube) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explores two different ways that bacteria defend against phages through the synthesis of cyclic nucleotides. Hosts: Michael Schmidt and Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Decoy cyclic nucleotides in phage defense (Nature) CRISPR defense with nucleotides (Nature) A decoy defence molecule to set a trap for viruses (Nature) Cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage signaling system immunity (Curr Opin Immunol) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explains studies that show that the oral bacterial and fungal microbiome are risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and the gut microbiome and pyruvate metabolism of older adults are a link between sleep quality and frailty. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer risk (JAMA Oncol) 2025 Cancer Facts & Figures (ACS) Periodontal Disease: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown (Front Cell Infect Micro) Socransky's disease complexes (Microorg) Microbiome, pyruvate metabolism, sleep quality , and frailty (Cell Rep) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (pdf) How to score the sleep quality index (pdf) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM reveals a Vibrio as the causative agent of sea star wasting disease, and using microcolony-seq to uncover phenotypic inheritance from single cells. Hosts: Michael Schmidt and Michele Swanson Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Agent of sea star wasting disease (Nat Ecol Evol) Sea star wasting mystery solved (Nat Ecol Evol) Phenotypic inheritance from single cells (Cell) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explores the varied and distinct microbiome of trees, and an array of biopesticidal metabolites against mosquito larvae isolated from a Mediterranean island. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Microbiome of trees (Nature) Biopesticides from a Mediterranean island (Appl Environ Micro) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM pays tribute to Elio Schaechter, former TWiM host, blogger, and microbiologist extraordinaire, then reviews the finding that Archaea produce peptidoglycan hydrolases that kill bacteria - a form of competition. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson and Petra Levin . Guest Mark O. Martin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Elio Schaechter (Wikipedia) Elio Schaechter Funeral Service (video) Archaea produce peptidoglycan hydrolases that kill bacteria (PLoS Biol) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM discusses outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Harlem NY, an automated whole genome sequencing platform for bacterial strain typing in clinical microbiology laboratories, building E. coli with a 57-codon genetic code. Links for this episode Legionnaires' disease outbreak in NY (NY Health) Automated whole genome sequencing for clinical labs (J Clin Micro) Sequencing workflow for outbreaks (J Clin Micro) Rewriting code of life (NYTimes) E. coli with a 57-codon genetic code (Science) E. coli with one stop codon ( TWiM 330 ) Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission.

TWiM explains a study that examines pathogen presence in ancient humans and concludes that zoonoses emerged 6500 years ago with the domestication of livestock, and determination of universal rules that govern plasmid copy number. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson , and Petra Levin Guests: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Human pathogens in ancient Eurasia (Nature) What once ailed us (NY Times) Rules of plasmid copy number (Nature Comm) Scaling laws of plasmids (Nature Comm) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explores the use of gas sensors and machine learning to identify microbes and antimicrobial resistance in clinical specimens, and how a harmful algal bloom species releases thiamin antivitamins to suppress competitors. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Microbial and antimicrobial resistance diagnostics (Cell Biomaterials) Thiamin antivitamins suppress algal competitors (mBio) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM explains two strategies for bacterial competition for resources: by laying down a slippery lipid and pushing away competitors, or by breaking open cells with a spike, liberating essential nutrients. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Secreting a slippery lipid (mBio) Lysing neighboring cells for nutrients (Science) Underwater hockey (YouTube Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiM describes how microbiological analysis of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn has revealed an antimicrobial resistance reservoir and bioremediation potential, and fungicide resistance in Fusarium graminearum, the fungus recently smuggled into the US. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Petra Levin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Microbiology of the Gowanus Canal (J. Appl. Micro) Microbes clean up Gowanus (BrooklynPaper) Fungicide resistance in Fusarium (Pathogens) Couple smuggles fungal pathogen into US (NBC) Fusarium and wheat-management strategies (Pathogens) Laboratory Biosafety (pdf) NIH Biosafety (NIH) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains how a mutualistic model bacterium can become lethal in a non-symbiotic host, and engineering a kill switch into a tuberculosis vaccine for improved safety. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode When a mutualist becomes lethal (mBio) A lasting symbiosis (Nat Rev Micro) A kill switch for BCG (Nat Micro) Engineering mycobacteria for vaccination (Nat Micro) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains a study of the unique and extreme microbial and chemical environment on the International Space Station, and the connection between the gut microbiome and pain in fibromyalgia. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode ISS chemical and microbial environment (Cell) Gut microbiota and fibromyalgia pain (Neuron) Gut pain eases after doses of gut microbes (Nature) Skin innervation and fibromyalgia pain (Ann Neurol) Altered microbiome in fibromyalgia (Pain) Intestinal microbiome and fibromyalgia (Intl J Rheum Dis) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM describes isolation of a novel bacterial species isolated from the China Space Station, and how a chemical radar allows bacteria to detect and kill predators. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Petra Levin. Guest Mark O. Martin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Niallia tiangongensis from the China Space Station (Int J Syst Evol Biol) Bacterial chemical radar (Cell) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains how to recode E. coli so it uses only one stop codon, and an exploration of the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion within dental plaque. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Engineering E. coli with one stop codon (Nature) Bacterial adhesion in dental plaque (mBio) Microbial complexes in subgingival plaque (J Clin Periodontol) Bacterial clusters in periodontal and peri-implant diseases (Microorg) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains Pasteur's relentless hunt for microbes in the air, and how bacteria hunt for prey by ixotrophy - using grappling hooks! Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Pasteur's hunt for microbes in the air (NYTimes) Bacterial predation by ixotrophy (Science) Enter the pirates (STC) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM describes Shigella infection is facilitated by interaction of human enteric α-defensin 5 with a colonic epithelial receptor, and an amino acid change in RNA polymerase that leads to resistance to β-lactams by preventing dysregulation of amino acid and nucleotide metabolism Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day (CDC) Shigella infection and human enteric alpha-defensin 5 (Nature Microbio) RNA polymerase amino acid change and resistance to beta-lactams (Cell Rep) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains the remarkable abilities of bacterial ice nucleating proteins to promote freezing of water, and cryoprotective proteins produced by worm microbiomes that prevent freezing. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Worm microbiomes produce crytoprotective proteins (Sci Adv) Biological antifreeze in Antarctic fishes (Sciece) Enhancement of bacterial ice nucleators (PNAS) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explores the discovery of microbial enzymes, PETases, that can degrade ubiquitous plastics, and how exogenous peptidoglycan is a danger signal to trigger biofilm formation. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson . Guest Mark O. Martin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Discovery of PET depolymerases (Science) Exogenous peptidoglycan triggers biofilm formation (Nat Micro) What is a biofilm? (Vimeo) Peptidoglycan as a PAMP/MAMP (Immunol Rev) Light organ formation triggered by peptidoglycan (Science) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM reveals that record high atmospheric methane growth has been driven by microbes, and the cecum as an adaptive niche for Salmonella typhi. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Petra Levin and Michele Swanson. Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Why a potent greenhouse gas is rising (WaPo) Microbial emissions drove record high atmospheric methane growth (PNAS) Salmonella biofilm formation in the cecum (mBio) Typhoid Mary (The Collector) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

From ASMCUE 2024, the conference on undergraduate education, TWiM speaks with Becky, Melanie, and Katriana about their careers and how they use TWiM in undergraduate microbiology education. Hosts: Michael Schmidt and Mark O. Martin Guests: Becky Seipel-Thiemann , Melanie Melendrez-Vallard , and Katriana Popichak Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM describes how to make concrete more 'green' by using microbes, and bacterial bioluminescence as an important regulator of multitrophic interactions in the soil. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson and and Mark O. Martin . Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , RSS , or by email. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Construction nanobiotechnology for concrete (Appl Env Micro) Self-healing concrete (Sci Tot Environ) Microbe-inspired self-healing concrete (Front Struct Civil Eng) Bacterial bioluminescence regulates multitrophic interactions in the soil (Cell Rep) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]

TWiM explains how ticagrelor alters the membrane of S. aureus and enhances the activity of vancomycin and daptomycin without eliciting cross-resistance, and the development of a novel continuous disinfectant technology that decreases healthcare-associated infections in ICUs by 70%. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , and Michele Swanson . Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode Ticagrelor and S. aureus (mBio) Novel disinfectant technology (Am J Inf Control) UVC-LED to inactivate foodborne pathogens (Appl Envir Micro) UV disinfection systems (ACS Photonics) High-touch surfaces in specialized patient care area (CDC) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to [email protected]