Matters Microbial Mark O. Martin

Today, Dr. Jo Handelsman of the University of Wisconsin Madison and Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work she and her research collaborators do on interactive microbial communities, using THOR (the hitchhikers of the rhizosphere) as a model system.  She will also remind us how vital soil is to our lives.
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Jo Handlesman
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Links for this episode An article on the story of “uranium glass,” that fluoresces under ultraviolet light.  Here is another interesting article on the topic.   The website for Hartiful, who makes custom enamel pins (including some that glow in the dark, as all cool things should). Giant Microbes makes small and large plush toys of microbes and other biology related items. An overview of ice nucleation proteins.  Here is a more technical article on the topic. The story of SNOWMAX. Ice nucleation proteins and snowflakes. One of my favorite videos from my microbiology class in 2008, demonstrating ice nucleation by Pseudomonas syringae.   The website for the Tiny Earth antibiotic crowdsourcing CURE. The website for Dr. Handelsman’s book, “A World Without Soil.” An explainer of THOR, for new micronauts. A technical publication from Dr. Handelsman’s research group on THOR. An explainer of microbial “zorbs,” for new micronauts. A technical publication from Dr. Handelsman’s research group on “zorbs.” Dr. Handelsman’s page on Wikipedia. Dr. Handelsman’s faculty page. Dr. Handelsman’s research website. Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Today, Dr. Geo Santiago-Martinez, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology and Microbiology at the University of Connecticut joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the mysteries of the archaeal world, and how one group of these organisms produce methane gas as a byproduct of metabolism.  These methanogens are thus involved in climate, symbioses, biotechnology, and even astrobiology!
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Geo Santiago-Martinez
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Links for this episode An essay about how cyanobacteria changed our very planet. A truly wonderful and highly recommended video about Leeuwenhoek and how he was the first to “see through microbial eyes.” PLEASE WATCH THIS AMAZING VIDEO!. A link to the Boerhaave Museum in Amsterdam (well worth the visit!) including how to obtain a replica of the Leeuwenhoek microscope (*I* do not have one—they are awesome!). A video overview of the archaea. A review article on the archaea. Haloquadratum walsbyi:  a square archaean. Pyrodictium abyssi:  a netlike organism. The process of methanogenesis by archaea (focused on the gut). An essay describing how methanogenic archaea may impact climate change. The famous Volta experiment! An article on Methanosarcina acetivorans, studied by Dr. Santiago-Martinez and his coworkers. A very interesting article on methanogenesis by Dr. Santiago-Martinez. A wonderful video of Dr. Santiago-Martinez and his collaborators’ research. The Archaea Power Hour website. The Cientifico Latino website, increasing diversity within STEM.  Dr. Santiago-Martinez’s faculty website. Dr. Santiago-Martinez’s laboratory website. Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Today, Dr. Rachel Dutton, Science Resident at the Astera Institute in Berkeley, California, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the complex (and tasty) microbial communities responsible for cheese as a model system for microbial interactions, as well as her interesting path through science.
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Rachel Dutton
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Links for this episode An introduction to the idea of sociomicrobiology. A more technical review of sociomicrobiology. Another more recent technical review of sociomicrobiology.  A popular introduction to the ideas behind microbiology and cheesemaking. An article about cheese microbes. An article about viewing fermented foods like cheese as a way to study microbial ecosystems. Evidence for horizontal gene transfer within cheese microbial communities. A wonderful video about cheese microbiology. A video by Dr. Dutton about her work in cheese microbiology. A more recent (2023) video from Dr. Dutton about her cheese community research. Dr. Dutton’s website on cheese microbiology. Dr. Ben Wolfe’s website on cheese microbiology. A podcast with Dr. Dutton from ASM. A popular article about Dr. Dutton’s work with cheese microbiology. Dr. Dutton’s Wikipedia page! An overview of Arcadia Science. An overview of the Astera Institute. Dr. Dutton’s site at Astera.  Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Today, Sarah Bordenstein, Associate Research Professor of Biology & Entomology at Penn State University and Director of Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project joins the  #QualityQuorum to tell us about the most successful pandemic on the planet, the fascinating endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, and how she has used this fascinating system to teach young people about molecular biology, bioinformatics, and evolution.
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Sarah Bordenstein
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Links for this episode An overview about trilobites. The story of Beecher’s Quarry. An article about the fine work of Markus Martin. The microbially influenced glass art of Jane Hartman. An overview of metagenomics as a scientific field. An article about finding antibiotic resistance genes in unexpected places. A popular article on Wolbachia by Ed Yong Another popular article on Wolbachia, describing the effects on their host. A more scientific review about Wolbachia. A quick video overview of the program that Professor Bordenstein and colleagues use to teach about Wolbachia and STEM. The “Wolbachia Project” website. The “Wolbachia Project Database” website. The Bordenstein Laboratory website. A prestigious award to Professor Bordenstein. Sarah Bordenstein’s faculty website at Penn State Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Today, Dr. Jeri Barak of the University of Wisconsin Madison joins the #QualityQuorum to chat about how various microbes (some of which can cause disease in humans) can gain access to  plants, sometimes via group behavior.  With media coverage of Salmonella contamination in lettuce, Dr. Barak’s work is especially timely!  She will also discuss what it is like to be a plant pathologist!
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Jeri Barak
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Links for this episode An overview of ammonite fossils. An article about the amazing glowing petunia.  And here is a second popular article on the Firefly Petunia. Finally, here is a more scientific article describing this achievement. An overview of produce contamination by Salmonella and other pathogens.   Here is another article worth your time. An overview of pathogens to be found in the environment. CDC guidelines and information about bacterial contamination of produce. An absolutely fabulous overview of some of the work done in Dr. Barak’s lab discussed during this episode.  It is a wonderful science-communication with art essay.  A must read for any interest level! A article by Dr. Barak’s group describing how a plant infection can allow human pathogens to proliferate inside of a plant.   Dr. Barak’s faculty website. Dr. Barak’s laboratory website. Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Today, Dr. Vincent Young of the University of Michigan Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Division in Ann Arbor, joins the #QualityQuorum to chat about the ecology of the human gut as it relates to a serious bacterial disease caused by Clostridiodes difficile.  He will also discuss what it is like to be a medical scientist with both MD and PhD degrees.
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Vincent Young
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Links for this episode Backyard DNA sequencing—is this a possibility?  Here is a source of information.  And Sebastian Cocioba is a great source of information. The company Giant Microbes makes a  C. diff plush toy. An introduction to C. difficile the bacterium. An introduction to the disease caused by C. difficile. Some journal articles by Dr. Young and his colleagues and discussed in this podcast:  “Viewing Bacterial Colonization through the Lens of Systems Biology,” “Capturing the environment of the Clostridioides difficile infection cycle,” “Microbiome therapeutics for the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection,” and “Longitudinal genomic surveillance ofcarriage and transmission of Clostridioides difficile in an intensive care unit.” Dr. Young’s colleague Dr. Madeline Barron, who writes wonderful essays about microbiology for the American Society for Microbiology. An informative interview with Dr. Young.  Here is another good interview.  A good biography of Dr. Young from ASM. Dr. Young’s faculty website. Dr. Young’s laboratory website. Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com