microTalk

Viroids are some of the most unusual biological infectious agents because they consist of only very small circular RNA molecules.  They are too small to encode proteins, yet they are resilient and cause disease in a variety of agriculturally important plants, including cannabis, the sixth largest cash crop in the U.S. Dr. Zamir Punja is a Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Simon Frasier University, whose laboratory studies the cannabis viroid, which he refers to as the “COVID of cannabis”.  Dr. Punja describes how viroids only infect plants, how a viroid stunts the growth and potency of cannabis plants, where viroids may have come from, why agricultural practices may enhance the spread of the cannabis viroid, how “beneficial” biological approaches may protect cannabis from infectious agents, and how the beautiful environment of Vancouver promotes good science. Dr. Vince Young joined microTalk on this episode, which was supported by Gordo Sheepsay's My Dope Microscope. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Zamir Punja, Ph.D. (Simon Frasier University) Vincent Young, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Michigan) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Archaea are one of the three domains of life on earth, but these organisms are much more mysterious and less understood than either Bacteria or Eukaryotes.  Dr. Alex Bisson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Brandeis University. His laboratory studies Archaea, primarily focusing on Haloarchaea. Dr. Bisson discusses how Archaea are able to shape-shift from one cell shape to another, how Haloarchaea are able to grow at extremely high salt concentrations, how Archaea cope with being “squishy”, how common polyploidy (multiple copies of chromosomes) is among Archaea, how Haloarchaea are able to desalinate soil to allow trees to grow, how Haloarchaea can lie dormant inside Himalayan Pink Salt, and how Boston is an intellectually stimulating place to do science. Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno joined microTalk on this episode, which was supported by Gordo Sheepsey's My Brave Little Autoclave. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA). Alexandre Bisson, Ph.D. (Brandeis University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA). Salvador Almagro-Moreno (University of Central Florida)

Guinea worm infections have been plaguing mankind throughout recorded history. The Carter Center took the lead in the guinea worm eradication effort in the 1980's, when there were over 3 million cases per year. Through concentrated effort, this disease is on the brink of extinction, with only 14 human cases in 2023!  Adam Weiss, MPH, is the director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program at the Carter Center. microTalk caught up with Adam at the ASM Microbe conference in Atlanta in a live session to discuss the imminent extinction of guinea worm disease. Weiss talks about how seeing the disease first-hand led to President Carter's and Weiss' passion for eradication, how behavior modification was key to guinea worm eradication, how a reservoir in dogs affects eradication efforts, and how being in the Peace Corps influenced his career path. Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/yt7cDHZhThI Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA). Adam Weiss, M.P.H. (Carter Center) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA). Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA).

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are threatening modern society by making antibiotics obsolete. Dr. Nizet is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSD, as well as the faculty lead for the UCSD Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes (CHARM). His laboratory studies how the human immune system interacts with microbial pathogens, with particular focus on antibiotic resistant bacteria and how to treat them. Dr. Nizet discusses how his training as a physician helps drive the research in his laboratory, how repurposing therapeutic drugs could help fight antimicrobial resistance, how taking advantage of host immune responses can enhance the treatment of infectious diseases, how the success of modern medicine is training some bacteria to become pathogenic, how nanobots made from algae can be used to treat difficult infections, and how the environment at UC San Diego contributed to the success of his lab. This episode was supported by the do-it-yourself mail-order Gram stain kit.* Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Victor Nizet, M.D. (UC San Diego) Venus Stanton (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) * "Ads" heard on microTalk are for parody purposes only, there are no actual products for sale.

Houston, we definitely do NOT have a problem…with interviewing Dr. Kate Rubins, NASA astronaut.  Dr. Rubins is a virologist who has spent over 300 days in space, performing experiments aboard the International Space Station, where she was the first person to sequence DNA in space. We caught up with Dr. Rubins at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, where she discusses what it felt like the first time she saw the earth from space, some of the difficulties in performing research without gravity, how to study the microbiome of the ISS, how the international inhabitants of the ISS communicate with each other, and the spur-of-the-moment event that led to her becoming an astronaut. This episode was supported by Cestodium, a new weight-loss program.* Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Kate Rubins, Ph.D. (NASA) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) *The recorded ads heard on microTalk are for parody purposes only, there are no actual products for sale.

Dr. Hyun Jung Kim, an Assistant Professor at Case Western University specializes in coaxing human cultured cells to differentiate and form tissues resembling the gastrointestinal tract, in order to study microbe-GI interactions.  Dr. Kim discusses his surprising discovery of how common immortalized cultured cells can differentiate and form something that resembles a gut-on-a-chip, how these guts-on-a-chip can be used to study diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, how the addition of a microbiome to the gut-on-a-chip allows the bacteria to retain diversity unlike in a test tube, how the gut-on-a-chip could be valuable for personalized medicine, and the things he misses about Texas since moving from there. This episode was supported by Eezy Breezy Poke, an elegant at-home vaccine service. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Hyun Jung Kim, Ph.D. (Case Western University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Plague and anthrax are feared diseases due to high mortality rates following pulmonary exposure, and both are considered potential bioweapons.  Dr. Virginia Miller, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and ASM President, studies plague, as well as other Gram negative bacteria. Dr. Theresa Koehler, emeritus professor at UTHealth Houston and ASM president-elect, is an expert in anthrax.  microTalk caught up with Dr. Miller and Dr. Koehler at ASM Microbe 2023 in Houston to discuss these biothreat agents. Dr. Miller discusses why she studies plague, the differences between bubonic and pneumonic plague, why Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a growing health threat, and what it was like being John Mekalanos' first Ph.D. student. Dr. Koehler discusses why anthrax is considered a potential bioweapon, why significant scientific progress was made following the anthrax attacks of 2001, why gardeners shouldn't worry about catching anthrax, and her first failed experiment.  Both discuss their vision for ASM and the role it plays in microbiological research and society. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Virginia Miller, Ph.D. (UNC Chapel Hill) Theresa Koehler, Ph.D. (UT Health Houston) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Dr. John Coates, a professor at the University of California Berkeley specializes in environmental microbiology and how microbes can be utilized to resolve problems in industry.  microTalk caught up with Dr. Coates at the ASMicrobe conference in Houston and discussed his research in applied and environmental microbiology.  Dr. Coates discusses an unexpected discovery of how microbes drive the iodine cycle on earth, how sequencing microbes in the oceans has been beneficial for identifying novel biochemical activities, how climate change has stimulated his research into the “bioeconomy”, why he's optimistic that science can mitigate the effects of climate change, and how Berkeley is a remarkable place to do science. This episode was supported by miniScope, the portable keychain microscope. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) John Coates, Ph.D. (UCSD) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

The study of evolution has experienced a tremendous revolution with the advances in current sequencing technologies enabling e.g. rapid whole genome sequencing.  Dr. Vaughn Cooper, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies evolution in microbes, has taken advantage of these technologies to delve into how microorganisms adapt and evolve in different environments. microTalk caught up with Dr. Cooper at the ASM Microbe conference in Houston and discussed microbial evolution with him.  Dr. Cooper discusses the power of next generation sequencing for the study of evolution, how mutation rates affect evolution, how providing hands-on evolution experiments to high school students can stimulate the next generation of scientists, how scientists need to work to combat public distrust of science, how antibiotic resistance evolves in the presence of immunodeficiency, and how his initial experience with baculoviruses hooked him into a lifelong study of evolution. This episode was supported by Darbie's pinworm detection kit, to combat nematodes in your bikini bottom. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Vaughn Cooper, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Malaria continues to have a significant impact on humans. The Plasmodium parasites are transmitted through mosquito bites, and the disease has a tremendous impact on global health. Dr. Debopam Chakrabarti, a professor at the University of Central Florida who specializes in malaria. Dr. Chakrabarti discusses the history of the search for antimalarials, the problem of parasite drug resistance, how undergraduates can help to discover the next antimalarials, whether eradication of mosquitoes will eliminate malaria, and his challenging passion in growing roses in Florida. This episode was supported by ArchaeaMingle.com, for single-celled organisms looking for a steamy time. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Debopam Chakrabarti, Ph.D. (University of Central Florida) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jim McLellan (UTSA)

Exosomes are small vesicles that that facilitate communication between eukaryotic cells. They resemble mini-cells, and act like carrier pigeons, trafficking various “payloads” among cells. Dr. Ramin Hakami is a Professor of Microbiology at George Mason University. Dr. Hakami studies how infectious diseases are modulated by exosome signaling. Dr. Hakami talks about how exosomes can deliver messages to cells, how Rift Valley Fever and Plague affect exosome signaling within infected hosts, how exosomes provide specificity and a “reply all” function to signaling, how being in a Nobel lab affected his approach to science, and his alternate career as a salsa dancer.  This episode was supported by IV Rehydration Therapy, the treatment that prevents explosive diarrhea from inhibiting your social life. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Ramin Hakami, Ph.D. (George Mason University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Coxiella burnettii causes Q Fever, a zoonotic disease that is rarely acquired by humans. But Q Fever has a history of being developed as a bioweapon because of its ability to be spread by aerosols and cause debilitating but not lethal disease.    Dr. Stacey Gilk is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who studies Coxiella.  Dr. Gilk talks about what makes Q Fever a potential biothreat agent, how figuring out how to grow Coxiella outside of cells revolutionized the study of this bacterium that was thought to only grow intracellularly, how a large outbreak in the Netherlands led to the deaths of thousands of dairy goats, how cholesterol affects the ability of Coxiella to grow, how falling in love with Toxoplasma led her to pursue infectious disease research, and what a wonderful place Nebraska is to do science.  This episode was supported by Gordo Sheepsay's My Dope Microscope, the kitchen appliance that may literally save your life. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Stacey Gilk, Ph.D. (Univ. Nebraska Medical Center) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

There have been dramatic declines in amphibian populations around the world, and one of the culprits is the disease Chytridiomycosis.  This is a skin disease of amphibians caused by two different species of Batrachochytrium fungi, and it has decimated frog and salamander populations and even driven some to extinction.    Dr. Anat Belasen is a post-doctoral scientist at the University of Texas Austin who studies Chytridiomycosis.  Dr. Belasen discusses how some amphibians are highly susceptible to this disease whereas others are resistant, why amphibian skin is so important for their well-being, how frogs can be considered a biological indicator of the health of an ecosystem, how farmed bullfrogs may be spreading the disease around the world, how genetic susceptibility screening and microbiomes may be used to try and stop the population decline, and how she's been a frog lover for her entire life.  This episode was supported by Gordo Sheepsay's My Brave Little Autoclave, the kitchen appliance that may literally save your life.  Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Anat Belasen, Ph.D. (U.T. Austin) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Microbiology textbooks teach that bacteria are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope, and that they do not contain organelles or a nucleus. Then along comes Thiomargarita magnifica and smashes this dogma. T. magnifica is a giant bacterium that reaches 2 cm in length and can be easily seen with the naked eye. These bacteria, about the size of an eyelash, grow in mangrove swamps.  Dr. Jean-Marie Volland is a scientist at the Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories.  Dr. Volland has characterized the surprising properties of T. magnifica, and he discusses why T. magnifica is found in mangrove swamps, how it overcomes the limitations of nutrient diffusion that keeps most bacteria small, how sulfur oxidation expands the ability of organisms to live in extreme environments, how symbiotic relationships between bacteria and other cells are ubiquitous despite going against survival of the fittest, how studying in Guadeloupe and Austria influenced his interest in symbiosis, and how looking for things in atypical environments leads to novel discoveries.  The microCase for listeners to solve is about Gordo Sheepsay, the temperamental chef of a cooking competition show who eats something more life-threatening than haute cuisine.   Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jean-Marie Volland, Ph.D. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Vibrios are marine bacteria that live in aquatic environments with a lot of other microbes, and occasionally a particular strain will arise that can cause serious disease in humans and can spread through the population in pandemics.  V. cholerae causes large pandemics of cholera, and V. vulnificus causes sporadic cases of necrotizing fasciitis.  Genomic sequencing has allowed scientists to follow the evolution of pathogens as they pass through the human population, and highlighted specific genomic changes that are associated with disease. Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno is an assistant professor in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida.  Dr. Almagro-Moreno is studying how pathogens emerge from a background of relatively harmless environmental organisms.   Dr. Almagro-Moreno discusses how Vibrios can arise that cause disease, how the environment can influence pathogenic traits that are advantageous inside of a host, how oysters may be a training ground for Vibrio vulnificus pathogenesis in humans, how growing up on an island in Spain sparked his interest in marine pathogens, how climate change has impacted Vibrio-related disease, and how playing flamenco guitar keeps him sane.  The microCase for listeners to solve is about France Holiday, an anti-vax social media influencer who gets more than she bargained for while promoting an antibacterial drinking straw.  Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Salvador Almagro-Moreno, Ph.D. (University of Central Florida) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Cameron Lloyd (UTSA)

One of the consequences of the “Antibiotic Era” has been the increased occurrence of infections caused by Clostridioides difficile, also known as “Cdiff”, which in some cases can be life-threatening.  Antibiotics alter the microbes that live in the gastrointestinal tract (the “microbiome”) allowing Cdiff to thrive and cause disease. Dr. Vincent Young is professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School.  Dr. Young is an expert on Cdiff and its interactions with the microbiome.  Dr. Young discusses how Cdiff infections have increased over the past several decades, how fecal transplants have been wildly successful at treating recurrent Cdiff infections, how banking fecal samples can be beneficial, how the gastrointestinal microbiome can influence Cdiff infection, and how playing keyboard in a band has been an important side job.  The MicroCase for listeners to solve is about Speedy Marathon, a cross-country runner who gets more than just a shrimp on the barbie when he runs Down Under.  Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Vincent Young, M.D., Ph.D. (Univ. of Michigan) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)  

Dr. John Mekalanos (Harvard Medical School) has devoted his career to the study of bacterial pathogens, with a special emphasis to understanding Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes the deadly disease cholera.  And what an amazingly productive research path he has followed, from the discovery and characterization of the regulon that controls V. cholerae virulence, to the identification of the pilus that allows the bacteria to colonize the intestine, to the discovery of the bacteriophage that encodes the cholera toxin.  His (relatively) recent discovery of the Type VI Secretion System and characterization of its role in inter-bacterial competition and host modulation has had broad impact on all aspects of microbiology. Dr. Mekalanos received the 2022 ASM Lifetime Achievement Award for all of his tremendous contributions to our understanding of bacterial-host interactions. Dr. Mekalanos talks about the background of some of the seminal discoveries from his laboratory, how important his laboratory personnel (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows) have been to his success, his thoughts on the eradication of cholera through vaccination, and how his love of poker has contributed to his success as a scientist.   Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) John Mekalanos, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School) Karla Satchell, Ph.D. (Northwestern University)

Watch out for this kind of “Crypto” Currency: Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes diarrheal disease in humans.  Cryptosporidiosis is a common cause of waterborne disease in the U.S., and responsible for serious and potentially fatal infections in HIV positive individuals and malnourished infants.  Dr. Boris Striepen is a Professor of Pathobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.   Dr. Striepen studies Cryptosporidium and how it causes disease.  Dr. Striepen talks about how Cryptosporidium multiplies rapidly and has sex inside your intestines, how Cryptosporidium is similar to its cousin the malaria parasite, how genetics can help in the search for new drugs, how someone can catch cryptosporidiosis from a swimming pool or a petting zoo, how bacteria influence the virulence of parasites, and how science beat a career as a harmonica player in a blues band.   The microCase for listeners to solve is about the great, fantabulous, one and only Montana Jones, and his adventure in the Congo that almost led to his demise. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Boris Striepen, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Huntyr Menezes (UTSA) Michelle Neiner (UTSA)

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of diarrheal disease in humans. However, C. jejuni is also naturally found in chickens and doesn’t cause them any problems, so people frequently get sick from eating undercooked chicken. Dr. David Hendrixson is a Professor of Microbiology at the UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Hendrixson studies C. jejuni and how it causes disease. Dr. Hendrixson talks about why C. jejuni is preferentially found in chickens and other birds, how C. jejuni is also associated with the paralytic condition Guillain-Barre syndrome, how the motility of C. jejuni helps it cause disease, how the motility appendage (the flagellum) of C. jejuni is a beautiful nanomachine, why C. jejuni microaerophilic growth leads to underreporting of Campylobacter disease, could disease be reduced by preventing C. jejuni colonization of chickens, and how an off-the-cuff comment by his postdoctoral mentor led him to jump into a challenging and rewarding field of research. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Dusty Broome, a curio shop owner who gets a mysterious illness while cleaning out his shed. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) David Hendrixson, Ph.D. (UT Southwestern Medical Center) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Our eyes are one of the most sensitive areas on our bodies, and they are constantly bathed in microbes, and yet we rarely get eye infections. However, certain microbes can take advantage of minor injuries to the eye and cause very serious infections that can lead to blindness. Dr. Eric Pearlman is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California Irvine and the Director of the Institute for Immunology. Dr. Pearlman studies how the immune system is able to fight against bacteria and fungi that manage to infect the cornea. Dr. Pearlman talks about how the eye is a specialized site that is resistant to microbial infections, what types of microbes can infect the eye, how neutrophils help protect the eye, how fungi can cause more serious eye infections due to lack of effective antifungals, why damage to the cornea results in so much pain, why everyone chopping wood should wear eye protection, and how his fascination with parasites led to him studying river blindness. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Ally Louia, whose mid-life crisis leads to an exotic vacation and a potentially deadly disease. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Eric Pearlman, Ph.D. (University of California Irvine) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Cheese is delicious, and also the product of a complex mixture of microbes. Different communities of microbes produce the wide variety of cheeses made around the world. Dr. Rachel Dutton is an Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego who studies cheese microbiomes. Dr. Dutton talks about how cheese is made, how the cheese microbiome is a great model for understanding how microbes interact with each other, how the microbial community determines what type of cheese is made, how her experience working on a cheese farm influenced her research, how the long history of cheesemaking practices gives great insight into microbial interactions, where the holes in Swiss cheese come from, and how studying the cheese microbiome has the added benefit of being able to eat your experiments. microTalk was pleased to be joined by Dr. Jimmy Ballard (University of Oklahoma Health Science Center) when this podcast was recorded at the ASM Microbe 2019 conference in San Francisco, CA. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Houser Sampson, whose voracious appetite for sushi causes him to come down with a mysterious illness. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Rachel Dutton, Ph.D. (University of California San Diego) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Jimmy Ballard (OUHSC)

Candida albicans is the most common cause of fungal disease in the United States. C. albicans can cause serious and often fatal systemic infections, especially in hospitalized patients with underlying conditions. Dr. Cornelius Clancy is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the Director of the XDR Pathogen Lab. Dr. Clancy talks about the clinical implications of fungal infections, how a physician should communicate with patients, how the unique perspective of a clinician enhances research, why there is a lack of effective antifungal drugs, why the societal cost needs to be factored into the cost of antimicrobials, why there has never been a better time to do science, and what the right motivation is to choose medicine as a career. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Alf Viddersane, who gets sick along with all his family and friends at his 50th birthday party. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Cornelius Clancy, M.D. (University of Pittsburgh) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.  The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted to humans through the bite of a deer tick, and can lead to the debilitating disease that most commonly is associated with arthritis, but can also cause heart and neurological problems. Dr. Tim Sellati is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Global Lyme Alliance (GLA).  GLA is dedicated to development of more effective diagnostics and treatments of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.  Dr. Sellati talks about how people can avoid Lyme Disease, what typically happens when someone is infected with Borrelia burdorferi, how the immune response against the bacteria is the cause of disease symptoms, why people in the Northeast U.S. are more likely to get Lyme Disease, whether tick eradication is a possibility for the elimination of Lyme, how the internet can spread misinformation that inhibits the control of this disease, and what the likely prospects are for a Lyme Disease vaccine.  The microCase for listeners to solve is about Wandering River Spirit, a young hippie who comes down with a potentially debilitating disease while trying to volunteer with a global health charity. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Timothy Sellati, Ph.D. (Global Lyme Alliance) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Subscribe to microTalk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Email or RSS and never miss an episode!

Some bacteria have the amazing ability to orient themselves using the earth’s magnetic field, due to the presence of an intracellular organelle called the magnetosome, which are estimated to have evolved 3 billion years ago.   Dr. Arash Komeili is a Professor at the University of California Berkeley who studies bacterial magnetosomes.  Dr. Komeili talks about how magnetotactic bacteria were discovered, how the earth’s magnetic field orients the bacteria in the aquatic environment, whether a Martian meteorite had bacterial magnetite in it, how bacterial magnetosomes can be exploited for targeting cancer cells, and whether bacterial magnetosomes could be used to generate energy.   microTalk was pleased to be joined by Dr. Marvin Whiteley (Georgia Tech) when this podcast was recorded at the ASM Microbe 2019 conference in San Francisco, CA. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Randy Farmer, a businessman who comes down with an uncomfortable disease after a trip to Bangkok. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Arash Komeili, Ph.D. (University of California Berkeley) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world, with approximately 10 million people becoming sick and 1.5 million people dying every year from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Dr. William Jacobs is a Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and member of the National Academy of Sciences who studies M. tuberculosis. TB is notoriously difficult to treat, due to the slow growth and persistence of the bacteria in the lungs, requiring extensive antibiotic treatment over a long period of time. Dr. Jacobs talks about the history of tuberculosis (“consumption”) in humans, how M. tuberculosis can hang out in the lungs for an entire lifetime, how slow growth is a bacterial strategy to avoid killing by antibiotics, how growth in armadillos is required to study the closely related M. leprae (causes leprosy), just how scary drug-resistant TB strains are, and how dirt from the Bronx Zoo was hiding a genetic tool that was a game-changer for the study of TB. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Ella Copta and Lana Jorgia, two internet vloggers who become ill after visiting an African shaman. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) William Jacobs, Ph.D. (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Abigail Blaschke (UTSA) Jacobi Brown (UTSA)

What happens when a bacterium gets old? Continuous culture of bacteria without any added nutrients can reveal the dynamics of “old” bacteria. Dr. Steve Finkel is a Professor at University of Southern California who studies what happens beyond “stationary phase” in bacterial cultures. Finkel studies the Growth Advantage in Stationary Phase (GASP) phenotype, which dominates in “old” bacterial cultures, and which represents adaptive evolutionary change. Finkel talks about how studying old bacteria gives insight into aging in other organisms, whether bacteria can divide forever, how bacteria choose not to divide unless they are certain they can finish dividing, how carbohydrate modifications in old bacteria can help illuminate diabetes, how small differences in bacterial growth conditions can result in huge differences in bacterial physiology, and how building Mission Control in his kindergarten class ignited his passion for science. microTalk was pleased to be joined by Dr. Marvin Whiteley (Georgia Tech) when this podcast was recorded at the ASM Microbe 2019 conference in San Francisco, CA. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Yakov Smirnov, a Siberian lab worker who comes down with a life-threatening disease at work. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Steve Finkel, Ph.D. (University of Southern California) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology). Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Steve Finkel, Ph.D. (University of Southern California) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology) Visit asm.org/micoTalk for more.

Despite comprising half of the population, women are underrepresented as scientific professionals. The reasons for underrepresentation are multi-factorial. Dr. Joan Bennett is a Professor at Rutgers University who studies fungi; she is a past president of the American Society of Microbiology, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Throughout her career, Bennett has taken a special interest in the advancement of women in science and she continues to work on behalf of women’s issues at local, national, and international levels. Bennett talks about how women’s scientific accomplishments have been frequently overlooked, what individuals can do to address gender disparity, how she’s proud of the ASM for promoting female scientists, how studying mycotoxins took advantage of the knowledge of antibiotic production by fungi, how fungal volatile compounds make mushrooms taste delicious, and how fungi got their revenge on her after Hurricane Katrina. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Tess Tamoni, a retired teacher who gets a nasty infection while on vacation at a tropical resort. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Joan Bennett, Ph.D. (Rutgers University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Genomics-based technologies have revolutionized science. From microarrays to next-generation sequencing, genomics technologies are having a tremendous positive impact on all aspects of human health. Dr. Joe DeRisi is a professor at the University of California San Francisco and co-president of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. DeRisi has been at the forefront of developing and using genomics-based technologies to address infectious disease challenges. DeRisi talks about how genomics helped solve the mystery of dying leopard sharks in San Francisco bay, how a “virochip” array helped identify the SARS virus, how genomics can help identify unknown causes of encephalitis, how the sewer may hold the key to predicting infectious disease outbreaks, how computational capabilities represent the current bottleneck to global benefit from genomics technologies, and how the early mysteries surrounding the AIDS epidemic led him into science. microTalk was thrilled to be joined by Julie Wolf, “Meet the Microbiologist” podcast host from ASM, when this podcast was recorded at the ASM Microbe 2019 conference in San Francisco, CA. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Tess Tamoni, a retired teacher who gets a nasty infection while on vacation at a tropical resort. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Joe DeRisi, Ph.D. (University of California San Francisco) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Julie Wolf (ASM)

One reason is because the overwhelming bacterial members of the microbiome keep the fungi in check. Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum is a professor at Case Western University and the director of the Center for Medical Mycology, who studies fungal pathogens, such as Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. Ghannoum talks about how changes in the bacterial microbiome cause the fungi to overgrow and cause disease, how bacteria and fungi can “play together” to cause problems, how diet, lifestyle, and probiotics can help keep the bad fungi from overgrowing, how scientific data is needed to analyze the effect of diet and probiotics on the microbiome, and how if he wasn’t a scientist, he’d like to be Anthony Bourdain. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Nirvana, a young yoga prodigy who gets a potentially fatal disease while trying out a difficult yoga pose. Get ASM's 2019 Fungal report now available at https://asm.org/fungal2019 Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mahmoud Ghannoum, Ph.D. (Case Western University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Anish Saikumar (UTSA) Richardo Sanchez (UTSA)

The presence of bacterial toxins in a remote coral reef got Stanley Maloy thinking about the evolution of pathogens, and where “emerging diseases” come from. Dr. Stanley Maloy is a professor at San Diego State University who studies Salmonella, which causes gastrointestinal illness as well as more systemic disease in various hosts. He is the associate vice president for research and has been involved in the development of a number of biotech companies, and he’s a great storyteller to boot. Maloy talks about how thinking about bacterial pathogens from the bug’s point of view provides new insight into pathogen evolution, how “Muller’s ratchet” can explain Salmonella pathogen evolution, how metagenomics allows scientists to see new “worlds” that hadn’t been imagined before, how the environment in San Diego stimulates collaborative and international research, and how his first use of a Bunsen burner almost led to the lab burning down. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Kong Ill King, the dictator of a secretive nation who gets a potentially fatal disease while on a visit to an amusement park. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Stanley Maloy, Ph.D. (San Diego State University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Bacteriophages (“phages”), or bacterial viruses, are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, and the microbial world is shaped by these predators and parasites. The ability of bacteriophages to specifically target and kill their prey is being explored as an alternate therapy to antibiotics against various bacterial diseases. Dr. Graham Hatfull is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and the phages that infect it. Hatfull directs the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program along with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Hatfull talks about how the SEA-PHAGES program has allowed entering students at more than 100 colleges and universities around the country to discover thousands of new phages, how phages isolated from the program were used to save the life of a patient infected with Mycobacterium, what the prospects are for phage therapy being used as treatment for other diseases, how bacterial resistance to phage infection impacts phage therapy, and how important research experience can be for students. microTalk was joined by Dr. Jimmy Ballard when this podcast was recorded at the ASM Microbe 2019 conference in San Francisco, CA. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Buck Shott, an aging Western movie stunt double who comes down with a potentially fatal infection after filming an action scene for “The Old, the Ancient, and the Geriatric”. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Graham Hatfull, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh) Jimmy Ballard, Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Frequent urges to go “number one” can be the symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI), one of the most common types of bacterial infections in humans. Usually the treatment of UTIs is quick and effective, but sometimes the organisms causing the infection can get into the kidneys and cause serious and even fatal disease. Dr. Harry Mobley is a professor at the University of Michigan who studies UTIs caused by Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Mobley talks about the mystery of why some people get recurrent UTIs, the amazing ability of P. mirabilis to swarm, how E. coli in the GI tract is a source of UTIs, what are the prospects of a vaccine against UTIs, and how a trip to the CDC set him on his career path. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Chad, a young college graduate who goes to his namesake country Chad, only to come down with a horrifying infection. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Harry Mobley, Ph.D. (University of Michigan) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Stephen Sinatra (UTSA)

Summer brings warm beach weather, and with it come gruesome news reports of “flesh eating disease” that people catch from the ocean. Vibrio vulnificus is a marine bacterium that prefers warmer seawater, and it can infect wounds and cause necrotizing fasciitis, also known as “flesh eating disease”, that can rapidly turn into a fatal infection. Dr. Karla Satchell is a professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University who studies the toxins made by V. vulnificus and other Vibrios that allow them to cause disease. Satchell talks about how people get infected with V. vulnificus, who is most at risk for catching flesh eating disease, how global warming is increasing V. vulnificus infections, how MARTX and other toxins help V. vulnificus cause disease, why oysters are a source of V. vulnificus, and how a scientist from Oklahoma sparked her interest in research. microTalk was joined in this discussion by Karla’s son Grant Satchell. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Wolf Burns, a celebrity survival expert who comes down with a potentially fatal disease while trying to make his way out of the Ozark Mountain wilderness. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Karla Satchell, Ph.D. (Northwestern University) Grant Satchell Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)  

One of the more gruesome parasitic infections is that of the guinea worm: these 3 feet long worms typically emerge from painful boils in the feet to release eggs, and have to be slowly wound onto a stick over the course of days to weeks to pull them them out of the infected person’s leg. This debilitating infection afflicted 3.5 million people per year in 1986, when the Carter Center (founded by President Jimmy Carter) took the lead in the effort to eradicate guinea worm disease. Through concentrated effort, this disease is now on the brink of extinction with only a handful of cases in a couple of countries. Adam Weiss, MPH, is the director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program at the Carter Center. Weiss talks about how debilitating guinea worm disease is for infected people, how the worms seem to evade immunity, how the guinea worm has been eradicated without vaccines or drugs but rather behavior modification, how seeing the disease first-hand led to President Carter’s and Weiss’ passion for eradication, how dogs have recently been found to act as a reservoir, and how being in the Peace Corps led him on his life path. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple who both come down with a disease during planning for their polar bear-themed wedding. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Adam Weiss, M.P.H. (Carter Center) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

The earth is warming up, and many aspects of life on earth are changing with the changing climate. Increased global temperature has multifactorial impacts on living organisms, including microbes. Dr. Sanghoon Kang is an assistant professor at Baylor University who studies climate change and its effects on microbial communities. Dr. Kang talks about impacts of climate change on infectious diseases, how increased ocean temperatures lead to increased human infections and destruction of corals, how scientific literacy can help combat climate change, how sustainability is key to human survival on the planet, how Waco TX is trying to build a biotech sector, and about his missed opportunity of becoming a movie star. The microCase for listeners to solve is about May O’Naise, a commercial pilot for a budget airline who becomes sick on a quick flight from Dallas to Fort Worth. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Sanghoon Kang, Ph.D. (Baylor University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Candida albicans is the most common fungal infection of humans. C. albicans can cause superficial infections like thrush or vaginitis when it overgrows within healthy individuals, but it causes much more serious disease when it infects immunocompromised individuals. C. albicans can form a matrix-encased biofilm on indwelling medical devices that serves as a source to seed systemic infections in patients. Dr. David Andes is a professor at the University of Wisconsin and also the chief of Division of Infectious Disease who studies fungal infections. Dr. Andes talks about the problem of fungal biofilms and antifungal resistance, how the biofilm matrix protects fungi from antifungals, the critical importance of developing new antifungals, and how mixing clinical duties and laboratory research is important for the advancement of fungal treatment. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Sartha Mewart, a TV and media personality who gets an infection after her stint in prison. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) David Andes, M.D. (University of Wisconsin) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jose Lopez-Ribot, Ph.D., Pharm.D. (UTSA) Daniel Montelongo Jaregui (UTSA) Maggie Donohue (UTSA) Katie Quigley (UTSA)

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the U.S. Chlamydia infections in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, and in the worst cases ectopic pregnancy or sterility. C. trachomatis are obligate intracellular bacteria, which has made studying the genetics of virulence particularly difficult. Dr. Mary Weber is an assistant professor at the University of Iowa who studies C. trachomatis. Dr. Weber talks about some of the difficulties studying this unusual obligate intracellular bacterium, how recent advances are providing hope for new therapeutics and vaccines, why antibiotics are not sufficient to prevent Chlamydia infection, how vaccines against STDs also need to also address the social issues surrounding sexual activity, and how reading “Outbreak” led to her career in microbiology. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Jim Bagg, a not-very-talented college football player who gets an infection during practice that could be life-threatening. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mary Weber, Ph.D. (University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Daniel Montelongo Jaregui (UTSA)

Vibrio cholerae causes a severe gastrointestinal illness that leads to massive fluid loss that can be fatal. These bacteria are normally found in the marine environment, but they can spread rapidly through human populations and cause large epidemics. V. cholerae are able to coordinate their activities by “talking” to each other through quorum sensing, and to eradicate competitors through a harpoon-like appendage that stabs and kills other bacteria. Dr. Brian Hammer is an associate professor at Georgia Institute of Technology who studies V. cholerae and its ability to coordinate activities with its friends and kill off its enemies. Dr. Hammer talks about how he uses zebrafish to study V. cholerae within the gastrointestinal tract, the advantages of utilizing a transparent fish that can be immobilized under a microscope, how bacteria coordinate social behaviors through quorum sensing, how the metabolic flexibility of bacteria will allow them to survive regardless of what humans do to mess up the planet, and how being stabbed by his brother led to his career in microbiology. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Nick O’Lodeon, an organic dairy farmer in Groton Connecticut who comes down with a mysterious illness that sends him to the emergency room. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Brian Hammer, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Daniel Montelongo Jaregui (UTSA) Eliza Parker (UTSA) Madison Harrison (UTSA)

Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of Urinary Tract Infections. These bacteria are found within the gastrointestinal tract, but they are sometimes able to ascend the urinary tract and cause bladder infections. One of the amazing attributes of Proteus is its ability to crawl across Petri dishes, referred to as swarming. Dr. Karine Gibbs is an associate professor at Harvard University who studies Proteus mirabilis and its ability to cause urinary tract infections. Dr. Gibbs talks about how the bacteria interact with their neighbors using both a sword to kill adversaries as well as a handshake to communicate with friends, how bacteria can recognize their own progeny and coordinate social behaviors, why Harvard is like a candy store for scientists, and how a high school summer research program led her to a career in science. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Rosetta Stone, a Peace Corps volunteer who comes down with a mysterious illness while on assignment in Tanzania. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Karine Gibbs, Ph.D. (Harvard University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Dr. Jeff Miller has been studying Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium that causes whooping cough in humans, for over three decades, and he keeps uncovering novel aspects of the pathogenesis of this organism. B. pertussis still causes outbreaks of human disease, and Dr. Miller has unraveled in amazing detail the signal transduction system that leads to whooping cough. Dr. Miller is a professor at the University of California Los Angeles, the director of the California NanoSystems Institute, past-president of the American Society for Microbiology, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Miller talks about diversity generating retroelements in Bordetella bacteriophages and how these allow tropism switching, why we still need to study Bordetella for vaccine research, how science communication is important to combat the anti-vaxx movement, how the NanoSystems Institute aims to push technologies toward translational applications, and how being ASM president (twice!) was a labor of love. microTalk recorded this discussion with Dr. Miller during a live podcast at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2018 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, and it includes questions from the audience. The microCase for listeners to solve is about John Deer, who comes down with a life-threatening infection while waterskiing Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jeff Miller, Ph.D. (University of California Los Angeles) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

The devastation of the immune system that occurs during AIDS renders patients highly susceptible to a number of infections that a functioning immune system can easily control.   One of the most common infections in AIDS patients is Cryptococcosis, caused by a fungus. Cryptococcus neoformans can infect immunocompromised individuals through the lungs and cause a potentially fatal meningitis.  Dr. Paul de Figueiredo is an associate professor at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on the interaction of host cells with microbial pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans. Dr. de Figueiredo talks about why AIDS patients are susceptible to infections by this fungus, how working with fruit flies can help in the fight against Cryptococcus, why the fungus is found in pigeon droppings, and his path from religious scholar to scientist. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Cal Naughton Jr, who comes down with a mysterious illness while on a Royal Beluga Caribbean cruise with his family. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Paul de Figueiredo, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) Subscribe to microTalk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Email or RSS and never miss an episode!

Dr. Didier Raoult considers himself a “microbe fisher”, always “fishing” to discover new microbes. He says that in order to fish successfully, you need to first create the correct fishing pole (tools), and then fish in places where no one else is fishing. Dr. Raoult is the Director of the Mediterranean Infection Foundation at the Aix-Marseille University, France, and he has “caught” a number of unique microbes over the course of his career, including giant viruses. He’s also “caught” a number of bacteria responsible for various diseases, including the causative agent of Whipple’s disease, and he even has two bacteria named after him. Dr. Raoult talks about what is special about giant viruses, how he found the bacterium that causes Whipple’s disease, the challenges of trying to get uncultured bacteria like Rickettsia to grow in the lab, and how he would be sailing if he weren’t a microbiologist. microTalk recorded this discussion with Dr. Raoult at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2018 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, and we're pleased to be joined by ASM’s Meet the Microbiologist host Julie Wolf. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Laguna Beech, a yoga instructor whose young son comes down with a life-threatening illness while she’s at a yoga ashram in India. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Didier Raoult, M.D., Ph.D. (Aix-Marseille University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) Julie Wolf, Ph.D. (ASM) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Dr. Kat Milligan-Myhre was raised in a remote Alaska Native community above the Arctic Circle, and was the first person from her village to obtain a PhD. in biological sciences.  She is now a faculty member at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Her research focuses on determining the extent that host genes control host-microbe interactions, utilizing the stickleback fish. Dr. Milligan-Myhre talks about the difficulty of maintaining her Native Alaskan cultural identity during her time in the “lower 48” studying microbiology, why stickleback fish are a great model for understanding how the host shapes the microbiota, how “code switching” allows her to communicate effectively with both her cultural and scientific communities, how Native Alaskans are at the forefront of experiencing climate change, and the coldest stretch of weather she has ever experienced. This podcast was recorded during the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists (SACNAS) annual meeting in San Antonio TX. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Cindy Lou Who, a veterinary student who comes down with a mysterious illness while on a summer fellowship in Peru. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Kat Milligan-Myhre, Ph.D. (University of Alaska Anchorage) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Daniel Montelongo-Jaregui (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Subscribe to microTalk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Email or RSS and never miss an episode!

There are increasing numbers of people with immunocompromised conditions that make them more susceptible to a variety of diseases, including fungal diseases. A group of fungi in the order Mucorales can cause a potentially fatal disease called Mucormycosis in immunocompromised and diabetic individuals. This is a rare disease that is difficult to treat and that has a very high fatality rate. Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim is a professor at the University of California Los Angeles and an expert on Mucormycosis. Dr. Ibrahim talks about why Mucormycosis cases are increasing, why there are not very many treatment options, what is the possibility of an immunotherapeutic to treat Mucor infections, how looking at beautiful fungi under the microscope led him into the field of microbiology, and how if he wasn’t a microbiologist he’d be playing soccer . The microCase for listeners to solve is about Anna Nimity, an animal rights activist spending time with her grandparents and comes down with a mysterious illness after trying to save a stray cat. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Ashraf Ibrahim, Ph.D. (UCLA) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA)

Many organisms metamorphose from a larvae into an adult, for example a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, but some animals require bacteria in order to undergo this transition.  This amazing bacterial-stimulated morphological transition is fairly widespread among different marine animals, like sponges, corals, and sea urchins, but in most cases it is not understood.  Dr. Nick Shikuma is an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University who studies the interaction of the bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea with the tubeworm Hydroides elegans.   Dr. Shikuma talks about how the bacteria produce a harpoon-like factor called a tailicin that inject larvae with the correct stimulus to allow them to develop into tubeworms, how the tailicin is related to a bacterial virus injection device, what the benefit, if any, might be to the bacteria to do this, and whether these bacteria may be present at “Dog Poop Beach”. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Rordon Gamsey, a famous foul-mouthed chef who comes down with a gastrointestinal illness while visiting a restaurant in need of his help. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Nick Shikuma, Ph.D. (San Diego State University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA)

Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae that can spread among human populations in large epidemics when water quality is poor. Dr. Christine Marie George is an Associate Professor in the department of International Health and Environmental Health Engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health who works to improve health in developing countries, including Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in Native American communities in the U.S. Dr. George talks about how the drive to prevent cholera and other enteric diseases in Bangladesh led to increased exposure to arsenic, how an educational intervention program focusing on family members of cholera patients leads to decreased disease, how intervention strategies utilizing mobile phone technology can improve public health, how her friendship with a Navajo studying ground squirrels led her into her field of study, and how her first field study turned into a terrifying situation after a car accident. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Frauke Farbissina, a college freshman who comes down with a dangerous illness while performing with the Gamma Jammas, her sorority singing group. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Christine Marie George, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins School of Public Health) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA

The malaria parasite, Plasmodium, is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. The parasite needs to infect humans to undergo the morphologic transitions important for its lifecycle, but it also needs to infect mosquitoes to be able to complete its lifecycle. Dr. Gunnar Mair is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University who studies mosquito-borne transmission of malaria. Dr. Mair talks about why breaking the transmission cycle by focusing on mosquitoes will help reduce global malaria, how a multi-pronged approach is necessary to eradicate this disease, how public health efforts coordinating drug administration have been effective, some of the hurdles that impede vaccine development, and how his interest in alpine ecology eventually led him to study parasitology. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Jimmy Chonga, a college football star who comes down with a disease while trying to navigate his multiple girlfriends. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Gunnar Mair, Ph.D. (Iowa State University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Kirsten Hanson, Ph.D. (UTSA Marley Caballero, Ph.D. (UTSA) Lauren Bonnett (UTSA) Shakara Penix (UTSA)

Bacteria talk to each other using molecules that allow them to coordinate group behaviors, which has been termed “quorum sensing”.  A number of bacteria utilize quorum sensing to form gangs that coordinate beneficial behaviors such as symbiotic light production, as well as detrimental behaviors such as attacking their host. Dr. Marvin Whiteley is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who studies bacterial chatter. He has developed some innovative means to investigate bacterial chitchat, including trapping small clusters of bacteria in tiny synthesized “lobster traps” to see what kind of dialogue ensues.   Dr. Whiteley talks about how and why bacteria talk to each other, whether lab conditions can help us understand what a pathogen does inside a host, how a polymicrobial “love story” in the mouth leads to dental problems, and how his interest in birds with colorful tails led him to a career in microbiology.   microTalk recorded this discussion with Dr. Whiteley at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2018 meeting in Atlanta Georgia.      The microCase for listeners to solve is about Kerosene Lampe, an infant who comes down with a scary infectious disease when her mother takes her to “the happiest place in the galaxy”. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo (UTSA) Subscribe to microTalk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Email or RSS and never miss an episode!

The magnificent coral reefs of the world are dying! These fantastic underwater living structures that support entire ecosystems are undergoing massive die-offs that have decimated coral reefs all over the globe. Tropical coral reefs rely on a symbiosis between the coral polyp and a photosynthetic algae, and when this symbiosis is disrupted, the coral reef undergoes “bleaching” and ultimately dies. Dr. Rebecca Vega-Thurber is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University who has devoted her research career to studying coral reefs. Dr. Vega-Thurber talks about how climate change is driving the death of coral reefs, how the bacteria and viruses associated with the reef influence its health, some ideas on how to try and protect the reefs from further destruction such as the development of “super corals”, and how she stays optimistic despite seeing the death of coral reefs first-hand. microTalk recorded this discussion with Dr. Vega-Thurber at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe 2018 meeting in Atlanta Georgia, and were pleased to be joined by ASM’s Meet the Microbiologist host Julie Wolf. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Tony Voyage, an aging but surprisingly youthful action movie star who gets a mysterious illness after spending time in his trailer on set. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Rebecca Vega-Thurber, Ph.D. (Oregon State University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) Julie Wolf, Ph.D. (American Society for Microbiology)

Earth’s most abundant biological entities are viruses, and they can be found everywhere where there are living organisms, including extreme (hellish) environments with e.g. low pH, high temperature, etc. Dr. Ken Stedman is a professor at Portland State University and one of the founders of the Center for Life in Extreme Environments. Dr. Stedman studies viruses from hellish environments like acidic boiling hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park.   Dr. Stedman talks about how studying viruses in extreme environments can give insights into the evolution of life on earth, whether a virus is actually alive, how he started studying these unique extremophile viruses, and whether there might be viruses in space (heaven).    The microCase for listeners to solve is about Ella Copter, a third grader who gets sick after eating her favorite meal at the school cafeteria.   Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Kenneth Stedman, Ph.D. (Portland State University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo (UTSA)

Dr. Steve Mayfield is a professor at the University of California San Diego and the Director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology. Algae are amazing microorganisms, and Dr. Mayfield says that the more you know about algae, the more you like them.   Algae are extremely important to life on earth: they changed the atmosphere of the planet to contain oxygen and allow everything else to live here, they still do the bulk of photosynthesis on earth, converting sunlight and CO2 into biological material, and they are the basis of the petroleum we use.  Dr. Mayfield also sees them as a means to improve the future of mankind:  he is exploiting algae as nutraceuticals to improve human health, and as workhorses to create renewable bioproducts.  He is extracting polymers from algae to make biodegradable flip-flops, the most common shoe on earth and one of the most common pollutants in the ocean.  Dr. Mayfield talks about the importance of algae, the complicated process of making and scaling-up production of biodegradable flip-flops and surfboards, and how a student’s idea about racing a motorcycle in the Mexican desert led to his interest in production of algae-based products.    The microCase for listeners to solve is about Grainy Polaroid, a freelance photographer who gets a strange infection in his foot while working at a destination wedding in Mexico. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Stephen Mayfield, Ph.D. (University of California San Diego) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo (UTSA)