Podcast appearances and mentions of Ronald Jenkees

TWiP solves the case of the nonbinary patient in his 30s with a history HIV/AIDS presenting with 3 weeks of subjective fevers, chills, generalized weakness and voluminous ostomy output. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Parasite of the Month: Leucochloridium paradoxum (the green-banded broodsac) Letters read on TWiP 282 TWiP study – information and survey New Case 39-year-old man originally from Guatemala, who moved to one of the NYC boroughs in 2023 and currently lives with his siblings and cousins, presented with headaches. He reports headaches for several months, possibly nearly 1 year. Over the past 2 weeks, he has had intermittent numbness on the left side of his face and in his left arm and foot, with difficulty standing due to sensory changes in his feet. He states these symptoms are new. He reports a fall related to the numbness but denies balance problems. He denies fever or chills. He has intermittent nausea and vomiting but denies diarrhea, abdominal pain, or other complaints. He works as a busboy in a restaurant and states that he only cleans and does not prepare food. In Guatemala, he used to eat street tacos containing pork and beef, sometimes with undercooked meat. He is a former smoker who quit 4 years ago after smoking for 10 years. He drinks alcohol 3–4 times per week, typically 2–4 drinks per occasion, but not daily. He reports no sexual activity for 1–2 years. General: no acute distress HEENT: NC/AT, anicteric, vEEG Neck: supple, normal ROM Lungs: clear to auscultation bilaterally  Heart: S1, S2 present, normal rate/rhythm Abdomen: Soft. Nondistended. Nontender. Neuro: AAOx3, no obvious focal deficits Extremities: No cyanosis. No edema. Skin: Warm. Dry. No visible rash. Psychiatric: Appropriate affect and mood for situation. CT HEAD WO IV CONTRAST-Cystic structures scattered along the subarachnoid space, for example, right sylvian fissure/frontotemporal cortical sulci, right > left suprasellar cistern, interpedicular cistern, basal cistern and left sylvian fissure. Associated mass effect with minimal leftward midline shift (0.2-0.3 cm). Calcifications at the left temporal region. There is no obvious acute intracranial hemorrhage. Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP reviews gene expression in wood ants infected with the larval lancet fluke, which causes them to leave their nest and attach to a flower until they are eaten by a grazing mammal. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Gene expression in wood ants infected with lancet fluke (Mol Ecol) Visualisation of the master manipulator in the brain of its ant host (Sci Rep) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP solves the case of the 3 yo child, who recently immigrated to the US from Central America, in the ER with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a rather active serpiginous wormlike 'thing' wiggling away in the child's appendix. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Rudolf Ludwig Carl Virchow (1821-1902) Letters read on TWiP 280 TWiP study – information and survey New Case 3 yo child who recently immigrated to the US from Central America is brought in to the ER with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain. The mother is concerned about the pain as well as nausea and vomiting. This is acute and the ER provider is concerned that this might be an acute surgical emergency. They order an US in this child and they are surprised to see a rather active serpiginous wormlike 'thing' wiggling away in the child's appendix.  I was sent the Ultrasound video which I really enjoyed. What to do? Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiM explains how Streptococcus mitis bacteriocins drive contact-dependent lysis of S. pneumoniae facilitating transformation, and microbial dominance in diabetic foot osteomyelitis determined with nanopore sequencing. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. Links for this episode Streptococcus mitis bacteriocins drive contact-dependent lysis of S. pneumoniae (mBio) Microbial dominance in diabetic foot osteomyelitis determined with nanopore sequencing (J Inf Dis) Diabetic foot ulcer review (World J Clin Cases) How nanopore sequencing works (YouTube) Become a Patron of TWiM! Music used on TWiM is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

TWiM explains how an enhanced domestication method allows for growth of uncultured bacteria, and identification of the oncogene SLC35F2 as is a high-specificity transporter for the micronutrients queuine and queuosine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson. 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 Domestication method for uncultured bacteria (ISME Comm) Transporter for the micronutrients queuine and queuosine (PNAS) How diet and microbiome can impact your health (UF blog) Take the TWiM Listener survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP reviews a phase 2 clinical trial of a recombinant vaccine against N. americanus glutathione S-transferase-1, an enzyme that performs a crucial enzymatic step in hookworm blood feeding. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Phase 2 hookworm vaccine clinical trial (Lancet Inf Dis) Phase 2 Schistosoma vaccine clinical trial (Vaccines) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiM explains a candidate signature of health in the gut microbial community, and how an intestinal bacterium exacerbates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson and Petra Levin. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode A candidate signature of health in the gut microbiome (Cell Host Microbe) 204,938 reference genomes from the human gut microbiome (Nat Biotech) A human gut metagenome-assembled genome catalogue spanning 41 countries (Nat Micro) A comprehensive ruminant microbial catalog (Gigascience) Bacteroides acidifaciens exacerbates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (Cell Host Microbe) The Great Ozempic Experiment (NY Times, paywall) Take the TWiM Listener survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP 277: Rif-ing on river blindness April 21, 2026 TWiP reviews the global, regional, and national burden of Chagas disease, and comparison of doxycycline and rifampicin for the treatment of onchocerciasis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Burden of Chagas' disease (Lancet Inf Dis) Doxycycline vs rifampicin in treatment of river blindness (Open For Inf Dis) The kissing bug by Daisy Hernandez TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiM explains how to use microbes to enhance maize yield and reduce corn rootworm damage, and how the human microbiota modulates IgE-mediated reactions to foods through allergen metabolism. Hosts: Michael Schmidt, Petra Levin, and Michele Swanson. 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 Harnessing Microbes for Crop Production (Phytobiome J) Microbes take on corn rootworm (Science) Microbial metabolism of food allergens (Cell Host Microbe) Take the TWiM Listener survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiM reveals the archaeal roots of eukaryotic life, and a building a gut malabsorption biosensor with bacteria. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode The archaeal roots of eukaryotic life (PNAS) Building a malabsorption biosensor (Cell) Engineering gut biosensors with microbes (Natuer) Take the TWiM Listener survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP solves the case of the man in his 60s experiencing weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Bailey K. Ashford Letters read on TWiP 276 TWiP study – information and survey New Case Male in his 20s from Hokkaido, Japan, developed fatigue and rash, followed by fever and myalgia 6 days later. He was a group of five individuals on a hunting trip prior to this and reports that 3 friends are just fine but one other individual developed similar symptoms.  He reports that they had been hunting the Ussuri brown bear, which is larger and more aggressive than the Asian black bear. They had been successful and all five of them had consumed well cooked bear meat. He does share that he is aware of infectious risk from eating bear and thus the meat was well cooked. He and the one fellow hunter who did get sick were unique in that they each ate one of the eye balls raw. This is a tradition that is felt to give the consumer the great vision that these animals are purported to have. Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP solves the case of the 40 year old male who travels to India and develops intestinal bloating and diarrhea. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Glenn L. Hoffmann Fish and seafood consumption (Our World in Data) Wild fish vs aquaculture (Our World in Data) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

Nancy and Maggie join TWiM to share how and why they created a freely available ebook of TWiM-based science literacy resources and classroom exercises that support teaching across key microbiology and molecular biology topics. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Podcast annotation and resources in microbiology (Iowa State U) Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate microbiology (ASM) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP reviews intestinal parasites in dogs and their association with clinical manifestations of canine visceral leishmaniasis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Intestinal parasites in dogs (Vet Parasitol) Zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals (Clin Micr Rev) Canine visceral leishmaniasis in stray and owned dogs in Brazil (Acta tropica) Zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals (Clin Micr Rev) Canine visceral leishmaniasis (Leish Vet, pdf) Immune Responses in leishmaniasis (Trop Med Inf Dis) Canine leishmaniasis in the US (Today's Vet Prac) TWiP study - information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiM explains how mechano-bactericidal surfaces made from diverse materials and patterned with spikes kill bacteria on contact, and virus-host evolution is reshaped by microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Mechano-Bactericidal Surfaces (Adv Sci) Piercing pathogens (ASM) Natural bactericidal surfaces (Small) Virus-host evolution in microgravity (PLoS Biol) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

TWiM explains the finding that owning a dog during adolescence alters the microbiota and improves mental health, and the molecular basis for multidrug efflux by an anaerobic-associated resistance-nodulation-cell division transporter. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson and Petra Levin. Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Dog ownership and the microbiome during adolescence (iScience) Molecular basis for multidrug efflux (Nat Comm) Take the TWiM Listener survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiM explains how S. aureus pathogenicity is a dynamic, niche-specific choreography that constantly recalibrates in response to the host microenvironment, and short chain fatty acids produced by commensal microbiota reduces its competitive fitness. Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Niche-specific fitness of S. aureus at the wound edge (Nat Comm) Commensal derived short chain fatty acids attenuate S. aureus (mBio) Ditch the term pathogen (Nature) Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv  

TWiP explores female genital schistosomiasis and associated genital infections in Southern Malawi, a neglected tropical disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Female genital schistosomiasis in Malawi (Parasitology) Mainstreaming female genital schistosomiasis (Parasitology) Female genital schistosomiasis (WHO) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 twim@microbe.tv  

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 twim@microbe.tv

TWiP travels to Toronto, CA for the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference where they meet up with Martin Grobusch to discuss his career and his work. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Guest: Martin Grobusch Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Primaquine for blocking malaria transmission (Lancet Inf Dis) Pulmonary tuberculosis, Sierra Leone (New Microb New Inf) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP discusses a 41-year long human infection with Schistosoma mansoni, and CRISPR screens that reveal genes essential for Cryptosporidium survival in the host intestine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server 41 year old Schistosoma infection (J Travel Med) Genes essential for Cryptosporidium survival in host intestine (Nat Comm) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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. 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 twim@microbe.tv

TWiM explores two different ways that bacteria defend against phages through the synthesis of cyclic nucleotides. 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 twim@microbe.tv

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

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 twim@microbe.tv

TWiP solves the case about the parasite check in summer camp, and presents a new case about a woman who traveled to Brazil and developed furuncles on the back of her head. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Francesco Redi Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Redi Linda Hall Library, Kansas: https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/francesco-redi/ Habermehl, G., (1994). Francesco Redi—Life and work, Toxicon 32 (4) https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-0101(94)90292-5. Letters read on TWiP 265 New Case From Eyal Leshem, a returning case “provider” 43 years old female who travelled to Brazil on May 2025 for a two week dance class. The dance school is located in a farm two hour drive West of Rio de Janeiro.  Upon return to Israel she started feeling pricking and “movements” and under her scalp on the back of her head. She noted three non-healing furuncles on the back of her head A month after she returned movement and pricking in the back of her scalp increased, the furuncles enlarged and produced serous discharge. Several days before her ED visit she thinks an “object” dropped from the back of her scalp, but being outdoors, she could not locate the object.  On physical examination she is afebrile and her vitals are normal, and on the back of her head two indurated   were detected under the hair on the back of her head. Serous discharge was produced by pushing the furuncles. A non-surgical office procedure led to immediate recovery and confirmed the diagnosis.  What was the parasite? What was the procedure? Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees  

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 twim@microbe.tv

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

Vincent and Daniel discuss research showing that Toxoplasma gondii infection of the brain alters extracellular vesicle production and the communication between neurons and astrocytes. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Daniel Griffin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server T. gondii infection of neurons (PLoS Path) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP solves the case of the world travelers with poppy-seed size dots embedded in their skin, then present a new case about parasite check in summer camp. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Dr Laurence Tetley Letters read on TWiP 263 New Case It is the first day of summer camp and the children are lined up for a parasite check. Some of the children have certificates that allow them to bypass the screening. Some of the parents are upset about this process commenting that this is not required by the state and report this could not be a problem for their children. One by one the children have their scalps examined and 2 of the children are asked to step to the side. The parents of these two children are contacted and told that they must address the identified concern before they can attend the camp. They are treated with a topical therapy on their hair with repeat in 1 week. The upset parents have several questions that hopefully our listeners can address. -what is this all about? -is anyone suggesting this is a hygiene issue? -what is the most sensitive way to look for this problem? -how do we know it is cured? -feel free to talk about the life cycle Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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. 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 twim@microbe.tv

TWiP reviews research suggesting that schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis, and Chuck Knirsch joins to reminisce about Dickson Despommier. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Guest: Chuck Knirsch Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Does schistosome infection affect behavior? (PLoS NTD) Hero: Harold Brown (NY Times) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 twim@microbe.tv  

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 twim@microbe.tv

TWiP solves the case of the pregnant woman from Tanzania with dehydration and 3 weeks of bloody stool, a situation that would confuse Ockam but not Dr. Hickam. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Dame Bridget Ogilvie (Interview and Wiki) Letters read on TWiP 261 New Case I feel like the back section of our book has been a bit neglected. The new PD 8th Edition is posted on our website so please download a copy and extra points to anyone who can tell us what that is on the cover. Three individuals are involved here with a rather impressive travel history. We have a mom, a daughter and a son who reach out for guidance. Initially one of them found something small dark and about the size of a poppy seed embedded in their skin. This led to a more involved investigation where they found that all three had similar findings but some of these were larger, some a bit larger, one was actually described as mobile. They all feel fine and report no skin rashes. They have a number of concerns about what these are, if they might carry disease, what to do about removing them and should there be testing or treatment. The interesting travel and exposure history. They report that just prior to this they spent a week on a remote island off the coast of Scotland with extensive hiking in tall grass and boggy areas with deer, rabbits, and lots of sheep. An Island called Harris and Lewis and then just that Saturday hiking in wooded areas around Loch Ness and in the Cairngorns. Sunday out hiking and running on Long Island and then Wednesday when these mystery objects were found they had just been hiking and going for a run in Cape Cod. They report on Cape Cod the trail they followed had a fallen tree and they had to crawl underneath it prompting this skin inspection. -lots of questions here…  What might these be and how do we identify them? Is the travel history relevant? Are there any timing issues that impact what we do? Should we try to remove these and if so how? Any testing or treatment indicated? Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

TWiP explains how circadian clocks of parasite and vector circadian mediate efficient malaria transmission. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Clocks mediate malaria transmission (Nat Micro) Hero: Dame Bridget Ogilvie (Wiki) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP describes how a gut commensal protozoan influences respiratory disease outcomes by shaping pulmonary immunity, and body shape variation in lice that parasitize diving hosts. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Gut commensal shapes pulmonary immunity (Cell) The deeper the rounder (Sci Rep) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP solves the case of the man in the Malaysian city of Kucheng who presents with left arm swelling, and presents a new case for you to decipher. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Letters read on TWiP 257 New Case We are still in Kuching, Malaysia in the northern part of the Island of Borneo. This is the Sarawak portion of Malaysia. A man in his late 30s is admitted to the hospital in December with daily fevers that last for several hours and shaking chills. He had previously been healthy with no medical problems. He lives in the city and works in an office, however, in the few weeks prior to getting admitted he was visiting the jungle. Apparently not too far outside of Kuching, one can go up into the jungle and see Orangutans. He had gone into the jungle but this was 2 weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. Since then he reports no unusual exposures. He lives with his wife and children and they are all healthy. A few days prior to admission he noted fever, chills, and a headache. He is a little nauseated but no vomiting. On exam he has a fast heart rate and appears ill. His respiratory rate is increased and he is not febrile on admission but later does have fever.  No enlargement of the liver or spleen on exam. Otherwise unremarkable. His labs are notable for low white blood cells, anemia, and a platelet count of less than 50k per microL. His coagulation studies are abnormal, serum creatinine is elevated, and there is elevation of his serum aminotransferases. Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP explains a study that carries out selection of Plasmodium falciparum in the presence of inhibitors to identify determinants of drug resistance, and a paleoparasitological analysis of a 5th–16th c. CE latrine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Naegleria fowleri acquired at splash pad (MMWR) Determinants of P. falciparum drug resistance (Science) Paleoparasitological analysis of 5th–16th c. CE latrine (Parasitol) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

Michelle Labrunda joins TWiP to solve the case of the Georgian in Guinea with fever and dry cough, and describe a new case for you to solve. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Guest: Michelle Labrunda Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Letters read on TWiP 255 New Case A man who is on eculizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that targets complement protein C5 which serves as a terminal complement inhibitor, comes in with left arm swelling. He lives in a city in the north part of the island of Borneo. He is being managed by a doctor in the Malaysian City of Kuching. Now the doctor caring for this man is married to an Infectious Disease expert and she raises concerns that this might be due to a parasitic disease. She is told by the husband that the disease of which she is thinking is not present in the region. She is not swayed and admits him for nightly blood smears which are negative. She then does a rapid immunochromatographic dipstick test that is positive. He lives in a community outside the city and they go to that village and find others with limb swelling issues who are also positive on antigen testing. He is treated with an antibiotic, not antiparasitic for 4 weeks and the arm improves.  Hint: this is not Wuchereria Bancrofti. Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

TWiP explains a study which finds that tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for Trypanosoma brucei, then remembers our departed colleague Dickson Despommier. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Click arrow to play Download TWiP #254 (88 MB .mp3, 61 minutes) Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for T. brucei (Nature) Understanding trypanosome antigenic variation (Emerg Top Life Sci) Tissue resident T. brucei (PLoS Path) Hero – Dickson Despommier Despommier Photo Art Parasitology Course (YouTube) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees TWiP explains a study which finds that tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for Trypanosoma brucei, then remembers our departed colleague Dickson Despommier. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for T. brucei (Nature) Understanding trypanosome antigenic variation (Emerg Top Life Sci) Tissue resident T. brucei (PLoS Path) Hero – Dickson Despommier Despommier Photo Art Parasitology Course (YouTube) Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

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 survey! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv