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

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Actinomadura luteofluorescens

News item 1/News item 2

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Actinomadura luteofluorescens

News item 1/News item 2

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (13.2 MB, 14.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Azotobacter vinelandii

News item

Video of bacteria swimming along mycelium


Full statement from Tom Berthold

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (13.2 MB, 14.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Azotobacter vinelandii

News item

Video of bacteria swimming along mycelium


Full statement from Tom Berthold

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (6.3 MB, 6.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (6.3 MB, 6.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.3 minutes)

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.3 minutes)

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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

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

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

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

Other interesting stories:

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

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

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