This episode: Cyanobacteria in biocrusts produce pigments that heat their surroundings up to 10 degrees hotter!

Download Episode (7 MB, 7.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Couradeau E, Karaoz U, Lim HC, Nunes da Rocha U, Northen T, Brodie E, Garcia-Pichel F. 2016. Bacteria increase arid-land soil surface temperature through the production of sunscreens. Nat Commun 7:10373.

Other interesting stories:

• Engineering better bioplastic production from bacteria
• Groups of bacteria can show a kind of memory
• Bacteria in gut are competing and killing each other a lot
• Exercise helps mice gut health, regardless of weight (paper)
• Bacteria help insects tolerate cabbage toxin

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Cyanobacteria in biocrusts produce pigments that heat their surroundings up to 10 degrees hotter!

Download Episode (7 MB, 7.6 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Couradeau E, Karaoz U, Lim HC, Nunes da Rocha U, Northen T, Brodie E, Garcia-Pichel F. 2016. Bacteria increase arid-land soil surface temperature through the production of sunscreens. Nat Commun 7:10373.

Other interesting stories:

• Engineering better bioplastic production from bacteria
• Groups of bacteria can show a kind of memory
• Bacteria in gut are competing and killing each other a lot
• Exercise helps mice gut health, regardless of weight (paper)
• Bacteria help insects tolerate cabbage toxin

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Adding exotic elements to convert spore-forming bacteria into light-capturing cyborgs that convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals!

Download Episode (9.7 MB, 10.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Sakimoto KK, Wong AB, Yang P. 2016. Self-photosensitization of nonphotosynthetic bacteria for solar-to-chemical production. Science 351:74–77.

Other interesting stories:

• Unusual archaeal virus sorta looks like Ebola (paper)
• Understanding how probiotics could prevent cancer in mice (paper)
• Giant viruses have immune system against virophages
• Using evolution to help yeast produce more ethanol from biomass (paper)
• Remnants of viruses in our DNA helps us fight off infections

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Adding exotic elements to convert spore-forming bacteria into light-capturing cyborgs that convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals!

Download Episode (9.7 MB, 10.5 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Sakimoto KK, Wong AB, Yang P. 2016. Self-photosensitization of nonphotosynthetic bacteria for solar-to-chemical production. Science 351:74–77.

Other interesting stories:

• Unusual archaeal virus sorta looks like Ebola (paper)
• Understanding how probiotics could prevent cancer in mice (paper)
• Giant viruses have immune system against virophages
• Using evolution to help yeast produce more ethanol from biomass (paper)
• Remnants of viruses in our DNA helps us fight off infections

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Predatory bacteria have a particular protein that protects them from their own prey-damaging enzymes!

Download Episode (7.3 MB, 7.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lambert C, Cadby IT, Till R, Bui NK, Lerner TR, Hughes WS, Lee DJ, Alderwick LJ, Vollmer W, Sockett RE, Lovering AL. 2015. Ankyrin-mediated self-protection during cell invasion by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Nat Commun 6:8884.

Other interesting stories:

• Bacterial proteins could be used to break open cells upon command
• Animal gut fungi could break down plant material for biofuels
• Fungal partners help determine which trees can grow in a forest
• Parasitic fungi contribute to ocean algae turnover (paper)
• Fungus in tree inhibits other fungi and plants (paper)

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Predatory bacteria have a particular protein that protects them from their own prey-damaging enzymes!

Download Episode (7.3 MB, 7.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lambert C, Cadby IT, Till R, Bui NK, Lerner TR, Hughes WS, Lee DJ, Alderwick LJ, Vollmer W, Sockett RE, Lovering AL. 2015. Ankyrin-mediated self-protection during cell invasion by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Nat Commun 6:8884.

Other interesting stories:

• Bacterial proteins could be used to break open cells upon command
• Animal gut fungi could break down plant material for biofuels
• Fungal partners help determine which trees can grow in a forest
• Parasitic fungi contribute to ocean algae turnover (paper)
• Fungus in tree inhibits other fungi and plants (paper)

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Proteins from gut bacteria seems to affect hunger and satiety in their (rodent) hosts!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Breton J, Tennoune N, Lucas N, Francois M, Legrand R, Jacquemot J, Goichon A, Guérin C, Peltier J, Pestel-Caron M, Chan P, Vaudry D, do Rego J-C, Liénard F, Pénicaud L, Fioramonti X, Ebenezer IS, Hökfelt T, Déchelotte P, Fetissov SO. 2016. Gut Commensal E. coli Proteins Activate Host Satiety Pathways following Nutrient-Induced Bacterial Growth. Cell Metab 23:324–334.

Other interesting stories:

• Now even bacteria could make opiates
• Soil bacteria slime could help make wound dressings
• CRISPRs targeting phage RNA instead of DNA can have some benefits for cells
• Engineering biotech pathways for better processes
• Bacteria can produce antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (paper)

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Proteins from gut bacteria seems to affect hunger and satiety in their (rodent) hosts!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Breton J, Tennoune N, Lucas N, Francois M, Legrand R, Jacquemot J, Goichon A, Guérin C, Peltier J, Pestel-Caron M, Chan P, Vaudry D, do Rego J-C, Liénard F, Pénicaud L, Fioramonti X, Ebenezer IS, Hökfelt T, Déchelotte P, Fetissov SO. 2016. Gut Commensal E. coli Proteins Activate Host Satiety Pathways following Nutrient-Induced Bacterial Growth. Cell Metab 23:324–334.

Other interesting stories:

• Now even bacteria could make opiates
• Soil bacteria slime could help make wound dressings
• CRISPRs targeting phage RNA instead of DNA can have some benefits for cells
• Engineering biotech pathways for better processes
• Bacteria can produce antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (paper)

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

Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Microscopic parasites of fish and worms actually came from jellyfish-like animals, after losing most of their genome!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Chang ES, Neuhof M, Rubinstein ND, Diamant A, Philippe H, Huchon D, Cartwright P. 2015. Genomic insights into the evolutionary origin of Myxozoa within Cnidaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:14912–14917.

Other interesting stories:

• Deodorant use affects armpit microbes
• Mammals like dolphins have ocean-influenced microbe communities (paper)
• Relatively few bacteria may have immune systems (paper)
• Diatoms are attracted to silica minerals
• Interesting interactions with bear microbes and hibernation

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

Subscribe at iTunes, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook

This episode: Microscopic parasites of fish and worms actually came from jellyfish-like animals, after losing most of their genome!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Chang ES, Neuhof M, Rubinstein ND, Diamant A, Philippe H, Huchon D, Cartwright P. 2015. Genomic insights into the evolutionary origin of Myxozoa within Cnidaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:14912–14917.

Other interesting stories:

• Deodorant use affects armpit microbes
• Mammals like dolphins have ocean-influenced microbe communities (paper)
• Relatively few bacteria may have immune systems (paper)
• Diatoms are attracted to silica minerals
• Interesting interactions with bear microbes and hibernation

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

Subscribe at iTunes, check out the show at Twitter or Facebook