Let's Talk Micro

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow as a global health threat, making infections harder to treat and leaving fewer options for patients. The need for new antibiotics is an urgent matter — but traditional discovery methods are slow and limited.

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. James Collins, professor at MIT and researcher at the Broad Institute, who is leading efforts to apply AI to antibiotic discovery. We discuss how his team used deep learning to uncover promising new compounds, including NG1 and DN1, which showed activity against drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. We also talk about the challenges of bringing discoveries from computer models to the clinic, and what this approach could mean for the future of the fight against superbugs.

Link to study: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2825%2900855-4

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Last week, we discussed early growth isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the importance of obtaining results sooner. This week, we revisit an earlier study that looked at early growth but using disk diffusion.

In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, Dr. Daniel Webber, and Meghan Wallace to discuss their work. Tune in to hear how this approach could help deliver AST results faster, the challenges of adopting early growth methods, and what it means for clinical microbiology labs.

This episode was originally released in 2022 (Episode 39: "Talking disk diffusion performed on early growth").

Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Dr. Jennifer Dien Bard and Dr. Lucas Osborn discuss their recent study on early growth antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Traditional AST often requires 18–24 hours of incubation of isolates, delaying targeted treatment. Their research shows that using 6-hour early growth isolates with both automated and manual methods delivers accurate results up to 18 hours faster—without added costs or specialized equipment.

The conversation explores the study design, agreement rates with standard methods, and what faster AST means for patient care and antimicrobial stewardship.

Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00236-25

Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20

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This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Ashlan Kunz-Coyne to discuss some of the newest antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). They explore why extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a growing concern, the impact of E. coli sequence type 131, and where new agents like cefepime–enmetazobactam, sulopenem, and tebipenem fit into treatment. The conversation also highlights clinical data, stewardship considerations, and how the infectious diseases and microbiology communities can work together to preserve these options. Plus, Dr. Kunz-Coyne reveals her favorite bug—Stenotrophomonas maltophilia—and why it's unlike any other.

Link to sulopenem episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868135

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Season 5 premieres today!

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is essential for guiding effective treatment—but how has it evolved, and what challenges are we still facing?

In the first episode of this series in collaboration with bioMérieux, Dr. Andrea Prinzi joins Let's Talk Micro to explore the evolution of AST—from early methods to modern platforms like VITEK 2. We discuss the known issue of outdated breakpoints in clinical practice, the challenges with regulatory hurdles, and the impact of the 21st Century Cures Act.

What is the Cures Act, and how does it affect the way breakpoints are adopted? Why are delays still happening? And most importantly—what can laboratories, organizations, and manufacturers do to drive change?

Tune in to understand where we've been, where we are, and where we need to go in the world of AST.

This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

Resources from bioMérieux: https://info.biomerieux.com/clin_us_2024_ams_handbook?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=LetsTalkMicro

Additional breakpoint links: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00106-25

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This episode of Let's Talk Micro features Dr. Andrea Prinzi, a clinical microbiologist and frequent contributor to the American Society for Microbiology. Andrea joins the podcast to discuss a critical topic in clinical microbiology: antimicrobial susceptibility testing and breakpoints.

Are labs using outdated breakpoints—and what does that mean for patient care? How are breakpoints determined and updated? Dr. Prinzi breaks it all down and shares insights from her article on the subject.

Tune in to learn why staying current on breakpoints matters and what steps labs can take to improve antimicrobial stewardship.

This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2022.

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Link to articles: https://asm.org/Articles/2022/February/Updating-Breakpoints-in-Antimicrobial-Susceptibili

https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00106-25

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The Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook (CMPH) has long been a trusted resource for laboratories. With the release of its 5th edition, this essential reference continues to guide clinical microbiologists through evolving standards, methods, and best practices.

In this episode, Luis is joined by the editors‑in‑chief, Dr. Amy Leber and Dr. Carey‑Ann Burnham, to explore what's new in the latest edition, how the CMPH supports day‑to‑day work in the lab, and why it remains a cornerstone in clinical microbiology.

(Originally published May 4, 2023.)

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This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Christopher Doern from VCU Health to explore the complex world of diabetic wound cultures. How does diabetes impair wound healing—and what makes these infections so difficult to diagnose and treat? Dr. Doern dives into the microbiology behind diabetic foot wounds, highlighting the impact of bacterial diversity, specimen quality, and the limitations of traditional culture methods. He also shares best practices for workup strategies and antibiotic selection in these often polymicrobial infections.

Link to studies mentioned in the episode:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28669650/

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-481X.2011.00937.x

https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/10/10/ofad495/7292955

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Recorded live at ASM Microbe 2025, this episode captures the energy of the American Society for Microbiology's annual event. Luis shares his top takeaways from the conference floor—including standout poster presentations, emerging technologies, and trending topics in microbiology. One clear theme dominated this year: rapid diagnostics for identification and susceptibility testing. Tune in for a front-row seat to the latest in clinical microbiology innovation.

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we dive into the fast-paced world of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Recorded live from ASM Microbe 2025, Luis is joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, CEO of Pattern Bioscience and Editor-in-Chief of the ASM Case Reports journal. Together, they explore how innovative technologies—like single-cell microbiology—are transforming clinical microbiology and accelerating diagnostic results. What is single-cell microbiology, and how does it improve rapid diagnostics? They also discuss case reports from ASM that highlight the real-world impact of timely diagnostic tools on patient care. It's where speed meets science—and the stories behind the data truly matter.

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