It's a bit of a relaunch for us this month on 'Microbe Talk', we hope you like the new format! This month, we've been out and about, travelling to Imperial College London, where Ben interviewed some researchers who are interested in safety mechanisms that can prevent synthetic organisms from escaping or sharing their DNA. We also spoke to Kevin Brown, a historian from St Mary's Hospital, who is an expert on all things Alexander Fleming.

(Image: Thinkstock)

Using genomic technologies we are learning to combat pathogens and use beneficial microbes as our allies. Jennifer Gardy explains how whole-genome DNA sequencing is being used to reconstruct the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis and how this could revolutionize infectious outbreak control. Then, Lisa Buddrus and Mike Bushell talk about generating electricity from bacteria and the future of microbial fuel cells.

Sarah Maddocks discusses the healing properties of manuka honey. She tells us about her work at Cardiff Metropolitan University testing the antimicrobial effect of honey against strains of different bacteria and how honey could be used alongside antibiotic therapy to treat wound infections.

Viruses that attack bacteria are a problem in some biological processes. Mark Hurley from CHR Hansen tells us how bacteriophage impact on the dairy industry, in particular cheese-making, and discusses current approaches to tackling them.

What does dental plaque have to do with increasing antimicrobial resistance? Dr Adam Roberts from UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute describes the vast microbial communities that are resident in our mouths, what we know and what we don’t know about them. He discusses his work on mobile genetic elements in oral bacteria and how this is contributing to the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

SGM's exhibit 'The New Green Revolution', showcasing beneficial plant-microbe interactions, was at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 22-26 May 2012. Listen to what some our staff, visitors and researchers thought of the event.

Can microbes help feed the world? We talk to scientists who are looking at the complex, symbiotic relationships between different soil microbes and plants and ways that these could be exploited to improve crop yield and quality. Nigel Brown gives us an overview of the contribution that microbiology could make in enhancing future food security. Rachel Roberts discusses rhizobia bacteria and how she's playing matchmaker and Angela Hodge talks about the ancient partnership between mycorrhizal fungi and plants.

What do speakers, skin and skirts have in common? Professor Paul Freemont from Imperial College London explains how bacterial cellulose is being exploited by industry and how the engineering approach of synthetic biology can help maximise its use. Paul discusses the mechanics behind synthetic biology, the challenges faced by the field and the exciting future ahead.

What are the best ways to control the global problem of tuberculosis? Professor Helen McShane from the Jenner Institute tells us about the MVA85A tuberculosis vaccine from her lab that’s currently undergoing large-scale clinical trials and the impact it could have on the incidence of TB around the world. This episode of Microbe Talk has been produced for World TB Day on Saturday 24 March.

How do infectious microbes continually manage to outwit our attempts to control them? Dr Marjan Van der Woude talks us through some of the clever tricks that bacteria use and discusses some novel strategies scientists are using to counteract them. Also, catch up on the microbiology that’s been hitting the headlines this month.