This Week in Microbiology
As a science Professor at Columbia University, Racaniello has spent his academic career directing a research laboratory focused on viruses. His enthusiasm for teaching inspired him to reach beyond the classroom using new media. TWiM is for everyone who wants to learn about the science of microbiology in a casual way.
While there are no exams or pop quizzes, TWiM does encourage interaction with the audience via comments on specific episodes (below), vial email and voicemail at 908-312-0760. Listeners can also use MicrobeWorld to suggest topics for the show by submitting articles or papers to the site and tagging them with "TWiM". Each week Racaniello will view the tagged content and select items for discussion.
TWiM co-hosts include Elio Schaechter, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson.
Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission.
Subway Snowblowers and Men in Black - TWiM 127
Written by Vincent RacanielloThe TWiM team explores microbes in snowblower vents on the ocean floor, and cleavage of antibody molecules by a Mycoplasma protease.
I'm not scared of zebrafish and mice and bears (oh my!) - TWiM 126
Written by Vincent RacanielloThe microbiome of hibernating bears, and zebrafish as a model for bacterial sepsis feature in this animal-centric episode of TWiM hosted by Vincent, Michael, and Michele.
A minimal cell operating system - TWiM 125
Written by Vincent RacanielloA deep sequencing study of commercially available probiotics, and design and synthesis of a minimal bacterial genome are the topics tackled by Vincent, Michael, and Michele on this episode of TWiM.
Vincent, Michael, and Michele reveal how a fungal protease blunts the innate immune response and promotes pathogenicity.
Harris joins Vincent, Elio, and Michael to describe multiplex automated genome engineering, a method for targeting many modifications in a population of bacterial cells.
Mayonii, microRNAs and the microbiome - TWiM 122
Written by Vincent RacanielloVincent, Michele, and Michael reveal the discovery of a new species of the spirochaete that causes Lyme disease, and fecal microRNAs that shape the gut microbiome.
From the ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research meeting, Vincent Racaniello speaks with Rebekah and Wyndham about their work on Rift Valley Fever virus and other vector-borne pathogens, and the evolution and pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague.
Vincent and Elio marvel in the finding that a phage tail-like structure from a marine bacterium stimulates tubeworm metamorphosis, and reveal Ophidiomyces as a cause of snake fungal disease.
The microbophiles investigate the ratio of bacterial to human cells in our bodies, and how placing solar panels on a bacterium enables it to carry out photosynthesis.
TWiM #118: Spore-drops keep fallin’ on my head
Written by Vincent RacanielloHosts: Vincent Racaniello, Elio Schaechter and Michele Swanson
On the last episode for 2015, Vincent, Elio, and Michele discuss how soil amoeba hunt nematodes in packs, and the role of mushrooms as rainmakers.
Right click to download TWiM#118 (47 MB .mp3, 66 minutes).
Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, Android, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app.
Links for this episode
- Pack hunting by a common soil amoeba on nematodes (Environ Micro)
- Mushrooms as rainmakers (PLoS One)
- Mushroom by Nicholas Money
- In the Company of Mushrooms by Elio Schaechter
- Image credit
- Letters read on TWiM 118
This episode is sponsored by ASM Microbe 2016 and ASM Biodefense
Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission.
Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@twiv.tv.
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