Matters Microbial #100: What’s the Buzz on Phage Therapy for Honeybees? July 14, 2025 Today, Dr. Heather Hendrickson from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the research she and her team are conducting on bacteriophage therapy to protect vulnerable honeybees from bacterial infections. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : Heather Hendrickson Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Here is the website for...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 100
Matters Microbial #99: Albert Kluyver—Microbial Unity and Diversity in Metabolism July 10, 2025 Today, Dr. Dianne Newman of Caltech joins the #QualityQuorum live at ASM Microbe in Los Angeles, to discuss the role that Albert Kluvyer played in helping microbial scientists to understand the unity and diversity to be found in microbial metabolism. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : Dianne Newman Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A review arti...
Jul 10, 2025•31 min•Ep. 99
Matters Microbial #98: Nesting Dolls of Endosymbiosis July 3, 2025 Today, Dr. John McCutcheon of Arizona State University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work he and his research group do to investigate the strategies by which microbes become symbionts of other cells. After all, the mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotic cells, including yours, were once bacteria! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : John McCutcheon Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! L...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 98
Matters Microbial #97: Microbes in the Air (Way) June 27, 2025 Today, Dr. Ari Kozik, Assistant Professor at the University of MIchigan joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work she and her research group do to investigate microbes living within the lung and their relationship to health as well as microbiology outreach and representation. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : Ari Kozik Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A wonderful discussio...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 97
Matters Microbial #96: Molecular Microbiology in High Schools June 19, 2025 Today, Bob Kuhn, biotechnology teacher at the Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy STEM high school in Alpharetta, Georgia joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss his strategies for teaching molecular microbiology skills and concepts to high school students — and why that matters. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : Bob Kuhn Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An arti...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 96
Matters Microbial #95: Bacteria and Aphids — A Symbiotic Story June 12, 2025 Today, Dr. Tory Hendry, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Cornell University, joins the #QualityQuorum to tell us about the relationship between plant munching aphids and fluorescent Pseudomonas . . . and why we should care. Host: Mark O. Martin Guests: Tory Hendry Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of siderophores in microorganisms. An essay...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 95
Matters Microbial #94: One Health and Microbiomes Everywhere June 5, 2025 Today, Dr. Seth Bordenstein and Dr. Nichole Ginnan of Pennsylvania State University join the #QualityQuorum to tell us about their new publication linking One Health to the myriad microbiomes that exist all around us through the lens of the holobiome—and an opportunity to see the world in a different fashion. Host: Mark O. Martin Guests: Seth Bordenstein and Nichole Ginnan Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patro...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 94
Matters Microbial #93: Preventing Antibiotic Resistance May 29, 2025 Today’s episode was an in-person podcast at the University of Texas Austin! Dr. Despoina Mavridou, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biosciences, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how her research group improves antibiotic effectiveness by impeding protein folding, and why this matters in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Despoina Mavridou Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patro...
May 29, 2025•50 min•Ep. 93
Matters Microbial #92: Microbial Metabolism in Extreme Places May 22, 2025 Today, Dr. Valerie DeAnda Torres, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida (and National Geographic Explorer), joins the #QualityQuorum to tell us about the research her team does, studying the evolution of metabolic pathways in extreme environments . . . and why these are important to geochemical cycling. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Valerie DeAnda Torres Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 92
Matters Microbial #91: You Are What Your Genes Feed Your Microbiome May 16, 2025 Today, Dr. Emily Davenport, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to tell us about the research her team does, studying how our own genes impact our microbiomes. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Emily Davenport Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A description...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 91
Matters Microbial #90: Using Soil Microbiomes in Sustainable Agriculture May 8, 2025 Today, Dr. Francisco Dini Andreote, Assistant Professor of Phytobiomes at Penn State, joins the #QualityQuorum to tell us about the microbiome of plants and the soil, and how understanding that relationship can improve agriculture. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Francisco Dini Andreote Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of the Type 6 Secretor...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 90
Matters Microbial #89: Can AI Point Us to New Antibiotics May 1, 2025 Today, Dr. Amir Mitchell, Associate Professor of Systems Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss using artificial intelligence to develop new and effective antibiotics in our endless battle against drug-resistant microbes. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Amir MItchell Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An article ex...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 89
Matters Microbial #88: Microbial Interactions in Cystic Fibrosis April 24, 2025 Today, Dr. Reed Stubbendieck, Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how microbes and the host communicate with one another in the cystic fibrosis lung. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Reed Stubbendieck Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of cystic fibrosis as a d...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 88
Matters Microbial #87: Dietary Protein and the Microbiome April 17, 2025 Today, Dr. Manuel Kleiner, Associate Professor of Microbiomes and Complex Microbial Communities at North Carolina State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how diet can influence the microbiome in fascinating ways. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Manuel Kleiner Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of “pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs,” w...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 87
Matters Microbial #86: Intraterrestrials — the Strangest Life on, and in, the Earth April 10, 2025 Today, Dr. Karen Lloyd, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southern California, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her upcoming book Intraterrestrials (Princeton University Press). Dr. Lloyd will describe the 25 year journey she and her coworkers have had exploring microbial life deep underground, and even less likely places. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Karen Lloyd Subscribe: Apple Po...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 86
Matters Microbial #85: The Microbiomes of Hawai’ian Seascapes April 3, 2025 Today, Dr. Rosie ’Anolani Alegado of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how weather, climate, and human intervention impact the microbiota to be found in human related seascapes around Hawai’i. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Rosie ’Anolani Alegado Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of how Hawai’i was settled from Po...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 85
Matters Microbial #84: Detecting Pathogens — and Worse — in Wastewater March 27, 2025 Today, Dr. Rachel Poretsky, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how examining wastewater (and related water) can give insights into the presence of pathogen antimicrobial resistance genes and even microbial ecology. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Rachel Poretsky Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial!...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 84
Matters Microbial #83: Helicobacter — Passing the Acid Test March 19, 2025 Today, Dr. Karen Ottemann, Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Santa Cruz joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the fascinating strategies of Helicobacter pylori , which can cause gastric ulcers and even stomach cancer in people. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Karen Ottemann Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! L...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 83
Matters Microbial #82: Melanin, Fungi, and Global Warming March 13, 2025 Today, the impressive Dr. Arturo Casadevall of Johns Hopkins University returns to the podcast to discuss how fungal disease is a looming threat on our warming planet, and how these organisms can use pigmentation to adapt to human-associated environments . . . and increase their chances of causing disease. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Arturo Casadevall Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial!...
Mar 13, 2025•59 min•Ep. 82
Matters Microbial #81: Viruses, Innate Immunity, and Undergraduates March 5, 2025 Today, Dr. Brianne Barker, Associate Professor of the Biology Department at Drew University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how her undergraduate research group studies how innate immune mechanisms of cells recognize viral invasion. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Brianne Barker Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video describing the immune system, bo...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 81
Matters Microbial #80: Do Microbes Make the Best Chemists? February 27, 2025 Today, Dr. Marc Chevrette, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how his research group can study novel metabolites and even interactions via study of microbial genomes! Dr. Chevrette reminds us all that microbes are the best chemists! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Marc Chevrette Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters ...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 80
Matters Microbial #79: How Amoebae Beat the Heat February 20, 2025 Today, Dr. Angela Oliverio, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Syracuse University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss what her research group has been learning about extremophilic single-celled eukaryotes! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Angela Oliverio Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of protists. A wondrous video of the types of protists to ...
Feb 20, 2025•59 min•Ep. 79
Matters Microbial #78: An EXTREME Close Up of the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis February 13, 2025 Today, Dr Ariane Briegel, Professor and head of the Integrative Structural Cell Biology research unit at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss some of the exciting findings of her research group studying how bacteria and the ever-popular Hawaiian bobtail squid work together at a molecular level—using cutting-edge cryo-electron tomography! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Ari...
Feb 13, 2025•59 min•Ep. 78
Matters Microbial #77: It’s a Germ-Eat-Germ World! February 6, 2025 Today, Dr Laura Williams, Director of Undergraduate Research at Georgia Institute of Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss some of the exciting work she did as an associate professor at Providence College with undergraduate students studying predatory bacteria and why we should care about this fascinating topic! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Laura Williams Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Mi...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 77
Matters Microbial #76: Marvelous Multicellular Magnetotactic Microbes! January 29, 2025 Today, Dr. George Schaible, Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the exciting work he did during his PhD to unravel a fascinating topic: multicellular magnetotactic microbes! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: George Schaible Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode What is a postdoctoral schol...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 76
Matters Microbial #75: Do Gut Microbes Watch their Carbs? January 22, 2025 Today, Dr. Darrell Cockburn, Associate Professor of Food Science at Penn State, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work his research group has done exploring how starches and other polysaccharides are used by the gut microbiome. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Darrell Cockburn Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of dietary fiber in the diet. A prime...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 75
Matters Microbial #74: Podcasting to Combat Microbial Misinformation January 16, 2025 Today, Dr. Jessica Coates of the Biology Department at Spelman College joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her work combating microbial misinformation in the classroom and to share her journey to the microbial sciences. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jessica Coates Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A short talk I gave at ASM some time ago about Louis P...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 74
Matters Microbial #73: Seeing the Microbiome January 8, 2025 Today, Dr. Travis Wiles, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the work he and his research group have done to visualize the changing dynamics of the gut microbiome—including bacteriophages residing there. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Travis Wiles Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episod...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 73
Matters Microbial #72: Who is in Your Water? January 2, 2025 Today, Dr. Ameet Pinto, Carlton S. Wilder Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the microbiome of drinking water and how it can be used to optimize safety and health. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Ameet Pinto Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A short review of a famous article by ...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 72
Matters Microbial #71: Disinfecting the Built Environment December 25, 2024 Ever wonder what’s growing on your toothbrush? Today, Dr. Erica Hartmann, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how antimicrobial resistance can occur in the built environment we see all around us every day—and why it is vital to learn more about this association. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Erica Hartmann Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spo...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 71
