Matters Microbial #70: Food Safety and Antibiotic Resistance December 18, 2024 Today, Dr. Dr. Erika Ganda, Assistant Professor of Food Animal Microbiomes in the Department of Animal Science at Pennsylvania State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the varied interests of her research team studying the intersection of animal husbandry, microbiome studies, and the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Erika Ganda Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a pa...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 70
Matters Microbial #69: Can Eating Microbes Make You Healthy? December 11, 2024 Today, Dr. Maria Marco, Professor of Food Science and Technology at the University of California Davis, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss microorganisms in food, intestinal ecosystems, and the role that lactic acid bacteria can play in health and well-being. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Maria Marco Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of food sci...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 69
Matters Microbial #68: Social Evolution in Viruses December 4, 2024 Today, Dr. Sam Díaz-Muñoz, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, as well as a Faculty Member of the Genome Center at the University of California Davis, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how their group, and a growing community of researchers, investigates the social lives of viruses: the many ways that viruses interact and the ways that interactions shape infections and viral evolution. Host: Mark O. Mar...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 68
Matters Microbial #67: Chemical Communication in Microbe Symbioses November 27, 2024 Today, Dr. Marcy Balunas, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, as well as part of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how her group investigates the chemical signals—the language—between host and microbe symbioses. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Marcy Balunas Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! ...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 67
Matters Microbial #66: Digesting the Science of Fermented Foods November 20, 2024 Today, Dr. Ben Wolfe, Associate Professor of Biology at Tufts University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his collaborators study novel food fermentations, helping the public understand more about the gut microbiome, and outreach projects involving microbially-associated food. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Benjamin Wolfe Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links fo...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 66
Today, Dr. Alex Bisson, Assistant Professor of Biology at Brandeis University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his collaborators use a variety of tools to study the mechanobiology of archaea (such as how some respond to being “squished”), and how those studies can shed light on the evolution of complex eukaryotes like humans. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Alex Bisson Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of one o...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 65
Today, Dr. Patrick Schloss, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Medicine at the University of Michigan, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how the human microbiome is studied, possible pitfalls in such data analysis, and what tools he and his coworkers have developed to lead toward repeatable, hypothesis-driven science. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Patrick Schloss Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this epis...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 64
Matters Microbial #63: A Symphony of Cyanobacteria October 30, 2024 Today, Dr. Nathan Algren, Associate Professor of Biology at Clark University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the centrality of cyanobacteria to our biosphere, the viruses that prey upon them, and his interests in outreach and science-oriented art. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Nathan Ahlgren Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of the cyanobacteria. An ov...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 63
Matters Microbial #62: Should I Stay, or Should I Go—How Bacteriophage are Released from Host Cells October 23, 2024 Today, Dr. Jolene Ramsey, of the Biology Department of Texas A&M University and Affiliate of the Center for Phage Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how bacteriophages release themselves from host cells, her efforts to teach students to work with the primary literature, and her own path to the microbial sciences. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jolene Ramsey Subscribe...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 62
Matters Microbial #61: All In Due Time–How Bacteria Wake from Dormancy October 17, 2024 Today, Dr. Paul Carini, of the Environmental Science department of the University of Arizona, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how soil bacteria can become dormant, “wake up,” and why that is more relevant than you might suppose. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Paul Carini Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A lovely essay about the “Cultivation Conu...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 61
Matters Microbial #60: Influenza, Epidemics, Pandemics, and Fortunate Mistakes October 9, 2024 Today, Dr. Adam Lauring of the University of Michigan joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the job of a physician-scientist, RNA viruses, the tricks that influenza uses to create epidemics and pandemics, and the science behind flu vaccines. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Adam Lauring Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A description of the MD/PhD...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 60
Matters Microbial #59: Some (Microbes) Like It Hot—Discussions with the Thermal Biology Institute October 3, 2024 Today is an unusual episode of the podcast. I am visiting four microbiologists in the Thermal Biology Institute at Montana State University of Bozeman, Montana. They discuss their work exploring the unusual microbes and environments to be found in Yellowstone National Park, ranging from the history of the park to opportunities for undergraduate students, as well as up-to-the-minute r...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 59
Today, Dr. Cynthia Silveira of the Department of Biology at Miami University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her research team’s efforts to explore how bacterial viruses interact with their host cells from coral reefs to other planets! In addition, Dr. Silveira will discuss her microbiological path and a course she teaches on virology. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Cynthia Silveira Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video about ma...
Sep 26, 2024•54 min•Ep. 58
Matters Microbial #57: Pitting Metabolic Inhibitors Against Viruses September 18, 2024 Today, Dr. Tracie Delgado of the Biology Department at Seattle Pacific University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her undergraduate research team’s explorations of how some herpesviruses can cause cancer . . . and how to use the host cell’s metabolism to fight those viruses! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Tracie Delgado Download MM#5 7 (39 MB mp3, 65 min) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 57
Matters Microbial #56: Marine Microbial Echoes of Evolution September 11, 2024 Today, Dr. Carolina Martinez Gutierrez of the Department of Earth Science at the University of California Santa Barbara joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her research team’s efforts to unravel how ancient microbes thrived in the early oceans of Earth’s history . . . and to sing the praises of marine microbiology! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Carolina Martinez Gutierrez Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a pat...
Sep 12, 2024•57 min•Ep. 56
Today, the award winning and affable Dr. David Westenberg of the Missouri University of Science and Technology joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss his efforts at microbial outreach from K-12 (and beyond), his fascinating research program, and his experiences teaching microbiology to engineers. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: David Westenberg Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A TEDX talk by Dr. Westenberg. An overview of the BioBuilder pr...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 55
Today, Dr. Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Assistant Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss his laboratory group’s work investigating a remarkable group of giant viruses and how they can shape marine algal community structure. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Mohammad Moniruzzaman Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Here is a recent review of the gia...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 54
Today, Dr. Jennifer Goff of the Department of Chemistry at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her laboratory’s work studying the relationship between microbes in metal, as well as her path in the microbial sciences. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jennifer Goff Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A fine remembrance of Carl Woese from the journal Nature . A wonderful book by the great Davi...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 53
Today, Dr. Justine Debelius of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her fascinating work relating the human microbiome to nasopharyngeal cancer, as well as her path in the microbial sciences. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Justine Debelius Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video overview of the human microbiome for introductory MIcronauts. Another interesting video introduction to the...
Aug 15, 2024•53 min•Ep. 52
Today, Dr. Michele Swanson, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Michigan, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the her journey to microbiology, the mysterious disease causing bacterium Legionella , and how to best create a better scientific ecosystem. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Michele Swanson Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overview of Legionella and its ability to cause disease from the Centers for Disease Control. ...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 51
Today, Dr. Will Ratcliff of the Georgia Institute of Technology joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the fascinating work his group has done exploring the evolution of multicellularity, and the wonderful example of “snowflake yeast.” Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: William Ratcliff Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video of a #LuxArt workshop that Dr. Jennifer Quinn and I organized at an ASMCUE conference a few years ago. Such creativit...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 50
Today, Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai of the California Institute of Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her philosophy of the future of biology. Dr. McFall-Ngai has been described as “ …a recognized thought leader regarding the cornerstone role microbiology plays in the life sciences .” I could not agree more. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Margaret McFall-Ngai Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode For beginning #Micronauts, I sugges...
Jul 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 49
Today, Dr. Mark Mandel, Professor of Medical Microbiology & Immunology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the research his laboratory group does exploring how the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri finds its way into its symbiotic partner, the Hawai’ian Bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes . It will be an enlightening podcast! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Mark Mandel Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episod...
Jul 18, 2024•56 min•Ep. 48
Today, Dr. Roberto Kolter, Emeritus Professor of Microbiology at Harvard University (and past President of the American Society for Microbiology), joins the Quality Quorum to discuss his life long interest in microbes and microbiology, and how best to present microbiology to the public. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Roberto Kolter Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A wonderful article about the complexities of how microbes look and grow...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 47
Today, Dr. Nkrumah Grant, Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins the Quality Quorum today to discuss aspects of his work in bacterial evolution, the challenges of setting up a new research laboratory, and his quite inspiring journey in academia. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Nkrumah Grant Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The long term evolution LTEE program by Rich Lenski and his c...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 46
Today, Dr. Michael Schmidt of This Week in Microbiology and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology of the Medical University of South Carolina, joins the Quality Quorum (at a special “live audience” podcast session at the American Society for Microbiology in Atlanta, Georgia) to discuss his fascinating work with copper as an antimicrobial agent. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Michael Schmidt Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An overvi...
Jun 27, 2024•46 min•Ep. 45
Today, Dr. Kimberly Walker, Assistant Professor and Director of Medical Diagnostics at the University of Delaware, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss her interesting path in microbiology, from pathogenic bacteria, to predatory microbes, to Congress, to science policy, and then to educating others about medical diagnostics. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Kimberly Walker Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An article about the wonderful Mi...
Jun 21, 2024•59 min•Ep. 44
Today, Dr. Roland Hatzenpichler of Montana State University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the central importance of archaea to our knowledge of the microbial world, ranging from history of their study, misconceptions about archaea, the microbiological bounty of Yellowstone National Park, and how ancient archaea may be the Asgard like ancestors of us all. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Roland Hatzenpichler Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 43
Today, Jessica Buchser, graduate of West Chester University and entering PhD student at Pennsylvania State University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss being an older student, how social media and podcasts fueled her interest in the microbial sciences, and her future path as a microbiologist! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Jessica Buchser Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The video that Dr. Jennifer Quinn and yours truly did for Harva...
May 30, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 42
Today, Dr. Esther Angert of Cornell University joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the role her research collaborators have had studying truly gigantic bacteria, and the adaptations these enormous microbes must make to their size! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Esther Angert Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video describing the surface area versus volume problem in biology. A wonderful introductory essay on sizes of bacteria…both big...
May 23, 2024•56 min•Ep. 41
