Monday, August 29, 2016

BacterioFiles 265 - Predator Protein Protects Predator

By flickr user AJC1 - CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/4187842186
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
attacking prey bacterium
This episode: Predatory bacteria have a particular protein that protects them from their own prey-damaging enzymes!
Download Episode (7.3 MB, 7.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Lambert C, Cadby IT, Till R, Bui NK, Lerner TR, Hughes WS, Lee DJ, Alderwick LJ, Vollmer W, Sockett RE, Lovering AL. 2015. Ankyrin-mediated self-protection during cell invasion by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Nat Commun 6:8884.

Other interesting stories:
  • Bacterial proteins could be used to break open cells upon command
  • Animal gut fungi could break down plant material for biofuels
  • Fungal partners help determine which trees can grow in a forest
  • Parasitic fungi contribute to ocean algae turnover (paper)
  • Fungus in tree inhibits other fungi and plants (paper)

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    Monday, August 22, 2016

    BacterioFiles 264 - Small Cells Stimulate Satiety

    This episode: Proteins from gut bacteria seems to affect hunger and satiety in their (rodent) hosts!
    Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

    Show notes:
    News item 1/News item 2

    Journal Paper:
    Breton J, Tennoune N, Lucas N, Francois M, Legrand R, Jacquemot J, Goichon A, Guérin C, Peltier J, Pestel-Caron M, Chan P, Vaudry D, do Rego J-C, Liénard F, Pénicaud L, Fioramonti X, Ebenezer IS, Hökfelt T, Déchelotte P, Fetissov SO. 2016. Gut Commensal E. coli Proteins Activate Host Satiety Pathways following Nutrient-Induced Bacterial Growth. Cell Metab 23:324–334.

    Other interesting stories:
  • Now even bacteria could make opiates
  • Soil bacteria slime could help make wound dressings
  • CRISPRs targeting phage RNA instead of DNA can have some benefits for cells
  • Engineering biotech pathways for better processes
  • Bacteria can produce antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (paper)

  • Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

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    Monday, August 15, 2016

    BacterioFiles 263 - Germ Jettisoned Jellyfish Genes

    This episode: Microscopic parasites of fish and worms actually came from jellyfish-like animals, after losing most of their genome!
    Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.3 minutes)

    Show notes:
    News item

    Journal Paper:
    Chang ES, Neuhof M, Rubinstein ND, Diamant A, Philippe H, Huchon D, Cartwright P. 2015. Genomic insights into the evolutionary origin of Myxozoa within Cnidaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112:14912–14917.

    Other interesting stories:
  • Deodorant use affects armpit microbes
  • Mammals like dolphins have ocean-influenced microbe communities (paper)
  • Relatively few bacteria may have immune systems (paper)
  • Diatoms are attracted to silica minerals
  • Interesting interactions with bear microbes and hibernation

  • Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

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    Monday, August 8, 2016

    BacterioFiles 262 - Pathogen Polyketide Protects and Punishes

    This episode: Clostridium bacteria that infect potatoes can both kill competitors and tolerate oxygen, thanks to the pink compounds they produce!
    Download Episode (12.4 MB, 13.5 minutes)

    Show notes:
    Journal Paper:
    Shabuer G, Ishida K, Pidot SJ, Roth M, Dahse H-M, Hertweck C. 2015. Plant pathogenic anaerobic bacteria use aromatic polyketides to access aerobic territory. Science 350:670–674.

    Other interesting stories:
  • Soil bacteria protect themselves from amoeba with chemical defense (paper)
  • Understanding how probiotics could help fight rotavirus infection (paper)
  • Bacteria help defend ants from fungi (paper)
  • Modifying useful biofuel yeast with CRISPRs
  • Fungi could make useful adhesives (paper)

  • Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

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    Monday, August 1, 2016

    BacterioFiles 261 - Pilfered Parasitoid Proteins Protect Prey

    These butterflies thus constitute in fact naturally produced GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) during the course of evolution. This is symbolised here in an Andy Warhol-like style by the fluorescent colours on the Monarch pictures.
    © IRBI-CNRS, Corentin Drezen
    This episode: Viruses domesticated by parasitoid wasps have transferred wasp genes to caterpillar victims, allowing them to survive deadly infections from other viruses! This means that Monarch butterflies are effectively naturally Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
    Download Episode (13.8 MB, 15 minutes)

    Show notes:
    News item

    Journal Paper:
    Gasmi L, Boulain H, Gauthier J, Hua-Van A, Musset K, Jakubowska AK, Aury J-M, Volkoff A-N, Huguet E, Herrero S, Drezen J-M. 2015. Recurrent Domestication by Lepidoptera of Genes from Their Parasites Mediated by Bracoviruses. PLOS Genet 11:e1005470.

    Other interesting stories:

  • Similar math can describe electrons flowing and bacteria swimming
  • Natural plant bacteria can control corn pathogen (paper)
  • CO2 in oceans makes them acidic, bacteria less able to recycle dead material
  • Making wood better for biofuel affects community of plant microbes
  • A place on Earth where even microbes might not live

  • Post questions or comments here or email to bacteriofiles@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

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