Monday, December 18, 2017

BacterioFiles 321 - Escherichia Extends elegans Existence

Caenorhabditis elegans
By Bob Goldstein, UNC Chapel Hill
CC BY-SA 3.0
This episode: Bacteria with various gene knockouts help roundworms live longer and with less disease!

Download Episode (9.9 MB, 10.75 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Han B, Sivaramakrishnan P, Lin C-CJ, Neve IAA, He J, Tay LWR, Sowa JN, Sizovs A, Du G, Wang J, Herman C, Wang MC. 2017. Microbial Genetic Composition Tunes Host Longevity. Cell 169:1249–1262.e13.

Other interesting stories:
  • Useful reviews and guide to commercial probiotic selection at Reviews.com
  • Success of high-fiber diet depends on gut microbes
  • Engineering microbes to produce fluorine-containing polymers (like Teflon)
  • Using mosquito gut bacteria to prevent malaria spread
  • Bacteria and archaea in harsh places share genes often (paper)

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

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    Episode outline:

    Monday, December 11, 2017

    BacterioFiles 320 - Fortified Fungi Fight Fevers

    Anopheles gambiae
    This episode: Fungi modified to produce spider and scorpion toxins kill malaria-transmitting mosquitoes extra fast!

    Thanks to Brian Lovett for his contribution.

    Download Episode (7.8 MB, 8.5 minutes)

    Show notes:
    Microbe of the episode: Microbispora parva

    News item

    Journal Paper:
    Bilgo E, Lovett B, Fang W, Bende N, King GF, Diabate A, Leger RJS. 2017. Improved efficacy of an arthropod toxin expressing fungus against insecticide-resistant malaria-vector mosquitoes. Sci Rep 7:3433.

    Other interesting stories:
  • Virus-like protein helps bacteria eat fungi (paper)
  • Molecules from good bacteria help animals stay healthy for longer (paper)
  • Zika virus could help treat brain cancer
  • Probiotic bacterium helps prevent gluten-related gut problems in mice (paper)
  • Native vs. invader microbes help or prevent invasive marine plants invade

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

    Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook.

    Episode outline:

    Monday, December 4, 2017

    BacterioFiles 319 - Mycelial Moisture Magnanimity

    By: Worrich et al. 2017, Nat Commun
    CC-BY 4.0
    This episode: Filament network-forming organisms like fungi can transfer nutrients and moisture to bacteria in harsher conditions!

    Download Episode (10.4 MB, 11.4 minutes)

    Show notes:
    Microbe of the episode: Desulfuromonas acetoxidans

    News item

    Journal Paper:
    Worrich A, Stryhanyuk H, Musat N, König S, Banitz T, Centler F, Frank K, Thullner M, Harms H, Richnow H-H, Miltner A, Kästner M, Wick LY. 2017. Mycelium-mediated transfer of water and nutrients stimulates bacterial activity in dry and oligotrophic environments. Nat Commun 8:ncomms15472.

    Other interesting stories:
  • Which gut fungi transfer from mothers to babies (paper)
  • Bacteria as catalyst substrate for biofuel cleaning
  • Different gut microbiota associated with Parkinson's disease
  • Engineering gut bacteria to talk to the body in helpful ways
  • Bacteria induce mating in another ocean microbe

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

    Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Google Play. Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show at Twitter or Facebook.