BacterioFiles 304 - Phages Facilitate Photosynthesis

Prochlorococcus marinus

Credit: F. Partensky, CNRS, France

This episode: Viruses infecting cyanobacteria can produce proteins that actually help their host capture light better!

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Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Pseudomonas asplenii

News item

Journal Paper:
Gasper R, Schwach J, Hartmann J, Holtkamp A, Wiethaus J, Riedel N, Hofmann E, Frankenberg-Dinkel N. 2017. Distinct Features of Cyanophage-encoded T-type Phycobiliprotein Lyase ΦCpeT: The Role of Auxiliary Metabolic Genes. J Biol Chem 292:3089–3098.

Other interesting stories:

Many new antibiotics could be discovered in fungi

Finding bacteria to degrade triclosan in the environment

Microbes could affect gut chemotherapy treatment

Carbon nanotubes help bacteria produce more methane (paper)

Fecal transplant could be helpful for treating ulcerative colitis also

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

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BacterioFiles 303 - Sticky Skin Sows Cells

Caenorhabditis elegans
By Bob Goldstein, CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Roundworms in soil can carry with them bacteria they eat to grow new food, like farmers!

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Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Equid alphaherpesvirus 1

News item

Journal Paper:
Thutupalli S, Uppaluri S, Constable GWA, Levin SA, Stone HA, Tarnita CE, Brangwynne CP. 2017. Farming and public goods production in Caenorhabditis elegans populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci 114:2289–2294.

Other interesting stories:

Using modified CRISPR for quick detection of infections

Modifying cyanobacterium cell length to make extracting biofuels easier (paper)

Fusing phage proteins with antibodies to better target pathogens

Some amoebas can penetrate biofilms to feed on dangerous bacteria (paper)

Phages have some advantages over antibiotics

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

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BacterioFiles 302 - Message Moderates Microbe Mortality

Bacillus subtilis

By Y tambe, CCBY-SA 3.0

This episode: Even organisms as simple as viruses can communicate with each other!

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Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Sweet potato virus C

Commentary (paywall)
Great talk about bacterial communication by Dr. Bonnie Bassler

Journal Paper:
Erez Z, Steinberger-Levy I, Shamir M, Doron S, Stokar-Avihail A, Peleg Y, Melamed S, Leavitt A, Savidor A, Albeck S, Amitai G, Sorek R. 2017. Communication between viruses guides lysis–lysogeny decisions. Nature 541:488–493.

Other interesting stories:

Engineering gut bacteria to detect and report gut inflammation

Plants give fat to their root fungi in exchange for other nutrients

Gut microbe metabolite linked with lower risk of diabetes

Making bioelectrodes by embedding bacteria in glass (paper)

Using CRISPR to discover new drug-producing bacterial genes

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

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BacterioFiles 301 - Cells Simulate City Structures

This episode: Ancient microbes built underwater structures that look like sunken, ancient cities!

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Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Actinomadura luteofluorescens

News item 1/News item 2

Journal Paper:
Andrews JE, Stamatakis MG, Marca-Bell A, Stewart C, Millar IL. 2016. Exhumed hydrocarbon-seep authigenic carbonates from Zakynthos Island (Greece): Concretions not archaeological remains. Marine and Petroleum Geology 76:16–25.

Other interesting stories:

Insecticide-resistant insects have insecticide-degrading gut bacteria (paper)

Microbe spores that can survive in space

Fungus-gardening ants are choosy about how much CO₂ they want in their gardens (paper)

Biochar helps microbes transfer electrons around in soil

Exposure of infants to furry pets affects microbiota

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

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BacterioFiles 300 - Hyphae Help Horizontal (Gene Transfer)

Oyster mushroom mycelium
By Tobi Kellner, CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Filament-forming organisms help bacteria swim through soil and exchange genes with each other! Also, new feature: microbe of the episode!

Download Episode (13.2 MB, 14.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Azotobacter vinelandii

News item

Video of bacteria swimming along mycelium:

Full statement from Tom Berthold

Journal Paper:
Berthold T, Centler F, Hübschmann T, Remer R, Thullner M, Harms H, Wick LY. 2016. Mycelia as a focal point for horizontal gene transfer among soil bacteria. Sci Rep 6:36390.

Other interesting stories:

Bacterial DNA reduces mouse airway allergies

Changes in microbiomes of people in 500-day space simulation (paper)

Using advanced electron microscopy to visualize giant virus

Bacterial predators find prey by both being trapped by their own whirlpools

Many unusual viruses are moving around in the fluids of the rocky ocean floor

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.