BacterioFiles 311 - Synchronized Slimes Spread Slowly

Bacillus subtilis colonies
By Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Separate groups of bacteria can each thrive better when they take turns growing instead of competing!

Thanks to Jintao Liu and Rosa Martinez-Corral for their contributions to this episode!

Download Episode (14.2 MB, 15.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Palyam virus

News item

Journal Paper:
Liu J, Martinez-Corral R, Prindle A, Lee DD, Larkin J, Gabalda-Sagarra M, Garcia-Ojalvo J, Süel GM. 2017. Coupling between distant biofilms and emergence of nutrient time-sharing. Science 356:638–642.

Other interesting stories:

Microbe prefers making its own siderophores rather than relying on others' (paper)

Deep-sea animals live off microbes that eat oil

Correlating gut microbiome differences with anorexia (paper)

Having microbes affects mice's perception of internal pain

Bacteria that digest gluten could be helpful as probiotics (paper)

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:

BacterioFiles 310 - Prodigious Particles Produce Proteins

Megavirus
By Chantal Abergel, CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Newly discovered giant viruses almost build their own replication machinery instead of using their host's!

Download Episode (11.2 MB, 12.3 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Terasakiella pusilla

News item

Journal Paper:
Schulz F, Yutin N, Ivanova NN, Ortega DR, Lee TK, Vierheilig J, Daims H, Horn M, Wagner M, Jensen GJ, Kyrpides NC, Koonin EV, Woyke T. 2017. Giant viruses with an expanded complement of translation system components. Science 356:82–85.

Other interesting stories:

Using insect bacteria to control devastating citrus disease

Microbes give meerkat gangs their signature scents

Bacteria use a special trick with their flagella to get unstuck (paper)

Fecal transplant microbes can stick around for years after treatment

Probiotics could help protect honeybees from pesticides

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:

Hurricane Preparedness

No episode this week. Busy preparing for the edge of Hurricane Irma. To all my listeners in a hurricane's path, stay safe!

BacterioFiles 309 - Fungus Foils Phytophagy

Leafcutting ants
By Bandwagonman,
CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Fungi living in plants could protect them from ants that cut up their leaves to feed their own fungal gardens!

Download Episode (7.5 MB, 8.2 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Escherichia virus RB3

Journal Paper:
Rocha SL, Evans HC, Jorge VL, Cardoso LAO, Pereira FST, Rocha FB, Barreto RW, Hart AG, Elliot SL. 2017. Recognition of endophytic Trichoderma species by leaf-cutting ants and their potential in a Trojan-horse management strategy. R Soc Open Sci 4:160628.

Other interesting stories:

What kinds of bacteria live on cats' skin (paper)

Microbes could help reduce levels of most toxic mercury form

Plant bacteria can protect plants against cadmium toxicity (paper)

Rotifer transposons can protect them against aging

Bacteria help protect against Listeria infection

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.