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:

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:

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.