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!

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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!

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BacterioFiles 318 - Killers Controlling Coral Contamination

Predator attacking and killing prey
From: Welsh et al. 2017 PeerJ
CC-BY 4.0

This episode: Bacteria that prey on other bacteria could help keep corals healthy! Thanks to Rory Welsh for his contribution.

Download Episode (12.8 MB, 14 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Latino mammarenavirus

Journal Paper:
Welsh RM, Rosales SM, Zaneveld JR, Payet JP, McMinds R, Hubbs SL, Thurber RLV. 2017. Alien vs. predator: bacterial challenge alters coral microbiomes unless controlled by Halobacteriovorax predators. PeerJ 5:e3315.

Other interesting stories:

Using trees and their microbes to clean up pollution

Using bacteria to preserve/repair stone monuments and statues (paper)

Stable gut microbes could help defend against amoeba infection

Phage therapy treats very resistant infection in person

Probiotic + probiotic food could help prevent infant sepsis (paper)

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

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 317 - Mosquito Microbe Movement

Aedes aegypti
By Muhammad Mahdi Karim
Own work, GFDL 1.2

This episode: Studying how Wolbachia bacteria spread through a mosquito population helps efforts to use them to prevent the spread of Dengue! Thanks to Tom Schmidt for his contribution.

Download Episode (11.3 MB, 12.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Heterosigma akashiwo virus 01

News item

Journal Paper:
Schmidt TL, Barton NH, Rašić G, Turley AP, Montgomery BL, Iturbe-Ormaetxe I, Cook PE, Ryan PA, Ritchie SA, Hoffmann AA, O’Neill SL, Turelli M. 2017. Local introduction and heterogeneous spatial spread of dengue-suppressing Wolbachia through an urban population of Aedes aegypti. PLOS Biol 15:e2001894.

Other interesting stories:

Gut bacteria affect what foods and bacteria that fruit flies prefer to eat

Using mouth bacteria to estimate time of death

Huge bacterial protein attaches to ice and diatoms

Feeding friendly gut microbes helps prevent imbalance

Bacteria can sense and respond to touch

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

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 316 - Studying Sizeable Special Synthetases

Beauvericin
By Yu et al. 2017, Nat Commun
CC-BY 4.0

This episode: Scientists study how fungi make interesting peptides using large proteins instead of ribosomes.

Download Episode (8.7 MB, 9.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Nerine virus X

News item

Journal Paper:
Yu D, Xu F, Zhang S, Zhan J. 2017. Decoding and reprogramming fungal iterative nonribosomal peptide synthetases. Nat Commun 8:ncomms15349.

Other interesting stories:

Using CRISPR to encode a short movie into a bacterial genome (paper)

Virus that tolerates boiling acid could be model for super-tough nanomaterials

Avoiding microbiota disruption protects frogs from parasites

Soil microbe communities are also recovering in prairie restoration

Couples modify each other's microbe communities, though not much

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

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 315 - Probiotics Prevent Protein Plaques

Credit: National Institute on Aging

This episode: In mice genetically modified to have Alzheimer's-like disease, giving probiotics reduced their degeneration!

Download Episode (11.8 MB, 13 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: SARS coronavirus

Journal Paper:
Bonfili L, Cecarini V, Berardi S, Scarpona S, Suchodolski JS, Nasulti C, Fiorini D, Boarelli MC, Rossi G, Eleuteri AM. 2017. Microbiota modulation counteracts Alzheimer's disease progression influencing neuronal proteolysis and gut hormone plasma levels. Sci Rep 7:2426.

Other interesting stories:

Fruit fly bacteria attack wasps' ribosomes that attack them

Bacteria living on the eye protect it from infection

New technique to prevent CRISPR/Cas from functioning

Tardigrades should be able to survive almost any kind of planetary catastrophe

Using fungi to recover/clean up metals from liquid (paper)

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

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 314 - Drosophila Dwellers Delay Deficiency

Drosophila fruit fly
By André Karwath aka Aka
CC BY-SA 2.5

This episode: Bacteria affect fruit fly behavior by reducing their need and craving for protein-rich food!

Thanks to Dr. Carlos Ribeiro for his contribution!

Download Episode (14.7 MB, 16.1 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Ribeiro lab website - two fully-funded postdoc opportunities available

Journal Paper:
Leitão-Gonçalves R, Carvalho-Santos Z, Francisco AP, Fioreze GT, Anjos M, Baltazar C, Elias AP, Itskov PM, Piper MDW, Ribeiro C. 2017. Commensal bacteria and essential amino acids control food choice behavior and reproduction. PLOS Biol 15:e2000862.

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria could help remove lead from mining waste (paper)

Modified bacteria could make natural food coloring economically

Diet correlates with gut microbe community structure better than body weight does (paper)

Fungal symbionts in Arctic thawing out may help trees deal with heat

How good are commercial microbiota tests?

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 313 - Colonies Correct Chloride Corrosion

Ancient Roman nails
By Takkk - Own work,CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Bacteria could help treat corrosion to preserve ancient iron artifacts!

Thanks to Drs. Pilar Junier and Edith Joseph for their contributions!

Download Episode (13.4 MB, 14.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Comensoli L, Maillard J, Albini M, Sandoz F, Junier P, Joseph E. 2017. Use of Bacteria To Stabilize Archaeological Iron. Appl Environ Microbiol 83:e03478-16.

Other interesting stories:

Archaeal communities on skin change with age

Using viruses to deliver useful stuff to the nervous system

Polymer-coating bacteria to improve their electricity-generating ability

61% of yeast essential genes can be replaced by E. coli versions (paper)

Breast milk and skin are important sources of microbes for infants (paper)

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

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Episode outline:

BacterioFiles 312 - Antibiotic Acts As Agreement

Quorum sensing scheme
By Gluckma2, CC BY-SA 4.0

This episode: Bacteria that produce antibiotic molecule can also use it for communication between cells!

Download Episode (10 MB, 11 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Rosellinia necatrix victorivirus 1

Journal Paper:
Beyersmann PG, Tomasch J, Son K, Stocker R, Göker M, Wagner-Döbler I, Simon M, Brinkhoff T. 2017. Dual function of tropodithietic acid as antibiotic and signaling molecule in global gene regulation of the probiotic bacterium Phaeobacter inhibens. Sci Rep 7:730.

Other interesting stories:

Bacteria may be key to certain grasses' success (paper)

Small-genome bacteria have old school space-saving multi-function enzymes (paper)

Using electricity to help microbes clean up pollution (paper) (see here also)

Photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms cooperate in ocean

Phage therapy with CRISPR-modified viruses

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

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Episode outline:

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!

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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!

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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!

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BacterioFiles 308 - Predators' Projectile Prototypes

Nematodinium nematocyst cap

Gavelis et al. 2017

Science Advances

CC BY-NC 4.0

This episode: Eukaryotic ocean microbes have surprisingly diverse and complex ballistic weapons!

Download Episode (8.2 MB, 9 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Mycoplasma arginini

Cool videos of microbial weapons firing

Journal Paper:
Gavelis GS, Wakeman KC, Tillmann U, Ripken C, Mitarai S, Herranz M, Özbek S, Holstein T, Keeling PJ, Leander BS. 2017. Microbial arms race: Ballistic “nematocysts” in dinoflagellates represent a new extreme in organelle complexity. Sci Adv 3:e1602552.

Other interesting stories:

Astronaut Kate Rubin's experience as microbiologist in space (paywall)

Engineered nitrogen-fixing bacteria can reduce need for fertilizer (paper)

Diversity of bacterial communities on leaves linked with ecosystem productivity (paper)

Using parts of phages to do rapid detection of pathogens (paper)

Microbiome modification contributes to effect of diabetes medication

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

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BacterioFiles 307 - Simplified Stable Soil Symbiosis

Enterobacter cloacae

This episode: A stable community of only 7 bacteria around corn roots take on similar functions to the much more diverse soil community!

Download Episode (12.5 MB, 13.75 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Corynebacterium insidiosum

Journal Paper:
Niu B, Paulson JN, Zheng X, Kolter R. 2017. Simplified and representative bacterial community of maize roots. Proc Natl Acad Sci 114:E2450–E2459.

Other interesting stories:

Gut community correlates with inflammatory bowel disease treatment effectiveness

Bacteria-produced hydrogen in soil could feed other plant-benefiting microbes (paper)

Engineered bacteria could treat genetic disease by digesting things for people who can't (paper)

Engineered cancer-killing virus also delivers therapy directly to tumors (paper)

Using microbes to create clothing that adapts in color and ventilation (paper)

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

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BacterioFiles 306 - Microbes Moderate Metabolic Maladjustment

This episode: Microbes from obese mice seemed helpful in protecting other mice somewhat from an unhealthy lifestyle.

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.25 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Streptomyces thermoviolaceus

News item

Journal Paper:
Nicolas S, Blasco‐Baque V, Fournel A, Gilleron J, Klopp P, Waget A, Ceppo F, Marlin A, Padmanabhan R, Iacovoni JS, Tercé F, Cani PD, Tanti J-F, Burcelin R, Knauf C, Cormont M, Serino M. 2017. Transfer of dysbiotic gut microbiota has beneficial effects on host liver metabolism. Mol Syst Biol 13:921.

Other interesting stories:

Global warming could harm reptiles by disrupting their gut bacteria

Insect microbes that start causing disease but then stop when their numbers get higher

Microbes in sea spray affect the atmosphere and climate

How breastmilk bacteria affect infant's gut community

Sea sponge bacteria can produce toxic flame retardant chemicals

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

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BacterioFiles 305 - Defensive Disordered Desiccation

Tardigrade
Credit: Bob Goldstein
and Vicky Madden,
CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Tardigrades have an interesting way of surviving complete drying out: by producing proteins lacking a stable structure!

Download Episode (11.8 MB, 13 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Chandipura vesiculovirus

News item

Journal Paper:
Boothby TC, Tapia H, Brozena AH, Piszkiewicz S, Smith AE, Giovannini I, Rebecchi L, Pielak GJ, Koshland D, Goldstein B. 2017. Tardigrades Use Intrinsically Disordered Proteins to Survive Desiccation. Mol Cell 65:975–984.e5.

Other interesting stories:

Gut microbes are important for many bee bodily functions (paper)

Bacterium helps defend insects but makes plants sick

Bacteria can mutate faster or slower to adapt to their environment

Cyanobacteria respond to different colors of light in different ways (paper)(commentary)

Intense prolonged exercise could negatively impact the gut community

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

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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!

Download Episode (6.6 MB, 7.25 minutes)

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!

Download Episode (11.1 MB, 12.15 minutes)

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!

Download Episode (12.7 MB, 13.9 minutes)

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!

Download Episode (10.6 MB, 11.7 minutes)

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!

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BacterioFiles 299 - Predator Pops Polymer Producers

Bdellovibrio attacking prey
Iebba et al., Front Microbiol 2014

This episode: Using predatory bacteria to extract valuable bioplastics from other bacteria!

Download Episode (6.3 MB, 6.9 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Martínez V, Herencias C, Jurkevitch E, Prieto MA. 2016. Engineering a predatory bacterium as a proficient killer agent for intracellular bio-products recovery: The case of the polyhydroxyalkanoates. Sci Rep 6:24381.

Other interesting stories:

Phages could treat infections serious in cystic fibrosis

Microbes help protect plants against virus infection (paper)

Getting closer to fecal transplant in pill form

Microbe communities in overused land recover as vegetation is restored

Deep sea phage makes a DNA polymerase that doesn't need primers (paper)

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

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BacterioFiles 298 - Bacteria Boost Bone Buildup

Human skeleton

This episode: Gut microbes can even affect formation/remodeling of bones!

Download Episode (8.5 MB, 9.3 minutes)

Show notes:
Journal Paper:
Yan J, Herzog JW, Tsang K, Brennan CA, Bower MA, Garrett WS, Sartor BR, Aliprantis AO, Charles JF. 2016. Gut microbiota induce IGF-1 and promote bone formation and growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113:E7554–E7563.

Other interesting stories:

Raindrops can spread soil bacteria around everywhere

Lots to learn from studying sauerkraut (paywall)

Only some bacteria in a colony do all the expanding and multiplying (paper)

Phage genes help Wolbachia prevent host insects from interbreeding with uninfected hosts (paper)

Probiotic bacteria could help prevent damage from heavy metals (paper)

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

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BacterioFiles 297 - Defenders Develop Disease Decrease

C. elegans roundworm
By Bob Goldstein, CC BY-SA 3.0

This episode: Beneficial microbes defend roundworms against a pathogen and pressure it to evolve to cause less disease!

Download Episode (7.7 MB, 8.4 minutes)

Show notes:
News item

Journal Paper:
Ford SA, Kao D, Williams D, King KC. 2016. Microbe-mediated host defence drives the evolution of reduced pathogen virulence. Nat Commun 7:13430.

Other interesting stories:

Fungus eats dead insects and keeps bacterial competitors away (paper)

Soil microbes are better for green roof soils than chemical fertilizers

Soil microbes make tuberculosis-treating chemicals

Parkinson's and treatments can have detectable effects on microbiome

Aspergillus fungi have a lot of potential uses

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

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