This Week in Microbiology

TWiM 3: Anthrax, genomics, and the FBI inquiry

March 23, 2011

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cliff Mintz, Jo Handelsman, Ronald Atlas

On episode #3 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Jo, Cliff, and Ron explore the genome analysis done in support of the Amerithrax investigation, and an insecticidal enterotoxin-deficient mutant of Bacillus thurigiensis.

Download TWiM #3 (55 MB .mp3, 60 minutes).

Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, via RSS feed, by email or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app.

Links for this episode:

Bacillus anthracis genome analysis for Amerithrax investigation (PNAS)
US Department of Justice summary of Amerithrax investigation (pdf)
Anthrax expert comments on FBI Amerithrax report
Genome data not sufficient for conviction in Amerithrax case
Insecticidal enterotoxin-deficient mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis (Microbiology)
Letters read on TWiM #3

Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

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TWiM 2: The plague, microbial virulence, and the gut microbiome

March 9, 2011

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cliff Mintz, Michael Schmidt

On episode #2 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Cliff, and Michael review a fatal laboratory acquired Yersinia pestis infection, and how gut bacteria control body weight and metabolic activity.

Download TWiM #2 (52 MB .mp3, 75 minutes).

Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, via RSS feed, by email or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app.

Links for this episode:

Fatal laboratory acquired Yersinia infection (thanks, Alan!)
Hemochromatosis
Gut bacteria can control metabolic functions (mBio)
Systems biology approach to infectious disease research (mBio)
Dr. B. Brett Finlay’s 3D animations
Letters read on TWiM #2

Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv

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TWiM 1: Neisseria LINEs up

February 23, 2011

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cliff Mintz, Michael Schmidt, and Stanley Maloy

On episode #1 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Cliff, Michael, and Stan discuss transfer of DNA from a human host to a bacterial pathogen, and the ability of dry copper to kill bacteria on contact.