Microbe Talk

As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to explore the role of microbiology to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. This episode, Hannah speaks with Dr Ellie Harrison, Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield and Luke Hillary, PhD student at Bangor University to find out about how their research into soil health contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).Visit the 'A Sustainable Future' project webpage and find out more about how microbiology can be used to improve soil health.

As you may know, 2020 is the Microbiology Society’s 75th anniversary. In order to properly commemorate this, we wanted to do some suitably big celebrations. On this month’s Microbe Talk, Matt talks through one of the celebratory project, ‘Showcasing why Microbiology Matters’, with Dr Chloe James, Chair of the Communications Committee.

As COVID-19 is taking over the news elsewhere, we decided to focus on other stories from the microbial world, including developing a vaccine for malaria, breakthroughs in protist genomics and using bacteria to help plants grow in salty soil.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below:Research reveals a new malaria vaccine candidate: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/…0422132930.htmRecently-discovered bacteria could be used as a biopesticide: phys.org/news/2020-04-bioinse…ented-bacterium.htmlScientists use bacteria to help plants grow in salty soil: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/20…b-sub042320.phpDevloping genetic tools to understand protist DNA: www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/ne…pic-marine-lifeThe effect of urbanisation on infectious disease outbreaks: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/…0421112557.htmHow do Streptomyces attract insects?: www.newscientist.com/article/223985…invertebrates/

Laura speaks with Alice Fraser from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Alice is part of a research team looking for new antibiotics in unexpected places. Listen to the episode to find out about her research searching for antibiotic proteins in snake venoms and find out what Alice has found so far.Music: Jason Shaw CC.BY 3.0

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over the news elsewhere, we decided to focus on other stories from the microbial world, including the microbiome of turtles, how bacteria are being used to clean groundwater and a new way to tackle Candida auris. Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below: Bacteria capable of breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8157161/Polyurethane-eating-microbe-answer-plastic-pollution.html Improving cleanup of contaminated groundwater: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325212201.htm Fighting cancer with fungi: https://www.genengnews.com/topics/bioprocessing/fighting-cancer-with-fungi/ Scientists find new compound that kills Candida auris: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325154054.htm What can be learned from the microbes on a turtle’s shell?: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020

This month on Microbe Talk, Laura speaks with Haoxiang Wu, PhD student at Hong Kong Baptist University. In some tropical climates, mould growth is managed by near-constant use of dehumidifiers or air conditioners, which has a great environmental impact. Haoxiang’s research involves using fluid dynamics to control indoor mould growth in a sustainable way.Read the following articles to find out more about Haoxiang’s research:Environmental sustainability and mould hygiene in buildings, International Journal of Environmental and Public HealthCurrent challenges for shaping the sustainable and mould-free hygienic indoor environment in humid regions, Letters in Applied MicrobiologyThe role of oxidative stress in the growth of the indoor mould Cladosporium cladosporioides under water dynamics, Indoor airYou can get in touch with Haoxiang at kubeng@life.hkbu.edu.hk

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As well as discussing microbiology news stories, which include protecting coral reefs from climate change, new antibiotics and radiation-eating fungi; this month Laura and Matt give an update on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below:Scientists find huge bacteriophage: www.futurity.org/phages-microbiomes-2283062/Invasive ants found to contain seasonal viruses: phys.org/news/2020-02-invasiv…easonal-viruses.htmlFungi that ‘eats’ radiation: www.express.co.uk/news/science/123…ar-reactor-fungiResearchers decode how malaria parasite reproduces: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/…0211121500.htmNew group of antibiotics that fight bacteria in a unique way: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/…0212131523.htmHow do algal communities within corals help them tolerate stress?: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/…0212150129.htmCoronavi

Protists are an extremely important part of many ecosystems, but people don't often consider their significance and the biodiversity they represent. In this episode of the podcast, Laura speaks with Professor Genoveva Esteban who is based at Bournemouth University, UK. Genoveva's research focuses on the biodiversity of aquatic systems in the UK, particularly at a microbial level.

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As well as discussing microbiology news stories, which include chronic wasting disease, 3D printing and ancient fungi; this month Matt and Laura give a timeline of Coronavirus.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below:World’s oldest fungi found in fossils on.natgeo.com/36LLh1WUniversity of Sheffield scientists develop 3D parts that can fight bacteria bit.ly/2OdrYbsFirst CWD-positive wild deer found in Marathon County bit.ly/3b1rgYuBacteria might get autoimmune diseases too bit.ly/37LLLq7Coronavirus outbreak: expert comment from our members bit.ly/2RMYd3H

For countries like Malaysia, Tanzania and the Philippines, seaweed agriculture is a major industry. However, these countries still see significant crop losses due to disease and pests. So what role does microbiology have in helping these countries’ growth in the industry?On this month’s episode Matt visited London’s Natural History Museum to talk to Professor Juliet Brodie. Professor Brodie is a seaweed researcher working with GlobalSeaweedSTAR, a programme aiming to grow the research and innovation capabilities of developing countries engaged in seaweed farming.To find out more about GlobalseaweedSTAR’s work, visit their website.www.globalseaweed.org/

This is a special Microbiology Today edition of Microbe Talk. The latest issue of the Society’s magazine, Microbiology Today, focuses on natural products and drug discovery. In this podcast we talk with two researchers about their work to find new antimicrobial compounds that could be used to form new treatments: Lorena T. Fernández-Martínez from Edge Hill University about her research on actinomycetes and Aled Roberts from Swansea University Medical School about his work on manuka honey.Find out more about natural products and drug discovery in the November issue of Microbiology Today: https://microbiologysociety.org/microbiologytoday

Anyone who’s been enjoying the sun on a nice summers evening knows the dreaded whine made by mosquitoes on the hunt for a meal. In recent years mosquitoes have been appearing in the news more and more due outbreaks of diseases such as dengue and zika. As if getting bitten by a mosquito wasn’t bad enough, if it is carrying the arbovirus, the saliva causing the annoying itchy bumps is actually helping the arbovirus infect you.On this month’s episode, Matt talks to Daniella Lefteri, finalist of the 2019 Young Microbiologist of the Year. Daniella is researching the enhancing effect of this saliva and how it might be able to help in the growing arbovirus problem.To find out more about Daniella and her research, read her interview with us on our blog: https://microbiologysociety.org/blog/meet-the-young-microbiologist-of-the-year-finalists-daniella-lefteri.html

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbiology has been in the news during the past month. In this episode, Matt and Laura discuss the differences in microbial diversity in rural and urban areas, climate change and its effect on otters and a piece of new research investigating how an emerging virus might affect frogs.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below: Violet coral fungus seen in Wales https://bbc.in/35J9uWQAbundance of microbe diversity key to healthy coastal ecosystem https://bit.ly/2L37NvlSea ice loss linked to spread of deadly virus https://bbc.in/2DrqggZUrban houses could have higher diversity of fungus than rural houses https://n.pr/2sr0dnR‘Velcro’ style test could spot Alzheimer’s years before symptoms develop https://bit.ly/2rAaptANew species of ranavirus threatens frogs https://bit.ly/2ORQrmfAntibiotics price drop could reduce development of TB https://bit.ly/2qJRcG7

This month on Microbe Talk is the third episode of Domino Effect, the podcast series where a Microbiology Society member is interviewed by another microbiologist who they have never met before. In this episode, Sarah Jones, PhD student in geomicrobiology at Birkbeck and UCL, is interviewed by Dr John Tregoning, Reader in Respiratory Infections at Imperial College London.

In this episode, Laura and Matt discuss deadly fungi, the flu vaccine and how scientists are making carbon fibers out of algae.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below:Poison fire coral found in Australia: bit.ly/2Nogf8QTsunamis linked to spread of deadly fungal disease: bbc.in/2oxacq0Researchers turn algae into material as hard as steel: bit.ly/2r17EkXBadger culls risk increased spread of bovine tuberculosis to cattle: bbc.in/2WAeN7tCould green tea hold the solution to rising antimicrobial resistance? bit.ly/2PAKLPEFlu vaccine offered to every primary school child in England: bit.ly/36oqQZV

In this month’s episode of the podcast, Laura speaks with two experts on the relationship with certain microbes and cancer: Professor Paul Farrell, of Imperial College London, and Dr Karen Robinson, from the University of Nottingham.Paul Farrell: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/p.farrellKaren Robinson: https://nddcbru.org.uk/team/dr-karen-robinsonFind out more about the relationship between Epstein-Barr Virus and Cancer in Paul’s review: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012418-013023?journalCode=pathmechdisResearch in the Journal of Medical Microbiology investigated how the gut microbiota could be used to predict whether you are likely to develop cancer: https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001049

This is a special Microbiology Today edition of the podcast. The latest issue of the Society’s magazine, Microbiology Today, focuses on arboviruses and their vectors. In this episode, we discuss some of the prevention strategies and ways of managing arboviruses and their vectors with John Carr from the University of Cambridge and Ewa Chrostek from the University of Liverpool.

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbiology has been in the news that month. On this month’s episode Laura and Matt are discussing superdrug sniffer dogs, koalas and chlamydia and Valley Fever.Links to the news stories discussed during this episode can be found below: 'Carnivorous' micro-organisms: www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/08/wo…bably-carnivoreHPV Vaccine: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49522669Saving koalas at the University of Nottingham: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british…oalas-n38q3f0brCommon cold stopped by experimental approach: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49682583Climate change could increase spread of Valley fever: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/…0916114034.htmSniffing out superbugs: vancouversun.com/news/local-news/…/health-49522669Zombie fungus ant:www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49615571

Canine parvovirus is a highly infectious virus that kills thousands of dogs every year. The disease emerged in the 1970s and spread unchecked, causing a global epidemic in 1978. While the epidemic was halted due to the development of a vaccine, outbreaks do still occur.On this month’s Microbe Talk, Matt talks to Dr Colin Parrish, a veterinary virologist based at Cornell University in New York, USA. Along with the emergence of canine parvovirus, Colin discusses the problems it can cause and what his lab are doing to tackle the disease.

MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbiology has been in the news that month. On this month’s episode Laura and Matt are discussing glowing microbes, ancient microbes, microbes in elk and microbes in the brain.Links to the news stories discussed in the episode can be found below:www.inews.co.uk/news/health/river…resistance-genes/www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/us/bra…amoeba-death.htmlwww.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/s…ever-worldwide/www.ktvz.com/news/oregon-hunter…s-jan-1/1107313914www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49262255www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ref…an-glowing/