Matters Microbial

Latest Episodes:

Matters Microbial #139: How Listeria Gets By With a Little Help From Its Friends Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #139: How Listeria Gets By With a Little Help From Its Friends September 23, 2026

Today Dr. Jasna Kovac, Huck Chair in Microbiomes in Food Safety and Associate Professor of Food Science at Penn State University (and active member of Penn State's One Health Microbiome Center) joins the quality quorum to discuss how understanding the microbiome in food processing facilities can help reduce the incidence of food borne illnesses, including Listeria.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Jasna Kovac

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Links for this episode

Here is an overview of Listeria as a microbe.
Here is an overview of Listeria pathogenesis.
A video showing "actin rockets" moving Listeria around inside of a eukaryotic cell.
Overview from the CDC regarding Listeria.
Prior #MattersMicrobial podcast about Listeria by Dr. Lisa Gorski.
An overview of microbial food safety issues.
Description of the cantaloupe associated Listeria outbreak.
Description of the caramel apple Listeria outbreak.
An overview of whole genome sequencing as a diagnostic tool.
A video description of MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) relationship between microbes and antimicrobials.
An overview of biofilms.
A prior #MattersMicrobial podcast about biofilms with Dr. Matthew Fields.
The One Health Concept linking many aspects of everyday life to microbiology.
A description of Sanger 16S rRNA sequencing.
An overview of MPN (most probably number) analysis in microbiology.
A video describing the very useful LIVE/DEAD dye approach in microbiology.
Microbiology and sanitizers.
An overview of EPS (extracellular polysaccharides).
Description of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms).
An overview of the lineages of Listeria.
A description of Dr. Kovac's approach to precision food safety.
A nice description of Dr. Kovac's evaluation of tree fruit processing plants described in this podcast.
A wonderful video presentation by Dr. Kovac.
Dr. Kovac's academic website.
The research laboratory website for Dr. Kovac and colleagues.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #138: Sightseeing the Microbial World Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #138: Sightseeing the Microbial World September 8, 2026

Today Dr. Monika Oli, Instructional Professor of the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida joins the quality quorum to discuss how she teaches microbiology students to view the topic through a global lens as a study abroad program. Her approach demonstrates how travel enriches scientific understanding, broadens cultural perspectives, and prepares students to become globally engaged microbiologists equipped to address the challenges of an interconnected world.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Monika Oli

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Links for this episode

Here is a link to some basic history of microbiology.
A nice biography of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
A truly wonderful video about Leeuwenhoek that is SO worth your time.
A description of the "Leeuwenhoek Microscope."
A website that explains how you can build a replica of this famous instrument.
An overview of the Delft school of microbiology.
A biography of Martinus Beijerinck (an amazing microbiologist).
The website of Micropia, the microbiology focused museum in Amsterdam.
A fun article about the "tardigrade chair" at Micropia I discussed.
An article about "microbial tours."
The CEPA company that helps to create academic tours.
An overview of experiential learning.
The story of Ignaz Semmelweis.
A description of the abbey where Gregor Mendel did his work with pea plants.
A biography of Karl Stetter.
An amazing video featuring Karl Stetter.
The famous book, "The Little Prince," by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry which can be linked to microbiology.
How some UNESCO Heritage sites are related to microbiology.
The fermented food kimchi and its microbiological origin.
The microbiology of sourdough bread.
A video by Dr. Oli describing the ideas behind her microbial tours.
A microbiology themed tour program by BYU.
An ASM biography of Dr. Oli.
The faculty website of Dr. Oli.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #137: The Living Skin of Our Planet Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #137: The Living Skin of Our Planet August 25, 2026

Today Dr. Estelle Couradeau, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University, joins the quality quorum today to discuss the role that the soil microbiome can play in terms of agriculture, moderating temperature, and protecting specific environments.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Estelle Couradeau

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Links for this episode

The Erskine Foundation fellowship website.
An overview of Paenibacillus.
An article discussing the fascinating colonial morphology often found with Paenbacillus.
A blog post that demonstrates that the odd appearance of Paenibacillus can be used by other microbes for dispersal!
Dr. Jo Handelsman's essential book, "A World Without Soil."
A fine video describing the soil microbiome.
The complexity of soil with regard to where and how microbes can live.
Science journalist Carl Zimmer's indispensable essay likening the microbial ecology of lakes to the human body: "The Human Lake."
An overview of dormancy in microbes.
The "BonCat" (bio-orthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging) technique for detecting living microbes in a sample without cultivation.
An overview of flow cytometry in microbiology.
An essay suggesting that marine bacteria are involved in the production of clouds.
An article about climate change and microbes.
An article about cyanobacteria and "sunscreen."
A review article about the "biocrust" concept.
A video overview of beautiful and fascinating microbial fossils: stromatolites.
A video by Dr. Couradeau describing her research.
Articles by Dr. Couradeau and colleagues asking which microbes are active in soil: here, here, and here.
Articles by Dr. Couradeau and colleagues asking if microbes can change the temperature of a desert: here and here.
Articles by Dr. Couradeau and colleagues that explore the hidden microbiomes of Andean páramo wetlands: here and here.
Dr. Couradeau's faculty website.
Dr. Couradeau's research website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #136: When Bacteria Open the Wrong Door Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #136: When Bacteria Open the Wrong Door August 11, 2026

Today Dr. Michael D.L. Johnson, Associate Professor of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona, joins the quality quorum today to discuss copper, microbiology, and a possible new strategy to fight bacteria that cause disease.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Michael D. L. Johnson

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Links for this episode

A link to Hartiful, the Etsy artist who custom creates glow in the dark (and many other kinds) pins.
A link to the essential science artist Beatrice the Biologist.
A link to World Microbiome Day.
A link to Micropia, the microbiology museum in Amsterdam.
A recent article on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance among disease causing bacteria.
A video demonstrating the Kirby Bauer procedure, which shows antimicrobial effects and zones of inhibition.
A link to an earlier #MattersMicrobial episode with Dr. Michael Schmidt describing copper and microbes.
A review article describing the impact that copper can have on microbes.
A review article on Streptococcus pneumoniae, the organism with which Dr. Johnson works.
An video celebrating the role that S. pneumoniae had in determining that DNA was the genetic material prior to World War 2.
An overview of siderophores that help microbes obtain needed iron.
An article about redox activity and copper and microbes.
The relationship between metal toxicity and antimicrobial activity.
The role that copper plays in agriculture.
The differences between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
An article on efflux pumps and metal toxicity in microbes.
An article describing how iron binding proteins also bind copper.
An article describing how zinc interacts with microbes.
A wonderful description of Dr. Johnson's "Trojan Horse" approach to battle disease causing microbes.
A relevant review article by Dr. Johnson and his colleagues discussing copper and microbes.
An overview of the "Hypothesis Fund," which supports unusual ideas in science.
A video of Dr. Johnson describing his research.
Dr. Johnson's faculty website.
Dr. Johnson's research laboratory website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs July 30, 2026

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Jo Handelsmann, Shruthi Magesh

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Links for this episode

Here is a link to the Etsy shop where one can buy the wonderful "THIS IS WHAT A MICROBIOLOGIST LOOKS LIKE" enamel pins.
Here is a link to the World Microbiome Day website.
Here is a link to the interesting work of Contamination Club.
The story of Alexander Fleming's famous contaminant that led to the discovery of penicillin.
Here is a link to Dr. Handelsman's recent book, "A World Without Soil." Highly recommended.
The website for Dr. Handelsman's wonderful "Tiny Earth" program, helping students worldwide to screen soil for antimicrobial production (and learning about microbial diversity).
An overview of the microbial complexity of soil.
A video overview of biofilms.
A video overview of types of bacterial motility.
A video overview of "gliding motility" among bacteria.
Some bacteria can "hitchhike" or are carried by other bacteria, such as Paenibacillus.
Learning about an odd sport involving "zorbs."
An introductory essay on "zorbing" and motility.
Another introductory essay on "co-zorbing," the topic of today's discussion.
A description of Flavobacterium johnsoniae, which carries out "zorbing."
The original article on THOR ("The Hitchhikers of the Rhizosphere") by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues.
The original "zorb" paper by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast.
The "co-zorb" paper by Dr. Handelsman, Dr. Magesh, and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast.
A fascinating video by Dr. Handelsman and her path to becoming a microbial scientist. Highly recommended..
Dr. Handelsman's faculty website.
The website for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.
Dr. Handelsman's research laboratory website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #134: Could Alien Life Use Different Chemistry? Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #134: Could Alien Life Use Different Chemistry? July 14, 2026

Today Dr. Morgan Sobol, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University, joins the Quality Quorum today to discuss how microbes on early earth began interacting with elements like nitrogen, making life possible here and perhaps elsewhere in the universe! You will learn about the fundamental and amazing enzyme nitrogenase!

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Morgan Sobol

Download MM134 (37 MB MP3, 62 mins)

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Links for this episode

The website for ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of microbiologists.
The "live" #MattersMicrobial session recorded at ASM Microbe, with Dr. Hannah Reich.
An essential article about "A World Without Microbes."
A video version of "A World Without Microbes."
An introduction to microbial ecology.
An overview of the enzyme that fixes carbon dioxide into organic matter, Rubisco.
An overview of the enzyme that converts practically inert dinitrogen gas into bioavailable ammonia, nitrogenase.
A short essay on metalloenzymes, including nitrogenase.
An overview of nitrogen fixing microbes, and the strategies they use.
A review editorial describing the burgeoning field of astrobiology.
A link to a NASA program exploring early evolution of microbial life.
An article on the microbially caused Great Oxidation Event that changed our atmosphere eons ago, making life like forms like ours possible.
An article exploring the evolution of microbial nitrogen fixation.
An abstract by Dr. Sobol and colleagues, discussing the evolution of nitrogen fixation in an ancient ecological context.
A lovely article about the microbiology of Yellowstone National Park.
Dr. Sobol's faculty website.
Dr. Sobol's interesting research group website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #133: The Microbial Partnerships That Help Corals Survive Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #133: The Microbial Partnerships That Help Corals Survive June 29, 2026

Dr. Hannah Reich of the Department of Environmental Biology at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how microalgal interactions (including with bacteria) are fundamental contributors to large scale ecosystem processes including the ocean carbon pump, the duration of algal blooms, and the evolutionary success of coral reefs.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Hannah Reich

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Links for this episode

An essay on the coral holobiont.
A discussion of the phycosphere.
A discussion of the rhizosphere.
A review of the roles of iron in microbial biology.
An overview of siderophores in the microbial world.
An article about iron, the warming oceans, and coral.
A VERY recent article by Dr. Reich and colleagues regarding siderophores in the coral holobiont.
A very nice short video by Dr. Reich explaining her work at ESF.
Dr. Reich's faculty website.
Dr. Reich's fascinating laboratory group website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #132: What 83,000 Generations of Bacteria Reveal About Evolution Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #132: What 83,000 Generations of Bacteria Reveal About Evolution June 17, 2026

Today Dr. Jeffrey Barrick, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology and the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, joins the quality quorum today to discuss how microbes can be used to study evolution itself. He will also discuss the impressive and ongoing LTEE program, the experiments that originate from it, and what they tell us about evolution.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Jeffrey Barrick

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Links for this episode

Here is a link to an article about the late great Abigail Salyers.
Here is what I wrote about Dr. Salyers. I learned so much from her.
An article about the contributions of Dr. Theodosius Dobzhansky to the study of evolution.
The concept of contingency during evolution.
An overview of microbial evolution.
A link to "Microbes and Evolution," a book discussed during this podcast.
A link to "A Primer for Experimental Evolution," a book discussed during this podcast.
The concept of Growth Advantage in Stationary Phase (GASP).
A video about the MEGA plate experiment by Dr. Michael Baym and colleagues. This is a "must watch."
An video about Dr. Richard Lenski, originator of the LTEE.
Dr. Lenski's website.
The LTEE (long term evolutionary experiment) website. There is so much here to explore.
An excellent introduction to the LTEE.
An article about the amazing " climbing citrate mountain" innovation during LTEE described in the podcast.
A video by Dr. Lenski about LTEE.
A video by Dr. Barrick that is worth your time.
Dr. Barrick's faculty website at Michigan State University.
Dr. Barrick's research laboratory website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #131: What Cystic Fibrosis Reveals About Hidden Microbial Lives Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #131: What Cystic Fibrosis Reveals About Hidden Microbial Lives June 3, 2026

Today Dr. Sam Brown, Professor of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech University, joins the quality quorum today to discuss the social lives of bacterial pathogens. He will also discuss VERY recent research from his lab group exploring the specialist/generalist problem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and thoughts on cryptic convergent specialization!

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Sam Brown

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Links for this episode

An overview of behavioral ecology.
An article describing evolutionary trade offs and game theory.
A video describing Tinbergen's "Four Whys" involving behavioral ecology.
A wonderful essay by Carl Zimmer relating lake ecology and microbial ecology in humans.
A Pseudomonas plush toy from Giant Microbes.
The Pseudomonas contaminated eyedrops story told by Dr. Brown, as summarized by the CDC.
An essay about sociomicrobiology.
An overview of quorum sensing.
An overview of biofilms.
An article describing specialization versus generalism in ecology.
A description of a "confusion matrix" in data analysis.
A somewhat dated overview of PCA (principle component analysis).
The article about convergent cryptic specialization under discussion today on this podcast from Dr. Brown's research group (first author Mehlferber).
A VERY interesting article from Dr. Brown's research team describing eco-evolutionary aspects of polymicrobial infections.
Dr. Brown's faculty website.
Dr. Brown's laboratory group website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology May 25, 2026

Show notes

Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology May 19, 2026

Today Dr. Kevin Kohl, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his colleagues study the interplay between animals, their resident gut microbes, and the overarching concept of the holobiont.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Kevin Kohl

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Links for this episode

The One Health Microbiome Center at Pennsylvania State University.
A very fine essay on the holobiont concept for non-microbiologists.
A general introductory overview of the holobiont concept.
The holobiont concept and the coral symbiosis.
A partial history of the development of the holobiont concept.
Dr. Casadevall suggests that context and thus outcomes describes the term "pathogen," and a similar analysis applies to the holobiont.
A very short description of the holobiont concept.
Another overview of the holobiont concept in general, coauthored by Dr. Kohl.
Some basic rules for thinking about the holobiont concept.
A video introduction to the holobiont concept, by Dr. Seth Bordenstein.
I highly recommend this essay by the science writer Carl Zimmer, "The Human Lake," to think of the connections between lake ecology and microbial interactions with humans.
Another wonderful article recommended by Dr. Kohl, by Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai and coauthors, detailing the impact microbes have on animals over evolution and development.
The wood rat – creosote – microbiome connection to the holobiont concept, discussed on this podcast (coauthored by Dr. Kohl).
The fascinating work by Dr. Kohl and colleagues showing the relationship between tadpole development and pond microbes discussed in this podcast.
A must read article by Dr. Kohl and colleagues, "Through the microbial looking glass: our shifting understanding of the holobiont and microbes as mediators of organismal biology," illustrates the development and influence of the holobiont concept.
Dr. Richard Prum's book, "Performance All the Way Down," was discussed during this podcast. There is also a video where Dr. Prum discusses the ideas in this book, describing gene regulation as a performance.
Dr. Kohl's faculty website.
Dr. Kohl's (very interesting) research website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

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