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Matters Microbial

Mark O. Martin

Matters Microbial is a podcast about the wonders of microbiology, microbiologists, and microbial centrism with Dr. Mark Martin

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  • 23 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 2 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • #122
    January 26 · 1 hr 5 min

    Matters Microbial #122: Jumbo Marine Viruses and Nanoscopic Warfare

    Matters Microbial #122: Jumbo Marine Viruses and Nanoscopic Warfare January 26, 2026 Today Dr. Alaina Weinheimer, Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Marine Microbial Ecology at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss new and intriguing marine viruses, including Jumbo Phages! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Alaina Weinheimer Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video overview of the wonderful world of bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages. A review article describing the roles that bacterial viruses can play in ecology. A description of changes in viral taxonomy, leading to the "realms" concept. An overview of "jumbo phages." Dr. Weinheimer's concept of "wumbology" from the cartoon "Spongebob Squarepants." An article describing host defenses found within bacteriophage genomes. An article by Dr. Weinheimer and colleagues describing lysogeny as a "plastic trait," and the possibility that all bacterial viruses can integrate into host genomes. The Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences website. The Bigelow Laboratory multimedia site. The webpage for the "Single Cell Genomics Center" at the Bigelow Laboratory. An article by Dr. Weinheimer and colleagues on exploring marine "jumbo phages." Marine "jumbo phages" blogpost for novice micronauts. An article about finding uridine within viral DNA genomes. Dr. Weinheimer's five minute talk about her research—highly recommended. The "Oceans on Tap" Facebook page describing marine biological research at the Bigelow Laboratory.. The Simons Foundation website (which has sadly eliminated the postdoctoral fellowship awarded to Dr. Weinheimer for her work). Dr. Weinheimer's personal website, including background and research interests. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

  • #121
    January 8 · 57 min

    Matters Microbial #121: Phollowing Phage in the Gut Microbiome

    Matters Microbial #121: Phollowing Phage in the Gut Microbiome January 7, 2026 Today Dr. Liz de Ora Ortiz, postdoctoral scholar in the Secor Laboratory at Montana State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss a fascinating new technology that allows investigators to follow bacteriophage infections in live animals. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Liz de Ora Ortiz Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The fascinating and frustrating (for researchers like me) story of Vampirococcus. A Vampirococcus summary for new #Micronauts. An overview of Agrobacterium, a bacterium about which all micronauts should know (think about genetic engineering in agriculture!). The story of Pelagibacter, very probably the most abundant organism on Earth. The story of Akkermansia, and its impact on metabolic health and the gut microbiome. An important essay by the late Dr. Elio Schaechter regarding paradigm shifts in microbiology. Much recommended! A truly wonderful video about bacteriophages and their importance. A simple video explaining the life cycle of lytic and lysogenic bacteriophages. A video from the American Society of Microbiology linking CRISPR and bacteriophages. A review of genes "hitchhiking" in bacteriophages. An introduction to Phollow technology. An overview and discussion of the Phollow technology discussed in this podcast (paywalled). A Phollow related publication also discussed during the podcast. The Wiles laboratory, where Dr. de Ora Ortiz and colleagues developed the Phollow technology. Dr. Travis Wiles' episode of #MattersMicrobial. The Secor laboratory, where Dr. de Ora Ortiz currently works. Dr. de Ora Ortiz's LinkedIn profile. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

  • #120
    Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

    Matters Microbial #120: Bacterial Interactions among Oral Microbes

    Matters Microbial #120: Bacterial Interactions among Oral Microbes December 29, 2025 For Episode 120, we welcome Dr. Batbileg Bor, Associate Professor at the ADA Forsyth Institute, to the #QualityQuorum. He joins us to discuss some of the oral community's most enigmatic members: microbes that dwell on other microbes and potentially influence our own health. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Batbileg Bor Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Here is a fun video about #LuxArt that Dr. Jennifer Quinn and I made for Harvard University's Microbial Sciences Initiative in 2024. Here is a wonderful essay about Dr. Rita Colwell. Here is a link to her fascinating book about her life. A blog overview of the amazing Deinococcus radiodurans. A fine article about the "artwork" that Paenibacillus creates when it forms colonies. Here is the video that two of my #Bio350 #Micronauts made…a parody of Vanilla Ice's "Ice, Ice, Baby" but about microbiology. Here is a link to the #MattersMicrobial podcast involving the fascinating work of Dr. Jessica Mark Welch on the oral microbiome. A review article on predatory bacteria. An overview of the CPR (Candidate Phyla Radiation), both prominent and mysterious. A recent article by Dr. Bor and colleagues describing the "microbial dark matter" seemingly everwhere…even in the human mouth. An introductory profile on TM7, Saccharibacteria. A solid early review of TM7, by Dr. Bor and colleagues. Dr. Bor and colleagues' early article about TM7, discussed in today's podcast. Dr. Bor and colleagues' article describing interesting interactions between the epibiont and the basibiont, described in today's podcast. Here is a related article. An article by Dr. Bor and colleagues describing the two Type IV pili systems of Saccharibacteria. A fascinating article by Dr. Bor and colleagues describing how TM7 can modulate the responses of animals in different ways, discussed on the podcast. Dr. Bor's LinkedIn profile. Dr. Bor's faculty page at the ADA Forsyth Institute. Dr. Bor's laboratory website with fabulous images to enjoy. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com

Showing 21–23 of 23 episodes