Scientists are constantly pushing the frontiers of microbiology. These podcasts take an in-depth look at different microbiology topics, with scientists talking about their latest research.
Catch up with the latest microbiology in the news in our brand new Microbe Talk format. Then listen as Professor Mike Gleeson explains how different levels of exercise can actually significantly increase or decrease your chances of catching a respiratory infection - and what our elite London 2012 athletes can do to protect themselves.
The importance of looking after your sexual health is particularly emphasised around the Christmas party season. In the final Microbe Talk episode of 2011 we talk to Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of the sexually transmitted infections (STI) section at the Health Protection Agency. She discusses prevention, treatment and explains why diagnoses of some STIs are decreasing yet others appear to be increasing.
This episode of Microbe Talk marks European Antibiotic Awareness day. Professor Laura Piddock talks about a new UK-led global initiative called Antibiotic Action that is campaigning for more antibiotic research and development. Professor Chris Thomas then explains exactly how bacteria manage to resist the action of these drugs and Yuiko Takebayashi describes the novel approach she is taking to try and generate new antibiotics.
Around one million lives could be saved each year through effective hand washing. Dr Val Curtis from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is the UK campaign leader for Global Handwashing Day that takes place in October each year. She describes a recent study that found one in six mobile phones contaminated with E. coli ¬- revealing some unsavoury habits of the UK population. She also discusses different approaches to changing hand hygiene behaviour both in the UK and globally.
This special episode of Microbe Talk showcases some of the exciting microbiology that was presented at the SGM Autumn Conference 2011. Professor Nigel Minton explains a novel cancer therapy involving Clostridia bacteria, Dr Iza Radecka reveals the new biopolymer that could boost the probiotics industry and Dr Lisa Crossman describes the concept of crowd-sourcing. Finally, Dr Carol Munro tells how infectious fungi are resisting the latest class of antifungl drugs.
Cystic fibrosis patients can suffer severe infections from opportunistic pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the lesser-known Burkholderia species. Professor Eshwar Mahenthiralingam explains how scientists are slowly beginning to understand Burkholderia bacteria – from how they cause infection, to the exciting new realization that they could be exploited as a source of novel antibiotics.
Mathematical modelling is a powerful tool for understanding how infectious diseases are transmitted and for finding solutions to help tackle them. Dr Déirdre Hollingsworth from Imperial College London explains how her group is modelling malaria transmission patterns in parts of Africa, and how this information can inform intervention policy. She tells us how mathematical models are constructed, how they can be communicated and that you don’t necessarily have to be maths genius to understand them.
Climate change is a hot topic and greenhouse gases are always in the news. But what role do micro-organisms play in this global challenge? Dr Dave Reay lifts the veil on the key role microbes play in influencing global climate and how they can become our allies in addressing human-induced climate change in the 21st century.
Oil-accumulating micro-organisms are being exploited by industry for their value in producing nutritional supplements – particularly for infants. Professor Colin Ratledge from the University of Hull explains why these ‘obese yeasts’ are such big business. We talk about how it all started, the growth in commercialization of microbial oils, and what the future might hold.
Warm summer days and outdoor cooking are known to be associated with an increased number of food poisoning cases. Professor Martin Adams from the University of Surrey discusses the risk factors involved and explains what micro-organisms are responsible. We talk about what people can do to minimize their chances of becoming ill and what the food industry is doing to reduce food-borne illness.
Plasma medicine is an exciting, emerging field of research at the interface of physics, chemistry and life sciences. Professor Michael Kong from Loughborough University describes the areas of medicine where cold gas plasmas could be used. He explains how their antimicrobial properties could make cold plasmas useful as disinfection agents, treatments for chronic wounds and how they could slow the spread – and possibly even reverse – antimicrobial resistance.
Honey bee populations are under major threat from the varroa mite. Bee keepers are struggling to keep the mites under control as they become increasingly resistant to conventional pesticides. Here, Dr Dave Chandler from the University of Warwick talks about his investigations into using insect pathogenic fungi as a biological control method. He explains how this might work in practice and the challenges to overcome.
Viruses are linked to about 15% of all cancers in the developed world and even more in the developing world. Professor David Blackbourn from the University of Birmingham tells us about the tricks these oncogenic viruses use to contribute to the development of certain cancers. He explains which groups of people may be more susceptible to developing virus-linked cancers and talks about the issues surrounding vaccine development for oncogenic viruses.
The pandemic may be over but swine flu hasn't gone away. Professor Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London explains where last year’s H1N1 swine flu pandemic came from and the lessons we learnt from it. She gives her views on the response to the government's public communications campaign during the pandemic and the current state of influenza awareness in the UK.
Professor Bob Rastall from the University of Reading talks about pro- and prebiotics: what they are, what they do and why they're so popular. Find out how these products are regulated and the threats that legislation may pose to the functional food industry that is currently worth £200 million a year in the UK.
Here we talk to Professor Howard Jenkinson from the University of Bristol and Dr Steve Kerrigan from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland about their research on oral streptococci that can ‘jailbreak’ into the circulation and increase the risk of heart disease.
The team has discovered that once let loose in the bloodstream, Streptococcus bacteria can use a protein on their surface, called PadA, as a weapon to force platelets in the blood to bind together and form clots.
Professor Howard Jenkinson presented this work at the SGM Autumn Meeting 2010 at the University of Nottingham.
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