Matters Microbial #140: Out of Many, One — Coral and Jellyfish Holobionts
Matters Microbial #140: Out of Many, One — Coral and Jellyfish Holobionts
October 7, 2026
Today Dr. Monica Medina, Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA, joins the quality quorum to discuss how organisms are made up of myriad other organisms—the holonbiont concept. Dr. Medina and her research group focus on studying this in jellyfish and coral.
Host: Mark O. Martin
Guest: Monica Medina
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Links for this episode
A link to my host city in New Zealand, Christchurch.
A link to the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch New Zealand.
The website (https://tommillerlab.ucr.edu/) for the laboratory of Dr. Tom Miller of UC Riverside.
A recent video exploring the holobiont concept.
A recent article describing how the holobiont concept is involved in coral biology.
A recent review article describing the holobiont concept.
The life cycle of the cnidarian Cassiopia xamachana used by Dr. Medina's research group as a model system.
A book chapter from Dr. Medina describing the use of Cassiopia xamachana as a cnidarian model system for symbiosis and holobiont studies.
A video description of how to raise Cassiopia xamachana from a member of Dr. Medina's research group.
An article from Dr. Medina's research group discussing the microbial community of the holobiont of coral.
An article from Dr. Medina's research group discussing the coral-algal symbiosis.
An article about Dr. Medina and colleagues' work on ancient coral DNA to study the holobiont concept over time.
A video of Dr. Medina discussing her research.
A link showing Dr. Medina's interest in the intersection between art and science (https://medinalab.org/art-science/).
A link showing Dr. Medina's interest in the intersection between coral art and science.
A very informative Wikipedia page about Dr. Medina.
A link to Dr. Medina's research group website.
A link to Dr. Medina's faculty website.
Intro music is by Reber Clark
Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com
23 Sept 2026
Matters Microbial #139: How Listeria Gets By With a Little Help From Its Friends
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 (https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Listeria).
Here is an overview of Listeria pathogenesis (https://www.news-medical.net/health/Listeria-Pathogenesis.aspx).
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 (https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/timeline.html).
Description of the caramel apple Listeria outbreak (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6542465/).
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
8 Sept 2026
Matters Microbial #138: Sightseeing the Microbial World
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
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20 ratings
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23 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
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97
Social presence
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YouTube
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Engagement
85
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