Matters Microbial is a podcast about the wonders of microbiology, microbiologists, and microbial centrism with Dr. Mark Martin
Matters Microbial
Claim This Podcastby Mark O. Martin
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130 episodes
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Matters Microbial is a podcast about the wonders of microbiology, microbiologists, and microbial centrism with Dr. Mark Martin
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Publishing Since
8/7/2023
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Recent Episodes
May 25, 2026
Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
<header class="entry-header clearfix"> <h1 class="entry-title">Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology</h1> <span class="mini-title">May 19, 2026</span></header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><strong>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.</strong></p> <p>Host: <a href= "https://www.pugetsound.edu/directory/mark-martin"><strong>Mark O. Martin</strong></a></p> <p>Guest<strong><a title="" href= "https://toryhendry.weebly.com/">: </a></strong><a title="" href="https://www.kohl-lab.com/"><strong>Kevin Kohl</strong></a></p> <p>Subscribe: <strong><a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matters-microbial/id1701545625">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/22BQtkxh56Dy7xRW7yAYvC?si=4c093f07fdaa4e27">Spotify</a></strong></p> <p>Become a <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/contribute">patron</a> of Matters Microbial!</p> <h3 id="links-for-this-episode" class="wp-block-heading">Links for this episode</h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>The <a href= "https://www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-and-centers/microbiome-center">One Health Microbiome Center</a> at Pennsylvania State University.</li> <li>A very fine <a href= "https://www.quantamagazine.org/should-evolution-treat-our-microbes-as-part-of-us-20181120/">essay</a> on the holobiont concept for non-microbiologists.</li> <li>A general introductory <a href= "https://www.imperial.ac.uk/holobiont/blogs/holobiont--a-general-perspective/">overview</a> of the holobiont concept.</li> <li>The holobiont concept and the <a href= "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2014.00176/full">coral symbiosis</a>. </li> <li>A partial <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32039567/">history</a> of the development of the holobiont concept.</li> <li>Dr. Casadevall suggests that <a href= "https://asm.org/articles/2024/june/pathogenesis-not-a-trait-its-an-outcome">context</a> and thus outcomes describes the term "pathogen," and a similar analysis applies to the holobiont.</li> <li>A very short <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24035647/">description</a> of the holobiont concept. </li> <li>Another <a href= "https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/publications/the-disciplinary-matrix-of-holobiont-biology-uniting-lifes-seen-a/">overview</a> of the holobiont concept in general, coauthored by Dr. Kohl. </li> <li>Some <a href= "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002226">basic rules</a> for thinking about the holobiont concept.</li> <li>A <a href= "https://youtu.be/bFSTm4MxwRk?si=nWcXr9wI-pKV396t">video introduction</a> to the holobiont concept, by Dr. Seth Bordenstein.</li> <li>I highly recommend this essay by the science writer Carl Zimmer, "<a href="https://carlzimmer.com/the-human-lake/">The Human Lake</a>," to think of the connections between lake ecology and microbial interactions with humans.</li> <li>Another wonderful <a href= "https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1218525110">article</a> recommended by Dr. Kohl, by Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai and coauthors, detailing the impact microbes have on animals over evolution and development. </li> <li>The <a href= "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01165/full">wood rat – creosote – microbiome</a> connection to the holobiont concept, discussed on this podcast (coauthored by Dr. Kohl).</li> <li>The fascinating work by Dr. Kohl and colleagues showing the relationship between <a href= "https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/226/1/jeb245191/286604/The-microbiome-buffers-tadpole-hosts-from-heat">tadpole development and pond microbes</a> discussed in this podcast.</li> <li> A <a href= "https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/65/3/727/8152253?guestAccessKey=">must read article</a> 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.</li> <li>Dr. Richard Prum's book, "<a href= "https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo207283773.html">Performance All the Way Down</a>," was discussed during this podcast. There is also a <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/live/GjZ7alt32v0?si=Q0spgYaBjhzTrL-A">video</a> where Dr. Prum discusses the ideas in this book, describing gene regulation as a performance. </li> <li>Dr. Kohl's <a href= "https://www.biology.pitt.edu/people/kevin-kohl">faculty website</a>.</li> <li>Dr. Kohl's (very interesting) <a href= "https://www.kohl-lab.com/">research website</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Intro music is by Reber Clark</p> <p>Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com</p> </div>
May 5, 2026
Matters Microbial #129: Microbes Reveal How Evolution Might Replay
<header class="entry-header clearfix"> <h1 class="entry-title">Matters Microbial #129: Microbes Reveal How Evolution Might Replay</h1> <span class="mini-title">May 5, 2026</span></header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><strong>Today Dr. Michael Travisano, Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the College of Biological Sciences of the University of Minnesota, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss fascinating work from his lab group exploring evolutionary questions from a microbial perspective.</strong></p> <p>Host: <a href= "https://www.pugetsound.edu/directory/mark-martin"><strong>Mark O. Martin</strong></a></p> <p>Guest<strong><a title="" href= "https://toryhendry.weebly.com/">: </a></strong><a title="" href= "https://cbs.umn.edu/directory/michael-travisano"><strong>Michael Travisano</strong></a></p> <p>Subscribe: <strong><a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matters-microbial/id1701545625">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/22BQtkxh56Dy7xRW7yAYvC?si=4c093f07fdaa4e27">Spotify</a></strong></p> <p>Become a <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/contribute">patron</a> of Matters Microbial!</p> <h3 id="links-for-this-episode" class="wp-block-heading">Links for this episode</h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Here is the <a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/27900">link</a> to the article we discussed during the podcast, authored by Dr. Travisano and Dr. Rainey.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/adaptive-radiation">overview</a> of the concept of adaptive radiation.</li> <li>The ecological/evolutionary concept of "<a href= "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2722019/">cheating</a>" which applies to the mat forming <a href= "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982219302660">bacteria</a> discussed in this podcast.</li> <li>A <a href= "https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.02846-18">link</a> to an article by Dr. Jo Handelsman and colleagues about THOR, a simple microbial community that has shows great functional diversity.</li> <li>A wonderful <a href= "https://www.quantamagazine.org/long-term-evolution-the-richard-lenski-interview-20161103/">essay</a> about Dr. Rich Lenski's role in the <a href= "https://the-ltee.org/about/">LTEE</a>.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://smallthingsconsidered.blog/schaechter/2016/03/the-red-queen-running-uphill/">essay</a> from "Small Things Considered" describing "rewinding" evolution using microbial systems.</li> <li>A wonderful <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-Life-Burgess-Nature-History/dp/039330700X">book</a> by Stephen Jay Gould, "Wonderful Life" about evolution.</li> <li>Another <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26558946/">book</a> well worth your attention: "Chance and Necessity" by Jacques Monod.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-mystery-of-the-missing-multicellular-prokaryotes-20240502/">article</a> about the challenges of multicellularity in bacteria.</li> <li>The wonderful short <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVGHr6MHapo">video</a> example of "snowflake yeast" evolving within days.</li> <li>A <a href= "https://youtu.be/woKKGBRdg6k?si=ahfJAsZBZl2JQstl">link</a> to another #MattersMicrobial podcast by Dr Will Ratcliff, about "snowflake yeast."</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00141/full">article</a> by Dr. Travisano and colleagues describing conflict and cooperation in microbial societies discussed on this podcast.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1115323109">article</a> by Dr. Travisano and colleagues about the evolution of "snowflake yeast," discussed on this podcast.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article/290/2007/20231055/104216">article</a> by Dr. Travisano and colleagues discussing the role of other microbes in the development of multicellularity, discussed on this podcast. </li> <li>An <a href= "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0014184">article</a> by Dr. Travisano and colleagues, on the repeatability of microbial adaptive evolution discussed on this podcast.</li> <li>A list of <a href= "https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=JrdvhcQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate">references</a> authored by Dr. Travisano and colleagues.</li> <li>Dr. Travisano's <a href= "https://cbs.umn.edu/directory/michael-travisano">faculty website</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Intro music is by Reber Clark</p> <p>Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com</p> </div>
April 21, 2026
Matters Microbial #128: C. diff from Nursery to Nursing Home
<header class="entry-header clearfix"> <h1 class="entry-title">Matters Microbial #128: C. diff from Nursery to Nursing Home</h1> <span class="mini-title">April 20, 2026</span></header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><strong>Today Dr. Joseph Zackular, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss some fascinating microbiology involving the bacterium Clostridiodes difficile (also known as C. diff), which can cause disease in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.</strong></p> <p>Host: <a href= "https://www.pugetsound.edu/directory/mark-martin"><strong>Mark O. Martin</strong></a></p> <p>Guest<strong><a title="" href= "https://toryhendry.weebly.com/">: </a></strong><a title="" href="https://www.zackularlab.org/"><strong>Joseph Zackular</strong></a></p> <p>Subscribe: <strong><a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matters-microbial/id1701545625"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/22BQtkxh56Dy7xRW7yAYvC?si=4c093f07fdaa4e27">Spotify</a></strong></p> <p>Become a <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/contribute">patron</a> of Matters Microbial!</p> <h3 id="links-for-this-episode" class="wp-block-heading">Links for this episode</h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>An <a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-024-01090-6">essay</a> about siderophores in bacteria.</li> <li>The Giant Microbes "Cdiff" <a href= "https://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/cdiff.html?srsltid=AfmBOooIv-96gY-rhpfw_pgJ55hYaBjSLj-4YnygtsnBrQNQObk4A-0y">toy</a>.</li> <li>The <a href= "https://medschool.umich.edu/profile/2341/patrick-d-schloss">website</a> of Dr. Patrick Schloss.</li> <li>A <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9b1aQ99yGw">link</a> to the #MattersMicrobial podcast with Dr. Schloss.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691">overview</a> of Clostridioides difficile from a patient / physician perspective.</li> <li>A <a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-025-01242-2">review article</a> of research involving Clostridioides difficile.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00013-11">overview</a> on polymicrobial diseases.</li> <li>A wonderful <a href= "https://asm.org/articles/2024/june/pathogenesis-not-a-trait-its-an-outcome">opinion piece</a> by Dr. Arturo Casadevall regarding the term "pathogen."</li> <li>An <a href= "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5691600/">overview</a> of Enterococcus in the gut microbiome.</li> <li>The <a href= "https://www.mcponline.org/article/S1535-9476(23)00087-7/fulltext">technology</a> of imaging mass spectrometry.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9831356/">article</a> on Stickland fermentation of amino acids among gut bacteria.</li> <li><a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37096495/">Work</a> by Dr. Zackular and colleagues discussed in this podcast, describing how FMT can be used as a treatment.</li> <li><a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40840427/">Work</a> by Dr. Zackular and colleagues discussed in this podcast, describing how different members of the host microbiome interact, and how that relates to disease.</li> <li><a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39502362/">Work</a> by Dr. Zackular and colleagues discussed in this podcast, describing the role of amino acid metabolism to changes in microbiome structure.</li> <li><a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36385534/">Work</a> by Dr. Zackular and colleagues discussed in this podcast, describing how Enterococcus can modulate the disease causing characteristics of C. difficile.</li> <li>An interesting <a href= "https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0604865103">paper</a> showing that polymicrobial effects are more common than expected.</li> <li>An <a href= "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016508520355086">article</a> arguing that there is no single "healthy" microbiome.</li> <li>A lovely <a href= "https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/opinion/sunday/there-is-no-healthy-microbiome.html">primer</a> on this topic for most nonmicrobiologists. </li> <li>An <a href= "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11949973/">overview</a> on fecal microbiome transplants and the treatment of human disease.</li> <li>The <a href= "https://www.research.chop.edu/center-for-microbial-medicine">website</a> for the Center for Microbial Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.</li> <li>A great <a href= "https://youtu.be/8Ppjx-MnvxA?si=-905V1axCjuJ1qDt">video</a> by Dr. Zackular and colleagues, well worth your time.</li> <li>Dr. Zackular's <a href= "https://pathology.med.upenn.edu/department/people/1202/joseph-p-zackular">academic website</a>.</li> <li>Dr. Zackular's <a href= "https://www.zackularlab.org/">laboratory website</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Intro music is by Reber Clark</p> <p>Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com</p> </div>
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