Show Notes
Matters Microbial #108: Neanderthal Oral Health, Ancient Bacteria and DNA September 19, 2025 Today, Dr. Laura Weyrich, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the paleo oral microbiome! We will learn if our ancestors had the same kind of resident microbes as we do. In addition, we will learn about ancient DNA and what it can tell us. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Laura Weyrich Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An obituary for my late and much missed microbiologist friend, Dr. Kimberly Walker. A link to Episode #9 of #MattersMicrobial, with Sebastian Cocioba. The ethics of collecting samples from deceased humans, both ancient and modern. An overview of the efforts to study ancient DNA. Here is another review on that topic. The importance of proper controls for the study of low DNA abundance samples—the famous "kitome" often observed. Here is an article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues on this topic, as well. A recent article using human bones to detect Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. An overview of the oral microbiome. An article describing how dental calculus can be used to recover ancient DNA. An article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues describing the human oral microbiome pre and post Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. A video describing our Neanderthal ancestors. An article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues describing the Neanderthal oral microbiome and related issues. A fine video by Dr. Weyrich describing her research program. Dr. Weyrich's faculty website. Dr. Weyrich's research team website (SO INTERESTING). Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]
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Matters Microbial #141: How Tardigrades Survive What We Do To Them October 20, 2026 Today Dr. Molly Jane Kirk, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at UC Santa Barbara, joins the quality quorum to discuss her research fascination with the biology and resilience of a microscopic multicellular eukaryote, the famous tardigrade.
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.
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 Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! 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 [email protected]
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.
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.