COVID-19 has put the subject of infections and pathogens firmly on the centre stage. But it can be difficult to know where to go to find information that is easy to understand and that you can trust. This week Matt talks to Dr Tregoning, author of ‘Infectious: pathogens and how we fight them’, a book that gives a fascinating overview of our ongoing fight against pathogens, uncovering success stories in immunology and virology, and providing some hope in these uncertain times.

Infectious: Pathogens and how we fight them

In this episode of Microbe Talk Charlie talks to Dr Fiona Walsh about her team's research into how widespread plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance genes are around the world, and what we can do about it.

Music:
Leatherbound by Blue Dot Sessions(www.sessions.blue)

A global problem: investigating the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes

Some fungal infections, like athletes' foot or thrush, are relatively common and are usually not serious. But in those with underlying conditions or compromised immune systems, fungal infections can be deadly.

In recent weeks, the World Health Organisation has warned of the serious threat that fungi pose to humans with a new report and list of priority fungal pathogens. In this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlotte takes a look inside the creeping threat of fungal infections with guests Prof Kevin Kavanagh and Prof Neil Gow.

Music: True Blue Sky by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Inside the creeping threat of fungal infections

This month, inspired by a paper published in Microbial Genomics, Clare takes a deep dive into the method of wastewater monitoring. She speaks to Professor Steve Patterson and Dr Anne Leonard about how wastewater monitoring is a useful tool which helps us understand not only the spread of diseases like COVID-19, but also antimicrobial resistance.

You can read Professor Patterson's paper, published in Microbial Genomics here. https://microb.io/3or9CsS 

Music: pixabay Chill Abstract (Intention) Coma-Media

Chill Abstract (Intention)

A deep dive into wastewater monitoring

In this episode of Microbe Talk, David Walker-Sünderhauf chats with Clare about his paper "Removal of AMR plasmids using a mobile, broad host-range CRISPR-Cas9 delivery tool" published in Microbiology. 




If you'd like to read David's paper, you can find it here https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001334. You can also follow him on twitter @davvi36. 

Music: Time Technology by Comma-Media from Pixabay

CRISPR - Cas9 Takes On AMR Plasmids

In this episode of Microbe Talk Clare is joined by Rick Mumford, Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor & Deputy Director of Science Evidence & Research at the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). They chat about research and surveillance of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR), delivering on the 5-year National Action Plan and look to the future of foodborne AMR. 

If you’d like to read Rick’s paper, ‘Foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research and surveillance in the UK: priorities identified through the Food Standards Agency’s AMR programme review (2023)’ published in Journal of Medical Microbiology, the Society’s interdisciplinary journal for medical, veterinary and dental microbiology, you can do so here https://microb.io/3OaMMiP 

If you’d like to keep up to date with the FSA’s science news, publications and research partnership opportunities you can sign up to their newsletter here https://microb.io/427v99A 

If you’d like to get involved in tackling AMR you can find out more information on our Knocking out AMR project and register your interest on our website https://microb.io/3tIpadW 

Music by Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay

Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: research and surveillance

In aid of The International Day of Women and Girls in Science Clare spoke to Professor Iruka Okeke and Professor Judith Armitage to discuss women in science. In this episode they discuss the importance of mentors, promotions in academia and the inequalities of maternity leave and Clare gains valuable insights from Judy and Iruka's impressive careers.

To keep up with Judy and Iruka, you can find them on X. @Armitage_Judy and @iruka_okeke. 

Follow this link to read Judy's Microbial Primer https://microb.io/3unNBOP

Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay

Navigating Academia: a conversation with Professor Iruka Okeke and Professor Judith Armitage

Clare is back with another episode of Microbe Talk and this time she’s investigating the topic of Microbial Forensics with Dr Tim Inglis from the University of Western Australia. 

Tim is the Editor-in-Chief of the Society’s Journal of Medical Microbiology where he published his review on the topic: ‘A systematic approach to microbial forensics’. 

If you’d like to read Dr Inglis’ paper, you can do so in the Journal of Medical Microbiology here https://microb.io/49LS2m0 

You can also download a full transcript of the podcast on the Microbiology Society website here https://microb.io/3x6vrCd

Music by Denys Kyshcuk from Pixabay

Investigating invisible culprits with Dr Tim Inglis

Dr Claas Kirchhelle from University College Dublin will be giving the Hot Topic Lecture: "Faecal Flows – a very short history of microbiology, sewers, and Britain's rivers (ca.1850-2023)" at this years Annual Conference. Clare spoke to Claas to find out how he's feeling ahead of his lecture and to pick his brain about his intriguing research area.
 
If you're at Annual Conference this year, you can catch Claas' Hot topic Lecture at 8:45 on Thursday 11 April. Alternatively, Claas' lecture will be available online after Annual Conference.

Behind the lecture with Dr Claas Kirchhelle

Last month was Women’s History Month, taking place annually throughout the month of March. It aims to highlight and reflect on the many, but often over-looked, achievements made by women throughout history – which have paved the way for the women of today. In this episode, to mark the month, we caught up with Society Champion and microbiologist, Dr Linda Oyama. Linda discusses her insights as a woman in science, by diving into some of her experiences, as well as her passion for outreach with young girls.

To keep up with Linda, you can find her on X. @LindaOyama

Music by Valmont Castro from Soundcloud.

Women’s History Month: a conversation with Dr Linda Oyama

Yesterday, we released our vision statement for Knocking Out Antimicrobial Resistance, the Society's new cross-disciplinary project. It outlined the key issues faced by the AMR community: the lack of understanding of the urgency of the crisis, a fragmented AMR landscape and a broken innovation pipeline.

So for this special Knocking Out AMR episode of Microbe Talk Clare spoke to Professor Paul Hoskisson to pick his brain on his latest venture: a one million pound project to use food by-products make antimicrobial production more cost effective and sustainable.

The Microbiology Society's Knocking Out AMR Vision statement can be found on our website here https://microb.io/4bHDoMO 

Paul's Socials:
Bluesky @paulhoskisson.bsky.social 
Twitter @PaulHoskisson
Instagram @paulhoskisson

Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay

Knocking Out AMR: fixing the broken innovation pipeline

For this episode of Microbe Talk Clare was joined by the wonderful Gwyn Dahlquist-Axe and Francesca Standeven, archaeological scientists who study AMR and ancient human oral microbiomes. They're on the podcast to discuss their review into diet, disease and antibiotic resistance from ancient human oral microbiomes published in Microbial Genomics. 

You can read their review 'Inferring diet, disease and antibiotic resistance from ancient human oral microbiomes' by following this link: https://microb.io/3yrdaQo

If you'd like to keep up with Francesca and Gwyn's research their Twitter (X) handles are @GDahlquistAxe and @fstandeven193

You can read a full transcript of the podcast on our website here https://microb.io/3xfueJ0

Roots of resistance: exploring AMR in ancient mouths

In aid of space week Clare is looking up into the sky with Dr Katherine Baxter about the exciting field of space microbiology. They chat about how research in space could help with problems back on earth, how microbes behave in space and how they might be key to survival in future space travel. 

The details of the ways to get involved are below. If you're in need of even more space content, keep your eye out for the next edition of Microbiology Today. 

The NASA Open Science Data Repository: https://awg.osdr.space/ 
The SOLSTICE citizen science project: https://www.nasa.gov/osdr-working-groups-citizen-science/.  

Music by drmseq from Pixabay

Looking up at space microbiology

The month of October is #BlackHistoryMonth and this year we caught up with Society Champion, Dr Amaka Awayne, on our latest episode of the Microbe Talk podcast. Dr Amaka discusses her insightful experiences as a Black person working in science, as well as how she is contributing to Black History Month this year.

Find out how to get more involved with Society activities via our Get Involved webpage: https://microb.io/4f18YYd

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

Black History Month: Amaka Awayne

For this episode of Microbe Talk Clare is joined by Dr Sanjay Patel, a paediatric infectious disease and immunology consultant at Southampton Children's Hospital and the National Clinical Advisor for Paediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship at NHS England. Clare and Sanjay discuss paediatric AMR, why it's often overlooked and how Sanjay and his colleagues from clinical, research and policy backgrounds are taking action. 

If you'd like to learn more about research into antimicrobial resistance in neonates, take a look at this paper in Journal of Medical Microbiology: https://microb.io/4i4guDp

You can find details of how to get involved with Knocking Out AMR here:https://microb.io/40g484K

The resources and initiatives Sanjay mentioned are below: 
National empirical antimicrobial guidelines: https://uk-pas.co.uk/Antimicrobial-Paediatric-Summary-UKPAS.pdf
The common infection clinical pathways, the IV to oral switch decision aid: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66795c88a7a18c1aa1a00f20/paeds-iv-to-oral-switch-decision-aid-1.pdf 
The common infection paediatric pathways: https://bsac.org.uk/paediatricpathways/

Music: Inspiring Science Technology - Comma Media from Pixabay

To download the transcript of this podcast please visit our website. 

World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week: paediatric AMR

In this episode of Microbe Talk Clare spoke to Adam Aspinall who's Senior Director in the Access and Product Management team at Medicines for Malaria Venture. They discuss Malaria, antimalarial drug resistance and the work that Medicines for Malaria Venture is doing to support new drug discovery.

If you'd like to find out more about the Microbiology Society's Knocking Out AMR project, you can do so here https://microb.io/3XDv9fq 

If you'd like to find out more about the work that Medicines for Malaria do, take a look at their resources here: 

MMV website: http://mmv.org

Severe Malaria Observatory : severemalaria.org

You can also download a full transcript of the podcast by visiting the Microbiology Society's website. 

Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Blue Latex

Antimalarial drug resistance: current challenges and future solutions

In this episode, Adam talks to Dr Georgios Efthimiou from the University of Hull.  Georgios has created a nationwide ‘spooky’ short story competition called Coccus Pocus. This project links outreach and Halloween with microbiology.  This creative competition has had a clear impact on 12 – 18-year-olds who find the competition a good way to discover an interest in microbiology and have had a lot of fun writing the stories.  Join Adam as he learns more about this Microbiology Society-funded project (and you may hear from a few society staff members reading some of this year's winners along the way).

Coccus Pocus: a microbiology inspired scary story competition

We're in Liverpool this week, hosting our annual conference and meeting our members, collaborators and authors.

We know that there will be a lot of exciting conversations, interesting presentations and vital networking opportunities happening all over the and wanted to make sure you could keep the excitement going even after the events of the day have finished. 

So, across the four days of annual conference we'll be bringing you mini episodes of Microbe Talk, each featuring a presenter from the programme. 

For the first of our mini-series, Clare spoke to Phoebe Crossley who will be presenting her research 'Multi-omic analysis of the vaginal microenvironment reveals mechanisms of vulvovaginal and sexual health symptoms in women with benign gynaecological conditions' at the Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease session tomorrow afternoon. 

Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Phoebe Crossley

We're in Liverpool this week, hosting our annual conference and meeting our members, collaborators and authors.

We know that there will be a lot of exciting conversations, interesting presentations and vital networking opportunities happening all over the and wanted to make sure you could keep the excitement going even after the events of the day have finished.

So, across the four days of annual conference we'll be bringing you mini episodes of Microbe Talk, each featuring a presenter from the programme.

For the second episode of our miniseries for Annual Conference Clare spoke to Elizabeth O’Gorman about her research titled ‘Adaptation of Campylobacter to Sodium Chloride Alters Phenotypes Associated with Human Disease’ which she will be presenting at the infection forum tomorrow afternoon. 

Elizabeth and Clare chat about food safety and how consumer trends might be altering the of bacteria on our meat.

Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Elizabeth O'Gorman

We're in Liverpool this week, hosting our annual conference and meeting our members, collaborators and authors.

We know that there will be a lot of exciting conversations, interesting presentations and vital networking opportunities happening all over the and wanted to make sure you could keep the excitement going even after the events of the day have finished.

So, across the four days of annual conference we'll be bringing you mini episodes of Microbe Talk, each featuring a presenter from the programme.

For the penultimate episode of our miniseries for annual conference Clare spoke to Guilherme Borba Neuman about his research titled ‘Characterizing Retroviral Integrations and Their Impact on Koala Populations: Implications for Health and Conservation’ which he presented earlier today at our Annual Conference in Liverpool. 

Listen to find out how Guilherme is able to see the results of his research come to fruition in captive Koala populations. 

Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Guilherme Neumann

We're in Liverpool this week, hosting our annual conference and meeting our members, collaborators and authors.

We know that there will be a lot of exciting conversations, interesting presentations and vital networking opportunities happening all over the and wanted to make sure you could keep the excitement going even after the events of the day have finished.

So, across the four days of annual conference we'll be bringing you mini episodes of Microbe Talk, each featuring a presenter from the programme.

We’re closing up with a chat with Andrew Spicer who is looking at the algae Chlorella in a new light. His invited talk ‘Reimagining Chlorella as a food and beverage ingredient suited for everyday foods’ was on Tuesday afternoon at the Annual Conference in the Microbes to meals session.

Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Andrew Spicer

In this episode, Adam discovers how two microbiologists from opposite sides of the world formed a collaboration and mentorship that has greatly benefited them both.

When in-person classes were suspended during the 2020 lockdown, Akpan Friday, a student from Nigeria, reached out on social media seeking support to continue his and his classmates’ learning. Dr Beth Mills from the University of Edinburgh responded to the call and began delivering free online lectures to the students.

Although they have yet to meet in person, their relationship has developed into a mentor–mentee partnership, and both were delighted to share their story.

Music: Instant Crush – Corbyn Kites 


Dr Beth Mills and Akpan Friday on international collaboration and mentorship

In January 2024, Aline Metris and Lindsay Hall hosted an academic-industry workshop at the Microbiology Society offices to discuss the potential long-term implications of microbiome perturbations. 

Since then, they’ve published a comprehensive summary of the findings from the workshop in Microbial Genomics. We invited them back to the Microbiology Society offices to chat with Clare about their experiences hosting the workshop and share their insights from the paper. 

If you’d like to read the review in Microbial Genomics you can do so by following this link https://microb.io/3TkLCn3 

Stay tuned to the Microbiology Society socials to be the first to hear about Lindsay and Aline’s further work and our other projects on the microbiome. 

A full, auto generated, transcript of the podcast is available on our website here https://microb.io/4l4aZ92

From workshop to publication: discussing microbiome safety with Lindsay Hall and Aline Metris

In this episode of Microbe Talk, Clare talks to An Bui from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta about their paper published in Microbiology, the first systematic review of the potential effects of psychotropics (the drugs used to treat bipolar disorder) on the gut microbiome of treated and untreated bipolar individuals.

A full transcript of the recording is available on our website: https://microbiologysociety.org/blog/microbe-talk-exploring-the-gut-brain-link-in-bipolar-treatments.html

Chemical Conversations: Exploring the gut:brain link in bipolar treatments

In 2019, a mysterious shape appeared on a petri dish in a Birmingham lab. Its surprising appearance, similar to noodles, intrigued researchers to find out more about it. They consulted other scientists online at the time, which sparked an idea to start an online club dedicated to sharing laboratory contaminants.

Now, the team finally publish their research characterising this contaminant as a new species of bacteria, Kocuria rhizophila, in our journal Microbial Genomics. Researchers Rob Moran and Greg McCallum join Communications and Media Officer Lilly Tozer to talk about their journey from discovery to publish.

If you’d like to read the paper, you can do so by following this link: https://microb.io/47L8aoY

Stay tuned to the Microbiology Society socials to be the first to hear about exciting new research in the world of microbiology.

You can download a full, auto generated transcript of the podcast here: https://microb.io/3J6DUf3

The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: From discovery to community

The relationship between humans and parasites is changing along with the climate crisis, globalisation, and innovations in science. In this month's Microbe Talk, we chat to expert Kinga Kowalewska-Grochowska at the University of Alberta, Canada, about the evolutions in how we look at parasites, where they are found, and what the future holds for diagnosing and treating these illnesses. This follows Kowalewska-Grochowska's latest review of the same topic published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

If you’d like to read the paper, you can do so by following this link: https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002064

Stay tuned to the Microbiology Society socials to be the first to hear about exciting new research in the world of microbiology.

You can download a full, auto generated transcript of the podcast here: https://microb.io/3N1IWuA

Hidden Companions: how parasites are adapting to a changing world

In this episode of Microbe Talk, we meet some members of staff at the Microbiology Society to reflect on 2025 and look at ways to get involved in 2026. 

Microbiology Society Staff Reflect on 2025

What does a healthy vaginal microbiome look like? Are store-bought vaginal probiotics backed by science? How do these microbes interact with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
 
🦠Research is uncovering more and more about the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and sexual health. That's why this month, Lilly chats with Prof Wilhelmina Huston, a microbiologist specialising in STIs at the University of Melbourne, Australia, to discuss what science knows so far.
 
🎧Listen in wherever you get your podcasts

🔗If you’d like to read the review in Microbial Genomics you can do so by following this link https://microb.io/46tUCxa
A full, auto generated, transcript of the podcast is available on our website here https://microb.io/3M7M7B7

Sexual health and the vaginal microbiome

Laura speaks with Alice Fraser from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Alice is part of a research team looking for new antibiotics in unexpected places. Listen to the episode to find out about her research searching for antibiotic proteins in snake venoms and find out what Alice has found so far.
Music: Jason Shaw CC.BY 3.0

Could snake venom contain antibiotics?

As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to explore the role of microbiology to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. This episode, Hannah speaks with Dr Ellie Harrison, Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield and Luke Hillary, PhD student at Bangor University to find out about how their research into soil health contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Visit the 'A Sustainable Future' project webpage and  find out more about how microbiology can be used to improve soil health.

A sustainable future in soil health

The Microbiology Society is a membership organisation for scientists who work in all areas of microbiology.

Microbiology Society

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