098: Insect and human microbial symbionts with Seth Bordenstein

Over the course of a few decades, scientists have learned how insect endosymbiont bacteria affects insect reproduction and have used this understanding to control mosquito-born diseases. Seth Bordenstein talks about his research on the insect endosymbiont Wolbachia, human-microbiome interactions, and how the ecosystem of a host and its microbes can be refered to as a holobiont. Take the listener survey at asm.org/mtmpoll Links for this Episode: Bordenstein Lab at Vanderbilt University mSystems: Getting the hologenome concept right: an eco-evolutionary framwork for hosts and their microbiomes. PLoS Biology: Gut microbiota diversity across ethnicities in the United States. PNAS: One prophage WO gene rescues cytoplasmic incompatibility in Drosophila melanogaster. Discover the Microbes within! The Wolbachia Project HOM Tidbit: Studies on Rickettsia-Like Micro-Organisms in Insects (1924 paper from Hertig and Wolbach)  

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Who is microbiology? Meet the Microbiologist (MTM) introduces you to the people who discover, innovate and advance the field of microbiology. Go behind-the-scenes of the microbial sciences with experts in virology, bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and more! Share in their passion for microbes and hear about research successes and even a few setbacks in their field. MTM covers everything from genomics, antibiotic resistance, synthetic biology, emerging infectious diseases, microbial ecology, public health, social equity, host-microbe biology, drug discovery, artificial intelligence, the microbiome and more! From graduate students to working clinicians and emeritus professors, host, Ashley Hagen, Scientific and Digital Editor at the American Society for Microbiology, highlights professionals in all stages of their careers, gleaning wisdom, career advice and even a bit of mentorship along the way.