Matters Microbial #135: Biofilms in Motion—The Adorable Zorbs

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Jo Handelsmann, Shruthi Magesh

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• Here is a link to the Etsy shop where one can buy the wonderful "THIS IS WHAT A MICROBIOLOGIST LOOKS LIKE" enamel pins.
• Here is a link to the World Microbiome Day website.
• Here is a link to the interesting work of Contamination Club.
• The story of Alexander Fleming's famous contaminant that led to the discovery of penicillin. 
• Here is a link to Dr. Handelsman's recent book, "A World Without Soil."  Highly recommended. 
• The website for Dr. Handelsman's wonderful "Tiny Earth" program, helping students worldwide to screen soil for antimicrobial production (and learning about microbial diversity).  
• An overview of the microbial complexity of soil.  
• A video overview of biofilms.
• A video overview of types of bacterial motility.
• A video overview of "gliding motility" among bacteria.
• Some bacteria can "hitchhike" or are carried by other bacteria, such as Paenibacillus. 
• Learning about an odd sport involving "zorbs."
• An introductory essay on "zorbing" and motility.
• Another introductory essay on "co-zorbing," the topic of today's discussion.
• A description of Flavobacterium johnsoniae, which carries out "zorbing." 
• The original article on THOR ("The Hitchhikers of the Rhizosphere") by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues.
• The original "zorb" paper by Dr. Handelsman and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast.
• The "co-zorb" paper by Dr. Handelsman, Dr. Magesh, and colleagues that was discussed during today's podcast.
• A fascinating video by Dr. Handelsman and her path to becoming a microbial scientist. Highly recommended..  
• Dr. Handelsman's faculty website.
• The website for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.
• Dr. Handelsman's research laboratory website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com