Tony Maurelli is a professor of microbiology and immunology in the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Maurelli?s major research interest lies in the genetics of bacterial pathogenesis ? the genetic nuts and bolts of how bacteria infect humans and make us sick. Dr. Maurelli?s work has uncovered ?antivirulence genes? in Shigella flexneri, a major cause of dysentery and food borne illness. This is an interesting concept: antivirulence genes undermine pathogenicity, so they must be broken or dropped from the genome for a bacterium to take good advantage of a host and cause disease. These genes are a hindrance, so to become an effective pathogen, Shigella must stop using them. In this interview, Dr. Merry Buckley talks with Dr. Maurelli about antivirulence genes, whether the naming system for bacteria should be fixed, and his favorite microbe.

Stanley Falkow is a professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Stanford School of Medicine. His research interests lie in bacterial pathogenesis ? how bacteria cause infection and disease ? and over the course of his career he has contributed fundamental discoveries to the field. Falkow received the Lasker prize this year for special achievement in medical science, and the Lasker Foundation calls him ?one of the great microbe hunters of all time?. Molecular techniques (methods of analysis that rely on bacterial DNA) are now widely used for infectious disease diagnosis, thanks in large part to Falkow, who was among the first to apply an understanding of genes and virulence determinants to analyzing patient samples. He has published extensively in areas ranging from antibiotic resistance to food borne illness to microarrays. In this interview, Dr. Merry Buckley talks with Dr. Falkow about his prescient concerns about the dangers of using antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock, why Salmonella is so good at making you sick, and why students who are interested in science should follow their passion. From this point forward, MicrobeWorld listeners should be caught up with the "Best of" Meet the Scientist to date. Episodes will now come out on the regular Meet the Scientist schedule which is approximately every two weeks.

Bruce Rittmann, the Director of the Center for Environmental Biotechnology at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State, focuses his efforts on reclaiming contaminated water and producing renewable energy using microbes. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2004 and credited with pioneering development of biofilm fundamentals and contributing to their widespread use in the bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems. His research combines many disciplines of science, including engineering, microbiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and microbial ecology. Formerly with Northwestern University, Rittmann is also a leader in the development of the Membrane Biofilm Reactor, an approach that uses bacteria to destroy pollutants in water. The Membrane Biofilm Reactor is especially effective for removing perchlorate from drinking water, and it is being launched commercially. In this podcast, Merry Buckley talks with Dr. Rittmann about the biofilm reactor process, the electricity hiding in our wastewater, and how we may some day grow fuel on the roofs of buildings.

David Relman is a Professor of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University, and his research program focuses on the human microbiome ? the microbial communities of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that thrive on and in the human body. Since Louis Pasteur first deduced that microbes are to blame for infectious disease, doctors and scientists alike have mostly seen infection as warfare between a pathogen and the human body. Dr. Relman sees things a little differently. To him, the complex communities of microbes that line our skin, mouths, intestines, and other orifices are also involved in this battle, interacting with pathogens and with our bodies, and these interactions help determine how a fracas plays out.In this interview, Dr. Merry Buckley asks Dr. Relman about our personal ecosystems of microbes, whether we?ll ever be able to understand and predict what these communities do, and about the sometimes distressing effects of oral antibiotics on our guts. They also talked about whether being MTV?s Rock Doctor back in the 1990?s had an impact on his other professional pursuits.

Ute Hentshel is a professor of chemical ecology at the University of Würzburg in Germany. Her research focuses on characterizing the microbial communities associated with marine sponges, the diversity of these symbionts and their activities. On this episode, Dr. Merry Buckley talks with Ute Hentschel about her research on the microbes that live on and in sea sponges ? those squishy, colorful residents of coral reefs. Dr. Hentschel describes some of the utterly unique microbes that are only found in sponges, what those microbes get from living in a sponge hotel, and why it?s nice to have a study site in the Bahamas.

As of Monday, November 17, 2008, the MicrobeWorld Radio daily 90 second audio podcast has ended. But not to worry, we have been busy creating new podcast content with more in-depth interviews with scientists and researchers who work with microbes. Please listen to this episode for important information about our future plans for MicrobeWorld Radio's podcast feed.

Canadian scientists have found that probiotics that help maintain a healthy gut might also protect against E. coli. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

A small but significant number of patients on a common antifungal drug have reported experiencing vibrant hallucinations. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Oil spill clean-up crews may soon get help from a combination of microbes and fertilizer chemicals that can convert crude oil into carbon dioxide, water, and harmless organic matter. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

A University of Texas scientist discovered that there are higher rates of antibiotic resistance in the U.S. than in Mexico. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Scientists hope to add another item to the list of benefits provided by pomegranates?treating MRSA infections. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

A Portland State professor studies viruses that live in volcanic hot springs for clues to gene regulation. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

New research shows a high salt diet may trigger the bacterium responsible for ulcers to become more virulent. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Lactic acid bacteria can lead to costly shutdowns when it contaminates corn used for ethanol production. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Many scientists believe Mad Cow Disease is caused by infectious proteins called prions, but not everyone buys into that explanation. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

In a recent study, an Italian pediatrician found additional evidence that all children with asthma can benefit from a flu shot, even if their asthma is under control. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

A Vanderbilt University scientist studies the role of bacteria in shaping complex life. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

An environmental engineer at Penn State has created a fuel cell that produces electricity using waste from the Penn State Water Treatment Facility. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi discovered that by attaching antibiotics directly to a medical device, they can reduce the rate of infection. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!

Scientists trying to boost the bighorn sheep populations in the American West have recently discovered their recovery is being hindered by pneumonia. Do you like the MicrobeWorld podcast? Please help spread the love! Send an email to info@flpradio.com, tell a friend, or write a review in a podcast directory. Thanks!