Microbe Talk
Episodes
Episode 183: Annual Conference 2026: Meet the Panel behind the programme
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes planning our flagship Annual Conference? Listen in as Lilly talks to Chairs of the Scientific Conferences...
Episode 182: Sepsis, superbugs, and antibiotic stewardship
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"I often like to say that we're not the antibiotic police, but we're the antibiotic sommelier. So, you have a bug and we have the drug, and we try to ...
Episode 181: Sexual health and the vaginal microbiome
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does a healthy vaginal microbiome look like? Are store-bought vaginal probiotics backed by science? How do these microbes interact with sexually ...
Episode 180: Society Staff Reflect on 2025
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 179: Hidden Companions: How Parasites are Adapting to a Changing World
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The relationship between humans and parasites is changing along with the climate crisis, globalisation, and innovations in science. In this month's Mi...
Episode 178: The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: From discovery to community
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, a mysterious shape appeared on a petri dish in a Birmingham lab. Its surprising appearance, similar to noodles, intrigued researchers to find...
Episode 177: Chemical Conversations: Exploring the gut:brain link in bipolar treatments
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 M...
Episode 176: From workshop to publication: discussing microbiome safety with Lindsay Hall and Aline Metris
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In January 2024, Aline Metris and Lindsay Hall hosted an academic-industry workshop at the Microbiology Society offices to discuss the potential long-...
Episode 175: Dr Beth Mills and Akpan Friday on international collaboration and mentorship
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Adam discovers how two microbiologists from opposite sides of the world formed a collaboration and mentorship that has greatly benefi...
Episode 174: Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Andrew Spicer
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 exc...
Episode 173: Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Guilherme Neumann
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 exc...
Episode 172: Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Elizabeth O'Gorman
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 exc...
Episode 171: Our miniseries for Annual Conference 2025: Phoebe Crossley
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 exc...
Episode 170: Microbiome and thermal tolerance: a new frontier in climate resilience?
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk Clare speaks to Judy Li, author on the latest Microbial Primer: Microbiome and thermal tolerance – a new frontier in...
Episode 169: Coccus Pocus A microbiology inspired scary story competition
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Adam talks to Dr Georgios Efthimiou from the University of Hull. Georgios has created a nationwide ‘spooky’ short story competi...
Episode 168: Exploring the science of wellness, ageing and death with John Tregoning
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the first episode of Microbe Talk in 2025, we’re bringing you something fascinating and a bit different— non-communicable diseases. In this sp...
Episode 167: Antimalarial drug resistance: current challenges and future solutions
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 166: World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week: pediatric AMR
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Microbe Talk Clare is joined by Dr Sanjay Patel, a paediatric infectious disease and immunology consultant at Southampton Childr...
Episode 165: Black History Month: Amaka Awayne
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Tal...
Episode 164: Looking up at space microbiology
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 res...
Episode 163: Investigating invisible culprits with Dr Tim Inglis
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Un...
Episode 162: Roots of resistance: exploring AMR in ancient mouths
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Microbe Talk Clare was joined by the wonderful Gwyn Dahlquist-Axe and Francesca Standeven, archaeological scientists who study AMR...
Episode 161: Knocking Out AMR: fixing the broken innovation pipeline
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday, we released our vision statement for Knocking Out Antimicrobial Resistance, the Society's new cross-disciplinary project. It outlined the k...
Episode 160: Women’s History Month: a conversation with Dr Linda Oyama
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Episode 159: Behind the lecture with Dr Claas Kirchhelle
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Claas Kirchhelle from University College Dublin will be giving the Hot Topic Lecture: "Faecal Flows – a very short history of microbiology, sew...
Episode 158: Navigating Academia: a conversation with Professor Iruka Okeke and Professor Judith Armitage
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Episode 157: Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: research and surveillance
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk Clare is joined by Rick Mumford, Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor & Deputy Director of Science Evidence & Resea...
Episode 156: Microbe Talk: the best of 2023
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the final episode of 2023 so Clare, Katie and Adam got together to discuss their favourite Microbe Talk moments of 2023 and what they’re most...
Episode 155: Knocking Out AMR: Dr Tina Joshi and Dr Catrin Moore on the Society’s new project
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Policy and Engagement Officer Katie chats to Dr Tina Joshi and Dr Catrin Moore, the Microbiology Society members lead...
Episode 154: Knocking Out AMR: a conversation with Professor Chloe James
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are interested in opportunities for organisations to collaborate with the Microbiology Society, please email knockingoutamr@microbiologysociety...
Episode 153: Conversations on Collaboration: Sir Paul Nurse on collaborative working and Horizon Europe
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, our Policy and Engagement Officer Katie chats to Sir Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute and former P...
Episode 152: Dr John Munnoch discusses dyslexia
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, Dyslexia Awareness Week gives us a chance to take some time to reflect and learn about the everyday challenges people can face when they ha...
Episode 151: Conversations on Collaboration: Hilary Lappin-Scott on cultivating international partnerships
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Policy and Engagement Officer Katie chats to Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott OBE, President of the Federation of Europe...
Episode 150: Conversations on Collaboration: Elaine Cloutman-Green on working across microbiology's disciplines
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This year the Microbiology Society is hosting FIS (the Federation of Infection Societies (FIS) conference) in partnership with HIS and BIA. FIS is all...
Episode 149: AI: a useful tool or dangerous unstoppable force?
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Microbe Talk, Clare is tackling the topic of AI in Microbial Genomics research. So what better time than now, to give AI a chance ...
Episode 148: CRISPR-Cas9 Takes on AMR Plasmids
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, David Walker Sunderhaulf chats with Clare about his paper "Removal of AMR plasmids using a mobile, broad host-range C...
Episode 147: Getting to grips with industry careers
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you looking for a microbiology career pick me up? Well look no further! On this special episode of Microbe Talk, Clare sits down with Microbiology...
Episode 146: A deep dive into wastewater monitoring
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This month, inspired by a paper published in Microbial Genomics, Clare takes a deep dive into the method of wastewater monitoring. She speaks to Profe...
Episode 145: Annual Conference 2023: Demystifying Science Policy
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Microbe Talk was recorded at our Annual Conference in Birmingham. For the very first time this year, we had an session entirely dedica...
Episode 144: Invisible Friends
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest podcast, Clare and Microbiology Society member Jake Robinson discuss his new book Invisible Friends, the role of popular science books a...
Episode 143: Lab coats - the discrimination we don't see
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought that your lab coat isn’t made for you? Has it affected how comfortable you feel in a lab?On this episode of Microbe Talk Clare...
Episode 142: The bacteriophage: is the enemy of our enemy a friend?
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Policy and Engagement Officer Katie talks to Professor Martha Clokie about bacteriophages, how they can be used to tr...
Episode 141: Could a new vaccine save the Tasmanian devil from a contagious cancer?
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, thousands of Tasmanian devils die from contagious facial tumours. On this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlotte speaks to Dr Andy Flies from ...
Episode 140: The microbiology of your Christmas dinner
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this festive episode of Microbe Talk, Charlotte speaks to Dr Lorna Lancaster about the harmful and helpful microbes involved in making Christmas fo...
Episode 139: Disability History Month
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Microbe Talk for Disability History Month, Charlie talks to Kirsty Jones about her experience of accessibility in labs.A fu...
Episode 138: Inside the creeping threat of fungal infections
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some fungal infections, like athletes' foot or thrush, are relatively common and are usually not serious. But in those with underlying conditions or c...
Episode 137: The biggest ever bird flu outbreak: what you need to know
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlotte talks to Dr Ian Brown about what makes this year’s bird flu outbreak bigger and more worrisome than befor...
Episode 136: A Global Problem: Investigating the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance genes
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk Charlie talks to Dr Fiona Walsh about her team's research into how widespread plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistan...
Episode 135: Manuka honey could help treat a deadly drug-resistant lung infection
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlie talks to Dr Jonathan Cox about his team's newly published research on a surprising use for Manuka honey. Mus...
Episode 134: Polio is back in the news: here's what you need to know
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Charlie and Charlotte talk to Professor Nicola Stonehouse, Professor in Molecular Virology at the University of Leeds, about why we're...
Episode 133: Are Meat Alternative Foods Good For You?
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Charlie talks to Jonathon Woods, a PhD student from Northumbria University about his research into the impact of meat alternative foo...
Episode 132: The impact of COVID on research and career progression part 2
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to part two of our new episode of ‘Microbe Talk’, where we chat to some of our early career members about the cracks that exist in academia...
Episode 131: The impact of COVID on research and career progression part 1
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Katie and Eva from our Policy and Engagement team chatted with early career microbiologists Colman O’Cathail, Rapha...
Episode 130: Engaging Microbiology: Into the Microverse
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teaching and outreach in championing and advancing the understanding of microbiology is incredibly important. On this month's episode, I'm talking to...
Episode 129: Annual Conference 22 Highlights
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this month's MicrobeTalk, Matt takes a look back at Annual Conference; talking to delegates and staff of the Society about our first in-person conf...
Episode 128: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Microbiology Society's Annual Conference
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlie takes us on a behind the scenes tour of the Microbiology Society's Annual Conference preparations and talks t...
Episode 127: Robots and Beer: The future of Non-Conventional Yeasts in the Brewing Industry
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Charlie talks to Jose Aguiar-Cervera, a final year PhD student at the University of Manchester working at Singer Inst...
Episode 126: Microbe Talk: How does the circadian rhythm affect infection?
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Matt talks to Ryan Hames, a PhD student from the University of Leicester, UK. Listen to Matt and Ryan discuss his res...
Episode 125: Infectious: Pathogens and How We Fight Them
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Episode 124: Hunting for microbes at the bottom of the ocean
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this month’s episode, Laura speaks with Emma Keeler, research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania’s Bushman Lab. Emma recently complete...
Episode 123: MicroNews July
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 122: MicroNews June
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 121: Microbiology Today: the impact of air pollution on bacteria
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Laura speaks with Lillie Purser, PhD student at the University of Leicester. Lillie’s research explores how air pol...
Episode 120: MicroNews May
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 119: Bovine tuberculosis
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Microbe Talk, Laura and Professor Stephen Gordon from University College Dublin discuss tuberculosis research in both people and an...
Episode 118: 2021 Annual Conference Super Roundup
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt and Laura for this special episode of the podcast where they reflect on what took place during the Microbiology Society's Annual Conference ...
Episode 117: MicroNews March
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 116: Vaccines: more questions answered
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is probably more misinformation about vaccines on the internet than any other topic. As we are the largest learned microbiological society in th...
Episode 115: MicroNews February
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 114: MicroNews January
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Episode 113: Joi Hok! Breaking the stigma of tuberculosis in India
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of 2021, Matt talks to Sreyashi Basu who with her collaborator Sanjib Bhakta, was awarded the Outreach prize for their Joi Hok! i...
Episode 112: Microbiology and art
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast, Laura speaks with Dr Rod Dillon, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lancaster. Rod talks about his research into the...
Episode 111: MicroNews November
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
MicroNews October
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbes and microbiology have been in the news over th...
Microbiology Today: Winners of the Fleming Prize
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this Microbiology Today episode of Microbe Talk, Laura revisits interviews with some of the Microbiology Society’s Fleming Prize winners. The Mic...
MicroNews September
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over ...
A new age for conferences?
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed how we live and work. For scientists, this means that for the time being conferences have had to change. ...
MicroNews August
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over ...
SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 research in the UK
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, on 29 July, the Microbiology Society hosted a one day online workshop to support ongoing and future research around the pandemic. It was ...
MicroNews July
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over ...
Microbial genomics amidst the Arctic crisis
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this month’s Microbe Talk, Matt talks to Dr Arwyn Edwards; an Arctic microbiologist based at Aberystwyth University. Dr Edwards recently publishe...
A sustainable future and a circular economy
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to e...
MicroNews June
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over ...
A sustainable future and antimicrobial resistance
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to e...
MicroNews May
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. This episode, Laura and Mat...
A sustainable future in soil health
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to e...
Why does microbiology matter?
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As you may know, 2020 is the Microbiology Society’s 75th anniversary. In order to properly commemorate this, we wanted to do some suitably big celeb...
MicroNews April
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As COVID-19 is taking over the news elsewhere, we decided to focus on other stories from the microbial world, including developing a vaccine for malar...
Could snake venom contain antibiotics?
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Laura speaks with Alice Fraser from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Alice is part of a research team looking for new antibiotics in unexpec...
MicroNews March
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As COVID-19 is taking over ...
Managing mildew
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month on Microbe Talk, Laura speaks with Haoxiang Wu, PhD student at Hong Kong Baptist University. In some tropical climates, mould growth is man...
MicroNews February
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As well as discussing micro...
The ecological role of protists
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Protists are an extremely important part of many ecosystems, but people don't often consider their significance and the biodiversity they represent. I...
Micronews January
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss microbiology in the news over the last month. As well as discussing micro...
GlobalseaweedSTAR – microbiology's role in the seaweed industry
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For countries like Malaysia, Tanzania and the Philippines, seaweed agriculture is a major industry. However, these countries still see significant cro...
Microbiology Today: Natural Products And Drug Discovery
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is a special Microbiology Today edition of Microbe Talk. The latest issue of the Society’s magazine, Microbiology Today, focuses on natural pro...
Mosquito Saliva and its Enhancing Effect on Arboviruses
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who’s been enjoying the sun on a nice summers evening knows the dreaded whine made by mosquitoes on the hunt for a meal. In recent years mosq...
MicroNews November
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
MicroNews is the sister series of our podcast Microbe Talk, where we discuss some of the times microbiology has been in the news during the past month...
Domino Effect: Sarah Jones and Dr John Tregoning
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month on Microbe Talk is the third episode of Domino Effect, the podcast series where a Microbiology Society member is interviewed by another mic...
MicroNews October
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Laura and Matt discuss deadly fungi, the flu vaccine and how scientists are making carbon fibers out of algae.Links to the news stori...