Molecular Microbiology podcasts

Vincent Racaniello speaks with Roberto Cattaneo and Kalpana Yadav at the 2026 American Society for Virology meeting about measles persistence in the brain. They discuss selection for highly fusogenic viral variants when usual measles receptors are absent, neuron-to-neuron spread, and the development of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare, fatal delayed complication of measles infection.

Hosted by Vincent Racaniello

Paul Bieniasz joins Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and Kathy Spindler to discuss his laboratory’s research on coronavirus genetic variation. The conversation examines how the NSP15 nuclease cuts viral RNA into short pieces that can be reinserted elsewhere, producing insertion mutations and new furin-cleavage sites at the spike S1/S2 boundary. The episode links the underlying preprint and includes listener correspondence and weekly selections.

Hosted by Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove

The hosts discuss research linking bacterial signatures to colon-cancer recurrence and a separate study of bacteriophage-derived proteins that trigger bacterial pilus detachment. The episode works through the scientific papers and experimental questions; the cancer findings concern an association rather than proof of causation.

Hosted by Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt

Bonnie Bassler explains how bacteria detect signals from their surroundings and coordinate behaviour through quorum sensing. Chemical communication allows microbes to sense nearby populations and undertake collective activities that individual cells could not accomplish alone. The discussion examines bacterial information processing and the consequences of these coordinated behaviours, including within the human body.

Hosted by Sean Carroll