Swords, cannibalism, poison: inside the world of killer microbes
Summary
Science Friday explores microbial warfare with Dr. Glenn D'Souza and Dr. Ben Larson, who discuss how bacteria and protists use weapons like harpoons and toxins to kill competitors for resources. They highlight a "super giant" cannibalistic ciliate that devours its own kind when food is scarce and explain how these mechanisms drive competition in environments from plant roots to the human gut. The conversation also covers potential applications, such as engineering specific "living antibiotics" to target diseases like cholera and antibiotic-resistant infections.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Con Edison and Progressive Insurance
Introduction to microbial warfare and guests
Types of microbial weapons and competition
Predatory protists with eyes and harpoons
Microbes as food sources and cannibalism
The supergiant cannibalistic ciliate
Microbial conflict in the human gut and ocean
Harnessing microbial weapons for medicine
Ocean ecosystems as models for human gut
Cellular learning, memory, and decision-making
Guest bios and closing remarks
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