Matters Microbial

Author: Mark O. Martin

Matters Microbial is a podcast about the wonders of microbiology, microbiologists, and microbial centrism with Dr. Mark Martin
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Language: en-us

Genres: Education, Life Sciences, Science

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Matters Microbial #123: What Whooping Cough Can Teach US
Episode 123
Thursday, 5 February, 2026

Matters Microbial #123: What Whooping Cough Can Teach Us February 6, 2026 Today Dr. Seema Mattoo, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the fascinating molecular genetics of the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which can cause the human disease whooping cough. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Seema Mattoo Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Here is a link to Tiffany Ard's fine science related art. CDC information regarding Whooping Cough also called pertussis. An overview of the causative agent of whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis. A video about pertussis and its symptoms and treatment. More detail about B. pertussis and close relatives. Recent outbreaks of pertussis. An overview of vaccine development and its history for B. pertussis. An article about vaccine hesitancy and the return of childhood diseases like pertussis. Information on "whole cell" versus "acellular" vaccines. An article discussed today, demonstrating that the same molecule (a fragment of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan) can be a factor for disease in humans, and facilitate symbiotic light organ development in the Hawai'ian Bobtail Squid More information of B. pertussis' trachael cytotoxin, or TCT. An overview of bacterial effectors interacting with our physiology in general. The concept of virulence factors. IgA versus IgG responses to infections. An overview of Type III Secretion Systems. An overview of sigma factors in bacteria. ECFs as sigma factors. Partner-switching studies. Fic genes. An overview of post translational modification. An essay on Theodosius Dobzhansky and his famous maxim. Protein misfolding and disease. The role of mentorship in science. The Hypothesis Fund and its aims. An article by Dr. Mattoo and colleagues discussed today about partner switching and Type III Secretion Systems. An article by Dr. Mattoo and colleagues discussed today about Fic proteins and adenylation. An article by Dr. Mattoo and colleagues discussed today about Fic proteins, post translational modification, and Parkinson's Disease. An article by Dr. Mattoo and colleagues discussed today about AMPylation, Fic proteins, and sensing misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum. Dr. Mattoo's faculty website. The fascinating laboratory website of Dr. Mattoo and colleagues. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com