345: Faster Than Rocks!
From This Week in Microbiology by Vincent Racaniello
November 22, 2025 · 54 min · Episode 345
About this episode
This episode discusses the biological mechanisms linking sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments and bacterial surface movement through swashing.
TWiM explains a biological mechanism that links sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments, and "swashing," a form of surface movement in which bacteria migrate without active propulsion. Hosts: Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson , and Petra Levin Guest: Mark O. Martin Subscribe to TWiM (free) on Apple Podcasts , RSS , or by email. Links for this episode Sulfur and iron cycling in anoxic environments (Nature) Bacterial surface migration by swashing (J Bacteriol) Become a Patron of TWiM ! Music used on TWiM is by Ronald Jenkees . Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv
People in this episode
Hosts: Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson, Petra Levin
Guest: Mark O. Martin
Topics covered
- sulfur cycling
- iron cycling
- anoxic environments
- bacterial migration
- swashing
Keywords
- sulfur
- iron
- anoxic
- bacteria
- migration
- swashing
- biological mechanism
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Nature, J Bacteriol
More episodes of This Week in Microbiology
- 354: How a Gut Microbe Worsens Heart Disease · April 24, 2026 · 59 min
- 353: Microbial Metabolism of Food Allergens · April 11, 2026 · 47 min
- 352: Microbial Gut Biosensors · March 28, 2026 · 60 min
- 351: Resistance Reboot · March 6, 2026 · 59 min
- 350: TWiM Goes to College · February 14, 2026 · 53 min
- 349: Punctured to Death by Spikes · February 1, 2026 · 59 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the This Week in Microbiology podcast page.