348: The Bark Side of the Microbiome

348: The Bark Side of the Microbiome

From This Week in Microbiology by Vincent Racaniello

January 21, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 348

About this episode

The episode discusses how dog ownership during adolescence affects microbiota and mental health, along with the molecular mechanisms of multidrug efflux.

TWiM explains the finding that owning a dog during adolescence alters the microbiota and improves mental health, and the molecular basis for multidrug efflux by an anaerobic-associated resistance-nodulation-cell division transporter. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Michael Schmidt , Michele Swanson and Petra Levin . Become a patron of TWiM. Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Links for this episode Dog ownership and the microbiome during adolescence (iScience) Molecular basis for multidrug efflux (Nat Comm) Take the TWiM Listener surve y! Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or recorded audio) to twim@microbe.tv

People in this episode

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson, Petra Levin

Topics covered

  • microbiome
  • dog ownership
  • mental health
  • adolescence
  • multidrug efflux
  • transporters

Keywords

  • microbiota
  • mental health
  • dog ownership
  • adolescence
  • multidrug efflux
  • resistance-nodulation-cell division transporter

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: iScience, Nat Comm

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