Matters Microbial #136: When Bacteria Open the Wrong Door

Matters Microbial #136: When Bacteria Open the Wrong Door August 11, 2026 Today Dr. Michael D.L. Johnson, Associate Professor of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona, joins the quality quorum today to discuss copper, microbiology, and a possible new strategy to fight bacteria that cause disease. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Michael D. L. Johnson Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A link to Hartiful, the Etsy artist who custom creates glow in the dark (and many other kinds) pins. A link to the essential science artist Beatrice the Biologist. A link to World Microbiome Day. A link to Micropia, the microbiology museum in Amsterdam. A recent article on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance among disease causing bacteria. A video demonstrating the Kirby Bauer procedure, which shows antimicrobial effects and zones of inhibition. A link to an earlier #MattersMicrobial episode with Dr. Michael Schmidt describing copper and microbes. A review article describing the impact that copper can have on microbes. A review article on Streptococcus pneumoniae, the organism with which Dr. Johnson works. An video celebrating the role that S. pneumoniae had in determining that DNA was the genetic material prior to World War 2. An overview of siderophores that help microbes obtain needed iron. An article about redox activity and copper and microbes. The relationship between metal toxicity and antimicrobial activity. The role that copper plays in agriculture. The differences between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. An article on efflux pumps and metal toxicity in microbes. An article describing how iron binding proteins also bind copper. An article describing how zinc interacts with microbes. A wonderful description of Dr. Johnson's "Trojan Horse" approach to battle disease causing microbes. A relevant review article by Dr. Johnson and his colleagues discussing copper and microbes. An overview of the "Hypothesis Fund," which supports unusual ideas in science. A video of Dr. Johnson describing his research. Dr. Johnson's faculty website. Dr. Johnson's research laboratory website. Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to [email protected]