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By Microbial Bioinformatics Micro binfie podcast
Micro binfie podcast
Podcast

Micro binfie podcast

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Microbial Bioinformatics is a rapidly changing field marrying computer science and microbiology. Join us as we share some tips and tricks we’ve learnt over the years. If you’re student just getting to grips to the field, or someone who just wants to keep tabs on the latest and greatest - this podcast is for you.

The hosts are Dr. Lee Katz from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Dr. Nabil-Fareed Alikhan from the University of Oxford (UK), and Prof. Andrew Page from Theiagen Genomics (UK) and bring together years of experience in microbial bioinformatics.

The opinions expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Oxford or Theiagen Genomics.

Intro music : Werq - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Outro music : Scheming Weasel (faster version) - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Question and comments? microbinfie@gmail.com

Microbial Bioinformatics is a rapidly changing field marrying computer science and microbiology. Join us as we share some tips and tricks we’ve learnt over the years. If you’re student just getting to grips to the field, or someone who just wants to keep tabs on the latest and greatest - this podcast is for you.

The hosts are Dr. Lee Katz from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Dr. Nabil-Fareed Alikhan from the University of Oxford (UK), and Prof. Andrew Page from Theiagen Genomics (UK) and bring together years of experience in microbial bioinformatics.

The opinions expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Oxford or Theiagen Genomics.

Intro music : Werq - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Outro music : Scheming Weasel (faster version) - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Question and comments? microbinfie@gmail.com

141
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138 Decoding Tetracycline Resistance in MRSA
138 Decoding Tetracycline Resistance in MRSA
In this episode of the Micro Binfie Podcast, host Andrew Page takes listeners to the heart of the microbial genomics hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland, for an engaging conversation with special guest Megan Phillips, a PhD student from Emory University. Megan delves into her research on Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), highlighting its fascinating dual nature as both a harmless and potentially serious pathogen. Megan discusses the complexities of tetracycline resistance, particularly focusing on plasmid-mediated mechanisms involving the pt181 plasmid. She explains how this plasmid’s efflux pump, encoded by the gene tetK, contributes to variable resistance levels and the factors influencing MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) variability. Listeners will learn about the intricacies of plasmid copy numbers, their global spread across clonal complexes, and the occurrence of horizontal and vertical gene transfer. Throughout the episode, Megan shares insights on working with short-read sequencing data and the strategies she employs to detect plasmid presence using tools like BLAST. She also touches on the challenges and fascinating discoveries of tracking historical sample data and integrating findings from older research papers, showcasing her appreciation for the poetic style of scientific writing from the 1940s. For those interested in antimicrobial resistance, evolutionary microbiology, and the subtleties of bacterial genome analysis, this episode offers a compelling blend of technical details and engaging storytelling. Tune in to hear more about Megan’s upcoming publications, her experiences navigating complex genomic data, and her thoughts on antimicrobial stewardship and historical perspectives on drug resistance.
Science and nature 4 weeks
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11:24
135 Assembling ATCC bacterial strains
135 Assembling ATCC bacterial strains
In this episode of the Micro Binfie podcast, host Andrew Page is joined by Nikhita Puthuveetil, Senior Bioinformatician at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). They delve into ATCC's ambitious project of sequencing a vast array of organisms from their renowned collection, tackling the challenges of assembling complex genomes from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more. Discover how Nikhita and her team navigate through genomic roadblocks, leverage cutting-edge sequencing technologies, and work to ensure accurate data provenance. Whether it's large viral genomes or evolving taxonomy, this episode offers a deep dive into the fascinating world of microbial bioinformatics and genomic curation.
Science and nature 1 month
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0
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13:35
136 Contagion part 1
136 Contagion part 1
In a two-part discussion, the hosts analyze the movie Contagion from their expert perspectives, focusing on the film's portrayal of epidemiology and genomics. They note that the movie compresses timelines for dramatic effect, speeding up the virus's spread and the response to it, and that decisions about managing a crisis are based on societal values, not just science. In part one, the hosts discuss the movie's depiction of the R0 value. They note that while this explanation is useful for the audience, it is unlikely that an epidemiologist would need to explain this concept to other epidemiologists. The group notes that the MEV1 virus is modeled on the real-life Nipah virus and comment on a scene where the genome of the virus is described as being 15 to 19 kilobases in length with 6 to 10 genes. They also discuss the movie's depiction of virus isolation and the unrealistic speed with which the initial assessment of the virus occurs. The podcasters touch upon the BSL4 lab and how the film depicts how the scientists behave. They also discuss the character of Matt Damon, who is exposed to the virus but does not get sick, and is an example of an asymptomatic carrier. In part two, the bioinformaticians examine the "genome dashboard" scene, noting the software's informative interface, which includes an alignment panel, protein structure, and a recombination map. They also discuss a scene where a phylogenetic tree is used to determine a change in the R0 value. They find this unrealistic because the tree is just a picture that doesn't accurately represent how a virus spreads. The group discusses how the bioinformatician is depicted in the film as moving in and out of the lab, which may have been realistic in 2011 but is less so in the present day. They discuss how the CDC is portrayed in the film, noting scenes that were filmed at the actual CDC, as well as their experiences at the CDC. The podcasters note the movie is very US-centric and that many international partners would be involved in solving a global pandemic.
Science and nature 1 month
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0
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30:43
137 Contagion part 2
137 Contagion part 2
In a two-part discussion, the hosts analyze the movie Contagion from their expert perspectives, focusing on the film's portrayal of epidemiology and genomics. They note that the movie compresses timelines for dramatic effect, speeding up the virus's spread and the response to it, and that decisions about managing a crisis are based on societal values, not just science. In part one, the hosts discuss the movie's depiction of the R0 value. They note that while this explanation is useful for the audience, it is unlikely that an epidemiologist would need to explain this concept to other epidemiologists. The group notes that the MEV1 virus is modeled on the real-life Nipah virus and comment on a scene where the genome of the virus is described as being 15 to 19 kilobases in length with 6 to 10 genes. They also discuss the movie's depiction of virus isolation and the unrealistic speed with which the initial assessment of the virus occurs. The podcasters touch upon the BSL4 lab and how the film depicts how the scientists behave. They also discuss the character of Matt Damon, who is exposed to the virus but does not get sick, and is an example of an asymptomatic carrier. In part two, the bioinformaticians examine the "genome dashboard" scene, noting the software's informative interface, which includes an alignment panel, protein structure, and a recombination map. They also discuss a scene where a phylogenetic tree is used to determine a change in the R0 value. They find this unrealistic because the tree is just a picture that doesn't accurately represent how a virus spreads. The group discusses how the bioinformatician is depicted in the film as moving in and out of the lab, which may have been realistic in 2011 but is less so in the present day. They discuss how the CDC is portrayed in the film, noting scenes that were filmed at the actual CDC, as well as their experiences at the CDC. The podcasters note the movie is very US-centric and that many international partners would be involved in solving a global pandemic.
Science and nature 2 months
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0
0
32:26
133 The Role of Bioinformatics in Public Health and Disease Outbreaks
133 The Role of Bioinformatics in Public Health and Disease Outbreaks
In this episode of the Micro Binfie podcast, host Andrew Page talks with Dr. Erin Young, a bioinformatician at the Utah Public Health Laboratory, recorded during the 10th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. Erin shares her journey from researching hereditary cancer predisposition to her current role in public health bioinformatics, which she entered through a prestigious CDC and APHL fellowship. The conversation delves into her work with bacterial pathogens, particularly in tracking antimicrobial resistance in organisms like Klebsiella. Erin discusses the tools she uses for genome typing, such as MASH, FastANI, and SKA, and her innovative research on the accuracy of long-read sequencing technologies like Nanopore for detecting antimicrobial resistance genes. She also provides a preview of her upcoming poster for ASM, where she examines how Nanopore reads can be used effectively in public health microbiology. This episode offers a fascinating look at how bioinformatics and genomics are advancing the fight against infectious diseases.
Science and nature 2 months
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0
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12:36
134 Diving into MRSA, Genomics, and Public Health
134 Diving into MRSA, Genomics, and Public Health
In this episode of the Micro Binfie Podcast, host Andrew Page speaks with Dr. Brooke Talbot, a recent PhD graduate from Emory University, about her research on Staphylococcus aureus, with a focus on MRSA and antibiotic resistance. Brooke shares insights into her molecular epidemiology work, discussing the complexities of tracking resistant bacterial strains in clinical settings and the significance of genomic epidemiology in public health. From honeybees to foodborne outbreaks, Brooke’s diverse research background offers listeners a fascinating journey through science, microbiology, and epidemiology.
Science and nature 2 months
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0
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13:27
132 Unlocking the Secrets of Antimicrobial Resistance in Metagenomes
132 Unlocking the Secrets of Antimicrobial Resistance in Metagenomes
In this episode of the Micro Binfie podcast, host Andrew Page is live from the 10th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. He sits down with David Mahoney, a PhD student from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. David shares his research on characterizing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and their transfer within metagenomes, focusing on metagenomic assembly graphs. They delve into David’s background in food safety microbiology and his interest in the public health implications of genomics. He explains his exciting work on analyzing how AMR genes transfer across different environments, such as food production plants and clinical settings, using both new and existing data from Canada’s Genomics Research and Development Initiative. David also highlights his use of innovative methods like assembly graphs and graph-based approaches to uncover AMR gene flow and lateral gene transfers, including the potential of machine learning techniques such as graph convolutional neural networks.
Science and nature 2 months
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0
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11:02
131 Bioinformatics Evolution: Torsten Seemann on Snippy, Open-Source Support, and Global Genomics
131 Bioinformatics Evolution: Torsten Seemann on Snippy, Open-Source Support, and Global Genomics
In this episode of the Micro Binfie Podcast, host Andrew Page catches up with Torsten Seemann at the 10th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. They discuss the rapid evolution of bioinformatics, the challenges faced by labs worldwide, and the explosion of tools post-COVID. Torsten shares insights into his work at Melbourne’s Microbiological Diagnostic Unit (MDU), the development of platforms like OzTracker for bacterial genomics, and how his lab plays a national and international role in data sharing. The conversation dives into the future of the widely-used variant calling tool Snippy, as Torsten reveals exciting updates funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, including nanopore read support and the ability to process pre-assembled genomes. They also explore the importance of maintaining open-source bioinformatics tools to prevent them from becoming obsolete. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the state of genomics, software development, and the challenges and rewards of open-source collaboration.
Science and nature 3 months
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12:47
130 Exploring Genomic Innovation and Machine Learning in Public Health
130 Exploring Genomic Innovation and Machine Learning in Public Health
In this episode of the Micro binfie Podcast, host Andrew Page sits down with Tim Dallman at the 10th Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. Tim shares insights from his work at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he focuses on genomic surveillance and machine learning models to predict disease risk and severity. They discuss the challenges of integrating genomic variation into predictive models, the importance of high-quality metadata, and the complexities of working with pathogens like Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Tim also talks about his role at the WHO Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Hub and how global collaboration can drive innovation in public health genomics. Tune in to hear about cutting-edge research, the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork, and how genomic data can be harnessed for future pandemic preparedness.
Science and nature 3 months
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12:35
129 Genomics on the Frontier: Bactopia, Bioinformatics, and Pathogen Surveillance with Robert Petit
129 Genomics on the Frontier: Bactopia, Bioinformatics, and Pathogen Surveillance with Robert Petit
Host Andrew Page is joined by Robert Petit from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory. Robert, a key developer of the Bactopia pipeline, shares insights into how this end-to-end tool is transforming bacterial genomic surveillance. They dive into the origins of Bactopia, its applications in public health, and Robert's experience leading genomic projects in a rural setting. Discover how Bactopia streamlines pathogen detection, improves documentation, and integrates with other tools to deliver fast and accurate results. Listen in as they discuss new innovations in bioinformatics, including visualizations and human-read filtering, and explore future projects like CamelHUMP, designed to simplify sequence-based typing. Recorded live at the Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland, this episode brings you the latest in pathogen genomics and the challenges and rewards of working on the frontier of public health.
Science and nature 4 months
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0
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14:58
128 Haiti cholera outbreak with Christine Lee and Cynney Walters
128 Haiti cholera outbreak with Christine Lee and Cynney Walters
Andrew and Lee talk with Christine and Cynney about the Haiti cholera outbreak Cynney Walters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynney-walters-763111190 Walters et al, "Genome sequences from a reemergence of Vibrio cholerae in Haiti, 2022 reveal relatedness to previously circulating strains" https://journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.1128/jcm.00142-23
Science and nature 4 months
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21:57
127 Minimum spanning trees
127 Minimum spanning trees
Nabil and Lee have a quick chat about minimum spanning trees (MST). Eburst paper: https://bmcbioinformatics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2105-10-152
Science and nature 5 months
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15:49
126 Tree viz
126 Tree viz
We go over tree visualizations! * Microreact https://microreact.org/,https://www.phylocanvas.gl/ * grapetree https://github.com/achtman-lab/GrapeTree * Auspice/NextStrain https://nextstrain.org/ * Taxonium https://taxonium.org/ * Itol: https://itol.embl.de/ * PhyloViz https://online.phyloviz.net/index * Phandango https://jameshadfield.github.io/phandango/#/main
Science and nature 5 months
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21:21
125 Kostas Konstantinidis returns to talk to us about ANI and metagenomics
125 Kostas Konstantinidis returns to talk to us about ANI and metagenomics
Kostas Konstantinidis returns to talk to us about ANI and metagenomics by Microbial Bioinformatics
Science and nature 8 months
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22:07
124 Kostas Konstantinidis talks to us about ANI and metagenomics
124 Kostas Konstantinidis talks to us about ANI and metagenomics
We talk with Kostas! For more information please visit https://enve-omics.gatech.edu/
Science and nature 8 months
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22:58
123 The Revolution of Hash Databases in cgMLST
123 The Revolution of Hash Databases in cgMLST
In this episode of the Micro Binfie Podcast, hosts Dr. Andrew Page and Dr. Lee Katz delve into the fascinating world of hash databases and their application in cgMLST (core genome Multilocus Sequence Typing) for microbial bioinformatics. The discussion begins with the challenges faced by bioinformaticians due to siloed MLST databases across the globe, which hinder synchronization and effective genomic surveillance. To address these issues, the concept of using hash databases for allele identification is introduced. Hashing allows for the creation of unique identifiers for genetic sequences, enabling easier database synchronization without the need for extensive system support or resources. Dr. Katz explains the principle of hashing and its application in genomics, where even a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) can result in a different hash, making it a perfect solution for distinguishing alleles. Various hashing algorithms, such as MD5 and SHA-256, are discussed, along with their advantages and potential risks of hash collisions. Despite these risks, the use of more complex hashes has been shown to significantly reduce the probability of such collisions. The episode also explores practical aspects of implementing hash databases in bioinformatics software, highlighting the need for exact matching algorithms due to the nature of hashing. Existing tools like eToKi and upcoming software are mentioned as examples of applications that can utilize hash databases. Furthermore, the conversation touches on the concept of sequence types in cgMLST and the challenges associated with naming and standardizing them in a decentralized database system. Alternatives like allele codes are mentioned, which could potentially simplify the representation of sequence types. Finally, the potential for adopting this hashing approach within larger bioinformatics organizations like Phage or GMI is discussed, with an emphasis on the need for a standardized and community-supported framework to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of hash databases in microbial genomics. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of how hash databases can revolutionize microbial genomics by solving long-standing issues of database synchronization and allele identification, paving the way for more efficient and collaborative genomic surveillance worldwide.
Science and nature 11 months
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17:41
122 GAMBIT: Genomic Approximation Method for Bacterial Identification and Tracking
122 GAMBIT: Genomic Approximation Method for Bacterial Identification and Tracking
We discuss GAMBIT, software for accurately classifying bacteria and eukaryotes using a targeted k-mer based approach. GAMBIT software: https://github.com/gambit-suite/gambit GAMBIT suite: https://github.com/gambit-suite GAMBIT (Genomic Approximation Method for Bacterial Identification and Tracking): A methodology to rapidly leverage whole genome sequencing of bacterial isolates for clinical identification. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277575 TheiaEuk: a species-agnostic bioinformatics workflow for fungal genomic characterization https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1198213/full
Science and nature 11 months
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17:29
121 K-mers, Sourmash, and Open Source Software - More Conversations with Titus Brown
121 K-mers, Sourmash, and Open Source Software - More Conversations with Titus Brown
In this episode, Andrew Page and Lee Katz continue their conversation with Titus Brown, diving deeper into his work on k-mers, Sourmash, and open source software development: Topics discussed: K-mers for analyzing sequencing data, and how Sourmash builds on MinHash How Sourmash handles k-mers for metagenomic comparisons vs. MASH The modhash and bottom sketch approaches used in Sourmash Dealing with sequencing errors and noise in k-mer data Sourmash as a reference-based method, and applications for metagenomics Titus' focus on building reusable libraries and APIs vs one-off tools Recruiting collaborators through "nerd sniping" with interesting problems The open source philosophy that motivates Titus' software work Overall, the conversation provides insight into Titus' approach to bioinformatics software through iterating quickly, focusing on usability, and building open source tools. Papers: Spacegraphcats - https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-020-02066-4 Sourmash - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.11.475838v2 IBD exploration - https://dib-lab.github.io/2021-paper-ibd/
Science and nature 1 year
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20:03
120 Scaling Metagenomic Search with Sourmash - Conversations with Titus Brown
120 Scaling Metagenomic Search with Sourmash - Conversations with Titus Brown
In this final episode with Titus Brown, the conversation focuses on his work scaling metagenomic search with Sourmash: An overview of what Sourmash does - sketching and comparing large k-mer datasets How the sampling approach enables analyses like containment estimation Exciting capabilities of the Branchwater tool for multi-threaded real-time SRA search Scaling to search across millions of metagenomes in seconds with WebAssembly Potential public health applications for tracking and sourcing pathogens Important caveats around resolution limits and need for follow-up analyses Ongoing work to characterize the technique's specificity and sensitivity Overall, this episode highlights the massive scaling Sourmash enables for metagenomic search, and the potential use cases in public health, while acknowledging current limitations and uncertainties. Titus emphasizes the need to precisely convey what bioinformatic tools can and cannot do as research continues. Papers: Spacegraphcats - https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-020-02066-4 Sourmash - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.11.475838v2 IBD exploration - https://dib-lab.github.io/2021-paper-ibd/
Science and nature 1 year
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25:25
119 The Challenges of Microbial Taxonomy - Conversations with Titus Brown
119 The Challenges of Microbial Taxonomy - Conversations with Titus Brown
In this episode, Andrew Page and Lee Katz continue their chat with Titus Brown, focusing on taxonomy assignment in metagenomics: Topics discussed: Dealing with contamination and low quality genomes in reference databases Sourmash as a versatile search tool, not a curated database The need for high confidence in taxonomic assignment in public health Most microbial assignment tools have low specificity or sensitivity Possible ways to achieve perfect species classification (in theory) The challenges around defining species based on small genomic differences Interesting cryptography concept of 'unicity' distance for classification Conveying the nuances and uncertainties in taxonomic assignment The conversation highlights the difficulties around taxonomic classification, especially at the species level, but explores ideas for improving accuracy. Overall it emphasizes the complexities of biology and need for transparent conveyance of uncertainties. Papers: Spacegraphcats - https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-020-02066-4 Sourmash - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.11.475838v2 IBD exploration - https://dib-lab.github.io/2021-paper-ibd/
Science and nature 1 year
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22:53
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