Podcasts
Inside CMFI: Potenziale der Mikrobiomforschung
In the podcast “Inside CMFI”, we dive into the groundbreaking research of the Cluster of Excellence “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI) at the University of Tübingen. Our experts share their knowledge about the world of microbes and talk about the discoveries in microbiome research.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest problems of our time. The development of resistance is overtaking us and we are in danger of falling back into a post-antibiotic era.
How can we fight bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics? And what new antibiotic agents are needed for this?
Researchers from the Cluster of Excellence “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI) are addressing these questions. In the podcast “Inside CMFI”, the CMFI experts talk about the exciting aspects of their research and how we might win the fight against upcoming antimicrobial resistance.
For all those who are passionate about science: This podcast offers exciting insights into current research findings and shows what we can learn from nature in the fight against antibiotic resistance in order to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
Concept: Malte Hennig and Leon Kokkoliadis
Moderation: Malte Hennig
A podcast of the Cluster of Excellence CMFI. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The podcast can be found on all common portals and is also available without a player directly on the podcast website https://insidecmfi.podbean.com/.
Episode 1: Antibiotic resistance: The search for new antimicrobial compounds in nature
Bacterial infections are becoming more difficult to treat due to increasing antibiotic resistance. The Cluster of Excellence CMFI is therefore researching novel antibiotic agents, among other things. In this episode, Prof. Dr. Heike Brötz-Oesterhelt, deputy spokesperson of the CMFI, talks about the effects of antibiotic resistance, what this means for medical care and what we can learn from nature to combat this resistance.
Episode 2: Paleomycin: Resurrection of a primeval antibiotic
In this episode, we go on a treasure hunt for a million-year-old primeval antibiotic - urgently needed due to increasing antibiotic resistance. Many of today's antibiotics are derived from bacteria, but undiscovered active ingredients lie dormant in their genes. Prof. Dr. Nadine Ziemert and PD Dr. Evi Stegmann are reconstructing the primeval antibiotic in the laboratory: bioinformatic methods determine its structure, modified bacteria produce the components. Paleomycin is discovered - a treasure trove.
#exzellenterklaert – Spitzenforschung für alle
The podcast on current scientific topics reflects the research diversity of the German Clusters of Excellence and covers topics such as ancient research, artificial intelligence and the future of medicine. Researchers from the Clusters of Excellence funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) talk to podcaster Larissa Vassilian about how they aim to find answers to relevant topics of our time - for tomorrow's society.
The podcast can be found on all common portals and is also available without a player directly on the podcast website www.exzellent-erklaert.de.
What do we know about bacteria? Can we use good bacteria to fight bad ones?
Hannes Link and Nadine Ziemert, both members of the CMFI Board of Directors, explore these questions in the 42nd episode of the podcast "Exzellent erklaert – Spitzenforschung für alle".
In the third episode of the podcast, Lisa Maier, junior research group leader in the Cluster of Excellence CMFI, talks about "Bacteria in the gut - how drugs influence our microbiome".
Microbial communities, or microbiomes, colonize the surfaces of the human body. In addition to bacteria that are beneficial to human health, the microbiome also contains potentially deadly pathogens. In recent decades, broad-spectrum antibiotics have been widely used against these pathogens. It is now clear that this not only promotes the development of antibiotic resistance, but in many cases also damages the microbiome as a whole. Researchers in the CMFI Cluster of Excellence now want to develop a new strategy to control infections.
Key To My Research
The new podcast "Key To My Research", part of the University of Tübingen's Excellence Strategy, focuses on the University's fascinating cutting-edge research - always with a spotlight on people behind the research. Each episode offers exciting perspectives on current research projects - from new therapeutic approaches in neuro-oncology to the investigation of cultural effects of artificial intelligence. The Deep Dive takes an in-depth look at the topics discussed in the podcast, while the shorter episodes provide a compact summary of the information.
Episode #2 Can Plants Beat Climate Stress?
The second episode of the podcast focuses on the plant microbiome. Eric Kemen talks about how microbial interactions in plant ecosystems could revolutionize agriculture and help us solve the pressing problem of food security in the face of climate change.
Episode #7 Can We Reprogram Life?
In this episode, Hannes Link talks about the metabolism of bacteria and his research on the nasal microbiome. Bacteria can be reprogrammed to use CO2 as a nutrient, for example. If this works on a large scale, it could help combat climate change.
Deutschlandfunk Nova: Hörsaal
"Hörsaal" is a scientific podcast from Deutschlandfunk Nova that addresses the big questions of our time. It reveals what researchers are discovering about our lives. The format presents lectures and findings from a wide range of scientific fields – from natural sciences and social sciences to history and technology.
Is animal testing really unavoidable?
In the latest podcast in the Hörsaal series from Deutschlandfunk Nova, Peter Loskill talks about modern alternatives to animal testing and paints a picture of biomedical research that combines responsibility and innovation.
Peter Loskill works at the interface between biology, technology and medicine and is Professor of Organ-on-Chip Systems at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute. In his role as head of the 3R Centre Tübingen, he is committed to ensuring that animal testing is reconsidered according to the principle of ‘Replace, Reduce, Refine’ (3R). At the same time, he heads the µOrganoLab, which develops innovative organ-on-chip systems – miniaturised replicas of human tissues or organs in the laboratory.
Other guests include Rachel Lippert, head of the Neural Circuits junior research group at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, and Louise von Stechow, bioscientist and expert in science communication, consultant and innovation scout for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology sectors.
Together with presenters Amna Franzke (DIE ZEIT) and Rahel Klein (Deutschlandfunk Nova), he talks about how close simulated organ structures come to reality, about future technologies and courageous decisions in research.
The podcast provides exciting insights into current research — not least with regard to safety, transferability and ethical responsibility.