This week’s guest is Irin Anthony. Irin has a background in medical microbiology and runs the blog Living with Microbes where she introduces her readers to the wonderful world of microorganisms and our relationship with them.

Pursuing Microbiology

Irin became interested in microbiology as an undergrad. She says, “Here were these tiny organisms, invisible to us but, at the same time, have an impact on our lives.” As she explains, most people relate to organisms as disease-causing but they are so much more—they are used in the food industry to ferment milk to produce yogurt and cheese; separate the fibers in jute to produce fabrics; and in the oil and gas industry to mop up oil spills. Irin goes on to explain that some bacteria helps digestion as some foods we eat can not be broken down by the digestive process.

Here were these tiny organisms, invisible to us but, at the same time, have an impact on our lives.

Irin Anthony

Blogging about Microbes

Irin started blogging about microbiology as a way to stay connected to the field. Though she was very passionate about her research, finding balance between her work and family proved difficult—research can be very demanding, which takes a lot of commitment, and is not like your typical eight-hour job. Blogging gives her the opportunity to do what she loves without compromising her family’s needs.

Irin points out that people have become more interested in microorganisms because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Science of Microbes

Viruses: Living or Non-Living

We talked about some of the science behind her articles, e.g., whether viruses are alive, and how a bacteria first found living in hot-springs have made the process of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) better. As Irin explains, viruses challenge our definition of life: to be considered living, organisms are born and have to reproduce. Viruses don’t exactly do any of the things living things do even though they replicate; they lack the biochemical autonomy to replicate and need to hijack the host cell’s machinery to do so. This surprises many people, especially during a pandemic, to think that a non-living thing can cause so many problems.

How a Bacteria made PCR Better

Irin also explains how a bacteria—thermus aqusticus—discovered living in hot springs made the process of PCR better. PCR is the process scientists use to amplify pieces of DNA and, as Irin explains, this replication process is similar to how it happens inside our cells. When PCR was first used in the laboratory, the enzymes that made the process possible were not heat stable—PCR is done at high temperatures which breaks down the enzymes. The discovery of thermus aquaticus was revolutionary as their enzymes were stable at high temperatures and could be used in the PCR process.

You can find Irin’s blog and follow her on social media:

• Blog: http://www.livingwithmicrobes.com/
• Twitter: @irinantony
• Facebook: Living with Microbes
• Instagram: @livingwithmicrobes