Cocaine action involves preventing the reuptake of the norepinephrine (NE) transporter, increasing NE and heightening nervous system stimulation. NE also signals through E. coli receptors to regulate its virulence, but is there a connection between E. coli and cocaine addiction? Dr. Vanessa Sperandio is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin, whose laboratory studies pathogenic E. coli and their interaction with the human host.

Dr. Sperandio describes how E. coli metabolism of glycine in the gut increases addiction to cocaine, how her lab discovered that NE signals through E. coli quorum sensing receptors, how peer review rejection can indicate a novel discovery, how the plasticity of the E. coli pan-genome can lead to rapid and dangerous outbreaks, how treatment of E. coli infections with antibiotics is problematic, how she misses TexMex food, how Wisconsin is a great place to study microbiology, and her vision for the American Academy of Microbiology.

Dr. Marvin Whiteley, editor-in-chief of mBio, joined microTalk on this episode, which was supported by Cholera IV Rehydration Therapy.

• Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA)
• Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA)
• Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin)
• Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology)

The bacterium Vibrio fischeri colonizes the light organ of the bobtail squid, and this is one of the best characterized symbiotic relationships, thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Ned Ruby and Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai (Caltech University). The symbiotic relationship between Ruby and his lab, who focus primarily on the bacteria, and McFall-Ngai and her lab, who focus primarily on the squid, has led to a deep understanding of what symbiosis really means at the molecular level. microTalk will discuss this fascinating interplay between bacteria and squid, what led them to study this interaction, and what they think we can learn from symbiotic behavior.

microTalk, recorded live at ASM Microbe 2025, examines the current trajectory and future direction of microbiology. Karl and guests address scientific leadership within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), structural changes in the society, and the role of microbiology in addressing complex scientific and societal challenges. Emphasis is placed on research, training, evolutionary thinking, and sustaining a resilient scientific community.

Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/ffij4bCjSG8