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Let's Talk Micro

Luis Plaza
Microbiology
Clinical Microbiology
Antimicrobial Resistance
Infectious Diseases
Antibiotics
Public Health
Urinary Tract Infections
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Medical Laboratory Science
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Antibiotic Resistance
CLSI M100
Pharmacokinetics
MRSA
Pasteurella Multocida
Epidemiology
Antimicrobials
Clinical Laboratory Science
Veterinary Microbiology
Oxazolidinones

Clinical microbiology explained in simple terms, suitable for students and microbiologists alike. We discuss organisms, reactions, infectious diseases, and more. Hosted by Luis Plaza, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and microbiologist, who also shares his experiences in the field.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes257Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesScience

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Artwork for Let's Talk Micro

Latest Episodes

Have you ever performed an organism identification using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and received a result showing multiple possible species, such as Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter asburiae, or Citrobacter freundii and Citrobacter werkmanii? W... more

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As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into biological research, the quality of the data used to develop these technologies is more important than ever. But what exactly is digital biology, and why does data quality matter?

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Many microbiology professionals are familiar with ATCC strains used for quality control, validation, and verification—but what happens before those biological materials reach the laboratory? ATCC, the American Type Culture Collection, maintains biolo... more

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Originally published on September 28, 2022, this episode returns to the Let's Talk Micro feed in recognition of World Rabies Day.

Dr. Rodney Rohde joins the podcast to discuss rabies and his extensive experience working with the virus in public hea... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jonathan Jacobs
From ATCC, leads Sequencing and Bioinformatics Center
ATCC
Episode: 247: Digital Biology: Data Quality in the Age of AI
Shahin Ali
Senior Scientist at ATCC
ATCC
Episode: 246: Inside ATCC: From Biological Materials to the Bench
Dr. Rodney Rohde
Public health microbiologist with extensive rabies research and field experience
Texas State University, Public Health Microbiology
Episode: World Rabies Day: Revisiting Rabies with Dr. Rodney Rohde
Erin McCreary
ID pharmacist; immediate past president of SIDP
Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)
Episode: 245: Antimicrobials Conference: The Next Chapter for MAD-ID and SIDP
Mike Rybak
President of Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases (Mad-Id); SIDP founding member and former SIDP president
Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases (Mad-Id); SIDP
Episode: 245: Antimicrobials Conference: The Next Chapter for MAD-ID and SIDP
Christopher Doern
Director of Microbiology at Virginia Commonwealth University; frequent guest
Virginia Commonwealth University
Episode: 244: Group A Strep: Breaking Down the New IDSA Guidelines
Declan Kelly
Medical doctor, founder of Eolas Medical
Eolas Medical
Episode: 243: When AI Meets Medicine
Dr. Megan Amerson-Brown
Infection preventionist and hospital lab director with a background as a medical lab scientist
Laboratory Director (past) at a major hospital; former infection preventionist
Episode: 242: Microbiology & Infection Prevention: Partners in Crime
Nathan Ledeboer
Clinical microbiologist with focus on susceptibility testing and sequencing
Medical College of Wisconsin
Episode: 241: What Can Whole Genome Sequencing Realistically Tell Us About Resistance?

Host

Luis Plaza
Host of the show, clinical microbiology professional with long-running engagement in the field

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • Invaluable

    I love this podcast! I find myself turning to it for ways to explain difficult concepts to my clinical rotation students. Would really love to hear an episode on Brucella species.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeanie315
    United States2 years ago
  • Helpful

    I’m studying for ascp micro and he explains concepts very well! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CeeBee__
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast

    I love this podcast! As a non-microbiologist working in the microbiology field, Luis does a great job of explaining complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way. He also has such great guests on to talk about diverse topics. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mam2wm
    United States3 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    Love the podcast. Great explanations and interviews. Love how he mentions things he has learned while on the bench.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luys plaza
    United States4 years ago
  • Love for micro

    Excellent podcast! Very informative, you can feel how much the presenter loves microbiology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alfred ismael plaza
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience appreciates actionable takeaways for lab workflows.
Engaging host with deep microbiology knowledge.
Listeners note strong passion for microbiology from the host.
Makes complex topics accessible for students and pros alike.
Great guest diversity and practical lab tips.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

247: Digital Biology: Data Quality in the Age of AI
Q: What are the main challenges with metadata and how does ATCC address them?
The guest discusses variability in strain naming, incomplete provenance, and the need for ongoing curation; ATCC emphasizes traceability back to physical samples and regular updating of records to maintain data integrity.
247: Digital Biology: Data Quality in the Age of AI
Q: Where does AI enter the picture in microbiology and why does data quality become more urgent?
He describes digital biology as the computational representation of biological systems and notes that AI relies on high-quality, well-curated data; poor data quality in public databases can hinder model accuracy and ground-truth validation.
247: Digital Biology: Data Quality in the Age of AI
Q: Can you start with a little introduction about your background and your role at ATCC?
Dr. Jacobs explains he leads ATCC's Sequencing and Bioinformatics Center, overseeing the genomics lab and bioinformatics team, and that they produce data feeding into the ATCC genome portal to warehouse reference data for materials.
246: Inside ATCC: From Biological Materials to the Bench
Q: How does ATCC ensure long-term reliability of strains across years?
ATCC uses a seed stock system, preserves strains under standardized conditions, produces lots from a single seed to minimize passage, and performs QC on every batch, ensuring consistency over time.
246: Inside ATCC: From Biological Materials to the Bench
Q: Why is it important that ATCC strains come from an authenticated collection?
Authenticated strains undergo rigorous quality control and data verification, which helps labs validate their processes and regulatory compliance, reducing ambiguity about whether the issue lies with the equipment, reagents, or the organism itself.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Let's Talk Micro

What is Let's Talk Micro about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical deep-dive into clinical microbiology and related laboratory workflows, with a focus on real-world applications of sequencing, antimicrobial testing, and diagnostic strategies. Episodes frequently explore how new methods—like whole-genome sequencing, rapid susceptibility testing, and CLSI guideline updates—fit into routine labs, patient care, and public health. The host often highlights lab challenges, rural health considerations, education pathways, and professional development, while featuring a range of guest experts from academia, clinical microbiology, and public health. A notable strength is the accessible, bench-friendly explanations paired with concrete takeaways for lab staff, students, and clinicians, plus timely discus... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Let's Talk Micro?

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1. Infectious Disease Puscast
2. Breakpoints
3. Febrile
4. This Week in Virology
5. Editors in Conversation

How many episodes of Let's Talk Micro are there?

Let's Talk Micro launched 5 years ago and published 257 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Let's Talk Micro?

Recent guests on Let's Talk Micro include:

1. Jonathan Jacobs
2. Shahin Ali
3. Dr. Rodney Rohde
4. Erin McCreary
5. Mike Rybak
6. Christopher Doern
7. Declan Kelly
8. Dr. Megan Amerson-Brown

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