Sarah

Sarah Wettstadt is a microbiologist-turned science writer and communicator working on various outreach projects and helping researchers talk and write about their scientific results. Her overall vision is to empower through learning: she shares scientific knowledge with both scientists and non-scientists and coaches scientists in writing about their research. Sarah is blog commissioner for the FEMSmicroBlog and was a social media editor for FEMS for 1.5 years. She is also the website manager and co-founder of STEMcognito, a platform publishing STEM-related videos. Previous to her science communication career, she worked as a postdoc on bacteria’s ability to use heterologous iron sources and completed her PhD investigating bacterial nanoweapons.

Creating the colours of the rainbow: Bacteria and the vibrant world of pigments

Our world as well as the bacterial world are full of vibrant colours. These colours exist thanks to biopigments; molecules able to capture light and reflect the corresponding colour. Many organisms, as well as bacteria, learned to use biopigments to harvest energy from sunlight, fight foes and adapt to new and challenging environments. Read on to learn what makes the bacterial world so colourful and why biopigments are the Earth’s life savers.

Learning with Agrobacterium tumefaciens: Understanding plants better

The bacterial world is teeming with superheroes that hold the key to unravelling nature’s mysteries. Some bacteria have build remarkable partnerships with plants which not only help us better understand plants but also revolutionize agriculture and biotechnology. Here, we delve into the fascinating relationship between the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens and plants and see how it allowed us to uncover the green world of plants.

Even at the dark and cold bottom of the sea, microbes flourish

Microbes are everywhere. And some have superpowers that allow them to grow in extremely challenging and harsh environments. Especially at the dark and cold bottom of the sea, extremophiles flourish since they interact with other microbes and eat pollutants and contaminants. Interestingly, their microbial activities can also impact our global climate.

How bacteria in your gut microbiome defend pathogens

Bacteria in your gut microbiome help you digest your food, strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy. For this, your gut bacteria keep you free from gut pathogenic bacteria by fighting them with different weapons. Here, we explore some ways gut bacteria defend pathogens and how you can help them protect you.

How bacteria gain energy from cellular respiration to fuel life

To gain energy, all organisms – including bacteria – need to break molecules apart to get their electrons. In bacteria, this process is called bacterial respiration. Here, we will look at where this energy is stored, what bacteria do with both the electrons and energy and how we use bacterial respiration for our own advantages.

Bacterial killer weapons as biocontrol to protect plants

To feed the growing population on our planet, we need to improve our agriculture for plants to stay healthy and produce crops efficiently. One way to protect plants from diseases is to use biocontrol bacteria that actively kill intruding pathogens. Hence, by increasing our food supply, bacteria can help us save this planet.

Bacteria use antibiotics to kill their foes and protect others

We use antibiotics to kill bacteria and fungi. Yet, antibiotics are produced by these microbes to ensure their own survival in the environment. But not only microbes that produce antibiotics benefit from them, but often even other organisms. Read on to find out how antibiotics can help many players.

Thiovulum majus bacteria

Floating veils for large bacteria to attach to and fetch nutrients

Thiovulum majus is a large bacterium that needs a lot of nutrients and energy. To find the perfect location in shallow water, it builds white net-like veils. By attaching to these veils and fast rotation, the bacteria bring in freshwater with lots of new nutrients to keep the community alive.

Comic of the different shapes of bacteria

Looking fabulous: Why bacteria need to stay in shape too

For a long time, bacteria were classified according to their shapes. With new technologies, we learned that the bacterial shapes help them survive in their environments and face harsh conditions. Spheres, rods, stars and screws: Learn about the different bacterial shapes.

Wolbachia bacteria in mosquitos protect us from nasty viruses

Some nasty viruses can live in mosquitos and get transported into our bodies, when these infected mosquitos bite us. Luckily, some bacteria have superpowers that can fight off these viruses. Find out how the bacterium Wolbachia protects both mosquitos and us from these nasty viruses.

6 books about bacteria every microbe lover should read

Microbes and bacteria affect our lives in every possible way. This is why we should all learn more about these fascinating organisms and how to make the best of their impact. Here, I share with you my favourite books about microbes in which you learn how our amazing microbial friends influence your health, body and the environment and even shaped human history.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae uses their bacterial pili to attach to human gut cells.

About twitching bacteria and their pili

Some bacteria have special hair-like structures to connect to surfaces or other organisms. These bacterial pili help them move along that surface or pull themselves closer to a prey or host. Read about why bacteria need those pili when they are out hunting or infecting us.

Bacteria use capsules as micro-invisibility cloaks

When bacteria enter the human body, they are welcomed by our immune system that is ready to fight them off. However, some bacteria can put on invisibility cloaks that help them hide from the immune system. Thanks to this sugar coat – the so-called bacterial capsule – bacteria can sneak into our bodies, infect us and make us sick.

What’s in your yogurt?

Yogurt is a well-loved fermented dairy with lots of health benefits. It not only provides us with valuable proteins and immune-stimulating molecules, but can also carry probiotic organisms. Here, we will look at the advantages of adding yogurt to your diet plan and what bacteria have to do with producing this creamy white dream.

Bacteria have many different type 6 secretion system crossbows that they can choose from in specific times.

Nanoweapons make the killer differences in bacterial siblings

Bacteria can be harmless or dangerous to us and other organisms in the environment. But how does a bacterium become a fighter ready to kill others? It comes all down to their toxic bullets. Here we will look at how bacterial siblings use different weapons to fight off not only their enemies but also each other.

Bacteria to produce alternative and green energy sources

We live in an energy crisis in which non-renewable fossil fuels damage our planet. To switch to green biofuels as energy sources, we can rely on bacteria like Zymomonas mobilis, which produces bioethanol. Read on to find out how biofuel-producing bacterial communities can help us make this planet greener and healthier.

Bacteria produce colourful antibiotics to protect frogs

A deadly fungus kills many exotic amphibians. Luckily, some bacteria antibiotics to kill the fungal intruder and thus protect the animal. With this colourful strategy, the right microbial community might even save whole species from extinction.

Sarah Wettstadt is a microbiologist-turned science writer and communicator working on various outreach projects and helping researchers talk and write about their scientific results. Her overall vision is to empower through learning: she shares scientific knowledge with both scientists and non-scientists and coaches scientists in writing about their research. Sarah is blog commissioner for the FEMSmicroBlog and was a social media editor for FEMS for 1.5 years. She is also the website manager and co-founder of STEMcognito, a platform publishing STEM-related videos. Previous to her science communication career, she worked as a postdoc on bacteria’s ability to use heterologous iron sources and completed her PhD investigating bacterial nanoweapons.

Learn more about the fascinating world of bacteria