The Gut Virome: Michael Shamash

Have you ever thought about the trillions of invisible, microscopic entities inhabiting your body right now? While much of the microbiome spotlight shines on bacteria, there’s a hidden side to this story that many people overlook.

In this podcast episode, we discuss the lesser-known residents of our microbiome: viruses. These tiny but potent entities are fundamental players in our gut’s ecosystem. And Michael Shamash, a microbiology researcher studying these viruses, shares all the profound roles they play in our gut and our overall health. After listening, you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for these microscopic allies within you and how they can impact your well-being.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Bacteria, phages, and the microbiome
• Gut virome and its role in human health
• Phages in early childhood microbiome development
• Phages in infant gut microbiome and their potential impact on adult health
• Phage therapy for early childhood illnesses
• OnePetri app to automate the process of phage plaque counting
• At-home microbiology activity: Crafting Model Phages

Listen to my episode with Michael Shamash

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Links & Resources

This post contains affiliate links — see my disclosure policy.

• Recommended Books and Video:
  • The Perfect Predator by Steffanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson
  • The Good Virus by Tom Ireland
  • The Deadliest Being on Planet Earth – The Bacteriophage, video by Kurzgesagt
• Phage Therapy Joyful Microbe episode
• OnePetri app – paper, app
• Articles based on this episode:
  • Exploring the Gut Virome: How Viruses Influence Your Microbiome
  • Activity: Crafting Model Phages: Exploring the Virome in the Human Microbiome

Connect with Michael Shamash

Michael Shamash is a 3rd year PhD Candidate at McGill University, in the lab of Dr. Corinne Maurice. His research focuses on the infant gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that reside in our gastrointestinal tract, and their importance in early life development. When he’s not working on his research, he enjoys baking, reading, and crocheting.

Connect with Michael Shamash: Twitter, website, OnePetri app