On this edition, we'll hear how bacteria work and move substances in and out of their cells, and how scientists understand how microbes behave together in the microbiome and affect human health.

Ben Hipwell is a researcher (PhD candidate) in the bacterial regulation and transport lab at the University of Newcastle, working under Dr Karl Hassan. His research investigates mechanisms of action in bacteria, including how compounds affect bacterial physiology and transport systems in organisms like Escherichia coli — knowledge that connects to microbial regulation and transport processes. Understanding these mechanisms helps illuminate how bacterial cells control their internal environment and interact with their surroundings, which are key aspects of microbial community behaviour and important for understanding the microbiome’s dynamics and impact on health and disease.