Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew A. Nethery, Claudio Hidalgo-Cantabrana, Avery Roberts, Rodolphe Barrangou
Summary: Investigation of microbial gene function is essential for understanding the ecological roles and genetic interactions within microbial communities. This study demonstrates the use of phage-delivered CRISPR-Cas payloads for targeted genetic manipulation in a community context. The researchers successfully engineered phages to replace nonessential genes, expressed antibiotic resistance and fluorescent genes, and used base editing to create premature stop codons in both chromosomal and plasmid-encoded genes. They also observed host-specific phenotypic alterations in a synthetic soil community using phage-assisted base editing. This research provides a controlled model for in situ editing of the soil microbiome.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kayla M. Williamson, Brandie D. Wagner, Charles E. Robertson, Mark J. Stevens, Marci K. Sontag, Peter M. Mourani, J. Kirk Harris
Summary: The study aimed to increase the sensitivity of bacterial community analysis without impacting community composition or interfering with cluster formation during sequencing. The modified PCR protocol showed increased sensitivity in detecting bacterial communities in airway samples, crucial for studying the highly variable human airway microbiome.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kevin Champagne-Jorgensen, Tamina A. Jose, Andrew M. Stanisz, M. Firoz Mian, Alexander P. Hynes, John Bienenstock
Summary: The study demonstrates that oral consumption of live bacteria leads to rapid circulation of their membrane vesicles and phages in the blood, affecting host physiology and immunity. These nanoparticles reproduced immune functions of the bacteria while reducing inflammation, indicating a potential systemic impact on hosts.
Article
Agronomy
Jennifer K. Bell, Bobbi Helgason, Steven D. Siciliano
Summary: Our study revealed that the plant growth stage primarily influences the dominant bacterial community, while differences in plant line appeared to have more impact on rare bacteria. The role of these rare bacteria in plant health remains unresolved.
Article
Microbiology
Jean-Jacques Godon, Ariane Bize, Hoang Ngo, Laurent Cauquil, Mathieu Almeida, Marie-Agnes Petit, Olivier Zemb
Summary: Despite bacteria being able to feed on almost anything, the consumption of viruses by bacteria has not been reported. The viral biomass undoubtedly plays a role in reintegrating trophic cycles, but the mechanisms of this process are still unknown. In specific environments, bacteria have the ability to consume bacteriophages in situ, which may be a widespread and underestimated form of biocontrol.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marc G. Chevrette, Chris S. Thomas, Amanda Hurley, Natalia Rosario-Melendez, Kris Sankaran, Yixing Tu, Austin Hall, Shruthi Magesh, Jo Handelsman
Summary: Bacterial secondary metabolites play important roles in microbial communities, but little is known about their roles and regulation in multispecies communities. In a simplified model of the rhizosphere, researchers found that the dynamics of secondary metabolism depend on community species composition and interspecies interactions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sofie Meijer, Elena Pasquinelli, Sonia Renzi, Shahram Lavasani, Mehrnaz Nouri, Lena Erlandsson, Duccio Cavalieri, Stefan R. Hansson
Summary: Preeclampsia, a severe pregnancy-related inflammatory disease, lacks effective treatment. The role of dysbiosis in the gut microbiome and fungal flora has been suggested in preeclampsia and other inflammatory diseases. However, dysbiosis in preeclampsia has not been studied in a Scandinavian population, and the potential anti-inflammatory properties of fungal flora have not been explored. A study on preeclamptic and healthy third-trimester women revealed differences in fungal diversity and abundance of certain bacterial taxa, suggesting a potential role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Article
Microbiology
Jacob J. Grothjan, Erica B. Young
Summary: This study investigated the recruitment processes of bacteria to plant microbiomes, focusing on the pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea. The results showed that the host plant tissue plays a significant role in shaping the bacterial community within the pitchers, and the plant supports the microbiome through capturing insect prey.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeremy Sutherland, Terrence Bell, Ryan V. Trexler, John E. Carlson, Jesse R. Lasky
Summary: Host genetic variation can influence the diversity and composition of associated microbiomes, with potential reciprocal effects on host traits and performance. This study investigated the genetic basis of host effects on rhizosphere bacterial composition in switchgrass, a grass species with substantial diversity. The findings revealed that different genotypes of switchgrass had different rhizosphere bacterial diversity and composition, and some bacterial families showed heritability in their relative abundance. A genome-wide association study identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with bacterial composition. These results highlight the influence of switchgrass genomic and life-history variation on rhizosphere bacterial composition.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
FangMing Xiang, JianLin Sheng, Gang Li, JingJin Ma, XianZhe Wang, ChengLiang Jiang, ZhiJian Zhang
Summary: The research reveals that black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) vermicompost can promote the availability of nutrients in soil, the succession of microbial communities, and the optimization of biochemical functions, which is of great significance in the field of soil health.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pamela Thomson, Rodrigo Santibanez, Camila Rodriguez-Salas, Carla Flores-Yanez, Daniel Garrido
Summary: Obesity is a prevalent nutritional disorder in dogs, with over 40% suffering from it. The gut microbiome of obese dogs is different from that of normal weight dogs, with an increase in Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes. Additionally, obese dogs show enrichment in pathways related to transport, chemotaxis, and flagellar assembly. Modulating the gut microbiome may be a potential way to improve the health of dogs.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Simon Bahrndorff, Simon Menanteau-Ledouble, Simone Stidsborg, Niels O. G. Jorgensen, Md Sazedul Hoque, Jeppe Lund Nielsen
Summary: Drying fish is a widespread and long-standing practice to preserve the fish by reducing water availability to microorganisms, but different drying methods and country of origin can result in variations in the microbial communities of dried fish products.
Article
Physiology
Naama Shterzer, Yara Sbehat, Binita Poudel, Nir Rothschild, Olanrewaju Eunice Oloko, Joseph Headrick, Erik Petersen, Shelly Druyan, Erez Mills
Summary: Breeding of broiler chicken lines in the last century has led to a change in the composition of their gut microbiota. Specific bacterial communities were found in the cecum of the bred Cobb line, while they were mostly absent in the Legacy line. This suggests that breeding has altered the gut microbiota composition, potentially through changes in mucosal physiology, and further research is needed to understand the implications.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongxue Li, Wenjin Hao, Saijun Peng, Tingting Sun, Jianmin Zhao, Zhijun Dong
Summary: This study investigated the composition of microbial communities associated with two Aurelia polyp species using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that certain genera of microorganisms were closely associated with Aurelia polyps, and chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy were the main functions of these associated microbes. Additionally, the composition of the microbial communities was correlated with the genetic background of Aurelia polyps.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Vimathi S. S. Gummalla, Yujie Zhang, Yen-Te Liao, Vivian C. H. Wu
Summary: This article reviews the three primary ways in which temperate phages contribute to the bacterial pathogenicity of foodborne pathogens, including phage-mediated virulence gene transfer, antibiotic resistance gene mobilization, and biofilm formation. The study provides insights into the mechanisms of phage-bacterium interactions in the context of foodborne pathogens and prompts further research to avoid the potential risk of phage-mediated harmful gene transfer in agricultural environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bryan B. Hsu, Isaac N. Plant, Lorena Lyon, Frances M. Anastassacos, Jeffrey C. Way, Pamela A. Silver
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bryan B. B. Hsu