Article
Plant Sciences
Qiuping Zhang, Diyang Zhang, Kang Yu, Jingjing Ji, Ning Liu, Yuping Zhang, Ming Xu, Yu-Jun Zhang, Xiaoxue Ma, Shuo Liu, Wei-Hong Sun, Xia Yu, Wenqi Hu, Si-Ren Lan, Zhong-Jian Liu, Weisheng Liu
Summary: The research found that the genetic diversity of Chinese-cultivated common apricot germplasms is much higher than those cultivated in Western countries, with introgressed regions playing an important role in driving germplasm diversity.
HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Virginia Iglesias, Jennifer K. Balch, William R. Travis
Summary: Recent fires have raised concerns about the impact of regional and global warming on extreme burning. Research shows that average fire events in the United States have increased in size and frequency, and have become more widespread in the 2000s compared to the previous two decades. The most severe fires have also grown in size, frequency, and tendency to co-occur with other extreme fires. These findings align with the observed changes in fire dynamics noted by the media, public, and fire-fighting officials.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chengchen Pan, Qi Feng, Yulin Li, Yuqiang Li, Linde Liu, Xiaoya Yu, Shilong Ren
Summary: This study investigated the effects of vegetation restoration on the assemblage patterns of abundant and rare bacteria in soil. The results revealed that rare bacteria were more responsive and had higher resilience to restoration. Environmental selection played a key role, and the assembly of abundant and rare bacterial communities was controlled by plant species richness.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Robert M. Post, Gabriele S. Leverich, Susan L. McElroy, Ralph Kupka, Trisha Suppes, Lori L. Altshuler, Willem A. Nolen, Mark A. Frye, Paul E. Keck, Heinz Grunze, Michael Rowe
Summary: Compared to Europe, bipolar patients in the US exhibit a higher prevalence of multiple personality disorders, indicating potential differences in the course of illness that require further investigation.
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Rachel Fourneaux, Rachel Reynaud, Gregory Mougel, Sarah Castets, Patricia Bretones, Benjamin Dauriat, Thomas Edouard, Gerald Raverot, Anne Barlier, Thierry Brue, Frederic Castinetti, Alexandru Saveanu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the genetic causes of TSH deficiency. Through NGS analysis, variants associated with TSH deficiency were identified, and IGSF1 variants were found to be the most frequent cause. However, most patients still lack a molecular diagnosis.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David E. Almanzar, Spencer G. Gordon, Ofer Rog
Summary: The study found that sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) are rare in meiosis in C. elegans germline, with crossover pathways used only to generate a necessary link between homologous chromosomes. Noncrossover pathways, on the other hand, repair almost all other double-strand breaks in this organism.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Weile Li, Bo Zhao, Qiang Xu, Gianvito Scaringi, Huiyan Lu, Runqiu Huang
Summary: Glacier-rock avalanches (GRAs) have been occurring frequently in the Sedongpu gully in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, causing blockages in the Yarlung Zangbo River. Through analyzing remote sensing images and digital surface models, it was found that at least eight GRAs have occurred in the past few decades, with the ones since 2014 causing significant loss of glacier, rock, and moraine deposits. Climate change-induced glacier retreat, steep topography, and a recent strong earthquake were identified as influencing factors for these recent GRAs, which also resulted in the formation of a knickpoint in the Yarlung Zangbo River.
Article
Psychiatry
Rebecca K. Blais, Rick A. Cruz, Sarfaraz Serang
Summary: Negative social exchanges and lack of positive social exchanges are positively correlated with suicide ideation and risk in military service members/veterans men. Increasing positive social interactions and reducing negative social interactions, especially insensitive behaviors, can decrease suicide ideation and risk.
SUICIDE AND LIFE-THREATENING BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Laura C. Healy, Edward Gifford, Parth Shah, Ilene Staff, Akhilesh Jain, James Gallagher, Thomas Divinagracia
Summary: The study found that changes in continuous EEG monitoring during TCAR were more common than previously reported, possibly associated with less severe carotid stenosis. In most cases, EEG changes during surgery can be resolved by adjusting pressure or switching flow, but there is also a risk of causing new neurological deficits.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Anqi Sun, Xiao-Yan Jiao, Qinglin Chen, Ai-Lian Wu, Yong Zheng, Yong-Xin Lin, Ji-Zheng He, Hang-Wei Hu
Summary: Fertilization significantly influences the diversity and composition of sorghum-associated microbial communities, particularly in rhizosphere and bulk soil microbiomes. Specific genera of bacteria and fungi are important predictors of sorghum yield and protein content. Fertilization has a positive indirect effect on sorghum yield and protein content through influencing microbial diversity in soil microbiota.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Stanislav Kopriva, Andreas P. M. Weber
Summary: In order to guarantee food security for future generations, new approaches to enhance crop productivity are needed as a result of global climate change and the growing human population causing resource scarcity and productivity declines.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kaixu Bai, Ke Li, Jianping Guo, Wei Cheng, Xiaofeng Xu
Summary: This study assessed the spatiotemporal variability of temperature inversion (TI) and its impact on PM2.5 pollution levels in China using high-resolution radiosonde observations. The results showed that both surface-based inversion (SBI) and elevated inversion (EI) were increasing in frequency, but their intensity was decreasing, leading to a reduction in the PM2.5 increment caused by TI. This highlights the offsetting effect between TI and emission control on haze pollution.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Christian Kost, Kiran Raosaheb Patil, Jonathan Friedman, Sarahi L. Garcia, Markus Ralser
Summary: Microbial communities are shaped by ecological and environmental interactions, where antagonistic and synergistic interactions play important roles in driving their structure and dynamics.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Franck Ramus
Summary: The critique of the genetics of complex social outcomes is partly justified due to the unreliable relationship between social outcomes and cognitive traits. However, the correct approach is not to completely dismiss the field, but rather redirect the focus of geneticists towards stable cognitive phenotypes that are natural candidates for genetic analysis.
BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Beibei Hao, Haoping Wu, Yi You, Ying Liang, Lihua Huang, Yan Sun, Siyi Zhang, Bin He
Summary: As a widespread emerging pollutant, microplastics can interact with algal and bacterial communities in aquatic ecosystems. However, knowledge about the effects of microplastics on algae and bacteria in natural habitats is limited. Therefore, a mesocosm experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of nanoplastics on algal and bacterial communities in aquatic ecosystems dominated by different submerged macrophytes.
Article
Microbiology
Bertrand Neron, Eloi Littner, Matthieu Haudiquet, Amandine Perrin, Jean Cury, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Integrons are flexible gene-exchanging platforms that play a crucial role in spreading antibiotic resistance genes among nosocomial pathogens. IntegronFinder, a widely used software, lacks functionality to handle large datasets. This study introduces IntegronFinder version 2, which improves efficiency and usability, allows for analysis of incomplete genome data, and includes new functions. The relevance of IntegronFinder is demonstrated by analyzing integron distribution across 20,000 genomes and identifying integrons and antibiotic resistance genes in 4,000 Klebsiella pneumoniae genomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amandine Nucci, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Olaya Rendueles
Summary: The extracellular capsule, found in free-living bacteria, plays a significant role in shaping adaptation to new environments. This study reveals that adaptation primarily occurs through the regulation of the capsule locus. The evolution of the capsule also impacts antibiotic susceptibility.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Damien Piel, Maxime Bruto, Yannick Labreuche, Francois Blanquart, David Goudenege, Ruben Barcia-Cruz, Sabine Chenivesse, Sophie Le Panse, Adele James, Javier Dubert, Bruno Petton, Erica Lieberman, K. Mathias Wegner, Fatima A. Hussain, Kathryn M. Kauffman, Martin F. Polz, David Bikard, Sylvain Gandon, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Frederique Le Roux
Summary: This study investigates the coevolution between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts, revealing the changes in resistance and counter-resistance mechanisms. The research finds that the adaptation of phages to local hosts is influenced by their ability to infect closely related bacteria and strain-specific defenses. The study further demonstrates the role of genetic exchanges and mobile genetic elements in the evolution of bacterial defenses and phage counter-defenses.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Matthieu Haudiquet, Jorge Moura de Sousa, Marie Touchon, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a driving force in microbial adaptation, but it is controlled by mobile genetic elements (MGEs) whose interests may not align with those of their hosts. The interactions between cells and MGEs, as well as between MGEs themselves, result in complex evolutionary processes that affect gene flow and microbial adaptation.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuel Ares-Arroyo, Charles Coluzzi, Eduardo P.C. Rocha
Summary: Plasmids can be transferred between cells by conjugation, driving bacterial evolution. By studying plasmids in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, we have solved the mystery of plasmid transfer mechanisms and revealed the functional dependencies between plasmids. These findings are important for understanding the evolutionary relationships of plasmids and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Francesca D'Angelo, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Olaya Rendueles
Summary: The extracellular capsule, a virulence factor found in many pathogens, has a controversial role in antimicrobial resistance. Our study found that noncapsulated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited increased resistance to polymyxins, but not to other antibiotics. These findings caution against the use of therapeutic agents targeting the capsule, as it may lead to its inactivation.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liam P. Shaw, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, R. Craig MacLean
Summary: Restriction-modification systems (R-M systems) are important defense systems in bacteria, and their distribution and impact on plasmid evolution and host range have been studied. It was found that plasmid genes are more likely to avoid R-M targets than core genes, and this avoidance is stronger in smaller plasmids with broader host ranges. Two evolutionary strategies for plasmids were identified: small plasmids adapt through sequence composition, while large plasmids adapt through carrying additional genes for protection. These findings provide evidence of the importance of R-M systems as barriers to plasmid transfer.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorge A. Moura de Sousa, Alfred Fillol-Salom, Jose R. Penades, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: We developed SatelliteFinder to identify satellites in bacterial genomes, detecting a vast number of them, with some found in novel taxa. The gene repertoires and genomic organizations of satellites are variable but relatively conserved. The independent evolution of hijacking modules suggests that phage satellites have ancient, diverse origins.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Olaya Rendueles, Jorge A. M. de Sousa, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Many bacterial genomes carry prophages that can eliminate competitors, and bacteria can develop resistance through various mechanisms, such as surface receptor modification or lysogenization. The adaptation process of phage resistance involves both genetic and non-genetic changes. Our study showed that the frequency of capsulated cells in phage-sensitive populations increased over time, indicating the fine-tuning of capsule production as an adaptation to reduce phage absorption.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charles Coluzzi, Martin Guillemet, Fanny Mazzamurro, Marie Touchon, Maxime Godfroid, Guillaume Achaz, Philippe Glaser, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer has a significant impact on the evolution of core genes, with mutations providing resistance to antibiotics and shaping the emergence of adaptive mutations. The rapid accumulation of these mutations increases the acquisition rate of other antibiotic resistances, leading to multidrug resistance.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Heloise Georjon, Aude Bernheim
Summary: In this review, the authors provide an overview of the molecular diversity of recently discovered bacterial antiphage defence systems and discuss their evolution and ecological impact.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonio Pedro Camargo, Lee Call, Simon Roux, Stephen Nayfach, Marcel Huntemann, Krishnaveni Palaniappan, Anna Ratner, Ken Chu, Supratim Mukherjeep, T. B. K. Reddy, I-Min A. Chen, Natalia N. Ivanova, Emiley A. Eloe-Fadrosh, Tanja Woyke, David A. Baltrus, Salvador Castaneda-Barba, Fernando de la Cruz, Barbara E. Funnell, James P. J. Hall, Aindrila Mukhopadhyay, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Thibault Stalder, Eva Top, Nikos C. Kyrpides
Summary: This study introduces the IMG/PR database, which collects a large number of plasmid sequences from various microbiome samples and provides rich metadata and multiple browsing methods.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Amandine Nucci, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Olaya Rendueles
Summary: Adaptation to one environment can impact an organism's ability to thrive in other environmental conditions. Biofilm formation can increase survival rates against host immune system or antibiotic therapy. However, how adaptation affects biofilm formation and changes over time is poorly studied. Using Klebsiella pneumoniae, we found that biofilm formation ability changed rapidly initially but reverted to ancestral levels. Nutrient availability, genetic background, and other phenotypic and genotypic changes influenced the evolution of biofilm formation. These findings suggest that small environmental differences can affect an organism's fate in complex niches like the host.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)