Article
Ecology
Francisco Martinez-Hernandez, Awa Diop, Inmaculada Garcia-Heredia, Louis-Marie Bobay, Manuel Martinez-Garcia
Summary: Viral genetic microdiversity has critical impacts on the viral-host arms race, microbial community structure, and biogeochemical cycles. Single-virus genomics has discovered abundant microdiversity in an ocean virus infecting marine bacteria, with up to 1,500 viral strains and 30 related species found in a single sample. The maintenance of viral microdiversity over space and time, and the impact of recombination on virus and host speciation have been demonstrated.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stanislav Kler, Ran Zalk, Alexander Upcher, Idit Kopatz
Summary: This article reports a new type of nanoparticle with a capsid composed of three SV40 virus capsid proteins, which closely mimics the intracellular pathway of the virus and has potential applications in gene delivery.
Article
Entomology
Melissa Carpenter, Linyao Peng, Andrew H. Smith, Jonah Joffe, Michael O'Connor, Kerry M. Oliver, Jacob A. Russell
Summary: The study reveals that some insects carry symbiotic bacteria, which may lead to phenotypic variations and provide more adaptive materials for natural selection. Environmental factors may influence the frequencies of symbiotic bacteria, thus affecting the adaptive abilities of insects.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Ephraim S. Bililign, Florencio Balboa Usabiaga, Yehuda A. Ganan, Alexis Poncet, Vishal Soni, Sofia Magkiriadou, Michael J. Shelley, Denis Bartolo, William T. M. Irvine
Summary: The study demonstrates that adding transverse forces to an ensemble of colloidal spinners can organize them into odd elastic crystals, featuring self-propelled defects that create a 'self-kneading' crystal whorl state. The use of rotations allows for effective control of mass transport, showing the generic nature of this crystal state.
Article
Immunology
Jocelyne Piret, Guy Boivin
Summary: Multiple respiratory viruses can infect the respiratory tract simultaneously or sequentially and interact with each other. The interaction between a first virus and a second virus may enhance or reduce infection and replication, resulting in positive or negative interactions. The interferon response is likely a mechanism that provides temporary nonspecific immunity to the host. Studying the interactions among respiratory viruses is important for understanding their transmission and control.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Patricia Kaaijk, Niels Swaans, Alina M. Nicolaie, Jacob P. Bruin, Renee A. J. van Boxtel, Marit M. A. de Lange, Adam Meijer, Elisabeth A. M. Sanders, Marianne A. van Houten, Nynke Y. Rots, Willem Luytjes, Josine van Beek
Summary: This study investigates the presence of influenza and other respiratory viruses in older adults with influenza-like illness (ILI). It found that influenza virus was the most commonly detected virus, followed by rhinovirus, seasonal coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human metapneumovirus. Coinfections of influenza virus with other viruses were rare. The study also suggests that influenza virus infection may reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with other viruses. However, viral persistence or coinfections did not affect the clinical outcome of ILI.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ananya Padmakumar, Navami Prabhakar Koyande, Aravind Kumar Rengan
Summary: Using biomimetic delivery systems for cancer therapy shows promising potential. Both human circulatory cells and bacteria can achieve hitchhiking drug delivery, effectively targeting tumors. This article reviews various cellular and bacterial hitchhiking approaches, as well as discusses the challenges and prospects in the related field.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gonzalo Ferreira, Axel Santander, Florencia Savio, Mariana Guirado, Luis Sobrevia, Garth L. Nicolson
Summary: The molecular evolution of life on earth, alongside changing environmental conditions, has led to an increase in endemic and pandemic emerging infectious diseases. Understanding the impact of infections such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Zika virus, and Mycoplasma species on pregnancy and early childhood is crucial. In-depth study of the structural characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms of these infections is essential for reducing morbidity and mortality rates.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Daniel Chieh-Ding Lin, Shih-Che Weng, Po-Nien Tsao, Justin Jang Hann Chu, Shin-Hong Shiao
Summary: Co-infection of dengue virus and Zika virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes enhance viral replication and suggest that the NS5 protein is a potential target for vector control.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nai-Tzu Chen, Ngok-Song Cheong, Chuan-Yao Lin, Chun-Chieh Tseng, Huey-Jen Su
Summary: The study found that long-range transport increases levels of influenza A virus and bacteria in the ambient air of Northern Taiwan, particularly at the CF area. During and 2 days (at least) after LRT, people should avoid outdoor activities, especially in the case of FP.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Sineewanlaya Wichit, Nuttamonpat Gumpangseth, Rodolphe Hamel, Sakda Yainoy, Siwaret Arikit, Chuchard Punsawad, Dorothee Misse
Summary: Chikungunya and Zika viruses have globally re-emerged over the past 60 years and there is currently no specific antiviral treatment. Understanding viral-host interactions is crucial for developing targeted therapeutics, but limited information is available in this area at present.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peiqian Dou, Jue Kou, Chunbao Sun, Zhenhua Xie, Zhijun Gu
Summary: The fate and transport of viruses in flotation systems are crucial for assessing the safety of reusing reclaimed water. This study demonstrated that viruses in reclaimed water are rapidly adsorbed onto ore particles, confirming the potential for safe reuse in flotation processes. However, virus attachment in concentrates, middlings, and tailings may pose health risks at certain exposure levels. The attachment of viruses to ore particles was dominant in virus transport, with most viruses being inactivated or irreversibly adsorbed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huixin Li, Yanpeng Xu, Yang Wang, Yihao Cui, Jiake Lin, Yuemin Zhou, Shuling Tang, Ying Zhang, Haibin Hao, Zihao Nie, Xiaoyu Wang, Ruikang Tang
Summary: Researchers have developed a bioartificial organism that can scavenge pathogenic waterborne viruses by integrating a semiartificial and specific virus-scavenging organelle. Material-based tactics have attracted extensive attention in driving the functional evolution of organisms.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yingxue Yu, Marianne Elliott, Indranil Chowdhury, Markus Flury
Summary: The study showed that under unsaturated conditions, the transport and retention of motile and nonmotile Phytophthora zoospores are influenced by factors such as pore straining, settling, and fluid drag. Motile zoospores are more easily transported in porous media than nonmotile zoospores, actively avoiding retention sites with the help of their flagella. While natural soil acts as an effective filter confining Phytophthora dispersal in the top soil, macropores can serve as conduits for the transport of zoospores to deeper soil layers, especially motile zoospores.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yimin Tong, Gansheng Shi, Gaowei Hu, Xiaoyou Hu, Lin Han, Xiaofeng Xie, Yongfen Xu, Rong Zhang, Jing Sun, Jin Zhong
Summary: Studies have shown that photoactivated nanosized TiO2 can efficiently inhibit viral infections under low irradiation conditions. It is particularly effective against hepatitis C virus and can also partially inhibit other viruses. Mechanistically, the photoactivated TiO2 attacks the viral RNA genome, leading to virus inactivation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Xin You, Rene Kallies, Ingolf Kuehn, Matthias Schmidt, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: The study found that lytic phages can co-transport with bacteria, promoting bacterial colonization of new habitats. This co-transport is analogous to invasion processes in macroecology. In water-unsaturated systems, hyphal transport of bacteria and associated phages plays a crucial role in regulating microbial population fitness and composition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oscar Puiggene, Maria Jose Cardenas Espinosa, Dietmar Schlosser, Stephan Thies, Nico Jehmlich, Uwe Kappelmeyer, Stephan Schreiber, Daniel Wibberg, Joern Kalinowski, Hauke Harms, Hermann J. Heipieper, Christian Eberlein
Summary: A strain of Pseudomonas capeferrum TDA1, isolated from a plastic dump site, has been found to possess the ability to degrade polyurethane (PU) compounds. The degradation pathway and mechanisms for PU degradation in this organism have been further explored.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Washington Logrono, Marcell Nikolausz, Hauke Harms, Sabine Kleinsteuber
Summary: The effect of the inhibitor BES on hydrogenotrophic metabolism in biomethanation was investigated. Anaerobic granules produced the highest amount of formate in the presence of BES, while the non-inhibited methanogenic communities produced small amounts of formate.
Article
Microbiology
Nelson Khan, Rodolfo Brizola Toscan, Accadius Lunayo, Benson Wamalwa, Edward Muge, Francis J. Mulaa, Rene Kallies, Hauke Harms, Lukas Y. Wick, Ulisses Nunes da Rocha
Summary: The draft genome sequences of two Sphingobium strains capable of degrading hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and other xenobiotic compounds are presented.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin You, Rene Kallies, Konstanze Hild, Anke Hildebrandt, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: This study compared the transport and particle intactness of marine phages and commonly used lytic phages in soil. The results showed that marine phages can mimic the transport of (bio-) colloids or anthropogenic nanoparticles in soil, and their abundance can be detected with high sensitivity using quantitative PCR.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nelson Khan, Edward Muge, Francis J. Mulaa, Benson Wamalwa, Martin von Bergen, Nico Jehmlich, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: Fungi play a crucial role in the biodegradation of soil organochlorine pesticides by facilitating bacterial dispersal and nutrient release. Experimental results indicate that the transfer of nutrients from fungi to bacteria can enhance the degradation of organic pollutants, highlighting the importance of fungal-bacterial interactions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bin Liu, Heike Straeuber, Florian Centler, Hauke Harms, Ulisses Nunes da Rocha, Sabine Kleinsteuber
Summary: The effects of pH alterations on microbial chain elongation in anaerobic mixed cultures were investigated. The community composition shifted dramatically when the pH increased from 5.5 to 6.5, but the product range and yields returned to previous states after transient fluctuations. The study highlights the importance of pH in shaping the abundance of key players and community functioning in microbial chain elongation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Joyce Alvarez-Barragan, Cristiana Cravo-Laureau, Bijing Xiong, Lukas Y. Y. Wick, Robert Duran
Summary: This study advances our understanding of fungal-bacterial relationships, specifically the selection and dispersion of bacterial communities by fungi, which are essential for the organization and functioning of microbial communities in coastal PAH-contaminated sediments.
Article
Cell Biology
Juan Lopez-Galvez, Konstanze Schiessl, Michael D. Besmer, Carmen Bruckmann, Hauke Harms, Susann Mueller
Summary: Cell density is crucial in microbiome research and biotechnological processes. The traditional offline determination of cell density causes delays and hinders quick action. An online automated flow cytometry procedure is proposed to address this issue, enabling real-time high-resolution analysis of bacterial communities and differentiation between cell subsets. The method combines the OC-300 automation device with the CytoFLEX flow cytometer to perform automatic sampling, dilution, fixation, and staining before measurement. The method allows for reproducible measurement of cell density and fingerprint-like patterns, facilitating automated data analysis and correlation analysis.
Article
Microbiology
Daniela Becker, Denny Popp, Fabian Bonk, Sabine Kleinsteuber, Hauke Harms, Florian Centler
Summary: Analyzing microbial communities using metagenomes is a powerful approach to understand compositional structures and functional connections in anaerobic digestion (AD) microbiomes. The hybrid sequencing approach of combining short-read and long-read sequencing provides better assembly statistics and generates more high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). It is the preferable option for dealing with complex microbiomes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Breulmann, Rene Kallies, Katy Bernhard, Andrea Gasch, Roland Arno Mueller, Hauke Harms, Antonis Chatzinotas, Manfred van Afferden
Summary: Wastewater-based monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 is a promising tool for tracking the potential spread of the virus. Recent studies have shown that passive samplers are effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 genome copies in wastewater and can provide timely data. This study evaluated the suitability of passive samplers for long-term detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at both city-scale and small-scale levels, and found that passive samplers can accurately indicate the level of positive infections in the population.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bruna Grosch Schroeder, Havva Betuel Istanbullu, Matthias Schmidt, Washington Logrono, Hauke Harms, Marcell Nikolausz
Summary: To mimic the lignocellulose pretreatment process in the gut system of Pachnoda marginata larvae, two wheat straw pretreatments were tested. The combination of size reduction and alkaline pretreatment resulted in the highest methane production. SEM analysis showed that alkaline pretreatment promoted biofilm formation and microbial growth on the wheat straw fibers. Mechanical and alkaline pretreatments led to increased methane yield, but the effects were not superimposed.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
