Geometric ordering in bacterial communities | PNAS

The organization of bacteria has a central role in shaping interactions, dynamics, and composition within communities and microbiomes. Bacteria for...

pnas.org

A prophage-encoded sRNA limits phage infection of adherent-invasive E. coli

Author summary Prophages—viral genomes integrated into bacterial chromosomes—are common in enteric bacteria and can profoundly influence bacterial physiology and ecological fitness. Here we show that ...

journals.plos.org

Phollow reveals in situ phage transmission dynamics in the zebrafish gut microbiome at single-virion resolution - Nature Microbiology

‘Phollow’ is a live imaging-based fluorescence tagging approach that can track phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution.

nature.com

Expression level of anti-phage defence systems controls a trade-off between protection range and autoimmunity - Nature Microbiology

The authors examine several defense systems and find that increased expression enhances their protection range, albeit at a cost of autoimmunity.

nature.com

E. coli prophages encode an arsenal of defense systems to protect against temperate phages

Bacteria contain an array of immune systems, with many yet to be discovered. Brenes and Laub isolate temperate phages from diverse E. coli strains, enabling identification of 17 conserved, prophage-en...

cell.com

‘Phollowing’ phage outbreaks in microbiomes with live fluorescence microscopy - Nature Microbiology

Phollow is an in vivo tagging approach for marking bacteriophages with fluorescent proteins while new virions are assembled in bacteria, enabling direct observation of phage outbreaks with single-viri...

nature.com

Phollow reveals in situ phage transmission dynamics in the zebrafish gut microbiome at single-virion resolution - Nature Microbiology

‘Phollow’ is a live imaging-based fluorescence tagging approach that can track phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution.

nature.com

Phollow reveals in situ phage transmission dynamics in the zebrafish gut microbiome at single-virion resolution

Nature Microbiology - ‘Phollow’ is a live imaging-based fluorescence tagging approach that can track phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution.

nature.com

JCI - The microbiome as a modulator of neurological health across the maternal-offspring interface

jci.org

Phage reprogramming of Pseudomonas aeruginosa amino acid metabolism drives efficient phage replication | mBio

Bacterial viruses, known as phages, are abundant in all environments that are inhabited by bacteria. During the infection process, phages exploit bacterial resources, resulting in notable changes to b...

journals.asm.org

Plant domestication does not reduce diversity in root microbiomes

Domestication has profoundly shaped human civilization and the genetic makeup of numerous plant and animal species. While the effects of plant domestication at the genetic and phenotypic levels are well-documented, its impact on plant microbiome remains less understood. Root microbiomes play crucial roles in nutrient acquisition, pathogen defense, and biotic stress tolerance, yet the influence of domestication on their diversity and assembly is still debated. Two primary hypotheses have been proposed: 1) the reduction in microbial diversity resulting from the domestication process, and 2) the diminished ability of host plants to control their microbiomes. To evaluate these hypotheses, we conducted a meta-analysis of multiple crops, comparing the root microbiomes of domesticated plants and their wild relatives. Our results indicate that the effects of domestication are species-specific and context-dependent, with most domesticated plants exhibiting increased microbial diversity and more structured communities, while others show no significant change. Overall, this study provides evidence that plant domestication does not lead to a uniform reduction in microbial diversity or a consistently diminished ability of plants to influence their microbiomes. Based on these findings, we discuss new perspectives and the need for future studies incorporating native soils and host genetic variation in such experiments, analyzing not only diversity but also microbiome function, and considering how root morphology might affect microbiome recruitment. Finally, we highlight the need for research on the potential adaptive or maladaptive consequences that introgression between wild and domesticated plants could have from a microbiome perspective. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

doi.org

T cells are necessary for development of PCOS reproductive symptoms in a letrozole-induced mouse model of PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition with clear genetic susceptibilities that impact the heterogeneous clinical presentation of symptoms and severity through unknown mechanisms. Chr...

biorxiv.org

A conserved bacterial genetic basis for commensal-host specificity

Animals selectively acquire specific symbiotic gut bacteria from their environments that aid host fitness. To colonize, a symbiont must locate its niche and sustain growth within the gut. Adhesins are...

science.org