The Selfish Gene continues to challenge readers half a century later

The human gut outer mucus layer hosts specific microbes. Using a synthetic mucin glycan-degrading microbial community to mimic this mucosal microbiome, we show that mucin type affects microbial commu...

Researchers are gaining a new appreciation for the genes on the X and Y chromosomes and how they shape sex differences in health and disease susceptibility.

Traditional vaccines target specific pathogens, limiting their scope against diverse respiratory threats. We describe an intranasal liposomal formulation combining toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and 7/8 ligands with a model antigen, ovalbumin, that provided ...

Arias-Rojas et al. performed a genome-wide association study in Drosophila melanogaster and identified host genetic variants, particularly in heparan sulfate synthesis genes, associated with increased commensal Lactiplantibacillus plantarum abundance. Heparan sulfate enhances bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and modulates intestinal homeostasis, microbiota composition, and immune response, thus preventing dysplasia.

Calcium imaging of taste neurons and the ventral brain provides insight into evolutionary divergence of food choice in Drosophila species, supporting a role of sensorimotor processing in addition to p...

Arias-Rojas et al. performed a genome-wide association study in Drosophila melanogaster and identified host genetic variants, particularly in heparan sulfate synthesis genes, associated with increased...

Arias-Rojas et al. performed a genome-wide association study in Drosophila melanogaster and identified host genetic variants, particularly in heparan sulfate synthesis genes, associated with increased...

Although metagenomic sequencing has revealed a rich microbial biodiversity in the mammalian gut, methods to genetically alter specific species in the microbiome are highly limited. Here, we introduce ...

Developing bioorthogonal reactions that enable investigation of biological processes is an important aim in chemical biology. Here, the authors report the malononitrile addition to azodicarboxylate (M...

By combining bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging, metaproteomics and stable isotope probing, we identified a rare and uncharacterized bacterium with a glycine-mediated metabolism for syntro...

The bacterial ubiquitin ligase NleL evades host defence mechanisms both by inhibiting pyroptosis and by preventing infected intestinal epithelial cells from being extruded into the lumen and expelled ...

University of Alabama invites applications for positions at the Assistant Professor level and at the Associate or Full Professor level in Microbiology

In this Perspective, Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.

Abstract. Anoxic and hypoxic environments serve as habitats for diverse microorganisms, including unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and prokaryotes. To thr

Streptomyces venezuelae requires MreB1-dependent dispersed peptidoglycan cell wall synthesis and DivIVA-mediated polar cell wall synthesis during its rapid exploratory growth phase.

How do new species arise? This is among the most fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. The first genetic model for how reproductive barriers …

Systems that perform continuous hypermutation of designated genes without compromising the integrity of the host genome can substantially accelerate the evolution of new or enhanced protein functions....

In this randomized crossover pilot study, the authors collected human gastrointestinal digesta using a unique intubation technique to compare how meals with contrasting cellular structures affect post...

Zhang and colleagues demonstrate the potential for disease monitoring and therapeutic delivery in the gut by interfacing engineered smart probiotics with a pill-camera-style endoscope.

Tissue-geometry-regulated cellular traction forces trigger the activation of Piezo1 and its co-localization with bacteria to facilitate the formation of specific bacterial invasion patterns to promote...

Liu et al. report that a Vibrio-specific T6SS effector, TseVs, selectively disrupts Vibrio bioenergetics while sparing non-target microbes via an immunity-independent mechanism. This work reveals how ...

The gH-associated tropism and entry (GATE) complex consists of glycoprotein H, UL116 and UL141. This complex is abundant on human cytomegalovirus virions and enables entry into human endothelial cells...

While host genetics influence the composition of intestinal microbial communities, host genetic factors controlling the abundance of intestinal commensals remain to be determined. Here, we performed a...

Sexual dimorphism in infection outcomes is a pervasive phenomenon, the underlying mechanisms of which remain incompletely understood. Here, utilizing Pseudomonas entomophila intestinal infection in Dr...

A bio-integrated gustatory interface enables chemical connections between virtual and real environments for remote tasting.

Author summary The strength of immune response and the disease symptoms vary among individuals even when exposed to the same pathogen. Much of this variation is due to the genes directly involved in a...

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...

Scientific Reports - The circadian clock gene period regulates the composition and daily bacterial load of the gut microbiome in Drosophila melanogaster