We asked 100 scientists about unsolved problems in their fields. They sent back provocations — on the origins of life, the possibilities for human progress and much more.

Intercellular communication shapes microbial adaptation to ecological niches and maintains species fitness. Barman et al. reveal that the global regulator YmdB employs the conserved redox-insensitive ...

Title: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN HOST-MICROBE INTERACTIONS (IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY)Employee Classification: Asst ProfessorDivision Name: Academic AffairsCollege/Unit: College of Arts and SciencesDepart...

Abstract. Bacteria produce the alarmone nucleotides ppGpp and pppGpp during stress to affect replication, transcription, and metabolism. ppGpp and pppGpp a

Bacteriophage tailspike proteins (TSPs) degrade bacterial capsules to enable infection, yet the molecular determinants of their function and host range remain unclear. We applied deep mutational scann...

HIDEN-SEQ (hidden Acr-enabled transposon-insertion sequencing) is a transposon-insertion sequencing method for phages that systematically links their genes to selectable phenotypes.

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes - MeeY and YybP, two proteins regulated by manganese-sensing riboswitches, are required for Bacillus subtilis biofilm formation

The correct subcellular localization of proteins is a critical step underlying myriad biological processes, but the cues that drive the specific lo...

Temperate Bacillus phages use arbitrium peptides to coordinate lysis–lysogeny decisions, but whether the mature communication peptide can be sensed directly by Bacillus subtilis and affect its physiol...

In a process known as phenotypic heterogeneity or phenotypic variation, bacteria can produce distinct phenotypes within an isogenic population in response to shifting environmental conditions. Noise i...

The hyphae-to-yeast morphological transition promotes dissemination of the pathogen Candida albicans, but the mechanisms underlying this process are poorly defined. By identifying a bacterial metaboli...

The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.

The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.

Author summary Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely used as a biological pesticide because it produces insecticidal proteins that kill insect larvae. These proteins are generally produced at differen...

The BqsRS two-component system regulates biofilms in the infectious pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, the authors show that the global response regulator BqsR controls Fe2+ acquisition in PAO1 th...

During starvation, progressive Spo0A~P accumulation is decoded by three Spo0A~P-binding sites and intrinsic DNA bending within the kinA promoter. Together, these features fine-tune kinA transcription...

Author summary Biofilm formation by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents a major clinical challenge, with biofilms typically associated with chronic infection, increased antibi...

The Spo0A phosphorelay integrates inputs from five sensor kinases (KinA-KinE), with KinD and KinE less well characterized, to control developmental pr…

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes - Role of starvation survival response mechanisms on ribosome integrity, antibiotic tolerances, and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Spratt et al. evaluate the transcriptional regulation of Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) at the single-cell level, revealing temporally tunable phenotypic heterogeneity that allows for proba...

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes - Decoding phage communication: molecular networks, evolutionary dynamics, and therapeutic applications

Mapping the DacA interactome reveals how environmental and intracellular cues tune c-di-AMP signaling to control stress adaptation, ion balance, and virulence traits in Streptococcus mutans. By identi...

Abstract. Members of the genus Streptomyces are prolific producers of antibiotics and bioactive natural products, whose biosynthesis is intricately linked to complex social and ecological interactions...

A better understanding of battles between bacteria and viruses could inspire new medicines

Abstract. Cooperation in social insect colonies depends on complex chemical communication, requiring a large array of chemosensory receptors. Ant odorant r

Advances in treatments for cystic fibrosis have increased the incidence of “non-typical” infections, including those caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). NTM are often found in the lungs alongside the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and patients infected with both tend to have worse clinical outcomes. In this study, we examined how these two organisms interact under biofilm conditions, an important lifestyle adaptation in chronic pulmonary infections. We found that when grown together, Mycobacterium abscessus enhanced biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa and reduced the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Our findings reveal a Pel-dependent interaction between two important lung pathogens that may contribute to more severe infections and poorer treatment outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung diseases. Understanding these mechanisms opens new opportunities for developing strategies to combat these complex infections.

The mutation frequency decline (Mfd) enzyme mediates transcription-coupled repair in transcribed genes by directly interacting with RNA polymerase (RNAP) during transcription of coding sequences. Howe...

Abstract. In heterogeneous environments, the hyphae of filamentous fungi and oomycetes can facilitate the dispersal of other microorganisms. The use of the

Rhizosphere microorganisms typically coexist within complex multispecies biofilm communities. However, the interspecies interactions within these biof…

Learn about the new features and improvements in Bactopia version 4.