Articles tagged with Microbial Diversity
Researchers from the University of Oklahoma are leading a global study to understand the impact of increased nutrients on soil microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functions in grasslands worldwide. The project aims to develop new mathematical models to predict how nutrient changes affect soil microbe diversity and functions.
Researchers developed an integrated framework combining single-cell and metagenomics to characterize microbes. The approach showed higher accuracy and precise binning, revealing more bacterial genera and intra-species diversity.
Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg and University of Tübingen discovered that certain antibiotics, like tetracyclines and macrolides, can kill specific gut microbes. Combining antibiotics with non-antibiotic drugs may reduce collateral damage by preserving antibiotic activity against pathogens.
The Verrucomicrobiota group of bacteria plays a crucial role in degrading polysaccharides released by algae during spring blooms in the North Sea. These specialized bacteria consume hard-to-degrade sugars, including those containing sulfate and fucose, using unique pathways and organelle-like structures to avoid toxic compounds.
Research reveals that nectar-feeding bats foraging in intensively managed banana plantations have less diverse gut microbes compared to those feeding in natural forest habitats or organic plantations. This association between habitat alteration and sustainable agriculture on bat gut microbiota is a significant finding.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii found that coral reef community structure changes in response to ocean warming and acidification, but total biodiversity remains stable. The tiny organisms living within the reef matrix, known as cryptobiota, play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and food web dynamics.
A new study predicts that climate change will cause a sudden shift in algae distribution pole-wards over the next 100 years, affecting marine ecosystems. The UK is among the areas most likely to be severely impacted due to its warm waters, with changes potentially occurring before previously thought.
A team of researchers has discovered a new group of coral-infecting microbes called Corallicolida. Despite lacking photosynthetic genes, they express chlorophyll genes and may still play a role in their host cells. The authors propose that Corallicolida could be an ancient parasite that lost its photosynthetic machinery.
Soil ecologists found that biobased plastics like PBSA degrade efficiently in the soil, even under future climate conditions, but excessive amounts can disrupt microbial communities and agriculture. The degradation process is influenced by fungi and a diverse bacterial community.
The Center for Chemical Currencies of a Microbial Planet (C-CoMP) will conduct transformative research on the ocean chemical-microbe network and its role in climate change. The center aims to improve our understanding of this network's dynamics, sensitivity to climate change, and feedbacks on the planet.
A study published in Cell found that a 10-week fermented-food diet increased gut microbiome diversity and decreased molecular signs of inflammation in healthy adults. The diet, which included foods like yogurt and kimchi, also showed stronger effects on immune cells and inflammatory proteins.
Researchers are developing a new technique to study microbes in conditions that mimic their native environment, facilitating the growth of difficult microbial species. This technology has potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, and bioremediation, including the controlled delivery of healthy gut bacteria into the body.
A new study at Northwestern University suggests that environmental inequities may lead to health disparities through the gut microbiome. Minoritized populations are more likely to have lower microbial diversity and associated health risks due to limited access to green space.
Researchers discovered microbial communities with the potential to consume methane, a greenhouse gas, at high rates in carbonate rocks from seven geologically diverse deep-sea methane seeps. The study found that these microorganisms can consume methane at rates up to 5,500 nanomoles per cubic centimeter per day.
Researchers are exploring how environmental molecules can be used to engineer 'designer' microbiomes for combating disease, pollution, and more. Contrary to expectations, their experiments revealed that competition between microbial species hampers diversity within the community.
A new study found that plant genetics, tissue type, and management strategy play a crucial role in shaping the plant microbiome. The research discovered that bacterial communities are most diverse in the soil, while fungal communities are more evenly distributed across different tissues.
The world's plant and animal diversity is declining, but the direction and pace of change in microbial life, including viruses, remain unknown. Microbial evolution can lead to greater or fewer species, with potential implications for the biosphere.
Researchers have discovered that plants influence how their bacterial and fungal neighbors react to climate change. The study found that simulated drought affected both bacteria and fungi in grassland and scrubland, while nitrogen addition had a lesser impact on bacteria, but more significant effects on the overall microbial diversity.
A new study reveals a connection between wisdom, loneliness and gut microbial diversity. Participants with lower levels of loneliness and higher levels of wisdom had greater phylogenetic richness and diversity in their gut microbiome. A more diverse gut microbiota may promote better resilience and stability.
Scientists found that certain bacteria, like Lactobacillus amylovorus, can increase fermentation yields by up to three percent. This discovery suggests a new approach to industrial production, focusing on selecting beneficial bacteria rather than relying on broad-spectrum antibiotics or treatments.
Climate change affects soil microbial community diversity, structure, and activities. A new study found that warming enhances microbial network complexity and stability, supporting the central ecological belief that complexity begets stability.
A Northwestern University study found that bacteria on used toothbrushes reflect microbial communities in the mouth and skin, not the toilet. The research, published in Microbiome journal, suggests that microbes from the human body are transferred to toothbrushes through saliva and other bodily fluids.
A new study on sourdough starters from around the world found that geography doesn't play a significant role in shaping their microbial ecosystems. Instead, variables like starter age, feeding frequency and storage conditions have smaller effects that add up to make a big difference.
Researchers at Stockholm University found that oak acorn microbes are inherited by seedlings, promoting growth and protecting against diseases. This discovery opens up new possibilities for breeding super plants with improved genes and microbial communities.
Researchers developed new bacterial culture approaches, isolating 254 strains from the Tabernas Desert, including 60% previously unreported and possibly new bacteria species. The study highlights the potential for simple strategies to obtain higher microbial diversity from extreme environments.
Research at Brothers submarine arc volcano reveals distinct microbial communities shaped by magmatic gases and hydrothermal fluids, highlighting the complexity of subsurface geology in forming high biodiversity. Over 90 new bacterial and archaeal families are discovered, providing insights into life's evolution on Earth.
Researchers discovered that black bears' gut microbiomes are surprisingly simple and consistent throughout the intestinal tract. This finding has practical applications for wildlife researchers, as a fecal sample can provide insight into the entire gut microbiome.
A public repository of 52,515 microbial draft genomes has been made available, revealing 44% new bacterial and archaeal diversity. The GEM catalog provides a valuable resource for understanding the biology and diversity of uncultivated microbes.
A new study finds that Hawaiian corals' diversity is driven by co-evolution between the coral host, algal symbiont, and microbial community. The team analyzed metagenomic sequencing data to understand adaptation and variation in corals.
A recent study mapped microbial diversity in marine sediment, revealing a rich ecosystem with diverse microbial communities. The research found that bacterial diversity exceeds archaeal diversity and is comparable to surface biomes.
A new study reveals that CRISPR-induced immune diversification in host-virus populations leads to the emergence of weighted-nestedness immunity structure, enabling hosts to control virus diversification. This structure is crucial for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics and designing stable microbial populations.
Marine sediment shows similar overall diversity to topsoil and seawater, despite decreasing microbial community diversity with depth. Key factors influencing taxonomic composition include organic carbon concentrations and dissolved oxygen presence.
New research identifies three laws to explain species diversity and abundance in ecosystems. Environmental change and variability are key drivers of fluctuations in species populations.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered that microbial community diversity increases when nutrients are seasonally available, contradicting a long-held assumption. The study found that certain species, known as the 'early bird,' can gain an early growth advantage by consuming easily accessible nutrients and outcompeting others.
Researchers will investigate how changes in microbial diversity affect ecosystem function and health. The study aims to understand the role of functional redundancy in maintaining healthy ecosystems, with a focus on environmental complexity and its impact on soil health.
Research found that frequent use of antimicrobial drugs in early life shifts bacterial profiles in saliva, with azithromycin having the strongest effect on girls. The study also showed that AM use is associated with a decrease in Paludibacter and pathways related to amino acid degradations.
A comprehensive database of 33,242 unique viral populations in the human digestive system has been assembled by Ohio State University scientists. This discovery reveals a complex relationship between viruses and bacteria in the gut, with higher diversity associated with healthier individuals.
Researchers found that diverse microbial communities can improve soil's ability to sequester carbon, but drought stress neutralizes this effect. They discovered a limit to the stress resilience of high-diversity systems.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that bed bug infestations alter the indoor microbial diversity in homes, with the presence of Wolbachia bacterium being a key driver. After eliminating bed bugs, home microbiomes gradually shifted toward those of uninfested homes.
A mouse study found that early exposure to vaccine- or microbiota-derived antigens significantly affects antibody diversity in adults. B-1 B cells, a subset of immune cells, were found to have diverse antibody responses in mice with normal gut microbiota versus those grown in sterile germ-free conditions.
Research found that dynamic waterlogging enhances carbon dioxide emissions and depletes soil organic carbon. Microbes exhibit higher activity under fluctuating conditions, but not necessarily greater diversity.
A study by Dr. Jiangen Zhou et al. found that fish farming significantly changes microbial communities and decreases nitrogen levels, offering a potential solution to reduce nitrate pollution in ponds.
A new study charts a potential path for preserving and restoring historic works by identifying microbial communities on art. Researchers found that microbes on wood and canvas surfaces can produce chemicals influencing decay rates.
A recent study found that climate change can increase the functional diversity of stream microbes, leading to more efficient decomposition and nutrient cycling. In Eurasia, this could result in a 30% growth in functional gene diversity and changes in composition by 2060-2080.
A Rutgers-driven proposal to create a 'microbial Noah's ark' is feasible and should move forward into a pilot project phase, according to a new study. The Microbiota Vault would gather beneficial germs from human populations with uncompromised microbiomes to address global health problems caused by modern society.
A study found that revegetated urban green spaces have more native plant species and greater microbiota diversity, similar to natural environments. This can lead to improved immune function and reduced non-communicable diseases. Urban design principles could be influenced by the environmental microbiome to create healthier public spaces.
Researchers identify first known bacteria-derived sensor for detecting progesterone, a female hormone that plays a critical role in reproduction. The sensor's reversibility allows it to generate continuous measurements, making it suitable for home use and potentially transforming telemedicine.
A new study by Michigan State University scientists reveals that plants have genetic systems to host and nurture the right microbiome, promoting healthy growth. Increased microbiome diversity correlates with plant health, while abnormal compositions lead to tissue damage and symptoms similar to human inflammatory bowel disease.
A team of international scientists has developed over 200 new genetic techniques for using marine microbes, overcoming a bottleneck in microbial oceanography. The tools enable researchers to study the cellular instructions that underpin microbial life and potentially harness beneficial applications.
Researchers found that gastric bypass surgery alters both fecal and mucosal microbiomes, leading to improved metabolic outcomes. The study suggests manipulating the gut microbiome could be a potential alternative to surgery for sustained weight loss.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência found that certain bacteria can mutate 1000-fold higher than normal, leading to bursts of diversity in the gut microbiota. A beneficial mutation was identified that increases the ability of the bacteria to eat a specific sugar.
A study published in Nature Plants reveals that three genes are shared exclusively by plants forming intracellular symbiosis with different microbial partners. This finding demonstrates a conserved genetic program underlying diverse types of symbioses, allowing plants to access additional nutrients.
A new global analysis shows cover crops universally improve soil microbiome health, increasing microbial abundance, activity, and diversity. Factors such as climate, termination method, and tillage regime also impact the benefits of cover cropping on soil microbes.
A group of ITMO University researchers analyzed the Moscow Subway and found a microbiome similar to that of New York's public transportation. The study used high-throughput DNA sequencing and discovered identical types of bacteria, including Dietzia, Brevundimonas, and Pseudomonas.
A large human study found that gut microbiome composition and diversity are related to differences in personality, including sociability and neuroticism. People with larger social networks tend to have a more diverse gut microbiome, while those with higher stress or anxiety have lower diversity.
A new study published in mSystems found that mice fed a high-protein, high-fat diet developed severe C. difficile infections, while those on a high-carbohydrate diet recovered. The researchers suggest that diet may promote protective microbial groups after antibiotics.
Researchers at Princeton University have found a link between microbes and cancer in threatened Santa Catalina foxes, with ear mites and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius playing a key role. The study shows that a shift in the microbiome allows antibiotic-resistant infection to take hold, leading to chronic inflammation and tumor growth.
Researchers tracked microbial blooms in Trunk River lagoon to study their formation and collapse. They discovered that certain microorganisms can thrive in mildly oxic waters, leading to new understanding of bloom dynamics.
A recent study analyzing over 12,000 microbial genomes found that every cell is genetically unique, defying conventional species definitions. The Global Ocean Reference Genomes Tropics database provides insights into global distribution patterns and energy sources of ocean microbes.
A new essay in PLOS Biology argues that poverty compromises health by creating unequal access to beneficial microorganisms. People living in low-income communities lack essential factors promoting healthy microbiomes, leading to poor health outcomes such as obesity and mental health disorders.