Researchers found that a fungus's metabolic breadth, or range of nutrients it can use, links its ability to kill insects, partner with plants, and thrive in different ecological roles. Strains capable of using a wider range of nutrients were faster and deadlier at killing insects and more effective at colonizing plant roots.
SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 2, 2026
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Researchers at UC Berkeley have found that algae parasitized coral, exploiting a cellular organelle to obtain nutrients. This symbiotic relationship could hold the key to understanding why reefs are dying due to warming oceans.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2026
Researchers found peculiar mitochondria-like symbionts in freshwater lakes, groundwater, and wastewater worldwide, revealing surprising metabolic capacities. They can respire oxygen in addition to nitrogen, impacting the nitrogen cycle and potentially producing greenhouse gases.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 9, 2024
Researchers isolated and screened endophytes from Sarcandra glabra to increase its isofraxidin content. Fifteen bacteria and six fungi were found to enhance isofraxidin levels in the plant, providing preliminary evidence for using microorganisms to improve traditional Chinese medicine quality.
SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology·DateOct 25, 2024
Researchers engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generating cellular energy without traditional carbon feedstocks. The hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving new biotechnical pathways to non-petroleum-based energy and synthetic biology applications.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2024
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria living inside ticks are essential for their survival and reproduction. These bacteria produce vital nutrients, making them a potential vulnerability in tick populations that could be exploited to control tick numbers and reduce the incidence of tick-borne diseases.
SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalmSphere·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 6, 2024
Scientists have identified a new symbiotic relationship between insects and bacteria, Symbiodolus, which is widespread across different insect species. The bacteria are found in reproductive organs and can be transmitted from parents to offspring, highlighting the complex interactions between hosts and symbionts.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalThe ISME Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 19, 2024
Researchers have identified two bacterial proteins, PifA and PifB, that mediate asexual reproduction in insect hosts by interfering with host chromosome segregation and gene expression. The discovery provides new avenues for studying Wolbachia-mediated reproductive manipulation.
SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateApr 16, 2024
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Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Research reveals a rich diversity of beneficial fungi living in boreal forest trees, with implications for forest health. The findings suggest that these fungi are adapted in highly specific ways to their local conditions, making them sensitive to future climate change.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2024
Researchers have identified two genetic factors, LSH1/LSH2, that promote the production of specialized root cells required for nitrogen-fixing bacteria to thrive in legumes. This discovery brings us closer to engineering non-legume crops to develop root nodule organs and reduce our reliance on industrial nitrogen fertilizers.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2024
A recent study has shown that the mutual symbiosis between bacteria and fungi can be fragile, as a specific protein maintains the balance. When this protein is absent, the bacteria are trapped within fungal hyphae and die.
SourceLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute -·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2023
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Researchers discovered fragments of RNA viruses embedded in coral partners' genomes, dating back 160 million years. The discovery provides insights into how corals fight off viral infections and may hold the key to understanding the ecological impact of viruses on reef health.
SourceRice University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2023
Scientists discovered that fungal endophytes convert chitin to chitosan, a natural plant defense activator, to evade host defense. This conversion enables the fungus to live in symbiotic association with grasses, protecting them from biotic and abiotic stresses.
SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 1, 2021
A new study explores how plants respond differently to useful and harmful microbes, revealing that accessory chromosomes from fungal strains dictate these responses. Most plant genes are expressed similarly in response to both beneficial and pathogenic fungi, but with key differences occurring just 12 hours after interaction.
SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 23, 2021
Scientists at Tokyo University of Science discovered endophytic bacteria that can survive extreme conditions within passion fruit seeds. The bacteria were isolated from seedlings grown from cut seeds and found to possess biocatalytic activities related to the metabolism of secondary metabolites, such as resveratrol and piceatannol.
SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMicrobiologyOpen·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021
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Research reveals that aphid endosymbionts, like Hamiltonella defensa, provide defense against parasitoid wasps but also come with a cost. The prevalence of these bacteria shifts rapidly in response to environmental temperature changes, highlighting the role of balancing selection in their evolution.
SourceDrexel University·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateApr 23, 2021
Researchers have discovered a unique endosymbiotic relationship where a bacterium provides energy to its unicellular host by breathing nitrate, complementing or replacing mitochondrial functions. This finding opens the possibility of simple eukaryotes hosting energy-providing endosymbionts.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalNature·DateMar 3, 2021
Research team discovers endophytes can break apart phosphorus complexes, making it accessible to plants. This natural approach reduces environmental harm from chemical fertilizers and promotes more sustainable food production.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateNov 24, 2020
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A study published in Nature's Scientific Reports reveals that shrinking snowcaps in the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region are fueling the expansion of harmful algal blooms in the Arabian Sea. These blooms, caused by Noctiluca scintillans, are disrupting the marine food chain and threatening fisheries that sustain 150 million people.
SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 4, 2020
The sweet potato microbiome research is a vital step towards increasing crop yields and disease resistance, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The study found that the microbiome follows a two-step model of development, with variability across farms but commonalities within fields.
SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalPhytobiomes Journal·DateApr 22, 2020
The discovery of two novel dinoflagellates, MGD and TGD, reveals that the process of organellogenesis is less advanced in these strains than previously thought. The organisms contain nucleomorphs with DNA transfer events ongoing, allowing researchers to study this critical stage of organelle formation.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2020
Researchers have identified 10 compounds with insecticidal activity produced by symbiotic microbes in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, potentially leading to new natural pesticides. The substances were strongly toxic to aphids and moderately toxic to spider mites.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJan 29, 2020
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Researchers tested heat tolerance in 5 aphid species against their endosymbionts' sensitivity to heat. Heat exposure reduced survival and reproduction in some species, while enhancing fecundity in others.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 18, 2019
Recent advances in plant seed microbiomes have revealed distinct compositions and beneficial bacteria within seed endophytes. This study provides a basis for developing sustainable alternative inputs in agriculture, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalPhytobiomes Journal·DateMar 25, 2019
Researchers found that microorganisms within Siberian plants have medicinal and antimicrobial properties, potentially leading to the development of new drugs for serious diseases. The study's authors believe these properties can also be used to stimulate plant growth or protect them from diseases.
SourceSiberian Federal University·JournalFrontiers in Biology·DateJul 12, 2018
Researchers sequenced the complete genome of dinoflagellate S. kawagutii, revealing surprising findings about its genetic makeup and adaptability. The study suggests that this species has evolved to cope with stress imposed by climate change and pollution, potentially holding key to understanding other dinoflagellates.
SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalScience·DateNov 5, 2015
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Researchers have discovered beneficial bacteria that live inside plant tissue, improving nitrogen use efficiency and plant growth. This breakthrough has potential benefits for sustainable agriculture with minimum environmental impacts.
SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateJul 8, 2015
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that naturally occurring plant-friendly fungi can prevent crop-ravishing diseases from spreading and aid plant survival in testing environmental conditions. These 'symbiotic' relationships between barley and the fungi increase plant survival by up to six times.
SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalBioControl·DateFeb 9, 2015
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a microbe that enhances plant tolerance to industrial pollutants like phenanthrene. The approach uses probiotic microbes to supplement plant defenses, allowing plants to take up to 25-40% more of the pollutant than untreated plants.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 17, 2014
Research finds that coral reefs' ability to adapt to environmental changes is linked to the number and variety of single-celled algae they host. Inflexible corals, which host a single type of algae, are more resistant to stress than flexible corals, which host multiple types.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a type of turfgrass that is safe for grazing animals but toxic to certain insects. The fungus, called Neotyphodium, produces compounds that kill insects while protecting the grass from animal harm. This breakthrough could lead to reduced pesticide use and promote sustainability in agriculture.
SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Environmental Entomology·DateSep 6, 2011
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USDA scientists have identified several black aspergilli species capable of infecting corn and peanuts, producing mycotoxins like ochratoxin. The research supports food safety, highlighting the need to monitor for potential pathogens in crops.
SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalToxins·DateSep 30, 2010
A study by scientists from the University of Valencia has shown that cockroaches eliminate excess nitrogen by excreting ammonia, unlike most terrestrial insects. The research suggests an evolutionary convergence between cockroaches and ants, arriving at similar metabolic solutions through their associations with endosymbionts.
Researchers found that leaf-cutting ants and their fungal gardens actively combat invading fungi, ensuring mutualism health. The garden itself can also compete with incoming microbes, strengthening the ants' hygiene practices.
SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·DateApr 2, 2009
A team of Yale undergraduates collected and analyzed 135 endophytes from plants in the Amazon rainforest, discovering dozens with potential bioactivity. The study's findings highlight the vast scientific potential of tropical areas and the importance of preserving these microorganisms.
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Researchers analyzed Paulinella's plastid genome, finding it closely related to cyanobacteria and retaining ancient genetic features. The study offers insights into the establishment of plastids and the transition from single-celled hosts to complex organisms.
SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 5, 2006
Researchers discovered that a novel role for reactive oxygen species in regulating the fungus-grass symbiotic relationship can help engineer resistance to crop pathogens. A single gene mutation in the E. festucae noxA gene triggered the switch, resulting in increased fungal growth and stunted plant growth.
SourceAmerican Society of Plant Biologists·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateMar 22, 2006
Researchers discovered that fungi infecting healthy plant tissues can provide protection against pathogens, increasing survival rates for cacao leaves. Field tests are underway to cultivate such fungal armies as biological control agents.
SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 23, 2003