Articles tagged with Host Microbe Interactions
Research reveals that social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum relies on its symbiotic bacteria to protect itself from environmental toxins, despite having fewer detoxifying sentinel cells. The bacteria help shield the amoebae from toxins, enabling them to thrive even in toxic environments.
Recent studies have shown that thinking of plants and animals as autonomous individuals is a serious over-simplification. Microbiologists propose the concept of holobionts, which consists of visible hosts plus millions of invisible microbes that significantly affect development, diseases, behavior, and social interactions.
Scientists discovered that acquiring a group of bacterial symbionts enabled firebugs to feed on plant seeds, previously inaccessible to them. This adaptation led to the diversification of firebug species within a new ecological niche.
A study by scientists from Scripps Research Institute found that certain microbes promote nutritional harvest in fruit flies, rescuing their health and longevity when fed nutrient-poor diets. This natural symbiosis may offer a new strategy to treat and prevent malnutrition in humans.
Researchers identify two independent regulatory mechanisms controlling the human immune response, involving protein interactions between cGAS and Beclin-1 autophagy proteins. These findings have significant implications for understanding immune regulation and potentially harnessing its power to cure disease.
Research shows that genetic factors and dietary choices interact to shape the microbiome in the host intestine. This combination determines the presence and activity of specific microbes, which can affect digestive health and increase the risk for conditions like Crohn's disease.
A study led by Oxford University reveals that humans selectively favor beneficial gut microbes through the release of nutrient-rich secretions. This process allows for efficient control of the microbiome without requiring excessive host resources.
William Hanage, a renowned expert in infectious disease epidemiology, has received the 2012 ICAAC Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Microbiology. His research focuses on understanding the factors behind the response of bacterial populations to antimicrobials and vaccines.
A University of Oklahoma research team has discovered a compound that can suppress the growth of pathogenic microbes and keep other oral microorganisms in check. This finding may lead to new treatments for thrush and related Candida infections.
This special issue of DNA and Cell Biology delves into the complexities of symbiosis, revealing how microorganisms adapt to changing environments and host responses. The issue highlights various studies on bacterial interactions with their hosts, exploring mechanisms of adaptation and functional plasticity in constrained mutualisms.
A special issue of Trends in Microbiology publishes reviews on the Gene Ontology, a powerful language that enables researchers to describe disease-related and beneficial interactions between microbes and their hosts. The Gene Ontology provides a shared vocabulary for scientists to link experimental results to computer-readable language...
A universal language for describing genes involved in microbial-host interactions has been created, providing a shared vocabulary for researchers. The Gene Ontology resource will increase knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions, ultimately leading to the design of novel disease-limiting strategies.
The new NIAID-funded programs aim to identify molecular features that distinguish bacterial and viral species, which may be targets for potential medical interventions. Researchers will use computational and experimental methods to analyze the dynamics of molecular components within microbes and their interactions with human cells.
The Gene Ontology (GO) has expanded its vocabulary to describe the complex events occurring when a microbe encounters its host. This updated language will enable researchers to compare gene functions in diverse organisms, including those related to disease-causing microbes and beneficial microbes.
Researchers have characterized a gutless worm that relies on microbial specialists for energy production, waste handling, and transportation through marine sediments. The unique partnership involves the worm providing housing and nutrients to microbes in exchange for essential services.
Research in germ-free mice suggests that certain human gut microbes form strategic alliances to improve digestion of complex sugars, leading to increased fat storage. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding individual gut microbial communities and their interactions with hosts.
A facultative symbiont is identified in pea aphids associated with host plant specialization, increasing fecundity on clover and failure to survive on alfalfa. Genetic data suggests the aphid genome, not symbiont, causes specialization.
A Stanford research team is studying how mouth microbes interact with their hosts to shape immune system development. They have identified new microorganisms in the oral pocket that were previously unknown and are working to understand complex interactions between oral flora.
Researchers discovered that beneficial bacteria in the gut influence the expression of genes important to intestinal development and function. The study found that these microbes activate genes involved in sugar and fat absorption, cellular barrier integrity, and blood vessel formation.
Researchers found a dual-purpose protein, FucR, that allows Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron to control its nutrient intake by silencing or activating genes involved in fucose metabolism. This communication mechanism may be crucial for maintaining intestinal ecosystem stability and preventing the overgrowth of harmful microbes.