Articles tagged with Microbial Genetics
Researchers used models to predict cross-feeding interactions between microbes in the human gut, which could aid doctors in understanding gut health. The model was supported by genomic annotations and accurately predicted about 65% of its predictions.
A study found that trophoblastic β1-glycoproteins in pregnant women's blood suppress pro-inflammatory immune cells and reduce inflammation. The substance may help prevent pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and autoimmune diseases.
Researchers have developed a method to modify microbes for efficient production of compounds using computational models and CRISPR-based gene editing. This approach speeds up the research and development phase, enabling faster commercialization of sustainable bio-based products.
A OU-led study integrates omics data into ecosystem models to better predict soil carbon loss due to warming-induced adaptation in microbial communities. The findings suggest a more nuanced understanding of the ecological consequences of climate warming.
A $1.3 million DOE grant is funding a five-year collaboration to examine the genetic and environmental factors affecting mycorrhizal symbioses in field conditions. Researchers will use shotgun sequencing, artificial intelligence, and microscopy to understand how plants control their associations with beneficial fungi.
Researchers investigate how genetics influence rumen microbiome in cattle, seeking to identify host genomic markers for heritability. The study aims to manipulate microbiomes to enhance agricultural production and develop more sustainable cow-calf systems.
A team led by Maggie Wagner will study how plants and microbes adapt to drought, focusing on genetic changes in microbial communities. The research aims to understand the impact of drought on plant growth, health, and ability to withstand water stress.
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.
Researchers studied 45 female colobus monkeys in Ghana to understand the impact of social groupings and distance on their gut microbiomes. They found that individuals from different groups with closer social connections had more similar gut microbiomes, suggesting microbes can be transmitted during occasional encounters.
A new study identifies lactate, a molecule produced by a common gut microbe, as a key memory-boosting molecular messenger. The researchers found that mice fed specific probiotics experienced improved memory, with increased levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in their brains.
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 have made significant progress in gene editing tools for ocean microbes, enabling functional studies of thousands of new genes. This breakthrough has the potential to improve our understanding of life's origins, biotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology.
A new study reveals that fish on Caribbean coral reefs harbor unique gut microbial communities, with some microbes living broadly in the ocean while others are resident to specific species. The researchers found 59 dominant types of microbes in five fish species.
Researchers found a diverse community of microbes that efficiently recycle and store organic compounds to survive in hostile environments far beneath the ocean floor. The study reveals genetic material suggests many lower crust microbes rely on carbon from their surroundings to obtain energy.
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.
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 French-Spanish team of scientists has confirmed the absence of microbial life in Dallol's multi-extreme ponds. The researchers used various methods to detect and classify microorganisms, including massive sequencing of genetic markers and chemical analysis.
A software tool called MetaMiner has been developed to identify bioactive molecules and their producing microbial genes for therapeutic use. The tool speeds up the discovery process, identifying 31 known RiPPs and seven new ones in about two weeks.
Researchers found distinct shifts in fruit fly genomes after feeding them different bacteria, racking up significant genomic changes. The study suggests that microbial community composition drives part of how organisms evolve.
A recent study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that genetics has a greater impact on the microbiome of mice than their maternal birth environment. The researchers tested two different inbred laboratory strains of mice and found that the offspring's microbiomes were similar regardless of which parent was black ...
Researchers observed increased methanogenesis genes at upper layers of warming permafrost, while carbohydrate metabolism genes were more abundant at shallower depths. This study provides insight into tundra microbial responses to experimental warming.
Researchers identified a core microbiome in common dairy cows, which dictates productivity and methane emissions. By manipulating this microbiome, scientists may develop more eco-friendly agriculture practices.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has discovered distinct microbial communities surrounding Caribbean corals. The research found that different types of coral have unique microbial communities living near them, with some species showing enriched presence in the seawater closer to corals.
Researchers found that microorganisms can use arsenic as an electron acceptor to extract energy from food, a strategy thought to be a holdover from Earth's early history. The discovery opens up new avenues for studying organisms that thrive in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers identified genes encoding oxidoreductases as key attributes for characterizing global microbial communities. This approach provides a new diagnostic tool for assessing ecosystem services and developing management policies. The study sheds light on the critical role of microorganisms in planetary physiology.
Researchers discovered a group of deep-sea microbes called Hydrothermarchaeota that thrive in extreme environments and have never been cultivated. These microbes use an unusual metabolic process to obtain energy from carbon monoxide and sulfate, which could provide insights into the evolution of life on Earth.
Researchers discovered that tropical fish control their gut microbes to better survive extreme temperatures. The host's genetic background influences the microbiome's composition and response to temperature, with cold-resistant fish having a distinct core group of tolerant microbes.
Researchers analyzed DNA from kissing bugs to understand the complex interactions between humans, parasites, and microbes involved in Chagas disease. The study found two strains of Trypanosome cruzi and a higher bacterial species richness in infected insects.
A new study suggests that changing how microbes are classified can reveal clearer patterns of similarity between closely related mammals in terms of their gut microbiomes. The researchers propose an alternative approach to classification based on evolutionary history, which helps uncover meaningful units among microbes.
A University of Queensland-led study links microbial communities and biogeochemistry to rising greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost. The research, using sequencing techniques, identified new microorganisms involved in complex biochemical networks producing greenhouse gases.
Epimeron Inc. has isolated and characterized an enzyme from Ephedra sinica catalyzing a crucial step in ephedrine and pseudoephedrine production. The discovery paves the way for microbial fermentation-based production, offering a sustainable, secure, and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical processes.
A study identified 143 species-level taxa associated with plant genotype, regardless of environmental factors. This finding suggests heritable microbes could be selected for beneficial traits in plant breeding.
In a breakthrough study, microbes have been found to act like savvy investors when contributing to the common good. They adjust their investment strategy depending on how much they have at stake, maximizing returns in groups with mostly relatives and exploiting contributions in outnumbered groups.
Scientists have developed a new method to investigate the timing and co-evolution of microbial groups by analyzing horizontal gene transfer among ancient microbes. This breakthrough provides relative age constraints for several microbial groups without reliable fossil evidence, including the Archaea.
The study reveals that termites' gut microbiome is a complex factory producing sugars and proteins from wood and air, with up to 5000 different microbe species. Researchers discovered that microbes are shared across colonies, allowing termites to diversify their food source and achieve ecological dominance.
A new method assesses microbial community structure by quantifying protein abundance, revealing more about the role of microbes in animal and plant health, disease, and environmental processes. The technique was tested in various environments, including Rocky Mountain alkaline soda lakes and human saliva, with promising results.
Magdalena Osburn, a Northwestern University geobiologist, has been awarded a $875,000 Packard Fellowship to study 'microbial dark matter', or unknown microbes that have evaded cultivation in the lab. Her research will explore how these microorganisms interact with their environments and produce chemical signatures.
The CAMI challenge ranked metagenome interpretation tools to provide a roadmap for biologists. Biologists face challenges due to the high number of tools and limited accuracy assessments.
Researchers have identified a genetic link between host animals, their microbial community, and methane production in a study that won the PLOS Genetics Research Prize. The study found that certain microbial profiles can be used to recognize cattle that use feed more efficiently while emitting less methane.
A new study analyzes thousands of new measurements of microbial communities from various sites in the body, providing insights into how microbes work together to maintain human health. The research identifies differences unique to an individual's microbes and tracks them across the body over time.
A recent study has uncovered millions of previously unknown genes from microbial communities in the human gut, skin, mouth, and vaginal microbiome. The research triples the amount of data previously analyzed and provides new insights into the role these microbes play in human health and disease.
Researchers found that microbes associated with native species provide resistance to invasion, while those with invaders break down this resistance and may poison native plants. The study suggests a new way to restore the balance of microbial communities in sediments to reduce the risk of invasive marine species.
A new gene catalog of ocean microbes has revealed nutrient limitation as a central driver in the evolution of their genomes. The study found that microbial genomes change drastically with depth, adapting to varying levels of nitrogen availability.
A new study reveals that amplicon sequencing is more robust than shotgun sequencing in discovering microbial biodiversity, with 27% more families identified. The research has significant repercussions for future analyses of microbial diversity.
Researchers have sequenced genomes of microorganisms in Aarhus Bay's subsurface seabed, showing they grow in slow motion with generation times up to 100 years. The extreme environment leads to low adaptability and minimal energy availability.
A research team has discovered that soil microbial diversity is lower than previously estimated due to the presence of relic DNA. However, thousands of species of microbes still exist in one gram of soil, making it comparable to a 'poor man's rainforest'.
Scientists have untangled the genetic material of Kansas soil, reconstructing portions of 129 microbial genomes. The study provides a leap forward in understanding the diversity and interactions of microbes in complex soil samples.
A Harvard study monitors subway microbes to identify early warning systems for public health threats. The research found that surface type and human interaction significantly influence microbial community structure, with skin- and oral-associated microbes prevalent on poles and seats.
Researchers used microbial metagenome analysis and environmental chemistry to find the most likely transit route Hannibal's forces took across the Alps, pinpointing the Col de Traversette pass as a key crossing point. The study, published in Archaeometry, provides solid evidence for Hannibal's route, dating back to 218 BC.
The US Department of Energy is awarding $13.5 million to improve sorghum's productivity under resource-limited conditions. This project will lead to strategies to increase plant biomass and more water-efficient sorghum crop systems, benefiting the rural economy and advancing a carbon-neutral energy market.
A national effort is proposed to understand and harness the capabilities of Earth's microbial ecosystems. The Unified Microbiome Initiative aims to decipher how microbes interact with each other, their hosts and environment, leading to new antibiotics, obesity-fighting methods, drought-resistant crops and next-gen biofuels.
Researchers have collected over 1,500 genetic samples from various ethnic groups to study the genome of the Volga Tatar people. The findings could lead to more effective treatments by identifying genetic markers for diseases.
Researchers have engineered a microbe called Clostridium thermocellum to produce up to 6 grams of isobutanol per liter, a significant improvement over previous results. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient biofuels production and overcome the challenges of recalcitrance in plant biomass.
Researchers found that gut microbes in mice exhibit a daily cycle, influencing circadian clock genes and metabolism. High-fat diets disrupt this cycle, leading to weight gain in mice.
Researchers at Rice University are developing gas-releasing microbial sensors to study microbe-driven processes that regulate Earth's environment. The sensors will allow researchers to test hypotheses about how microbes control environmental processes and build model ecosystems in the lab.
Researchers found that individual microbial communities are surprisingly unique and can be used to identify people over time. The study suggests that these microbiome 'fingerprints' could potentially expose sensitive information, but also offer new insights into human health and ecology.
The study analyzed microbial activities in Alaskan soils, revealing diverse species and genes involved in degrading organic carbon and producing greenhouse gases. Researchers also found evidence of previously undescribed microbes and insights into microbial survival strategies in permafrost.
The Vilcek Foundation has awarded Peter Walter the $100,000 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science for his pioneering work on protein transport and stress response. Sun Hur and Rob Knight also received $50,000 Creative Promise Prizes for their innovative research on enzyme reactions and microbial communities.
Joint Bioenergy Institute researchers improve isopentenol tolerance and production in E.coli, a key step towards cost-effective microbial biofuel production. The study identifies two genes, MetR and MdlB, that improve isopentenol production by 55% and 12%, respectively.
Researchers use electrostatic force microscopy to visualize charge propagation in Geobacter's protein filaments, demonstrating metallic-like conductivity. The discovery has important environmental and practical implications for energy conversion and production.