Articles tagged with Microbial Metabolism
Research in mice shows that microbes communicate with hosts by sending metabolites that act on histones, influencing gene transcription. Diet composition impacts microbiome and epigenetic changes, with healthy diets promoting beneficial metabolite production.
Researchers developed a computer model to understand the metabolic capabilities of Prochlorococcus, revealing extensive alterations to its metabolism to reduce dependence on phosphorus. The study found that this adaptation provides a growth advantage for the microbe in phosphorus-limited regions of the ocean.
Children born via Cesarean section may be more likely to become overweight or obese, with a 40% greater odds of this outcome compared to those born vaginally. The association is strongest among mothers who are already obese, suggesting that vaginal delivery may help mitigate the risk.
Researchers found microbes consuming fracking fluid, creating new compounds that support microbial communities below ground. The study provides insight into the complex interactions among microbes and their role in shaping the planet's environment.
The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute has accepted 10 new research projects to harness the combined power of genomics and molecular characterization, exploring pressing questions in energy, environment, and basic research. The selected proposals focus on topics such as plant-microbe interactions, biofuels, and biogeochem...
Biological engineers at Cornell University have discovered a way to ferment carbon monoxide into ethanol using an anaerobic microbe. The process is controlled by thermodynamics rather than enzyme expression, making it a potential solution for producing biofuel from industrial waste gases.
Researchers found that microbes in must can be used as biomarkers to predict metabolite abundances in finished wine. This study could lead to improved winemaking by identifying bacteria and fungi associated with desirable metabolites or detecting troublesome taxa before spoilage occurs.
Researchers used human and environmental samples to analyze microbiome and metabolome data, reporting conclusions in 48 hours. The study found that fermented food molecules influenced the chemical environments of people consuming them.
Researchers at the University of Alberta advocate for increasing dietary fiber intake to regain lost microbial biodiversity. A recent study found that mice fed a Western diet with low fiber transferred lower beneficial microbial species to future generations, indicating extinctions had occurred in just a few generations.
Researchers found that bears' summer gut microbiota includes microbes that take in more energy from the diet, allowing them to gain fat without impairing glucose metabolism. The study suggests a new potential therapeutic target for obesity management in humans.
Researchers found distinct bacterial assemblages with radially arranged bacteria in dental plaque, providing insights into their behavior and function. The study proposes a model for how dental plaque develops based on imaging observations and sequencing data.
Scientists call for development of advanced tools in bioinformatics, high-resolution imaging and microbial sequencing to understand microbiome function. This would enable tackling medical and environmental challenges with greater agility.
Exercising early in life can alter the microbial community for the better, promoting healthier brain and metabolic activity over a lifetime. A study published in Immunology and Cell Biology found that juvenile rats who exercised daily developed a more beneficial gut microbiome.
Researchers discovered a compound that targets gut microbes to prevent heart disease by preventing the formation of toxic metabolic byproducts. This new approach may provide a whole new strategy for treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Researchers found that exposure to cold temperatures alters the composition of intestinal bacteria in mice, leading to increased brown and beige fat formation and improved glucose metabolism. Transplanting these microbes into germ-free mice also triggered weight loss and improved metabolic health.
A consortium of scientists proposes a Unified Microbiome Initiative to drive cutting-edge microbiome research. Genetic engineering holds the key to harnessing microbes for diverse applications, including fighting antibiotic resistance, reclaiming farmland, and producing sustainable energy.
Researchers at KAIST have developed ten general strategies of systems metabolic engineering to successfully develop industrial microbial strains. The strategies cover economic, state-of-the-art biological techniques and traditional bioprocess aspects.
Researchers analyzed Eocene rocks found in the Green River Formation and identified features that visually indicate the presence of life. They used chemical analysis to confirm the presence of lipid biomarkers, which are preserved remnants of lipids synthesized by organisms.
Researchers used exometabolomics to study the interactions between soil microbes and their adaptations in desert biocrusts. The team found that diverse microbes target specific metabolites, supporting diverse microbial communities. This discovery suggests a possible mechanism for promoting soil biodiversity by specialization.
A new study suggests that fish oil diets are more effective than lard diets due to the presence of certain gut bacteria. Mice transplanted with gut microbes from a fish oil diet showed reduced weight gain and inflammation compared to those with lard diet microbes.
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.
The study found that Akkermansia muciniphila is associated with lower fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, as well as a smaller waist:hip ratio and reduced body fat cell volume. Those with higher abundance of the microbe showed stronger improvement in their metabolic profile after calorie restriction.
Exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles can change microbial metabolism and gut environment, impacting overall health. Researchers found specific changes in microbial community and gut microenvironment after nanoparticle exposure.
Researchers found daily rhythms in metabolism among microbial communities in different ocean habitats, with common photoautotrophs initiating a cascade effect. This work suggests that microbial communities behave similarly across entire ocean basins.
Researchers discovered that 10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic acid (HYA), a gut microbial metabolite of linoleic acid, has anti-inflammatory effects. HYA alleviates intestinal inflammation in mice with colitis and improves epithelial barrier function.
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.
A study reveals that disrupting daily rhythms of gut microbes due to jet lag can cause obesity and metabolic issues. This disruption leads to changes in the microbial community, favoring bacteria linked to obesity and metabolic disease.
The DOE JGI Community Science Program selected 32 projects to study microbial communities in various environments, including those affected by hydraulic fracturing and coral reefs. The research will help understand the impact of environmental changes on these ecosystems and develop solutions for major energy and environmental problems.
Research reveals that altering the intestinal microbiota during infancy can have lasting metabolic consequences, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes in adulthood. Disrupting beneficial gut bacteria with antibiotics during critical developmental windows may lead to obesity and metabolic problems.
A new study suggests that early antibiotic exposure disrupts the gut microbiome, permanently altering metabolism in mice. Researchers found that mice exposed to low-dose penicillin during pregnancy or nursing were more susceptible to obesity and metabolic abnormalities than those exposed later in life.
Research in Saanich Inlet reveals sulfur-oxidizing bacterial group SUP05 dominates oxygen-starved regions, driving carbon dioxide fixation and nutrient cycling. The study sheds light on the ecological impact of microbial respiration in the oxygen-poor ocean.
A new study reveals that gut microbes metabolize carbohydrates, causing intestinal cell proliferation and tumor formation in mice genetically predisposed to colorectal cancer. Treatment with antibiotics or a low-carbohydrate diet significantly reduced tumors, suggesting these interventions could prevent this type of cancer in humans.
Researchers have identified specific bacteria that are abnormally increased or decreased when Crohn's disease develops, suggesting potential targets for treatment. The study used biopsies from over 1,700 patients to uncover how microbes contribute to the inflammatory cascade of Crohn's disease.
A new study reveals that deep sandstone formations, crucial for hydrocarbon extraction and carbon sequestration, host a low-diversity microbial community dominated by Halomonas sulfidaeris-like bacteria. These microbes have evolved strategies to cope with extreme conditions and can recycle scarce nutrients to meet their metabolic needs.
Researchers aim to engineer microbes like Synechocystis 6803 to produce useful chemicals, overcoming challenges such as low production speeds and inefficient processes. The goal is to develop microfactories that can produce fuels and chemicals using CO2 as a carbon source.
A study found that human gut bacteria can transmit lean or obese traits to mice depending on their diet, highlighting the importance of diet in shaping gut microbiota. The researchers identified specific bacterial species that play a role in metabolism and obesity, paving the way for personalized probiotic therapies.
Harvard scientists have identified a pair of genes that allow certain gut bacteria to break down a widely prescribed cardiac drug into an inactive compound. The researchers found that these genes are expressed when the bacteria are exposed to the drug, and that they play a key role in converting the drug into its inactive form.
A recent study found that environmental conditions play a stronger role in shaping the human microbiome than competition between species. The researchers used computer models to predict nutrient and energy metabolism and estimated interactions between microbes, revealing that species tend to co-exist with those they strongly compete for.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered that drastic changes in the gut microbes of mice occur following gastric bypass surgery, resulting in rapid weight loss. The study suggests that manipulating microbial populations could become a valuable tool to address obesity.
Three WHOI projects will investigate the complex interactions between marine microbes, nutrients, and their environments using advanced technologies and methods. The grants aim to improve understanding of microbial communities and their impact on ocean health and productivity.
A team of researchers has discovered a bacterium that can efficiently degrade hemicellulose, a key component in biofuels. By unlocking this microbe's enzymes, scientists may be able to engineer microbes that can convert more plant material into fuel.
A new study reveals that gut microbes can increase the absorption of dietary fats, allowing the body to extract more calories from the same amount of food. Firmicutes bacteria are found to play a key role in this process, and their abundance is influenced by diet.
A new study reveals that certain gut microbes increase dietary fat absorption, allowing the host to extract more calories. The research found that one type of bacteria, Firmicutes, plays a key role in this process.
Research suggests that pregnant women's gut microbes become less diverse and healthier bacteria decrease in abundance over time, promoting energy storage and supporting fetal growth. These changes can have negative consequences outside of pregnancy, leading to conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that domesticated fungi, used to brew sake and soy sauce, have undergone extensive metabolic remodeling. This process led to the suppression of toxins and the evolution into 'cell factories' for enzymes and metabolites.
Researchers have identified over 10,000 microbial species living in humans and found that between 81-99% of genera were present in healthy adults. The study's findings highlight the role of beneficial microorganisms in maintaining health and provide insights into their functions.
Researchers have mapped the normal microbial makeup of healthy humans, revealing that nearly everyone carries pathogens but they cause no disease in healthy individuals. The human microbiome plays a vital role in human health and contributes to human metabolism.
Jeff Chen, a University of California, Davis student, has been awarded the Raymond W. Sarber Award for his outstanding research contributions to microbial sciences. Chen's work explores various aspects of microbiology, including yeast genetics and cellular biology.
A research team analyzed the proteins in a simple marine worm and its resident bacteria to understand their symbiotic relationship. The study found functional differences in the metabolism of two symbionts despite their genetic similarities, indicating that metaproteomics can be used to unravel complex microbial communities.
Researchers uncover ancient deformation ages of the Dead Sea fault zone, linking them to climate change in Northern Hemisphere. In southern Patagonia, warming caused glaciers to retreat early, while microbes played a key role in ooid formation.
Researchers develop a new technique to dynamically regulate metabolic pathways in microbes, boosting the production of biodiesel by threefold. The dynamic sensor-regulator system (DSRS) can detect metabolic changes and control gene expression to optimize productivity.
A research team led by Virginia Tech's Lisa Belden is studying the role of microbial communities on the skin of frogs in defending against a devastating fungal disease. The goal is to develop probiotics that can help amphibians resist the disease and potentially even release endangered species back into nature.
Researchers at UC San Diego and Scripps Institute of Oceanography used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry to reveal multiplex microbial interactions. The technique allowed them to see competition for resources, secretion of molecules altering neighboring organisms' phenotypes.
A new study in Cell Metabolism reveals the microbiome's significant effects on metabolism in mice, highlighting butyrate as a primary energy source for colon cells. Butyrate levels have been linked to dietary and clinical implications, including colorectal cancer prevention.
Researchers at JBEI have developed a technique called targeted proteomics that enables the rapid identification and quantification of specific proteins in cells or microbes. This technique can help identify bottlenecks in metabolic pathways, leading to improved efficiency and productivity in biofuel and therapeutic drug production.
Researchers at UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a way to produce normal butanol — often proposed as a
A new special issue explores the interconnectedness of life on Earth through biogeochemical cycles. Key findings highlight the crucial role of microbes like chemolithotrophic microbes in transforming raw materials into biomass, supporting complex food webs.
A new study published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences found that dormancy is crucial for maintaining microbial diversity in natural communities. Researchers used a mathematical model and molecular tools to investigate how dormancy affects biodiversity, especially in lakes.
A marine microorganism has been found to have a remarkably reduced set of genes, allowing it to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form available to other organisms. This process fertilizes the oceans, controlling biological productivity and affecting carbon dioxide absorption.
A team of UBC researchers has mapped the genome of a microbe that thrives in dead zones, offering new insight into its metabolic capabilities and potential impact on climate change. The discovery provides an experimental framework for studying dead zone ecology and may help monitor and mitigate their expansion.