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Engineering plants for a changing climate

The PLOS Biology special issue explores plant engineering to combat climate change, from ancient breeding techniques to genome engineering. The collection highlights strategies for enhancing climate-resilience in crops, including microbiome manipulation and synthetic biology.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 20, 2023

Deciphering the association between uterine microbiota and fertility in dairy cows

Researchers analyzed dairy cows' uterine microbiota and found significant associations with fertility, including a correlation between microbial diversity and AI frequency. The study suggests that farm-to-farm variations in microbiota can impact fertility, paving the way for new diagnostic approaches to low fertility in dairy farms.

SourceOkayama University·JournalMicrobiology Spectrum·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2023

Vaccine against deadly chytrid fungus primes frog microbiome for future exposure

A new study found that a vaccine against the deadly chytrid fungus in frogs can shift the composition of the microbiome, making frogs more resilient to future exposure. The researchers applied a non-lethal dosage of a metabolic product created by the chytrid fungus to tadpoles and observed a protective shift in the microbiome.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2023

Fecal microbiota transplants: Two reviews explore what's worked, what hasn’t, and where do we go from here.

Two review articles explore the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) in treating recurrent infections with C. difficile and chronic noncommunicable diseases like ulcerative colitis and metabolic syndrome. While FMTs have shown promise, researchers agree that more research is needed to understand factors such as patient ...

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 10, 2023

CABBI researchers chart oilcane microbiome

A new study by CABBI researchers has identified the types of microbes associated with engineered oilcane, revealing diverse microbial associations that could increase oil yields for sustainable bioenergy production. The findings suggest that plant-microbial interactions play a key role in determining the composition of the microbiome.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalBiotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 10, 2023

Gut bacteria could be behind weaker immune responses to COVID-19 vaccine

A study published in Communications Biology suggests that gut bacteria's digestion of fucose sugar may be behind weaker immune responses to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Individuals with lower T-cell responses had higher expression of genes FOS and ATF3, which are part of a larger group controlling T-cell survival and activity.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 20, 2023

CABBI/GLBRC team explores leaf microbiome in perennial bioenergy crops

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that microbes living on the leaves of perennial crops like miscanthus and switchgrass play a crucial role in plant resilience. The research identifies specific microbial functions that could be targeted for future management, promoting crop growth and reducing environmental impact.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 21, 2023

Who is more prone to recurrent UTIs? Bladder bacteria may be key

Researchers identified a strong association between beneficial bacteria and estrogen hormone therapy in postmenopausal women. The study found that estrogen may play a role in reducing susceptibility to recurrent UTIs by promoting the growth of good bacteria such as Lactobacilli in the bladder. Conversely, women with recurrent UTIs had ...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 12, 2022

Oncotarget | Treasures from trash in cancer research

A new study explores the value of 'trash data' from cancer genome sequencing, identifying new strategies to uncover previously unexplored information. The researchers found that genomic and transcriptomic data contain relevant information that can help elucidate carcinogenesis and discover putative biomarkers with clinical applications.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 23, 2022

Scientists unravel millet genotype-microbiota interaction insights to enhance crop adaptability and yield

Researchers identified 257 rhizoplane microbial biomarkers associated with six key agronomic traits, revealing a complex association between millet genotype, root microbiome, and crop growth. The study provides insights into precision agriculture based on genotype-dependent microbial effects in foxtail millet.

SourceBGI Genomics·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2022

Paris will host the 9th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Microbiota dedicated to microbiota and microbiotal medicine: Where we are now and what’s next?

The event will cover various topics including microbiota dysbiosis, oral and vaginal microbiota, and their impact on diseases like depression, cancer, and respiratory infections. The meeting aims to accelerate Microbiota medicine applications through strategic discussions.

Gut microbes and humans on a joint evolutionary journey

Researchers found that over 60% of investigated microbial species matched their human host's evolutionary history, indicating a co-evolutionary relationship spanning ~100,000 years. This discovery fundamentally changes how the human gut microbiome is viewed and opens up new possibilities for population-specific therapies.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 16, 2022

International study led by Singapore scientists discovers bacteria previously thought harmless can worsen existing lung disease

A study led by Singapore scientists found that Neisseria, a genus of bacteria once considered harmless, can cause infections in patients with bronchiectasis, asthma, and COPD. The research team identified a specific subgroup of Neisseria called N. subflava as the main culprit behind worsening disease outcomes.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

Keeping Kermit: New clues to protecting frogs from deadly Bd fungus

A new study from the University of South Australia shows that captive frogs can be protected from the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) through natural skin shedding processes. However, captivity also reduces skin bacteria diversity and richness, potentially affecting the frogs' resilience to pathogens.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalTransactions of the Royal Society of South Australia·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2022

New dog food? Study shows Fido's gut bacteria could turn over within a week

A new study from the University of Illinois found that dog gut bacteria can change rapidly after introducing a new diet, with microbial turnover occurring in under a week. The research also confirmed previous findings on the health benefits of high-fiber diets over high-fat and high-protein diets.

Oncotarget | Predicting cancer immunotherapy response from gut microbiomes using machine learning models

A new study uses machine learning models to predict cancer patients' responses to immunotherapy based on their gut microbiome features. The research identifies common gut bacterial taxa associated with responders versus non-responders, providing a potential tool for distinguishing and predicting immunotherapy responders.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 19, 2022

Jumpstarting insulin production with microbial diversity wins NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize

Dr. Jennifer Hampton Hill's work shows that restoring lost bacterial cues in the gut can stimulate development of insulin-producing cells, potentially protecting against autoimmune destruction associated with Type 1 Diabetes. The discovery of a specific protein, beta-cell expansion factor A (BefA), holds promise for human beta-cells.

Cover crops not enough to improve soil after decades of continuous corn

Researchers found that short-term cover crop use cannot reverse decades of soil microbial dynamics in response to unsustainable practices. Long-term fertilization disrupted nitrogen cycling communities, while cover crops enhanced biodiversity but had both positive and negative effects on soil microbes.

Research Brief: Study finds fecal microbiota transplantation to be cost effective treatment for any recurrent Clostridiodes Difficile infection

A new study from University of Minnesota Medical School suggests Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is an optimal and cost-effective treatment option for the first recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. The research model indicates it's effective and cost-effective when used in patients after a single episode of recurrent CDI.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateJun 2, 2022