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Newspaper and journal articles in the broad field of microbiology.

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Streptomyces enrichment in roots during drought is uncoupled from plant benefit and is driven by host suppression of iron uptake and immunity
Highlights Streptomyces are enriched in roots during drought via suppressed immunity and Fe uptake Drought-induced suppression of iron uptake is conserved across ∼160 mya of plant evolution Some Streptomyces improve plant performance under drought and low iron Plant benefits are independent of enrichment and instead driven by intra-genus antagonism Summary Drought reshapes the plant root microbiota, yet the mechanistic drivers and consequences of this observation remain uncle
David Ojcius
1 hour ago1 min read


New Andes virus isolate haplotype obtained during prospective close contacts follow-up of an Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome fatal case, Chile
Highlights ANDV can be isolated in cell culture only in the absence of neutralizing antibodies. The monitoring of close contacts of ANDV cases allows to identify prospective cases. We isolated a new ANDV human strain from an early blood sample of a secondary case. CHI-Hu13724 is a different haplotype from the previous ANDV reference strains. Isolation of currently zoonotic ANDV strains helps the study of viral pathogenicity. Abstract Andes virus (ANDV) is a zoonotic orthohant
David Ojcius
1 day ago1 min read


An anaerobic pathogen rewires host metabolism to fuel oxidative growth in the inflamed gut
Highlights A classically anaerobic pathogen creates and thrives in a localized oxidative niche BFT rewires epithelial metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to fermentation Host metabolic rewiring increases lactate and oxygen in the ETBF niche BFT enables ETBF to adapt to this oxidative niche and promote colonization Summary To colonize their host and cause disease, enteric pathogens must deploy their virulence factors to establish distinct nutrient niches. How anaerobic p
David Ojcius
7 days ago1 min read


Transcriptional and cellular reprogramming in Anabaena sp. PCC7120 biofilms: implications for stress response.
Highlights The transition from a planktonic to a sessile lifestyle in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is driven by a massive transcriptomic reprogramming involving 17.7% of the genome. Sessile growth involves cell envelope remodeling and lower anabolic activity. While nitrogen deficiency and salinity promote biofilm formation, iron deficiency exerts contrasting effects on sessile development. Stress-adaptation pathways are directly linked to biofilm development. Abstract Cyanobacteria
David Ojcius
May 11 min read


Cytoplasmic DNA sensors and their regulators
ABSTRACT Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is naturally contained within the mitochondria and nucleus of cells. DNA localized outside of these areas is generally considered to constitute damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) that trigger innate immune responses. The variety of these immune-stimulatory nucleic acids, coupled with the variety of proteins known to interact with DNA DAMPS and to act as sensors or regulators, is an important layer of regulation that defines the na
David Ojcius
Apr 301 min read


Editorial for special issue “Microorganisms and food security under climate change scenarios: from taxonomy to host–microbe interactions”
Highlights Climate change and environmental stressors are major drivers affecting global food security and agricultural sustainability. Microbial communities play a central role in nutrient cycling, plant health, and ecosystem resilience. Climate variability alters microbial diversity, functions, and plant–microbe interactions. Beneficial microorganisms enhance crop tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Microbiome-based strategies offer sustainable alternatives to chemica
David Ojcius
Apr 301 min read


Childhood immunological imprinting of cross-subtype antibodies targeting the hemagglutinin head domain of influenza viruses
Highlights H1/H3 cross-reactive head antibodies were isolated after seasonal flu vaccination These cross-subtype antibodies target a conserved HA epitope involving residue 145 Antibodies targeting this epitope were enriched in people born in the 1990s H1N1s recently acquired a substitution that abrogated binding of these antibodies Summary Influenza virus cross-subtype antibodies targeting epitopes in the hemagglutinin (HA) head are rare because these epitopes are variable be
David Ojcius
Apr 281 min read


Evolutionary Conservation, Expansion and Diversification of Interferon stimulated genes (ISG) in Vertebrates: insights from fish
Highlight This review examines the evolutionary origin, regulation, and functional diversification of IFN stimulated genes in vertebrates. Evolutionary pathways of IGS, with gene gain and loss, and their connection with redundancy and robustness are discussed. Abstract Interferons (IFNs) are central regulators of innate antiviral immunity, acting through conserved signalling pathways to induce a diverse repertoire of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). IFNs have been identifi
David Ojcius
Apr 271 min read


Vaginal microbiota transfer ameliorates cesarean-associated neurodevelopmental deficits in mice via N-bc2S1P synthesis on neonatal skin
Highlights VMT restores skin N-bc2S1P linked to early neurodevelopment in cesarean-born neonates N-bc2S1P engages β-arrestin1-biased S1PR2 signaling in forebrain excitatory neurons β-arrestin1-biased S1PR2 signaling recruits AP-1/CBP to increase Notch H3K27ac Engineered S. epidermidis sustains N-bc2S1P and extends rescue of CS-associated deficits Summary Cesarean section (CS) bypasses neonatal exposure to maternal vaginal microbiota, leaving the metabolic contribution of skin
David Ojcius
Apr 261 min read


Probiotic-driven microbiome remodeling is associated with coordinated immune and metabolic responses, improving growth and disease resistance in farmed tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)
Highlights A probiotic-integrated semi-closed RAS protocol significantly improved growth (+0.08%/day) and survival (+6.9%) in Cynoglossus semilaevis. Probiotic treatment reshaped the gut microbiota from Vibrio dominance to a Photobacterium-enriched community and altered quorum sensing pathways. Metagenomics revealed enhanced CAZyme activity and nutrient metabolism potential in the probiotic group. Multi-tissue transcriptomics demonstrated coordinated immune activation (NF-κB,
David Ojcius
Apr 262 min read


Targeting the US21 viroporin of human cytomegalovirus by calcium channel blockers as a new antiviral strategy
Highlights CCBs bind the inner pore of the HCMV US21 viroporin and abolish pUS21-mediated ER Ca2+ leakage. CCBs inhibit HCMV replication. CCBs prevent the cytobiological consequences of pUS21 expression. CCBs treatment restores ER Ca2+ levels to those of control cells. CCBs do not affect basal intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Abstract The Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) US21 protein is a calcium-conducting viroporin that modulates intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, safeguards cells
David Ojcius
Apr 262 min read


Predicting competition and substrate preferences for targeted microbiome alteration
Highlights Translation measurements reveal how microbes allocate resources in communities Functional profiles predict microbial competition and niche allocation Predictions enable rational design of prebiotic and probiotic interventions Interventions enable targeted modulation of complex microbiomes in vitro and in vivo Summary Microbiome science has greatly expanded our understanding of microbial life and its roles in the environment and human health. Yet microbiome scien
David Ojcius
Apr 191 min read


2'3'-cGAMP-induced membrane shearing promotes broad antiphage immunity
Highlights Bacterial CD-NTase synthesizes 2'3'-cGAMP with mammalian cGAS-like enzymatic properties 2'3'-cGAMP drives stepwise monomer-to-filament assembly of 3TM-SAVED family effectors Filament assembly reconfigures TM helices and amphipathic hairpins to shear membranes Vertical membrane shearing defines a distinct mode of membrane disruption Summary Cyclic-oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signaling system (CBASS), a central prokaryotic antiviral strategy and evolutionary anc
David Ojcius
Apr 191 min read


Genomic and structural analysis of major antigenic proteins' variability in the human relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia persica
Highlights Borrelia spirochetes have a unique mechanism to evade host immune system. Borrelia persica has one chromosome, 12 linear and one circular plasmids. Telomeric hairpin motifs were detected in the chromosome and linear plasmids. Plasmid profiles remained stable after one year of continuous in vitro culture. A Vlp common variable region kept the same external position across structures. Abstract Antigenic variation enables immune evasion of pathogens, yet the mechanism
David Ojcius
Apr 191 min read


The genome-scale sugar metabolic model from Neurospora crassa reveals lower gene redundancy than that of Aspergillus niger
Highlights Neurospora crassa has lower sugar metabolic gene redundancy than Aspergillus niger The mating type of N. crassa affects growth of sugar metabolic deletion strains We present a strongly improved sugar metabolic model for N. crassa Abstract The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa has been a model organism for understanding many fundamental aspects of eukaryotic biology. Here, we constructed a genome-scale model of its sugar metabolism based on the sugar metab
David Ojcius
Apr 162 min read


The iron-responsive transcription factor HapX drives iron starvation adaptation and virulence in Talaromyces marneffei
Highlights HapX is essential for iron-limited growth in Talaromyces marneffei . Deletion of hapX impairs siderophore biosynthesis and disrupts iron-responsive gene regulation. Loss of HapX reduces conidiation, conidial germination, and stress tolerance (cell wall, membrane, and nitrosative stress). The Δ hapX mutant shows increased susceptibility to amphotericin B. HapX is required for intracellular survival and full virulence in infection models. . Abstract Talaromycosis i
David Ojcius
Apr 162 min read


Not just passengers: Phages as agents of genetic exchange in fecal microbiota transplantation
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective therapy for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and is increasingly being explored for other microbiota-associated diseases. However, general research has largely focused on bacterial engraftment, overlooking the contribution of the gut virome. In this perspective, we highlight phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as a potentially influential process occurring following FMT. Donor-derived phages may po
David Ojcius
Apr 161 min read


Lineage - specific endosymbiosis in Mucorales: restriction of Mycetohabitans to the genus Rhizopus
Article highlights Screening of 578 Mucorales isolates from clinical and fermented food indicated that endosymbiotic bacteria occur exclusively in Rhizopus species. 16S rDNA sequencing and FISH analyses confirmed Mycetohabitans as the predominant bacterial symbiont detected in pathogenic Rhizopus strains. A Rhizopus homothallicus isolate was found to harbor Mycetohabitans sp. showing 98.37% 16S rRNA similarity to M. rhizoxinica , suggesting a potential novel spec
David Ojcius
Apr 152 min read


Diverse and significant microbe-mediated mineral transformation in deep-sea hydrothermal vent indicated by Methylophaga, Sulfitobacter and Roseovarius
Highlights Long-term organic-free enrichment with hydrothermal sulfide/iron-rich sediment successfully constructed diverse sulfur-oxidizing communities. 36 potential sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (including 10 novel species) were isolated from the mineral-enriched community. Sulfitobacter sp. L-8 and Roseovarius sp. B-10 achieved 68%–93% thiosulfate consumption and mediated diverse and significant mineral transformation. This study connects microbial sulfur-oxidizing metabolis
David Ojcius
Apr 91 min read


Diversity-triggered 2-naphthoic acid exudation recruits keystone microbial taxa to promote soybean drought tolerance
Highlights High rhizosphere microbial diversity improves soybean performance under drought Diversity-triggered 2-naphthoic acid accumulates under drought stress Sinorhizobium CS204 senses 2-naphthoic acid via chemoreceptors and ABC transporters S .CS204-metabolite synergy boosts nitrogen cycling and plant drought tolerance Summary Rhizosphere microbiomes are essential for plant growth and stress tolerance, yet how microbial diversity shapes drought resilience in soybean rema
David Ojcius
Apr 41 min read
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