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Bacterial Communities

All articles tagged with #bacterial communities

science2 years ago•14 min saved

"Simplifying Microbial Community Building: The Quest for Simple Rules"

Microbiologists are seeking a universal theory for how bacteria form communities based on their roles rather than species. By using genome sequencing techniques, researchers aim to uncover universal rules governing bacterial communities, focusing on the functions of organisms rather than their taxonomy. Recent research has shown that microbial functions can be predicted without species information, and the molecular makeup of a microbe's genome can predict its food preferences. This new approach could lead to practical predictions about microbial communities, potentially aiding in environmental management and medical treatments.

via Quanta Magazine|

#bacterial-communities #genome-sequencing #microbial-ecology

health2 years ago•3 min saved

The Power of Diverse Gut Microbiomes: Nutrient Blocking for Pathogen Protection

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford has found that diverse communities of gut bacteria protect against harmful pathogens by consuming the nutrients that the pathogens need to grow, effectively blocking their invasion. The study showed that individual gut bacteria strains had limited ability to restrict pathogen growth, but when cultured together in communities, the pathogens grew up to 1000 times less effectively. The protective effect was dependent on the composition of the bacterial communities, with certain species playing a critical role in providing protection. These findings could lead to the development of strategies to optimize gut microbiome communities for combating harmful pathogens and explain why antibiotic treatments that lower microbiome diversity can increase susceptibility to certain species.

via Phys.org|

#bacterial-communities #gut-microbiome #health

health2 years ago•2 min saved

The Impact of Vaginal Sex on Men's Microbiome

A new study shows that the urethra of healthy men is teeming with microbial life and that vaginal sex can shape its composition. The research provides a healthy baseline for clinicians and scientists to contrast between healthy and diseased states of the urethra, an entrance to the urinary and reproductive systems. The study found that most of the healthy men had a simple, sparse community of oxygen-loving bacteria in the urethra, but some of the men also had a more complex secondary group of bacteria that are often found in the vagina and can disturb the healthy bacterial ecosystem of the vagina. The team speculates that these bacteria reside deeper in the penile urethra because they thrive in oxygen-scarce settings. Only men who reported having vaginal sex carry these bacteria, hinting at the microbes’ origins.

via SciTechDaily|

#bacterial-communities #health #microbial-life