All articles tagged with #microbial ecology
A study from Arizona State University found that methane-producing microbes in the gut can influence how efficiently people extract calories from food, especially fiber, with those having more methane-producing microbes absorbing more calories from high-fiber diets, highlighting the importance of personalized nutrition.
The study investigates temperate phages in the human gut microbiota, revealing that while most bacteria harbor prophages, only a fraction can be induced to enter lytic cycles, with human cellular products acting as novel triggers. It highlights the diversity, taxonomy, and induction mechanisms of gut phages, emphasizing their complex interactions with host bacteria and potential influence on gut ecology.
Researchers studying Japanese iron-rich hot springs have uncovered microbial communities that resemble those from Earth's early oceans during the Great Oxygenation Event, providing insights into how life persisted in low-oxygen, iron-rich environments and informing the search for extraterrestrial life.
A study led by microbiologist Dagmar Woebken from the University of Vienna has revealed that desert soil bacteria have a unique "all-in" reactivation strategy to survive harsh desert conditions. These bacteria endure long drought periods in a state of dormancy, but are rapidly reactivated in response to rare rainfall events, allowing them to quickly generate energy and repair their genomes. The findings have implications for understanding how soil microorganisms can survive water limitation in various regions, especially as the frequency and intensity of droughts increase due to climate change.
Researchers have discovered a universal network of microbes that respond to cadaver decomposition, despite variations in climate, location, and season. The study used multi-omic data to reveal that a conserved interdomain soil microbial decomposer network assembles in response to mammalian remains, with evidence of increased metabolic efficiencies to process lipid- and protein-rich compounds. Key members of the microbial decomposer network are associated with various mammalian carrion, suggesting that they are not human-specific. The findings have implications for forensic science, agriculture, sustainability, and the human death care industry.
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.