Interspecies bacterial competition may occur via cell‐associated or secreted determinants and is key to successful niche colonization. We previously evolved Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and identified mutations in the Wsp surface‐sensing signalling system. Surprisingly, a ΔwspF mutant, characterized by increased c‐di‐GMP levels and biofilm formation capacity, showed

The type VI nanomachine is critical for Vibrio cholerae to establish infections and to thrive in niches co‐occupied by competing bacteria. The genes for the type VI structural proteins are encoded in one large and two small auxiliary gene clusters. VCA0117 (VasH) – a σ54‐transcriptional activator – is strictly required for functionality of the type VI secretion system since it controls production of

Despite the widespread distribution of proteorhodopsin (PR)‐containing bacteria in the oceans, the use of light‐derived energy to promote bacterial growth has only been shown in a few bacterial isolates, and there is a paucity of data describing the metabolic effects of light on environmental photoheterotrophic taxa. Here, we assessed the effects of light on the taxonomic composition, cell integrity

Bacteria developed many different ways to orient themselves in the environment. Magnetoreception with following motility along Earth's magnetic field lines and photoreception with subsequent positive or negative phototaxis allow bacteria to optimally position themselves for survival and growth. Some bacteria show both magnetotactic and photoresponsive behaviour and additionally live in a multicellular

The dependency of microbial activity on nutrient availability in soil is only partly understood, but highly relevant for nutrient cycling dynamics. In order to achieve more insight on microbial adaptations to nutrient limiting conditions, precise physiological knowledge is needed. Therefore, we developed an experimental system assessing traits of 16 saprobic fungal isolates in nitrogen (N) limited

Vibrio is ubiquitously distributed in marine environments and is the most extensively characterized group within Gammaproteobacteria . Studies have investigated Vibrio spp. worldwide, but mostly focused on pathogenic vibrios and based on cultivation methods. Here, using a combination of molecular and culturing methods, we investigated the dynamics of the total and active Vibrio spp. throughout the

We reported 20 cases of discharged COVID‐19 patients whose RT‐PCR test results showed “re‐positive”. After finding “re‐positive ”, these patients were admitted to hospital for the second time and were followed up until the end of May 2020. Methods: Record detailed treatment and follow‐up process, and collect relevant data. The possible causes and potential clinical significance of this phenomenon are

The Honghe Hani rice terraces system (HHRTS) is a traditional rice cultivation system where Hani people cultivate remarkably diverse rice varieties. Recent introductions of modern rice varieties to the HHRTS have significantly increased the severity of rice diseases within the terraces. Here, we determine the impacts of these recent introductions on the composition of the rice‐associated microbial

This report presents the characterization of the first virulent phages infecting Brevibacterium aurantiacum , a bacterial species used during the manufacture of surface‐ripened cheeses. These phages were also responsible for flavour and colour defects in surface‐ripened cheeses. Sixteen phages (out of 62 isolates) were selected for genome sequencing and comparative analyses. These cos‐type phages with

Environmental stressors, especially low temperature, are very common on the earth’s dryland systems. Terrestrial cyanobacteria have evolved with cold adaptability in addition to extreme dryness and high irradiation resistance. The dryland soil surface‐dwelling species, Nostoc flagelliforme , serves as a potential model organism to gain insights into cyanobacterial cold adaptation. In this study, we

Our current knowledge of the virosphere in deep‐sea sediments remains rudimentary. Here we investigated viral diversity at both gene and genomic levels in deep‐sea sediments of Southwest Indian Ocean. Analysis of 19,676,106 non‐redundant genes from the metagenomic DNA sequences revealed a large number of unclassified viral groups in these samples. A total of 1,106 high‐confidence viral contigs were

Productivity‐poor oligotrophic environments are plentiful on earth. Yet it is not well understood how organisms maintain population sizes under these extreme conditions. Most scenarios consider the adaptation of a single microorganism (isogenic) at the cellular level, which increases their fitness in such an environment. However, in oligotrophic environments, the adaptation of microorganisms at population

The ability of wild blueberries to adapt to their harsh environment is believed to be closely related to their symbiosis with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi which produce enzymes capable of organic matter mineralization. Although some of these fungi have been identified and characterized, we still know little about the microbial ecology of wild blueberry. Our study aims to characterize the fungal and bacterial

Thraustochytrium is a unicellular marine protist for the commercial production of very long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs). Biosynthesis of these VLCPUFAs in the protist is catalyzed by a PUFA synthase comprising three subunits, each with multiple catalytic domains. Among these domains, two tandem FabA‐like dehydratase domains (DH1 and DH2) in subunit‐C together are responsible for introducing

The stress protectant trehalose is synthesized in Acinetobacter baumannii from UPD‐glucose and glucose‐6‐phosphase via the OtsA/OtsB pathway. Previous studies proved that deletion of otsB led to a decreased virulence, the inability to grow at 45 °C and a slight reduction of growth at high salinities indicating that trehalose is the cause of these phenotypes. We have questioned this conclusion by producing

Alteration of the gut microbiota plays an important role in animal health and metabolic diseases. However, little is known with respect to the influence of environmental osmolality on the gut microbial community. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the reduction in salinity affects the gut microbiota and identify its potential role in salinity acclimation.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas; methane production and consumption within seafloor sediments has generated intense interest. Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and methanogenesis (MOG) primarily occur at the depth of the sulfate–methane transition zone or underlying sediment respectively. Methanogenesis can also occur in the sulfate‐reducing sediments through the utilization of non‐competitive

The development of sustainable agriculture and the increasing antibiotic resistance of human pathogens call for novel antimicrobial compounds. Here, we describe the extraction and characterization of a class of cationic circular lipopeptides, for which we propose the name relacidines, from the soil bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus MG64. Relacidines are composed of a fatty acid side chain (4‐methylhexanoic

In our previous study, we found that pumilacidin‐like cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) derived from marine bacterium Bacillus sp. strain 176 significantly suppressed the mobile capability and virulence of Vibrio alginolyticus. Here, to further disclose the mechanism of CLPs inhibiting the motility of V. alginolyticus , we firstly applied transcriptomic analysis to V. alginolyticus treated with or without

Ectomycorrhizae (ECMs) are a highly context‐dependent interactions that are not always beneficial for the plant host, sometimes leading to a decrease in plant growth. However, the molecular status of these plants remains unknown.

The importance of functional diversity for the functioning and behavior of microbial communities is clear, yet the widespread incorporation of functional diversity measurements into environmental microbiology study designs remains surprisingly limited. This may, at least to some extent, be a consequence of the unique conceptual and methodological challenges to measuring functional diversity in microbial

A perennially frozen lake at Boulder Clay site (Victoria Land, Antarctica), characterized by the presence of frost mounds, have been selected as an in situ model for ecological studies. Different samples of permafrost, glacier ice and brines have been studied as a unique habitat system. An additional sample of brines (collected in another frozen lake close to the previous one) was also considered.

ortho ‐Phthalate derives from industrially produced phthalate esters, which are massively used as plasticizers and constitute major emerging environmental pollutants. The pht pathway for the anaerobic bacterial biodegradation of o ‐phthalate involves its activation to phthaloyl‐CoA followed by decarboxylation to benzoyl‐CoA. Here, we have explored further the pht peripheral pathway in denitrifying

Genetic analysis is crucial to the understanding, exploitation, and control of microorganisms. The advent of CRISPR‐Cas‐based genome‐editing techniques, particularly those mediated by the single‐effector (Cas9 and Cas12a) class 2 CRISPR‐Cas systems, has revolutionized the genetics in model eukaryotic organisms. However, their applications in prokaryotes are rather limited, largely owing to the exceptional

Bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) is the proportion of assimilated carbon that is converted into biomass and reflects the balance between growth and energetic demands. Often measured as an aggregate property of the community, BGE is highly variable within and across ecosystems. To understand this variation, we first identified how species identity and resource type affect BGE using 20 bacterial isolates

Members of the bacterial candidate phylum WPS‐2 (or Eremiobacterota) are abundant in several dry, bare soil environments. In a bare soil deposited by an extinct iron–sulfur spring, we found that WPS‐2 comprised up to 24% of the bacterial community and up to 108 cells per g of soil based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantification. A single genus‐level cluster (Ca. Rubrimentiphilum) predominated

Gene expression is tightly controlled by transcription factors and RNA regulatory elements, including trans ‐acting small RNAs, cis ‐regulatory riboswitches, and ribosome‐dependent ribo‐regulators. In the present study, we demonstrated that a ribosome‐dependent ribo‐regulator and two mistranslation products co‐regulate rppA (encoding a ribosomal protection protein) expression in Bacillus thuringiensis

Hosting different symbiont species can affect inter‐partner nutritional fluxes within the cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis. Using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we measured the spatial incorporation of photosynthetically‐fixed 13C and heterotrophically‐derived 15N into host and symbiont cells of the model symbiotic cnidarian Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida ) when colonised with

In warm regions, agricultural fields are occupied by complex Aspergillus flavus communities composed of isolates in many vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) with varying abilities to produce highly toxic, carcinogenic aflatoxins. Aflatoxin contamination is reduced with biocontrol products that enable atoxigenic isolates from atoxigenic VCGs to dominate the population. Shifts in VCG frequencies similar

In the absence of an efficient drug treatment or a vaccine, the control of the COVID‐19 pandemic relies on classic infection control measures. Since these means are socially disruptive and come with substantial economic loss for societies, a better knowledge of the epidemiology of the new coronavirus epidemic is crucial to achieve control at a sustainable cost and within tolerable restrictions of civil

Royal jelly (RJ), a brood food of honey bees, has strong antimicrobial activity. Melissococcus plutonius , the causative agent of European foulbrood of honey bees, exhibits resistance to this antimicrobial activity and infects larvae orally. Among three genetically distinct groups (CC3, CC12 and CC13) of M . plutonius , CC3 strains exhibit the strongest RJ resistance. In this study, to identify genes

Endophytic fungi compose a significant part of plant microbiomes. However, while a small number of fungal taxa have proven beneficial impact, the vast majority of fungal endophytes remain uncharacterized, and the drivers of fungal endophyte community (FEC) assembly are not well understood. Here, we analysed FECs in three cereal crops‐related wild grasses – Avena sterilis , Hordeum spontaneum and Aegilops

Lake sediments are globally important carbon sinks. Although the fate of organic carbon in lake sediments depends significantly on microorganisms, only few studies have investigated controls on lake sedimentary microbial communities. Here we investigate the impact of anthropogenic eutrophication, which affects redox chemistry and organic matter (OM) sources in sediments, on microbial communities across

Pseudomonas putida is a microorganism of biotechnological interest that—similar to many other environmental bacteria—adheres to surfaces and forms biofilms. Although various mechanisms contributing to the swim‐attach decision have been studied in this species, the role of a 7‐gene operon homologous to the wsp cluster of Pseudomonas aeruginosa —which regulates cyclic di‐GMP (cdGMP) levels upon surface

Mitochondrial quality and quantity are essential for a cell to maintain normal cellular functions. Our previous study revealed that the transcription factor MoMsn2 plays important roles in the development and virulence of Magnaporthe oryzae . However, to date, no study has reported its underlying regulatory mechanism in phytopathogens. Here, we explored the downstream target genes of MoMsn2 using a

Iron is virtually an essential nutrient for all organisms, to understand how iron contributes to virulence of plant pathogenic fungi, we identified ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 in maize pathogen Curvularia lunata (Cochliobolus lunatus ) in this study. Disruption of ClNPS6 significantly impaired siderophore biosynthesis. ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 did mediate oxidative stress but had no significant impact on vegetative

Upon nitrogen starvation, filamentous cyanobacteria develop heterocysts, specialized cells devoted to the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Differentiation of heterocyst at semi‐regular intervals along the filaments requires complex structural and functional changes that are under the control of the master transcriptional regulator HetR. NsiR1 (nitrogen stress‐induced RNA 1) is a HetR‐dependent non‐coding

With the rapid increase of aquaculture contributing to sustainable food security, comes the need to better understand seafood associated diseases. One of the major aquatic bacterial genera responsible for human infections from seafood is Vibrio , especially from oysters. Currently, in vivo study of bacterial interactions within oysters is limited by the inability to promote high‐level uptake of bacteria

Mucormycosis is an emergent, fatal fungal infection of humans and warm‐blooded animals caused by species of the order Mucorales. Immune cells of the innate immune system serve as the first line of defense against inhaled spores. Alveolar macrophages were challenged with the mucoralean fungus Lichtheimia corymbifera and subjected to biotinylation and streptavidin enrichment procedures followed by LC–MS/MS

Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are small genetic modules usually consisting of two elements—a toxin and an antitoxin. The abundance of TA systems among various bacterial strains may indicate an important evolutionary role. Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which can be found in a variety of niches in nature, is an opportunistic pathogen for various hosts. While P . aeruginosa strains are very versatile and diverse

The rhizosphere microbiome is essential for plant growth and health, and numerous studies have attempted to link microbiome functionality to species and trait composition. However, to date little is known about the actual ecological processes shaping community composition, complicating attempts to steer microbiome functionality. Here, we assess the development of microbial life history and community‐level

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule in stress response of organisms. We previously reported that NO decreases heat stress (HS)‐induced ganoderic acid (GA) accumulation in Ganoderma lucidum . To explore the mechanisms by which NO modulates GA biosynthesis under HS, the effect of NO on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was examined. The results showed that NO decreased the production

In recent years, bifidobacterial populations in the gut of various monkey species have been assessed in several ecological surveys, unveiling a diverse, yet unexplored ecosystem harbouring novel species. In the current study, we investigated the species distribution of bifidobacteria present in 23 different species of primates, including human samples, by means of 16S rRNA microbial profiling and internal

The relevance of preserving microorganisms has been well accepted for several decades. Interest is now shifting towards investigating adequate preservation methods to improve microbial survival rates and to preserve new taxa of previously considered unculturable microorganisms. In addition, a growing interest in preserving fragile microbial consortia or communities with biotechnological interest motivates

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causing systemic infection with high mortality. To allow efficient tracking of outbreaks a clear definition of the genomic signature of a cluster of related isolates is required, but lineage‐specific characteristics call for a more detailed understanding of evolution. In our work, we used core genome MLST (cgMLST) to identify new outbreaks combined to

As microbiologists we live in exciting times. A variety of technical and conceptual developments, particularly in the last decade have revolutionized the field of microbiology, redrawing the landscape, and entirely redefining what is possible. Perhaps this paradigm shift is no more apparent than in the study of vibrios. The family Vibrionaceae are almost unique as a group of bacteria to study in microbiology:

The monitoring of fermentation at low temperatures (12‐15°C) is a current practice in the winery for retention and enhancement of the flavour volatile content of wines. Among Saccharomyces species, S. uvarum and S. kudriavzevii have revealed interesting industrial properties, including better adaptation at low temperatures. To gather deeper knowledge of the fermentative metabolism at a low temperature

Vibrio vulnificus is a zoonotic pathogen able to cause diseases in humans and fish that occasionally result in sepsis and death. Most reviews about this pathogen (including those related to its ecology) are clearly biased towards its role as a human pathogen, emphasizing its relationship with oysters as its main reservoir, the role of the known virulence factors as well as the clinic and the epidemiology

The type 2A (PP2A) and type 2A‐like (PP4 and PP6) serine/threonine phosphatases participate in a variety of cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, signal transduction, and apoptosis. Previously, we reported that the PP6 catalytic subunit MoPpe1, which interacts with and is suppressed by type 2A associated protein of 42 kDa (MoTap42), an essential protein involved in the target of rapamycin

Phylogenetic analysis of more than 4000 annotated bacterial acid phosphatases was carried out. Our analysis enabled us to sort these enzymes into the following three types: 1) class B acid phosphatases, which were distantly related to the other types, 2) class C acid phosphatases, and 3) generic acid phosphatases (GAP). While class B phosphatases are found in a limited number of bacterial families

Next‐generation sequencing technologies have generated, and continue to produce, an increasingly large corpus of biological data. The data generated are inherently compositional as they convey only relative information dependent upon the capacity of the instrument, experimental design and technical bias. There is considerable information to be gained through network analysis by studying the interactions

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous aquatic microorganisms that incorporate iron from their environment to synthesize intracellular nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) in a genetically controlled manner. Magnetite and greigite magnetic phases allow MTB to swim towards redox transition zones where they thrive. MTB may represent some of the oldest microorganisms capable of

Lake and adjoining river ecosystems are ecologically and economically valuable and are heavily threatened by anthropogenic activities. Determining the inherent capacity of ecosystems for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biodegradation can help quantify environmental impacts on the functioning of ecosystems, especially on that of the microbial community. Here, PAH biodegradation potential was compared

Wetlands are common sites of active Hg methylation by anaerobic microbes; however, the amount of methylmercury produced varies greatly, as Hg methylation is dependent upon both the availability of Hg and the composition and activity of the microbial community involved. In this study, we identified the major microbial guilds responsible for Hg methylation along a trophic gradient composed of two sites

The bacterium Streptomyces davaonensis synthesizes the antibiotic roseoflavin in the stationary phase of growth. The starting point for roseoflavin biosynthesis is riboflavin (vitamin B2) and four enzymes (RibCF, RosB, RosA and RosC) are necessary to convert a vitamin (riboflavin) into a potent, broad‐spectrum antibiotic (roseoflavin). In S. davaonensis , seven enzymatic functions are required to synthesize

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a common phenomenon in bacteria that modulates expression of genes involved in uptake of alternative carbon sources. In the filamentous streptomycetes, which produce half of all known antibiotics, the precise mechanism of CCR is yet unknown. We report here that the ROK‐family regulator Rok7B7 pleiotropically controls xylose and glucose uptake, CCR, development

Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 was cultured on electrodes in electrochemical flow cells (EFCs), and transcriptome profiles of electrode‐attached cells grown under electrolyte‐flow conditions were compared with those under static (nonflow) conditions. Results revealed that, along with genes related to c ‐type cytochrome maturation (e.g., dsbD ), the SO_3096 gene encoding a putative extracytoplasmic function

Diplonemids are a group of highly diverse and abundant marine microeukaryotes that belong to the phylum Euglenozoa and form a sister clade to the well‐studied, mostly parasitic kinetoplastids. Very little is known about the biology of diplonemids, as few species have been formally described and just one, Diplonema papillatum , has been studied to a decent extent at the molecular level. Following up

The marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens is the fastest‐growing non‐pathogenic bacterium known to date and is gaining more and more attention as an alternative chassis organism to Escherichia coli . A recent wave of synthetic biology efforts has focused on the establishment of molecular biology tools in this fascinating organism, now enabling exciting applications – from speeding up our everyday laboratory

Ras GTPases act as molecular switches to control various cellular processes by coupling integrated signals in eukaryotes. Activities of Ras GTPases are triggered by Ras GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) in general, while the role of RasGEF in plant pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the only RasGEF protein in Fusarium graminearum , FgCdc25, by combining