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An amplicon-based sequencing protocol that includes synthetic DNA spike-ins improves the quality and efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 high-throughput sequencing and detects common errors in genomic data.
Microbiological research has made important discoveries about how life responds to non-terrestrial environments, such as those found aboard the International Space Station. As human space exploration transitions to longer, deep-space missions, microorganisms will continue to play an increasingly critical role in astronaut health, habitat sustainability and mission success.
Arbitrium, a peptide signal used by phages to communicate among themselves and control the lysis–lysogeny transition, is shown here to also regulate phage induction (the lysogeny–lysis transition). Arbitrium signalling represses DNA-damage-dependent phage induction, enabling prophages to sense the abundance of lysogens in the population so they can time the lytic transition for when uninfected hosts are available.
Advances in CRISPR–Cas tools coupled with innovative screening and bioinformatic pipelines make it possible to conduct strain-specific and site-specific genome editing within a microbial community without the need for prior culturing or engineering.
Staphylococcus aureus phenol-soluble modulin toxins trigger a fast immune response that involves recruitment of leucocytes to the site of infection via the transcription factor EGR1.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress through 2021, microbiology remains in the public eye. Here, we reflect on the content that we published over the past year, from SARS-CoV-2 to all other areas of the field.
Bacteriophages fight back with the double whammy of an anti-CRISPR protein and integration into the CRISPR array to protect themselves from the CRISPR–Cas9 immune system of Streptococcus pyogenes.
By combining the use of a small anti-CRISPR protein, AcrIIA23, with direct integration into the host cell’s CRISPR locus, the lysogenic phage ΦAP1.1 neutralizes CRISPR-mediated anti-phage immunity in Streptococcus pyogenes.
Systematic analysis of bacterial phyllosphere isolates and their ability to protect Arabidopsis thaliana plants against infection, with the model pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, identified protective isolates such as Rhizobium Leaf202, whose activity involves direct interaction with the pathogen.
Global syphilis prevalence has been increasing. Sequencing and analysis of a global collection of 726 Treponema pallidum samples reveal globally circulating lineages linked to a rapid expansion occurring since the end of the twentieth century.
The de novo genome assembly and analysis of 300 Aspergillus fumigatus genomes from environmental and clinical isolates provides insight into the pan-genome of this important human fungal pathogen. Genome-wide association studies identify genomic variation associated with human infection and triazole resistance, and reveal potential therapeutic antifungal targets.
Wolbachia cifB expression in Anopheles gambiae males is sufficient to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility that is sensitive to the expression level of the factors involved.
The mammalian immune system has evolved to tolerate commensal microbes that inhabit our mucosal surfaces. Two recent studies explore how intestinal immunity achieves this state of tolerance and show that IgA enforces commensalism of pathobiont Candida species.