Microbial communities articles from across Nature Portfolio

Bacteria in the gut can affect the chemically induced growth of tumours in other parts of the body. Certain gut bacteria convert nitrosamine compounds, which are found in cigarette smoke and processed food, into metabolites that trigger the growth of tumours in the bladders of mice.

Here, by mining 18,521 complete bacterial genomes, the authors construct VFDB 2.0, an expanded database of virulence factor genes, consisting of 62,332 nonredundant orthologues and alleles with annotated host taxa using species-specific average nucleotide identity, and present MetaVF, a toolkit that facilitates precise identification and quantification of virulence factor genes carried by specific pathobionts in human gut metagenomes.

Sexual behavior among men who have receptive anal intercourse with men is linked to changes in the gut microbiome and systemic inflammation leading to HIV-1 infection.

“Subsurface bacteria and archaea in the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, thrive within a wide range of sediments and temperature conditions, according to geobiological, geochemical, and mineralogical studies on microbial populations and sediment samples.”

Science has a history of exploitation and extraction. Microbiologists have the chance to take a different approach.

Bacteria and fungi in fermented favourites such as kimchi are also present in the human microbiome.

Bacteria in the gut can affect the chemically induced growth of tumours in other parts of the body. Certain gut bacteria convert nitrosamine compounds, which are found in cigarette smoke and processed food, into metabolites that trigger the growth of tumours in the bladders of mice.

Advances in understanding the causes of the autoimmune disorder could aid in matching people with the right treatment.

Stress leads to disarray of the gut microbiome, which in turn causes inflammation and a drop in the body’s ability to fend off infection.