Featured
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Membrane deformation and scission by the HSV-1 nuclear egress complex
Two viral proteins form the nuclear egress complex of herpesviruses, which is essential for the exit of nascent viral capsids from the cell nucleus. Here, the authors use synthetic lipid vesicles to show that the complex can mediate membrane budding in the absence of other cellular factors.
- Janna M. Bigalke
- , Thomas Heuser
- & Ekaterina E. Heldwein
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Adaptive synonymous mutations in an experimentally evolved Pseudomonas fluorescens population
Synonymous mutations, nucleotide changes that do not alter the encoded amino acid, are usually seen not to have an effect on organism survival. Here, Bailey et al. show that two synonymous mutations in Pseudomonas fluorescenshad a beneficial effect and acted via increased gene expression.
- Susan F. Bailey
- , Aaron Hinz
- & Rees Kassen
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| Open AccessEvidence of natural Wolbachia infections in field populations of Anopheles gambiae
Wolbachia bacteria live within the cells of many insect species, manipulating their hosts’ reproduction and immune responses. Here, the authors show that these microbes also infect wild populations of malaria-spreading Anopheles mosquitoes, supporting a potential use of Wolbachiato limit malaria transmission.
- Francesco Baldini
- , Nicola Segata
- & Flaminia Catteruccia
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Genomic mapping of phosphorothioates reveals partial modification of short consensus sequences
Phosphorothioate (PT) DNA modifications are widespread in bacteria and play a critical role in cell physiology. Here, the authors develop two sequence-based technologies to map PT modifications across bacterial genomes.
- Bo Cao
- , Chao Chen
- & Peter C. Dedon
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Structural analysis of atovaquone-inhibited cytochrome bc1 complex reveals the molecular basis of antimalarial drug action
Atovaquone is an antimalarial drug that inhibits a crucial enzyme, cytochrome bc1complex, within the parasite’s mitochondria. Here the authors report the crystal structure of the enzyme with bound atovaquone, opening the way for rational development of improved antimalarial drugs.
- Dominic Birth
- , Wei-Chun Kao
- & Carola Hunte
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Centrin3 in trypanosomes maintains the stability of a flagellar inner-arm dynein for cell motility
Beating flagella are essential for the locomotion of Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of human sleeping sickness. Here, Wei et al. identify a role for one of five centrin proteins, TbCentrin3, in stabilizing the assembly of a dynein motor essential for flagellar motility.
- Ying Wei
- , Huiqing Hu
- & Ziyin Li
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| Open AccessIntegrating artificial with natural cells to translate chemical messages that direct E. coli behaviour
The control of cellular behaviour largely relies on genetic engineering, but artificial cells could be designed to control cell processes through chemical communication. Here, the authors develop an artificial cell that is able to translate a chemical message into a signal that can be sensed by E. coliand activate a cellular response.
- Roberta Lentini
- , Silvia Perez Santero
- & Sheref S. Mansy
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Persistent super-diffusive motion of Escherichia coli chromosomal loci
In bacteria, chromosomal architecture exhibits spatial and temporal fluctuations, which affect cellular functions. Here, Javer et al. use high-resolution tracking of chromosomal loci in E. colito uncover rare events of unusually large and fast movements, providing new insight into bacterial chromosome dynamics.
- Avelino Javer
- , Nathan J. Kuwada
- & Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino
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| Open AccessA global non-coding RNA system modulates fission yeast protein levels in response to stress
Non-coding RNAs are widely expressed, yet their functions remain poorly understood. Here, Leong et al. identify a set of antisense RNAs elevated during the yeast stress response that directly correlate with reduced protein levels, indicating a general regulatory effect of antisense expression.
- Hui Sun Leong
- , Keren Dawson
- & Crispin J. Miller
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| Open AccessMobile elements drive recombination hotspots in the core genome of Staphylococcus aureus
Horizontal gene transfer occurs in most bacteria, yet it is unclear whether it happens in clonal species. Here, Everitt et al. show widespread within-species recombination, driven by mobile elements, in the genome of the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, but no recombination between closely related strains.
- Richard G. Everitt
- , Xavier Didelot
- & Daniel J. Wilson
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High specificity in plant leaf metabolic responses to arbuscular mycorrhiza
Plant species share a core metabolome, however the extent to which metabolic responses to environmental cues are also conserved remains unclear. Schweiger et al.describe shifts in the leaf metabolomes of five plant species during mycorrhizal fungal infection, and uncover high species-specificity.
- Rabea Schweiger
- , Markus C. Baier
- & Caroline Müller
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| Open AccessPhysiological and genomic features of highly alkaliphilic hydrogen-utilizing Betaproteobacteria from a continental serpentinizing site
Microbes can dwell in highly alkaline environments in the absence of obvious food sources. Here, the authors describe physiological and genomic features of a group of bacteria that live on hydrogen, calcium carbonate and oxygen at a very high pH.
- Shino Suzuki
- , J. Gijs Kuenen
- & Kenneth H. Nealson
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Evidence of global-scale aeolian dispersal and endemism in isolated geothermal microbial communities of Antarctica
Geographical isolation is often considered an effective barrier to microbial transport. Here, the authors provide evidence of active recruitment of long-distance dispersed cosmopolitan microorganisms in fumarolic environments in Mount Erebus, Antarctica.
- Craig W. Herbold
- , Charles K. Lee
- & S. Craig Cary
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A toggle switch controls the low pH-triggered rearrangement and maturation of the dengue virus envelope proteins
Formation of infectious dengue virus in host cells requires a rearrangement of viral envelope proteins that is triggered by the acidic environment within secretory vesicles. Here, the authors describe the molecular mechanism underlying such rearrangement.
- Aihua Zheng
- , Fei Yuan
- & Margaret Kielian
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The curved shape of Caulobacter crescentus enhances surface colonization in flow
The potential advantages of specific cell shapes among microbes are unclear. Here, the authors show that the curved shape of the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, which lives in lakes and streams, helps cells to colonize surfaces in the presence of fluid flow.
- Alexandre Persat
- , Howard A. Stone
- & Zemer Gitai
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Structural basis of PcsB-mediated cell separation in Streptococcus pneumoniae
The peptidoglycan hydrolase PcsB is required for cell wall splitting during cell division in Streptococci. Bartual et al.show that PcsB adopts an autoinhibited dimeric structure, and demonstrate the muralytic activity of the uninhibited catalytic domain.
- Sergio G. Bartual
- , Daniel Straume
- & Juan A. Hermoso
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Bacterial twitching motility is coordinated by a two-dimensional tug-of-war with directional memory
Bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeaeuse filamentous appendages known as pili to move on surfaces. Here, using a combined theoretical and experimental approach, the authors show that pili are coordinated through a tug-of-war mechanism that provides directional persistence.
- Rahul Marathe
- , Claudia Meel
- & Stefan Klumpp
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protects from lethal avian influenza A H5N1 infections
H5N1 avian influenza viruses can be highly pathogenic. Here, the authors show that H5N1 infection leads to increased serum levels of angiotensin II in patients and mice, and that administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ameliorates lung injury in infected mice.
- Zhen Zou
- , Yiwu Yan
- & Chengyu Jiang
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| Open AccessThe malaria parasite egress protease SUB1 is a calcium-dependent redox switch subtilisin
In the malarial parasitophorous vacuole, the serine protease SUB1 processes parasite proteins that are required for release from host cells and invasion. Here, the authors report the first crystallographic structure of SUB1 in complex with its cognate prodomain revealing its substrate interactions and providing insight into its regulation.
- Chrislaine Withers-Martinez
- , Malcolm Strath
- & Michael J. Blackman
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| Open AccessMutation rate plasticity in rifampicin resistance depends on Escherichia coli cell–cell interactions
The factors varying mutation rate at a particular site in a single genotype remain elusive. Here, Krašovec et al. show that mutation rates at sites conferring resistance to rifampicin in Escherichia coli decrease with population density, and that mutation-rate plasticity is controlled by the luxSgene.
- Rok Krašovec
- , Roman V. Belavkin
- & Christopher G. Knight
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Crystal structure of listeriolysin O reveals molecular details of oligomerization and pore formation
The cytolysin, listeriolysin O (LLO), is expressed by Listeria and forms pores in the phagosomal membrane in response to decreased pH. Here, Yildiz et al. solve the crystal structure of LLO, identify residues that serve as the pH sensor, and determine the mechanism of pore formation in host membranes.
- Stefan Köster
- , Katharina van Pee
- & Özkan Yildiz
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| Open AccessAdjustment of microbial nitrogen use efficiency to carbon:nitrogen imbalances regulates soil nitrogen cycling
Nitrogen availability in soils is predominantly controlled by microorganisms, yet our understanding of their organic nitrogen use is limited. Mooshammer et al.show that microbial nitrogen use efficiency is dependent on resource stoichiometry and substrate type.
- Maria Mooshammer
- , Wolfgang Wanek
- & Andreas Richter
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MicroRNA-302b augments host defense to bacteria by regulating inflammatory responses via feedback to TLR/IRAK4 circuits
Bacterial infection stimulates a powerful inflammatory response that must be regulated to prevent tissue damage. Zhou et al.identify microRNA-302b as a feedback suppressor of inflammatory signalling that alleviates lung injury following Pseudomonas infection by targeting the NF-κB activator IRAK4.
- Xikun Zhou
- , Xuefeng Li
- & Min Wu
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An RNA-seq method for defining endoribonuclease cleavage specificity identifies dual rRNA substrates for toxin MazF-mt3
MazF toxins inhibit bacterial growth by cleaving single-stranded RNA at specific sequences. Here, the authors describe a new genome-wide approach, MORE RNA-seq, for defining MazF cleavage specificity, and show that MazF-mt3 cleaves 23S and 16S ribosomal RNAs.
- Jason M. Schifano
- , Irina O. Vvedenskaya
- & Nancy A Woychik
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| Open AccessCell wall precursors are required to organize the chlamydial division septum
Cell division in Chlamydiales remains mysterious as it occurs in the absence of a cytokinetic tubulin and a classical peptidoglycan cell wall. Jacquier et al. show that the actin homologue MreB is recruited to the division site in Waddliaand that this depends on synthesis of the peptidoglycan precursor lipid II.
- Nicolas Jacquier
- , Antonio Frandi
- & Gilbert Greub
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Lactate racemase is a nickel-dependent enzyme activated by a widespread maturation system
Lactate racemase is an enzyme that interconverts the L and D isomers of the common metabolite lactate. Here, the authors show that lactate racemase represents a new type of nickel-dependent enzyme, which is activated by accessory proteins that are widespread among prokaryotic microbes.
- Benoît Desguin
- , Philippe Goffin
- & Pascal Hols
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Direct visualization of HIV-enhancing endogenous amyloid fibrils in human semen
Semen-derived peptides can form amyloid fibrils that boost HIV infection in vitro, but the existence of such fibrils in semen remained to be demonstrated. Here, the authors show that human semen contains amyloid fibrils, which can bind HIV particles and increase their infectiveness.
- Shariq M. Usmani
- , Onofrio Zirafi
- & Jan Münch
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| Open AccessThe Vibrio cholerae type VI secretion system employs diverse effector modules for intraspecific competition
Some strains of the pathogen Vibrio choleraecan kill each other by injecting effector proteins that are toxic in the absence of cognate ‘immunity’ proteins. Here, the authors show that strains with high pathogenic potential possess matching effector-immunity sets and can coexist.
- Daniel Unterweger
- , Sarah T. Miyata
- & Stefan Pukatzki
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Molecular basis for erythromycin-dependent ribosome stalling during translation of the ErmBL leader peptide
In bacteria, the ribosomal stalling during translation of leader peptides is a mechanism of antibiotic resistance that has not been well understood. Here, the structure of a drug-dependent stalled ribosome complex has allowed the authors to propose a detailed mechanism for this translational arrest.
- Stefan Arenz
- , Haripriya Ramu
- & Daniel N. Wilson
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| Open AccessThe actin homologue MreB organizes the bacterial cell membrane
The formation of lipid domains in eukaryotic cells is controlled by the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Here, the authors show that the bacterial actin homologue MreB has a comparable activity, influencing the formation of regions of increased fluidity that determine the distribution of membrane proteins.
- Henrik Strahl
- , Frank Bürmann
- & Leendert W. Hamoen
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| Open AccessCBR antimicrobials alter coupling between the bridge helix and the β subunit in RNA polymerase
Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is crucial for cellular gene expression and a validated target for antimicrobial drugs. Here, Malinen et al. explore the effects of the CBR class of RNAP inhibitors on the E. coliRNAP transcription cycle and provide detailed mechanistic insight into their antibacterial action.
- Anssi M. Malinen
- , Monali NandyMazumdar
- & Georgiy A Belogurov
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| Open AccessDelayed bactericidal response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to bedaquiline involves remodelling of bacterial metabolism
The delayed onset of bactericidal activity of the anti-tuberculosis antibiotic bedaquiline is puzzling. Here, Koul and colleagues show, using a multi-omics approach, that the drug triggers a metabolic remodelling in Mycobacterium tuberculosisthat enables the pathogen’s transient survival.
- Anil Koul
- , Luc Vranckx
- & Dirk Bald
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Electron uptake by iron-oxidizing phototrophic bacteria
Little is known about extracellular electron uptake by microbes. Here Bose et al. show that the anoxygenic photoautotroph Rhodopseudomonas palustrisTIE-1 accepts electrons from a poised electrode, which can be uncoupled from photosynthesis, and the pioABC system has a role in this uptake.
- A. Bose
- , E.J. Gardel
- & P.R. Girguis
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Inhibition of miR-146a prevents enterovirus-induced death by restoring the production of type I interferon
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the causative agents of hand-food-mouth disease and to date, effective vaccines or antivirals against the disease have not been developed. Here, the authors show that blocking miR-146a upregulation induced upon EV71 infection can have a positive effect on the resolution of infection.
- Bing-Ching Ho
- , I-Shing Yu
- & Sung-Liang Yu
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African origin of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of human malaria in Asia and Latin America, is thought to have an Asian origin. Here, the authors show that wild chimpanzees and gorillas in Africa are infected with parasites that are closely related to P. vivax, indicating an African origin for this species.
- Weimin Liu
- , Yingying Li
- & Paul M. Sharp
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| Open AccessPopulation genomics supports baculoviruses as vectors of horizontal transfer of insect transposons
Horizontal transfer of DNA is common among eukaryotes but the vectors involved remain elusive. Here, Gilbert et al. show high frequency of in vivotransposition from the cabbage looper moth into genomes of a baculovirus, suggesting that viruses can act as vectors of horizontal transfer between animals.
- Clément Gilbert
- , Aurélien Chateigner
- & Richard Cordaux
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An asymmetric heterodomain interface stabilizes a response regulator–DNA complex
Bacterial two-component systems relay extracellular signals to transcriptional networks via response regulators. Narayanan et al.present structures of the response regulator KdpE bound to DNA, and show that asymmetric interactions between the receiver and DNA-binding domains are required to sustain gene expression.
- Anoop Narayanan
- , Shivesh Kumar
- & Dinesh A. Yernool
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Fragile X mental retardation protein stimulates ribonucleoprotein assembly of influenza A virus
To successfully replicate and propagate, viruses hijack different components of the host cell machinery. Here, Zhou et al.identify the RNA-binding protein Fragile X mental retardation protein as a host factor involved in influenza A virus replication in host cells.
- Zhuo Zhou
- , Mengmeng Cao
- & Tao Deng
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Integrated circuit-based electrochemical sensor for spatially resolved detection of redox-active metabolites in biofilms
The direct detection of metabolites secreted by cells can indicate how cellular dynamics affects population development. Here, the authors present an integrated circuit-based method for electrochemical imaging of redox-active signalling molecules with spatial resolution within bacterial colonies.
- Daniel L. Bellin
- , Hassan Sakhtah
- & Kenneth L. Shepard
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Microbial iron uptake as a mechanism for dispersing iron from deep-sea hydrothermal vents
Iron emitted from hydrothermal vents is stabilized by organic matter and dispersed into the world ocean, yet the pathways leading to iron–carbon interactions are unknown. Dick et al.propose that a new ‘microbial iron pump’ is responsible for converting hydrothermal iron into bioavailable forms.
- Meng Li
- , Brandy M. Toner
- & Gregory J. Dick
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Photoautotrophic hydrogen production by eukaryotic microalgae under aerobic conditions
Eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria can produce hydrogen in the presence of little or no oxygen. Here, the authors show that two microalgal strains are capable of producing hydrogen under aerobic conditions, and provide new insights into the natural evolution of oxygen-tolerant hydrogenase.
- Jae-Hoon Hwang
- , Hyun-Chul Kim
- & Byong-Hun Jeon
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Global metabolic network reorganization by adaptive mutations allows fast growth of Escherichia coli on glycerol
Organisms can adapt to environmental change but how this affects metabolism is unclear. Here, the authors provide a detailed analysis of the effects of individual adaptive mutations on the metabolic network in E. coli, and find evidence of metabolic reprogramming during laboratory evolution on glycerol.
- Kian-Kai Cheng
- , Baek-Seok Lee
- & Martin Robert
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| Open Access4′-O-substitutions determine selectivity of aminoglycoside antibiotics
Aminoglycoside antibiotics target the ribosome but their limited selectivity for the bacterial ribosome can cause side effects in humans. Here, the authors synthesize 4′-O-ether or 4′,6′-O-acetal modifications and show that these compounds possess increased selectivity against bacterial ribosomes.
- Déborah Perez-Fernandez
- , Dmitri Shcherbakov
- & Erik C. Böttger
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Dynamic reassortments and genetic heterogeneity of the human-infecting influenza A (H7N9) virus
H7N9 influenza A viruses capable of infecting humans have recently emerged in China. Here, the authors show that these viruses remain genetically diverse, suggesting that they are still in the process of adapting to human hosts.
- Lunbiao Cui
- , Di Liu
- & George F. Gao
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Autotransporters but not pAA are critical for rabbit colonization by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4
An outbreak of diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome in Germany in 2011 was caused by a Shiga toxin-producing enteroaggregative E. coli, which carried the aggregative adherence plasmid pAA. Here, the authors show that autotransporters, but not pAA, are required for intestinal colonization in an infant rabbit model.
- Diana Munera
- , Jennifer M. Ritchie
- & Matthew K. Waldor
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Antibiotic-induced shifts in the mouse gut microbiome and metabolome increase susceptibility to Clostridium difficile infection
Antibiotics alter the intestinal microbiota and facilitate colonization of pathogens such as Clostridium difficile. Here, the authors show that antibiotic-induced shifts in the mouse gut microbiome are correlated with changes in levels of certain metabolites that C. difficilecan use for germination and growth.
- Casey M. Theriot
- , Mark J. Koenigsknecht
- & Vincent B. Young
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| Open AccessDrawing a high-resolution functional map of adeno-associated virus capsid by massively parallel sequencing
Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are promising gene transfer vectors for human gene therapy. Here, the authors report a high-throughput, sequencing-based method for characterizing amino acid function in AAV capsids and highlight the potential of this method for improving capsid design.
- Kei Adachi
- , Tatsuji Enoki
- & Hiroyuki Nakai
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Programming a Pavlovian-like conditioning circuit in Escherichia coli
Synthetic gene circuits can be programmed in living cells to perform diverse cellular functions. Here, the authors program a genetic circuit that performs a Pavlovian-like learning and recall function in E. coli, and demonstrate the dynamic nature of this conditioning process at a population level.
- Haoqian Zhang
- , Min Lin
- & Qi Ouyang
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| Open AccessMultiple recent horizontal transfers of a large genomic region in cheese making fungi
Horizontal gene transfers are known to play an important role in prokaryote evolution but their impact and prevalence in eukaryotes is less clear. Here, the authors sequence the genomes of cheese making fungi P. roqueforti and P. camemberti, and provide evidence for recent horizontal transfers of a large genomic region.
- Kevin Cheeseman
- , Jeanne Ropars
- & Yves Brygoo
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