Featured
-
-
Article
| Open Access
Anaerobic endosymbiont generates energy for ciliate host by denitrification
‘Candidatus Azoamicus ciliaticola’ transfers energy to its ciliate host in the form of ATP and enables this host to breathe nitrate, demonstrating that eukaryotes with remnant mitochondria can secondarily acquire energy-providing endosymbionts.
- Jon S. Graf
- , Sina Schorn
- & Jana Milucka
-
Article |
Origin and elaboration of a major evolutionary transition in individuality
Obligate endosymbiosis between the bacteria Blochmannia and ants of the Camponotini tribe originated through co-option of pre-existing molecular capacities and rewiring of developmental gene regulatory networks.
- Ab. Matteen Rafiqi
- , Arjuna Rajakumar
- & Ehab Abouheif
-
Article |
Gut microorganisms act together to exacerbate inflammation in spinal cords
Germ-free mice co-colonized with two bacterial strains from the small intestinal flora showed increased susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, implicating the synergistic effects of these microorganisms in this mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
- Eiji Miyauchi
- , Seok-Won Kim
- & Hiroshi Ohno
-
Article |
Microbial bile acid metabolites modulate gut RORγ+ regulatory T cell homeostasis
Both dietary and microbial factors influence the composition of the gut bile acid pool, which in turn modulates the frequencies and functionalities of RORγ-expressing colonic FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, contributing to protection from inflammatory colitis.
- Xinyang Song
- , Ximei Sun
- & Dennis L. Kasper
-
Article |
Incompatible and sterile insect techniques combined eliminate mosquitoes
A field trial succeeded in eliminating populations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus through inundative mass release of incompatible Wolbachia-infected males, which were also irradiated to sterilize any accidentally-released females, and so prevent population replacement.
- Xiaoying Zheng
- , Dongjing Zhang
- & Zhiyong Xi
-
Letter |
A widespread coral-infecting apicomplexan with chlorophyll biosynthesis genes
A newly identified lineage of apicomplexans, named corallicolids, are intracellular symbionts of many coral species, and possesses a plastid that retains genes for chlorophyll biosynthesis despite lacking photosystem genes.
- Waldan K. Kwong
- , Javier del Campo
- & Patrick J. Keeling
-
Letter |
Male-killing toxin in a bacterial symbiont of Drosophila
The Spaid protein is identified and shown to be responsible for the male-killing effects of Spiroplasma poulsonii in Drosophila.
- Toshiyuki Harumoto
- & Bruno Lemaitre
-
Article |
A randomized synbiotic trial to prevent sepsis among infants in rural India
A synbiotic preparation of Lactobacillus plantarum and fructooligosaccharide was found to significantly reduce sepsis and infections of the lower respiratory tract in a trial involving rural Indian newborns.
- Pinaki Panigrahi
- , Sailajanandan Parida
- & Ira H. Gewolb
-
Letter |
Development of the gut microbiota and mucosal IgA responses in twins and gnotobiotic mice
The relationship between assembly of the gut community and gut mucosal immunoglobulin A responses during the first 24–36 months of postnatal life in a cohort of 40 twin pairs is defined and modelled in gnotobiotic mice.
- Joseph D. Planer
- , Yangqing Peng
- & Jeffrey I. Gordon
-
Article |
Single cell activity reveals direct electron transfer in methanotrophic consortia
The anaerobic oxidation of methane in marine sediments is performed by consortia of methane-oxidizing archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria; an examination of the role of interspecies spatial positioning on single cell activity reveals that interspecies electron transfer may overcome the requirement for close spatial proximity, a proposition supported by large multi-haem cytochromes in ANME-2 genomes as well as redox-active electron microscopy staining.
- Shawn E. McGlynn
- , Grayson L. Chadwick
- & Victoria J. Orphan
-
Letter |
Interaction and signalling between a cosmopolitan phytoplankton and associated bacteria
Molecular characterization of interactions between a globally distributed marine diatom and its bacterial consortium.
- S. A. Amin
- , L. R. Hmelo
- & E. V. Armbrust
-
Letter |
A discrete genetic locus confers xyloglucan metabolism in select human gut Bacteroidetes
A genetic locus from the gut symbiont Bacteroides ovatus is identified and described that encodes a cohort of enzymes and carbohydrate-binding proteins necessary for the metabolism of xyloglucans—a predominant component of dietary fibre.
- Johan Larsbrink
- , Theresa E. Rogers
- & Harry Brumer
-
Letter |
Histone deacetylase 3 coordinates commensal-bacteria-dependent intestinal homeostasis
This work identifies a role for intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-intrinsic expression of histone deacetylase 3 in regulating commensal-bacteria-dependent gene expression and intestinal homeostasis; IEC-specific HDAC3 deficiency gives rise to Paneth cell abnormalities, impaired intestinal barrier function, and increased DSS-induced intestinal inflammation in commensal-bacteria-containing, but not germ-free, mice.
- Theresa Alenghat
- , Lisa C. Osborne
- & David Artis
-
News & Views |
Algae's complex origins
The nuclear genomes of two of nature's most complex cells have been sequenced. The data will help to determine the evolutionary path from symbioses between species to a multi-compartmental unicellular organism. See Article p.59
- Sven B. Gould
-
News |
Fungus that controls zombie-ants has own fungal stalker
A specialized parasite fungus can control ants' behavior. But that fungus also faces its own deadly, specialized parasites.
- Katherine Harmon
-
Research Highlights |
Symbiosis may fertilize seas
-
Obituary |
Lynn Margulis (1938–2011)
Biologist who revolutionized our view of early cell evolution.
- James A. Lake
-
Research Highlights |
Russian doll-style symbiosis
-
News & Views |
Hydrogen for dinner
The vast array of bacterium–animal symbioses at deep-sea hydrothermal vents was thought to be fuelled by just two chemicals. A study of one such symbiosis in its environmental context reveals a third energy source. See Article p. 176
- Victoria J. Orphan
- & Tori M. Hoehler
-
Article |
Hydrogen is an energy source for hydrothermal vent symbioses
- Jillian M. Petersen
- , Frank U. Zielinski
- & Nicole Dubilier
-
News & Views |
Farming writ small
Social slime moulds graze on bacteria, but save some for transmission in their spores. Strains practising this primitive form of farming coexist with non-farmer strains in an intriguing cost–benefit equilibrium. See Letter p.393
- Jacobus J. Boomsma
-
News |
Slime moulds prosper on the microfarm
Soil-dwelling amoebae harvest and transport their food.
- Geoff Marsh
-
Letter |
Primitive agriculture in a social amoeba
Agriculture has been central to the success of humans and some social insects. This paper shows that social amoebae can do it too. Some isolates of Dictyostelium discoideum refrain from consuming all the available bacteria at a site and instead they incorporate them into their reproductive assemblages to seed a new bacterial crop at another location.
- Debra A. Brock
- , Tracy E. Douglas
- & Joan E. Strassmann
-
News |
Bacteria can drive the evolution of new species
Symbiotic organisms influence fruitfly mate choice.
- Joseph Milton
-
News |
A solar salamander
Photosynthetic algae have been found inside the cells of a vertebrate for the first time.
- Anna Petherick
-
News |
Truffle's savoury secret revealed
The Périgord black truffle's flavour depends on its own enzymes rather than on where it grows.
- Amy Maxmen
-
Letter
| Open Access
Périgord black truffle genome uncovers evolutionary origins and mechanisms of symbiosis
The genome of the black truffle - one of the most popular truffles on the market - has been sequenced. This is the first genome of a symbiotic ascomycete to be analysed. Comparison with the genome of another ectomycorrhizal symbiotic fungus indicates that a genetic predisposition to symbiosis evolved differently in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. The study also offers insight into fungal sex and fruiting.
- Francis Martin
- , Annegret Kohler
- & Patrick Wincker
Gut microbial fatty acid isomerization modulates intraepithelial T cells