Pregnancy and birth

Treatment of genital mycoplasma in colonized pregnant women in late pregnancy is associated with a lower rate of premature labour and neonatal complications – M. Vouga – Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Animal models of microbiome research

Early Canine Plaque Biofilms: Characterization of Key Bacterial Interactions Involved in Initial Colonization of Enamel – Lucy J. Holcombe – PLOS ONE

(Rat study) Dietary iron depletion at weaning imprints low microbiome diversity and this is not recovered with oral nano Fe(III) – Dore I. A. Pereira – MicrobiologyOpen

Soil microbiome

* Biology of a widespread uncultivated archaeon that contributes to carbon fixation in the subsurface – Alexander J. Probst – Nature Communications

Metabolomics

Microbiota-dependent metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide is associated with disease severity and survival of patients with chronic heart failure – M. Trøseid – Journal of Internal Medicine

An ontology for microbial phenotypes – Marcus C Chibucos – BMC Microbiology

A chemo-centric view of human health and disease – Miquel Duran-Frigola – Nature Communications

Microbial Ecology

* Evolutionary limits to cooperation in microbial communities – Nuno M. Oliveira – PNAS USA

Microbes in the news

* Microbial Community Data Visualizations survey – Jonathan Eisen – MicroBEnet

* Microbiome: The bacterial tightrope – Katherine Bourzac – Nature

* Seth Bordenstein, Joël Doré, Paul Enck: a three-voice debate about gut microbiota research – Gut Microbiota Watch

Genes & cells: Gut microbes less diverse in humans: Great apes harbor more varied bacterial populations – Tina Hesman Saey – Science News

The nutritionists within: Firebugs depend on gut bacteria for vitamin supply – Phys.org

‘Friendly viruses’ as beneficial to gut health as ‘friendly bacteria’ – Medical News Today

Filth factor of public restrooms doesn’t live up to legends: study – Yahoo News

Fight off the flu with fermented foods – Katie Cavuto – Philly.com

* #BacteriaHysteria: These socks protect feet from bacteria – PhilStar

The Virus Detectives: Sifting Through Genes in Search of Answers on Ebola – Gina Kolata – NY Times

Science, publishing, and career

Harsh reality: Two reports highlight the plight of postdocs on both sides of the pond aiming for academia – Nature

* The automated lab: Start-up firms say robotics and software that autonomously record every detail of an experiment can transform the efficiency and reliability of research – Erika Check Hayden – Nature

* Essay Mills, not really plagiarism, but still disturbing:
Inside the Term Paper Plagiarism for Profit Industry – Joanna Evoniuk – GoLocalPDX

Bik’s Picks

Identification of the remains of King Richard III – Turi E. King – Nature Communications

People search for meaning when they approach a new decade in chronological age – Adam L. Alter – PNAS USA

Koalas Really Do Know Their Eucalyptus Leaves – Chris Pash – BusinessInsider

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