Still in Albuquerque at UNM where I gave a talk today hosted by Joe Alcock. Another great example of how Twitter (at least some parts of it!) can bring scientists together.

Two studies published in Nature Genetics this month coupling variations in the human gut microbiome with genetic variations in the human genome. Also: predicting facial skin microbiome and how does Wolbachia do it?

Human skin microbiome

Sebum and Hydration Levels in Specific Regions of Human Face Significantly Predict the Nature and Diversity of Facial Skin Microbiome – Souvik Mukherjee – Scientific Reports

Human gut microbiome

Editorial: The gut microbiome—an emerging complex trait – Andrew K Benson – Nature Genetics
Association of host genome with intestinal microbial composition in a large healthy cohort – Williams Turpin – Nature Genetics
The effect of host genetics on the gut microbiome – Marc Jan Bonder – Nature Genetics

Can the composition of the intestinal microbiota predict the development of urinary tract infections? – Casper DJ den Heijer – Future Microbiology

Review: Personalized microbiome-based approaches to metabolic syndrome management and prevention – H Shapiro – J Diabetes (NCBI link)

Animal microbiome

Microbiota associated with Bactrocera carambolae and B. dorsalis (Insecta: Tephritidae) revealed by next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene – Hoi-Sen Yong – Meta Gene

The microbiome of neotropical ticks parasitizing on passerine migratory birds – Khemraj Budachetri – Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

Changes in microbial communities, photosynthesis and calcification of the coral Acropora gemmifera in response to ocean acidification – Guowei Zhou – Scientific Reports

Commentary: Open questions: how does Wolbachia do what it does? – Francis M. Jiggins – BMC Biology

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Inducing the rhizosphere microbiome by biofertilizer application to suppress banana Fusarium wilt disease – Lin Fu – Soil Biology and Biochemistry

A new primer set for DNA metabarcoding of soil Metazoa – E. Capra – European Journal of Soil Biology

Functional foods

The effect of bacteriophages on the acidification of a vegetable juice medium by microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum – Claude P. Champagne – Food Microbiology

More microbiology

Emergence of wheat blast in Bangladesh was caused by a South American lineage of Magnaporthe oryzae – M. Tofazzal Islam – BMC Biology

Microbes in the news

Gaining new insights into the health promoting properties of kefir – Waterford Today

Antibiotics Linked to Sepsis Risk. Disturbing healthy bacteria during hospital admission associated with later sepsis – Michael Smith – MedPage Today