February 2, 2017

Did you ever wonder about vitamin B12 role in microbiome organization and function? using a chemical probe mimic of vitamin B12, the authors reveal a light- and B12-dependent DNA regulator and predict that organismal interdependencies for B12 may be critical to microbiome stability and overall function.  On the extremophiles front, a study provides an analysis of the genomic content of the most abundant bacterial inhabitants of the salt-secreting desert tree Tamarix aphylla.  An interesting paper reinforced linkages between the colonization of the foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7 in cattle and the nature of the microbial community inhabiting the digestive tract of super-shedders. And as for future generations, if you want to get your kids or students excited about microbiology, try an interactive tool created by Stanford bioengineers: the 3D printed microscope powered by your smartphone.

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January 29, 2017

A post on fecal transplats, the gut microbiome of cranes, fungal diversity of soils, and much more.

Events and Jobs

Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine at George Washington University

General microbiome

The Stromal Intervention: Regulation of Immunity and Inflammation at the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Barrier – Roni Nowarski – Cell

Effect of adsorbants on in vitro biohydrogenation of 22:6n-3 by mixed cultures of rumen microorganisms – Marlene Escobar – Animal

Pregnancy and early life

Airway Microbial Community Turnover Differs by BPD Severity in Ventilated Preterm Infants – Brandie D. Wagner – PLoS One

Mode of Delivery and Its Influence on the Acquisition of Streptococcus mutans in Infants – Ritu G. Ubeja – International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Human gut microbiome

Blood Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Originates from Microbiota Mediated Breakdown of Phosphatidylcholine and Absorption from Small Intestine – Wolfgang Stremmel – PLoS One

Challenges in Fecal Donor Selection and Screening for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: A Review – Michael H. Woodworth – Gut Microbes

Animal experiments

Peptostreptococcus anaerobius Induces Intracellular Cholesterol Biosynthesis in Colon Cells to Induce Proliferation and Causes Dysplasia in Mice – Ho Tsoi – Journal of AGA Institute: Gastroenterology Special Issure

Animal microbiome

The gut microbiome of hooded cranes (Grus monacha) wintering at Shengjin Lake, China – Guanghong Zhao – Wiley

Linking Peripartal Dynamics of Ruminal Microbiota to Dietary Changes and Production Parameters – Hooman Derakhashani – Frontiers in Microbiology

Effect of antibiotic on survival and development of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its gut microbial diversity – Abhinay Thakur – Bullitin of Entomological Research

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Fungal diversity in soils across a gradient of preserved Brazilian Cerrado – Ademir Sergio Ferreira de Araujo – Journal of Microbiology

Synthetic photosynthetic consortia define interactions leading to robustness and photoproduction – Stephanie G. Hays – Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Translocation of Bacillus thuringiensis in Phaseolus vulgaris tissues and vertical transmission in Arabidopsis thaliana – Rosalina García-Suárez – Journal of Applied Microbiology

Transport Capabilities of Environmental Pseudomonads for Sulfur Compounds – Sarah Zerbs – Protein Science

Water and extremophile microbiome

Molecular-biological sensing in aquatic environments: recent developments and emerging capabilities – Jonathan S McQuillan – Current Opinion in Biotechnology

Probiotics / prebiotics

Nutritional stimulation of commensal oral bacteria suppresses pathogens: the prebiotic concept – Vera Slomka – Wiley

Microbes in the news

Rebalancing gut microbiome lengthens survival in mouse model of ALS

What We’ve Learned From Studying Microbiomes

Microbiota Transfer Therapy Could Help Children With Autism

Bacteria’s sneaky way to spread by getting you to eat more

Studies show prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria in China

Researchers discover molecule that could fight ‘superbug’ bacteria

Microbes on the market

New Market Analysis: The global clinical microbiology market is projected to reach USD 5.77 Billion by 2021

Bacteria Hysteria

SHOCKING: You won’t BELIEVE how many GERMS are on your hands

Storify of the Human Microbiome Congress

(Crossposting from the NPJ Biofilms and Microbiome Community website)

This week I visited the Human Microbiome Congress in San Diego, where Kisaco Research brought together a splendid group of academic and industry researchers, who talked about their latest research. I really enjoyed listening to all these great speakers, and wanted to share this great event with the rest of the world, so I live-tweeted all the talks from my Twitter account @MicrobiomDigest. In case you missed it, here is a Storify with all my ~400 tweets. So grab a beer (or a kombucha) and some popcorn, and enjoy.

Storify of the Human Microbiome Congress in San Diego

We also held a 500WomenScientists meeting organized by Jessica Metcalf (who tweeted the first photo below).

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And uBiome was represented at the poster session too! This was the first time I ordered a fabric poster, and it was great. Arrived folded up at my house (sort of like a t-shirt), and fitted easily in my luggage. I could have done a slightly better job ironing it (which is how you get rid of the wrinkles) but it was so much easier than traveling with a glossy print in a big tube. I ordered my poster at MakeSigns; poster + shipping (3 days after ordering) was $120. Recommended!

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January 25, 2017

Joint opinion on measures by the EU to reduce antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry, diet changes the gut microbiome of dogs, and synthetic chemicals might drive global climate change.

Jobs

PhD Position: THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN LIVER DISEASE: DEVELOPMENT Of BIOINFORMATIC APPROACHES TO IDENTIFY, CHARACTERISE AND ANALYSE THE GUT VIROME – KU Leuven

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, NUI Galway

Microbiology Supervisor – Clinical Pathology Laboratories, Inc

General microbiology and policy

Artificial bacteria: A semisynthetic organism engineered for the stable expansion of the genetic alphabet – Yorke Zhang – PNAS

Policy opinions: EMA and EFSA Joint Scientific Opinion on measures to reduce the need to use antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry in the European Union, and the resulting impacts on food safety (RONAFA) – CVMP and BIOHAZ – EFSA Journal

Acid-suppression medications and bacterial gastroenteritis: a population-based cohort study – Wei Li – british journal of clinical pharmacology

Animal experiments

Effects of the Dietary Protein and Carbohydrate Ratio on Gut Microbiomes in Dogs of Different Body Conditions – Qinghong Li – mBio

Water and extremophile microbiome

Novel Primer Sets for Next Generation Sequencing-Based Analyses of Water Quality – Elvina Lee – PLoS One

Evaluation of Methods for the Concentration and Extraction of Viruses from Sewage in the Context of Metagenomic Sequencing – Mathis Hjort Hjelmsø – PLoS One

Phages and viruses

FRNA Bacteriophages as Viral Indicators of Faecal Contamination in Mexican Tropical Aquatic Systems – Luis Jose Rene Arredondo-Hernandez – PLoS One

The Complete Genome Sequence of a Second Distinct Betabaculovirus from the True Armyworm, Mythimna unipuncta – Robert L. Harrison – PLoS One

Characterization and Genetic Variation of Vibrio cholerae Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Sources in Thailand – Achiraya Siriphap – PLoS One

Bioinformatics

Comparing and Evaluating Metagenome Assembly Tools from a Microbiologist’s Perspective – Not Only Size Matters! – John Vollmers – PLoS One

Microbes in the news

Study: Babies’ Microbiomes Indifferent to Mode of Delivery – Kerry Grens – The Scientist

About FishTaco: Microbiome as complex as previously thought – Julian Harris – PHG Foundation

Auckland’s water shock: Bacteria levels ‘dangerously high’ – NZ Herald

For healthier buildings, just add bacteria? – Ed Yong – Ted

Xin’s non-microbiology pick

Synthetic chemicals as agents of global change – Emily S Bernhardt – Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

January 22, 2017

Events and Jobs

PhD scholarship in Molecular Microbiology– University of Copenhagen-Last Date: February 8, 2017

Quality Control Associate-MicrobiologyUS-CA-Del Mar

General Microbiome

Impacts of chemical gradients on microbial community structure-Jianwei Chen-The ISME Journal

Human Skin

Proteomic and peptidomic analysis of human sweat with emphasis on proteolysis-Yijing Yu-Journal of Proteomics

Human Respiratory Microbiome

Nasopharyngeal Microbiome Diversity Changes over Time in Children with AsthmaMarcos Pérez-Losada-PLOS One

Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cystic fibrosis buccal epithelial cellsMeike Lingner-ERJ

Human Vaginal Microbiome

The interaction between vaginal microbiota, cervical length, and vaginal progesterone treatment for preterm birth risk-Lindsay M. Kindinger-Microbiome

Human Gut Microbiome

Role of Gastrointestinal Microbiota on Kidney Injury and the Obese Condition-Keerati Wanchai-The American Journal of the Medical Sciences

Review-Altered Molecular Signature of Intestinal Microbiota in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients Compared with Healthy Controls: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis-Hai Ning Liu-Digestive and Liver Disease

Animal Microbiome

Bacterial community composition and fermentation in the rumen of Xinjiang brown cattle (Bos taurus), Tarim red deer (Cervus elaphus yarkandensis), and Karakul sheep (Ovis aries)-Wenxi Qian-Canadian Journal of Microbiology

The Gut Microbiome of the Vector Lutzomyia longipalpis Is Essential for Survival of Leishmania infantumStephen M. Beverley-mBio

The normal vaginal and uterine bacterial microbiome in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)-Xin Yang-Microbiological Research

Pathogen-mediated manipulation of arthropod microbiota to promote infectionNabil M. Abraham-PNAS

The gastrointestinal tract of farmed mink (Neovison vison) maintains a diverse mucosa-associated microbiota following a 3-day fasting period-Martin I. Bahl-Microbiology Open

Ovarian cycling and reproductive state shape the vaginal microbiota in wild baboonsElizabeth A. Miller-BMC Microbiome

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

A decade of irrigation transforms the soil microbiome of a semi-arid pine forest-Martin Hartmann-Molecular Ecology

Methane Emissions and Microbial Communities as Influenced by Dual Cropping of Azolla along with Early Rice-Jingna Liu-Scientific Reports

Differential responses of soil bacterial communities to long-term N and P inputs in a semi-arid steppe-Ning Ling-Geoderma

Mineralization of “non-metabolizable” glucose analogues in soil: potential chemosensory mimics of glucose-Kyle Mason-Jones-Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science

Deciphering composition and function of the root microbiome of a legume plant-Kyle Hartman-BMC Microbiome

Isolation and characterization of Rhizobium sp. strain YS-1r that degrades lignin in plant biomass-Colin A. Jackson-Journal of Applied Microbiology

Metagenomic insights into effects of spent engine oil perturbation on the microbial community composition and function in a tropical agricultural soilLateef B. Salam-Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Biocontrol effects of Brevibacillus laterosporus AMCC100017 on potato common scab and its impact on rhizosphere bacterial communities-Shengfu Chen-Biological Control

Co-inoculation with Enterobacter and Rhizobacteria on Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Alluvial Soil Under Indo-Gangetic Plain of India-Ashok Kumar-Journal of Plant Growth Regulation

 Ornamental flowers in new light: Artificial lighting shapes the microbial phyllosphere community structure of greenhouse grown sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.)Beatrix W. AlsaniusScientia Horticulturae

Extremophiles

Phylogenomics of Rhodobacteraceae reveals evolutionary adaptation to marine and non-marine habitats-Meinhard Simon-ISME

Review: Marine Bacterioplankton Seasonal Succession Dynamics-Carina Bunse-Trends in Microbiology

Review: Stress response physiology of thermophilesPreeti Ranawat-Archives of Microbiology

The pangenome of (Antarctic) Pseudoalteromonas bacteria: evolutionary and functional insights-Emanuele Bosi-BMC Genomics

Sulfur compound oxidation and carbon co-assimilation in the haloalkaliphilic sulfur oxidizers Thioalkalivibrio versutus and Thioalkalimicrobium aerophilum-Wee Kiong Ang-Research in Microbiology

Geological and Geochemical Controls on Subsurface Microbial Life in the Samail Ophiolite, OmanKaitlin R. Rempfert-Extreme Microbiology

Microbial character related sulfur cycle under dynamic environmental factors based on the microbial population analysis in sewerage system-Qian Dong-Aquatic Microbiology

Similar community assembly mechanisms underlie similar biogeography of rare and abundant bacteria in lakes on Yungui Plateau, China-Jingqiu Liao-Limnology and Oceanography

Unraveling the microbial processes of black band disease in corals through integrated genomics-Yui Sato-Scientific Reports

Preliminary Phylogenetic Analysis of Thermophilic Bacteria Producing Protease isolated from Kuantan Malaysia -Essam A. Makky-JBSR

Identification of a novel fatty acid in the cell membrane of Chryseobacterium frigidisoli PB4T isolated from an East Antarctic glacier forefield-Kai Mangelsdorf-Organic Geochemistry

Phosphorus removal by marine bacterium enhanced with iron in the presence of siliconYanru Wang-Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

 Built Environment Microbiology

Developing Evidence-based Tools for Designing and Evaluating Hospital Inpatient RoomsXiaobo Quan-Journal of Interior Design

Building-related symptoms are linked to the in vitro toxicity of indoor dust and airborne microbial propagules in schools: A cross-sectional study-J T Salin-Environmental Research

Techniques

Review:  Application of meta-omics techniques to understand greenhouse gas emissions originating from ruminal metabolism-Robert J. Wallace-Genetics Selection Evolution

Balance Trees Reveal Microbial Niche DifferentiationJames T. Morton-Ecological and Evolutionary Science

Virus

Review: Virus–host interactions and their roles in coral reef health and diseaseRebecca Vega Thurber-Nature Reviews Microbiology

Virome of US bovine calf serum-Mohammadreza Sadeghi-Biologicals

More Microbes

Bacillus zeae sp. nov. isolated from the rhizosphere of Zea maysPeter Kämpfer-International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

Microbes in News

Capnophilic Enterobacteriaceae-JM. Sahuquillo Arce-Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease

January 20, 2017

Infant formula with prebiotics and probiotics, acne vulgaris and staphylococcus, IBD and anti-CTLA-4 connected to the flora, protein kinase C δ and prebiotic required to strengthen intestinal epithelial barrier function. 

Events and jobs

Postdoctoral position in immunology to study host-gut microbiota interactions– University of Arizona

Research Engineer in Microbiology– l’Oréal

MICROBIOLOGY SUPERVISOR– via a Large US Medical Device company in Limerick

General microbiome

*A Review: The human microbiome and cancer-Seesandra V Rajagopala-AARC Publications

Pregnancy and early life

Oral Microbiota in Infants Fed a Formula Supplemented with Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membranes – A Randomized Controlled Trial– Niklas Timby- PLoS One

Acquisition and adaptation of the airway microbiota in the early life of cystic fibrosis patients– Sebastien Boutin- Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Early Benefits of a Starter Formula Enriched in Prebiotics and Probiotics on the Gut Microbiota of Healthy Infants Born to HIV+ Mothers: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial-Peter Cooper- Clinical Medicine Insights: Pediatrics

Growth and Morbidity of Gambian Infants are Influenced by Maternal Milk Oligosaccharides and Infant Gut Microbiota– Jasmine C. Davis- Scientific Reports

Oral Microbiota

Evaluating the Impact of DNA Extraction Method on the Representation of Human Oral Bacterial and Fungal Communities-Anna Vesty- PLuS One

Salivary Gluten Degradation and Oral Microbial Profiles in Health and Celiac Disease– Na Tian- Applied Environmental Microbiology

Human respiratory microbiome

*Review: Microbiomes in respiratory health and disease: An Asia-Pacific perspective– Sanjay H. Chotirmall- Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology

Human skin microbiome

The Role of Cutaneous Microbiota Harmony in Maintaining a Functional Skin Barrier-Hilary Baldwin- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

Skin microbiome and acne vulgaris: staphylococcus, a new actor in acne– Brigitte Dreno- Experimental Dermatology

Human vaginal microbiome

Subclinical Alteration of the Cervical-Vaginal Microbiome in Women with Idiopathic Infertility– Giuseppina Campisciano- Journal of Cellular Physiology

Human gut microbiome

Intestinal Bacteria Composition and Translocation of Bacteria in Inflammatory Bowel Disease– Spyros Vrakas- PLoS One

*Review- The Gastrointestinal Tract as a Key Target Organ for the Health-Promoting Effects of Dietary Proanthocyanidins– Maria Jose Cires- frontiers in Nutrition

Association of the Intestinal Microbiome with the Development of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration– Martin S. Zinkernagel- Scientific Reports

*Review: Inflammatory bowel disease and cancer response due to anti-CTLA-4: is it in the flora?-Franck Carbonnel- Seminars in immunopathology

Animal experiments

ZiBuPiYin recipe improves cognitive decline by regulating gut microbiota in Zucker diabetic fatty rats– Gu Chunyan – Oncotarget

Animal microbiome

Unique Bacteria Community Composition and Co-occurrence in the Milk of Different Ruminants– Li Zhipeng- Scientific Reports

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Mycorrhizal specificity does not limit the distribution of an endangered orchid species- Michael Waud – Molecular Ecology

Exploring the symbiont diversity of ancient western redcedars: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of long-lived hosts– Monika A. Gorzelak- Molecular Ecology

Probiotics / prebiotics

Protein kinase C δ signaling is required for dietary prebiotic-induced strengthening of intestinal epithelial barrier function– Richard Y. Wu- Scientific Reports

Antioxidant properties and global metabolite screening of the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii– Suprama Datta- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

Bioinformatics

Rhea: a transparent and modular R pipeline for microbial profiling based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons– Illias Lagkouvardos- PeerJ

Microbes on the market

FishTaco: Systematic Characterization and Analysis of the Taxonomic Drivers of Functional Shifts in the Human Microbiome– Ohad Manor

January 15, 2017

Microbes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, review on the female urinary microbiota, koalas with “wet bottom”, virus metagenomics of the Namib desert, biosignatures in fossils.

Jobs

Microbiome Research Associate Job – Merck Research Laboratories – Cambridge, MA – Science Careers

Human urinary tract microbiome

* Review: The female urinary microbiota, urinary health and common urinary disorders – Linda Brubaker – Annals of Translational Medicine

Human respiratory microbiome

Host-Microbial Interactions in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – Philip L Molyneaux – American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Human gut microbiome

The human gut microbiome as source of innovation for health: which physiological and therapeutic outcomes could we expect?: Human gut mibrobiome [SIC] as source of innovation for health – Joël Doré – Thérapie

In FrenchMicrobiote intestinal : qu’en attendre au plan physiologique et thérapeutique ? Le microbiote intestinal comme source d’innovation pour la santé – Joël Doré – Thérapie

Review: Seafood allergen-induced hypersensitivity at the microbiota-mucosal site: implications for prospective probiotic use in allergic response regulation – Linglin Fu – Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Review: Impact Of Human Aging And Modern Lifestyle On Microbiota – Maria Gabriela Valle Gottlieb – Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Review: Effects of environmental pollutants on gut microbiota – Yuanxiang Jin – Environmental Pollution

Animal experiments

Replacing corn with sorghum in the diet alters intestinal microbiota without altering chicken performance – N. S. Fagundes – Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition

Divergent functional isoforms drive niche specialisation for nutrient acquisition and use in rumen microbiome – Francesco Rubino – The ISME Journal

Wolbachia Affects Reproduction and Population Dynamics of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei): Implications for Biological Control – Yobana A. Mariño – MDPI Insects

Neoagarotetraose protects mice against intense exercise induced fatigue damage by modulating gut microbial composition and function – Na Zhang – Molecular Nutrition & Food Research

Housing Systems Influence Gut Microbiota Composition of Sows but Not of Their Piglets – Tereza Kubasova – PLOS ONE

Effect of Different Lignocellulosic Diets on Bacterial Microbiota and Hydrolytic Enzyme Activities in the Gut of the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis) – Emiliano Ben Guerrero – Frontiers in Microbiology

Animal microbiome

Variation in the microbiome of the urogenital tract of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) with and without “wet bottom” – Alistair Raymond Legione – bioRxiv

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

* Fossils: Carbonaceous biosignatures of diverse chemotrophic microbial communities from chert nodules of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation – Yuangao Qu – Precambrian Research

Plant, soil and microbial controls on grassland diversity restoration: A long-term, multi-site mesocosm experiment – Ellen L. Fry – Journal of Applied Ecology

Pyrosequencing reveals bacterial communities and enzyme activities differences after application of novel chiral insecticide Paichongding in aerobic soils – Jie Chen – Applied Soil Ecology

Cedar and bamboo plantations alter structure and diversity of the soil bacterial community from a hardwood forest in subtropical mountain – Yu-Te Lin – Applied Soil Ecology

The differentiation of soil bacterial communities along a precipitation and temperature gradient in the eastern Inner Mongolia steppe – Minjie Yao – CATENA

Shift in fungal communities and associated enzyme activities along an age gradient of managed Pinus sylvestris stands – Julia Kyaschenko – The ISME Journal

Association between Grape Yeast Communities and the Vineyard Ecosystems – João Drumonde-Neves – PLOS ONE

Water microbiome

High growth potential and activity of 0.2 µm filterable bacteria habitually present in coastal seawater – Yumiko Obayashi – Biogeosciences Discuss

Chronic exposure effects of silver nanoparticles on stream microbial decomposer communities and ecosystem functions – Ahmed Tlili – Environmental Science & Technology

Waste and pollution microbiology

Global profiling of metabolite and lipid soluble microbial products in anaerobic wastewater reactor supernatant using UPLC/MSe – Phornpimon Tipthara – Journal of Proteome Research

Food microbiology

Rapid concentration detection and differentiation of bacteria in skimmed milk using surface enhanced Raman scattering mapping on 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid functionalized silver dendrites – Panxue Wang – Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Metagenomics and bioinformatics / Viruses and phages

Robust inference of genetic exchange communities from microbial genomes using TF-IDF – Yingnan Cong – Frontiers in Microbiology

Virome assembly and annotation: a surprise in the Namib Desert – Uljana Hesse – Frontiers in Microbiology

Metaviromes of Extracellular Soil Viruses along a Namib Desert Aridity Gradient – Olivier Zablocki – Genome Announcements

Metagenome Sequencing of Prokaryotic Microbiota Collected from Rivers in the Upper Amazon Basin – Célio Dias Santos-Júnior – Genome Announcements

Restoring the Duality between Principal Components of a Distance Matrix and Linear Combinations of Predictors, with Application to Studies of the Microbiome – Glen A. Satten – PLOS ONE

New approach for studying mobile genes using metagenomic analysis – Kazuyuki Ishihara – Oral Diseases

Archaea

New insights into marine group III Euryarchaeota, from dark to light – Jose M Haro-Moreno – The ISME Journal

Techniques

MPLEx: A method for simultaneous pathogen inactivation and extraction of samples for multi-omics profiling – Kristin Burnum-Johnson – Analyst

An explanation of the Nagoya Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing, and its implication for microbiology – David Smith – Microbiology

Microbes in the news

You’re probably showering way too often – Rafi Letzter – Business Insider

Viruses May Be Responsible For Life As We Know It – Ryan F. Mandelbaum – Gizmodo

Boost your intake of resistant starch to help your gut thrive – Leslie Beck – The Globe and Mail

We now know bacteria can communicate electrically, and we should be worried
They’re organised – David Nield – Science Alert

Proceed with caution: Autism Causes Update: The Gut-Brain Connection And How A Common Probiotic May Ease Symptoms – Lizette Borreli – Medical Daily

Study provides fundamental insights into functioning of microbiota and human-gut flora symbiosis – News Medical

Microbes on the market

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Enterome Announce Immuno-Oncology Collaboration Focused on Microbiome-Derived Biomarkers, Drug Targets and Bioactive Molecules – SAT Press Releases

Bik’s non-microbiology picks

The Physics of Everyday Life. Why popcorn pops and ducks don’t freeze when swimming in icy water. John Gribbin reviews “Storm in a Teacup” by Helen Czerski – Wall Street Journal

January 11, 2017

Vaginal microbial  communities associated with HIV acquisition or protection, evolution and function of the appendix, microbes and bird evolution, soil microbes followed for 17 years, and bone microbiome and cause-of-death of an 18th century child.
Jobs

Faculty Position in Microbiome Research – National University of Singapore – Science Careers

Pregnancy and early life

The Role of Early Life Nutrition in the Establishment of Gastrointestinal Microbial Composition and Function – Erin C. Davis – Gut Microbes

Human vaginal microbiome

Lactobacillus-Deficient Cervicovaginal Bacterial Communities Are Associated with Increased HIV Acquisition in Young South African Women – Christina Gosmann – Immunity

Diagnosis and microecological characteristics of aerobic vaginitis in outpatients based on preformed enzymes – Zhi-liang Wang – Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Human respiratory microbiome

Review: The microbiome in mechanically ventilated patients – Yin, Yudong – Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases

Human gut microbiome

Morphological evolution of the mammalian cecum and cecal appendix – Heather F. Smith – Comptes Rendus Palevol

Exploring the Efficacy of Pooled Stools in Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Microbiota-Associated Chronic Diseases – Abbas Kazerouni – PLOS ONE

Review: Role of Vitamin D in the Hygiene Hypothesis: The Interplay between Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptors, Gut Microbiota, and Immune Response – Allison Clark – Frontiers in Immunology

Review: Bacterial Signaling to the Nervous System via Toxins and Metabolites – Nicole J. Yang – Journal of Molecular Biology

Animal experiments

Metabolite exchange between microbiome members produces compounds that influence Drosophila behavior – Caleb Fischer – eLIFE

Gut Microbiota Mediates Protection Against Enteropathy Induced by Indomethacin – Xue Xiao – Scientific Reports

Faecal parameters as biomarkers of the equine hindgut microbial ecosystem under dietary change – P. Grimm – Animal

Characterisation of Early-Life Fecal Microbiota in Susceptible and Healthy Pigs to Post-Weaning Diarrhoea – Samir Dou – PLOS ONE

Animal microbiome

Metagenomic analysis of microbial community of a parasitoid wasp Megaphragma amalphitanum – A.V. Nedoluzhko – Genomics Data

* Review: Ecoimmunology and microbial ecology: Contributions to avian behavior, physiology, and life history – Jessica K. Evans – Hormones and Behavior

Archaeology microbiome

The Cause of Death of a Child in the 18th Century Solved by Bone Microbiome Typing Using Laser Microdissection and Next Generation Sequencing – Valeria D’Argenio – International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Phyllosphere Methylobacterium bacteria contain UVA-absorbing compounds – Shigenobu Yoshida – Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology

Major Crop Species Show Differential Balance between Root Morphological and Physiological Responses to Variable Phosphorus Supply – Yang Lyu – Frontiers in Plant Science

* Links between soil microbial communities and plant traits in a species-rich grassland under long-term climate change – Emma J. Sayer – Ecology and Evolution

Water and extremophile microbiome

Two microcrustaceans affect microbial and macroinvertebrate-driven litter breakdown – Sophie Chambord – Freshwater Biology

Biofilms Confer Resistance to Simulated Extra-terrestrial Geochemical Extremes – Adam H Stevens – bioRxiv Preprint

Bioinformatics, statistics, and metagenomics

From Genomes to Phenotypes: Traitar, the Microbial Trait Analyzer – Aaron Weimann – mSystems

Structural zeros in high-dimensional data with applications to microbiome studies – Abhishek Kaul – Biostatistics

More microbiology

Mutations in Cas9 Enhance the Rate of Acquisition of Viral Spacer Sequences during the CRISPR-Cas Immune Response – Robert Heler – Molecular Cell

Press: Researchers Learn to Enhance Bacteria’s Ability to Form Genetic Memories – SciCasts

Microbes in the news
Meet Canada’s ‘poop lady’: “I got to know people up there very well over the years, said Girard, 28. – EurekAlert

A new year for our journal club! – Fiona Whelan – Human Microbiome Journal Club

Oral bacteria linked to preterm labor in Hawaiʻi – Desiree Uyeda – University of Hawai’i News

Mayo’s microbiome study targets diabetes – Brett Boese – Post Bulletin

MicrobEYEome: Liver Cancer Patients Have a Signature Microbiome – GastroEndo News

PresentationThe role of the microbiome in Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) – Megan Niederwerder – YouTube

Based on the title this appears to be a good candidate for the “Overselling The Microbiome Award” by Jonathan Eisen: How Sexual Attraction Is Shaped by Gut Bacteria, Infectious Diseases, and Parasites – Kathleen McAuliffe – BigThink

Latest Dengue Update: Bacteria Strain That Stops Dengue Transmission In Mosquitoes Dies In Hot Environment – Minnow Blythe – Counsel Heal

Microbes on the market

Allergan (AGN) Enters Licensing Agreement with Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) to Obtain Worldwide Rights to GI Programs – StreetInsider

Ferring Partners with Intralytix to Develop Bacteriophage Treatments for Conditions Associated with the Microbiome and Drug-Resistant Bacteria – BusinessWire

La Roche-Posay Introduces Prebiotic Skincare Line – PR NewsWire

Indigo’s Preliminary Commercial Data Demonstrate Significant Yield Gains for Growers with Plant Microbiome Product – PR NewsWire

Bik’s non-microbiology picks

The Association of Hot Red Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality: A Large Population-Based Cohort Study – Mustafa Chopan – PLOS ONE

January 9, 2017

Events

Reminder: Microbiome meetup (SF Bay Area) – Tools & Techniques for analysis
by SF Bay Area Microbiome Meetup – January 31, 2016, Illumina, San Francisco. Free.

Human gut microbiome

Water activity does not shape the microbiota in the human colon – Doris Vandeputte – Gut

ReviewThe thyroid, the eyes and the gut: a possible connection – D. Covelli – Endocrinological Investigation

Review: Role of intestinal microbiota and metabolites on gut homeostasis and human diseases – Lan Lin – BMC Immunology

Review: Gut microbiota and colorectal cancer – R. Gao – European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

Review: How the Gut Affects Bone Metabolism – Marie-Hélène Lafage Proust – Joint Bone Spine

The role of gut microbiota in health and disease: In vitro modeling of host-microbe interactions at the aerobe-anaerobe interphase of the human gut – Julius Z.H. von Martels – Anaerobe

Animal experiments

Replacing corn with sorghum in the diet alters intestinal microbiota without altering chicken performance – N. S. Fagundes – Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition

Quantitative analyses of the bacterial microbiota of rearing environment, tilapia and common carp cultured in earthen ponds and inhibitory activity of its lactic acid bacteria on fish spoilage and pathogenic bacteria – Pierre Marie Kaktcham – World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Distinct bacterial communities across a gradient of vegetation from a preserved Brazilian Cerrado – Ademir Sergio Ferreira de Araujo – Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Soil microbial communities are shaped by vegetation type and park age in cities under cold climate – Nan Hui – Environmental Microbiology

Water and extremophile microbiome

The effect of coagulants and antiscalants discharged with seawater desalination brines on coastal microbial communities: A laboratory and in situ study from the southeastern Mediterranean – Natalia Belkin – Water Research

DNA metabarcoding reveals that 200 μm size-fractionated filtering is unable to discriminate between planktonic microbial and large eukaryotes – Lemian Liu – Molecular Ecology Resources

Water metagenomic analysis reveals low bacterial diversity and the presence of antimicrobial residues and resistance genes in a river containing wastewater from backyard aquacultures in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam – Tatsuya Nakayama –

Waste and pollution research

Microbial community redundancy in anaerobic digestion drives process recovery after salinity exposure – Jo De Vrieze – Water Research

Proteomics

The rumen microbial metaproteome as revealed by SDS-PAGE – Timothy J. Snelling – BMC Microbiology

Microbes in the news

Deadly, Invisible Bacteria Melioidosis Spreads In Top End Monsoon – Cayla Dengate – The Huffington Post

I’m Fasting For Science: Will It Help Tame My Multiple Sclerosis? – Brandie Jefferson – NPR

December 20, 2016

Events

Registration open: Environmental Microbial Biofilms and Human Microbiomes: Drivers of Future Sustainability – Singapore, 12-15 February 2017

Pregnancy and early life

Sensitive Quantitative Analysis of the Meconium Bacterial Microbiota in Healthy Term Infants Born Vaginally or by Cesarean Section – Ravinder Nagpal – Frontiers in Microbiology

Remodeling of the gut microbiota and structural shifts in Preeclampsia patients in South China – J. Liu – European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

Human respiratory microbiome

Same-day diagnostic and surveillance data for tuberculosis via whole genome sequencing of direct respiratory samples – Antonina A Votintseva – bioRxiv

Human oral microbiome

Effect of 12-month weekly professional oral hygiene care on the composition of the oral flora in dentate, dependent elderly residents: A prospective study
Maude Wikström – Gerodontology

Human gut microbiome

Roles of the gut in the metabolic syndrome: an overview – L. Fändriks – Journal of Internal Medicine

Review: Microbiome and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases – Jan Wehkamp – Journal of Molecular Medicine

Animal experiments

Resetting microbiota by Lactobacillus reuteri inhibits T reg deficiency–induced autoimmunity via adenosine A2A receptors – Baokun He – Journal of Experimental Medicine

Press: Replacing missing gut bacteria could help treat children with rare autoimmune disease – News Medical

Characterization of meningeal type 2 innate lymphocytes and their response to CNS injury – Sachin P. Gadani – Journal of Experimental Medicine

Press: Team discovers powerful defenders of the brain—with big implications for disease – Medical Xpress

Examination of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis mixed genotype infections in dairy animals using a whole genome sequencing approach – Fraser W. Davidson – PeerJ

Insights into Broilers’ Gut Microbiota Fed with Phosphorus, Calcium, and Phytase Supplemented Diets – Daniel Borda-Molina – Frontiers in Microbiology

Animal microbiome

Fecal microbiota of three bactrian camels (Camelus ferus and Camelus bactrianus) in China by high throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene – Lei Yuan – Journal of Arid Land

Plant, root, and soil microbiome

Metagenomic assembly unravel microbial response to redox fluctuation in acid sulfate soil – Jian-Qiang Su – Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Effect of New Auxin Herbicide Formulations on Control of Herbicide Resistant Weeds and on Microbial Activities in the Rhizosphere – Vijay K. Nandula – American Journal of Plant Sciences

Screening of rhizobacteria from rhizosphere of healthy chili to control bacterial wilt disease and to promote growth and yield of chili – Yulmira Yanti – Biodiversitas

Mycorrhizal colonization of chenopods and its influencing factors in different saline habitats, China – Yinan Zhao – Journal of Arid Land

Water and extremophile microbiome

Degradation of a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in an urbanized stretch of the River Tiber – Anna Barra Caracciolo – Microchemical Journal

Spatial distribution of planktonic bacterial and archaeal communities in the upper section of the tidal reach in Yangtze River – Limin Fan – Scientific Reports

Biological Potential of Chitinolytic Marine Bacteria – Sara Skøtt Paulsen – Marine Drugs
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/14/12/230/htm

Microbial Diversity of Extreme Regions: An Unseen Heritage and Wealth – Saxena AK –
Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources

Stable and Variable Parts of Microbial Community in Siberian Deep Subsurface Thermal Aquifer System Revealed in a Long-Term Monitoring Study – Yulia A. Frank – Frontiers in Microbiology

A theoretical basis for a nanomolar critical oxygen concentration – E. J. Zakem – Limnology & Oceanography

Bacteria can survive in oxygen-free marine environments – Sumaya Aamir – i4u.com
Simons Foundation Supports Study That Finds Bacteria Can Survive In Oxygen-Free Marine Environments – Philanthropy New York
DNA markers distinguish between harmless, deadly bacteria – Jennifer Chu – Phys.org

Waste and pollution microbiology

Bacterial community structure within an activated sludge reactor added with phenolic compounds – Selene Gómez-Acata – Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Microbial ecology

Editorial: Development of microbial ecological theory: stability, plasticity and evolution of microbial ecosystems – Shin Haruta – Frontiers in Microbiology

Microbes in the news

Borborygmus: The Rumble in your Tummy. Video about the microbiome for kids. Eat your veggies, kids. Do it for Borborygmus.

6 Things We Learned About Gut Health And The Microbiome In 2016 – Cayla Dengate – Huffington Post

Research highlight: Rhythm and bacteria – Ashley York – Nature Reviews Microbiology

Baylor investigates antibiotic use, children’s improved autism symptoms – Healio

 

Microbes on the market

How bacteria from your stomach can fight disease. Start-up secures £8m to develop novel therapies – Matt Gooding – Cambridge News

Spin-out seeks to be world leader leveraging microbiome biology’s potential – The PharmaLetter

Sanger Spins Out Microbiotica to Develop Bacteriotherapies – GenEngNews

Science, publishing, and career

Evidence of the Superiority of Female Doctors. New research estimates that if all physicians were female, 32,000 fewer Americans would die every year – James Hamblin – The Atlantic