June- 2025

Portable DNA sequencing successfully tracks drug-resistant microbes in slaughterhouse wastewater

	Antibiotics are one of the greatest triumphs in the history of medical science—but these lifesaving tools have a dark side. Their persistent use can produce "superbugs"—drug-resistant microbes that pose a danger to humans, animals and the environment. In a first-of-its-kind pilot project, researchers from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture and Arizona State University tested the novel integration of a handheld DNA sequencing device within Indonesia's national antibiotic resistance surveillance system across six chicken slaughterhouses in the Greater Jakarta area. They collected samples from both wastewater and surrounding rivers. Source: Phys

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Volcanic microbes under the microscope: Scientists identify optimal DNA extraction method

	A research team from Skoltech, the Institute of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Problems of Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other scientific organizations in Russia and the U.S. conducted a study of microbial communities living in extreme conditions in the fumarolic fields of the Elbrus (Russia), Ushkovsky (Russia), and Fuji (Japan) volcanoes. The authors discovered the most efficient technique for separating DNA from microbial samples and demonstrated that the microbial communities of every volcanic region are distinct and influenced by the geochemical conditions of their environment. Source: Phys

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Fantastic soil microbes and where to find them

	Researchers from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture at the University of Sydney investigated the vast and largely hidden world beneath our feet. Soil is where 59% of all life on Earth resides. A single gram of soil can contain up to 10 billion bacteria, far exceeding the human population on the planet. Like plants and animals, these soil microorganisms have habitat preferences. Given Australia's diverse landscapes, soils, and climates, the researchers sought to determine whether soil microbes occupy specific habitats shaped by their surrounding environment. Source: Phys

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Single-cell sorting platform accelerates discovery of high-value microbes from months to days

	Chinese researchers have developed an advanced, high-throughput single-cell sorting platform that enables direct isolation of living cells with targeted metabolic profiles from large mutant libraries. The technology—now commercialized as FlowRACS 3.0—dramatically shortens the traditionally labor-intensive, colony-by-colony screening process for identifying high-value microbial strains. What once took months or even years can now be accomplished in hours or days. Source: Phys

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May- 2025

Drought-fighting soil bacteria help wheat beat the heat

	The study, published today in the Cell Host & Microbe journal, revealed that when wheat faces drought, it produces natural compounds called 4-oxoproline around its roots, which send out chemical signals to attract specialized friendly soil bacteria, including Streptomyces and Leifsonia species. The drought-fighting soil microbes then produce beneficial compounds including osmolytes, plant hormones, and nutrient solubilizers that enhance the ability of the plant to resist drought and continue to grow. Source: Phys

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We found a germ that 'feeds' on hospital plastic

	Plastic pollution is one of the defining environmental challenges of our time—and some of nature's tiniest organisms may offer a surprising way out. In recent years, microbiologists have discovered bacteria capable of breaking down various types of plastic, hinting at a more sustainable path forward. These "plastic-eating" microbes could one day help shrink the mountains of waste clogging landfills and oceans. But they are not always a perfect fix. In the wrong environment, they could cause serious problems. Source: Phys

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Mirror bacteria: Reflecting on alternate chirality

	Hold out your hands, palms up, and move them so they are on top of each other. With a little experimentation—and perhaps a few rather flamboyant gestures—you'll find that no matter what you do, your hands will not perfectly align. Congratulations, you've just demonstrated chirality. Chiral objects are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Chirality is not simply a feature of limbs; it is a trait shared by the molecular building blocks of life—from DNA to sugars to proteins. It dictates how molecules and, in turn, cells, operate and engage with each other and their environments. For example, chirality influences the way immune cells recognize molecules (i.e., antigens) on the surfaces of microbes, like a key fitting into a lock. Source: Phys

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Light-driven magnesium transport protein helps microbe thrive in harsh environment

	Prof. Chii-Shen Yang's team at National Taiwan University resolved the molecular structure and discovered that HwMR, a light-sensing protein in H. walsbyi, transports magnesium ions using key residues, helping microbes survive extreme conditions. Imagine tiny creatures living in super-salty water with an extremely high concentration of a metal ion, magnesium (Mg2+)—way too much for most other living things. One of these tiny creatures, called Haloquadratum walsbyi, has a special light-sensing protein called HwMR. Source: Phys

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April- 2025

Hotter temps trigger wetlands to emit more methane as microbes struggle to keep up

	Rising temperatures could tip the scale in an underground battle that has raged for millennia. In the soils of Earth's wetlands, microbes are fighting to both produce and consume the powerful greenhouse gas methane. But if Earth gets too hot, a key way wetlands clamp down on methane could be at risk, according to a Smithsonian study published in Science Advances. Methane is responsible for roughly 19% of global warming, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. And while wetlands are champions at removing carbon dioxide (CO2)—the more abundant greenhouse gas—they are also the world's largest natural source of methane. Source: Phys

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Researchers investigate how microbes feel their way around

	Understanding how bacteria form communities on surfaces, including biofilms, has significant implications for both health and industry. Cells use tactile sensors to detect surfaces and convert the sense of touch into biochemical signals to colonize surfaces. Dr. Pushkar Lele, a professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, investigates how bacteria sense their mechanical environment—termed mechanosensing—triggering intracellular signaling that leads to surface colonization. Source: Phys

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Microbiologists discover new species of methane-producing archaea in the human gut

	An international team of microbiologists from the Medical University of Graz, the DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (Braunschweig, Germany)—and the University of Illinois (U.S.) has identified and described a previously unknown species of methane-producing archaea in the human gut: Methanobrevibacter intestini sp. nov. (strain WWM1085). In addition, a new variant of the species Methanobrevibacter smithii, which is referred to as GRAZ-2, was isolated. The scientists have thus taken another important step toward understanding the interaction between humans and the microbiome. The study is published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Source: Phys

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Microbes in Brooklyn superfund site teach lessons on fighting industrial pollution

	Using advanced DNA sequence analysis, a research team led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hénaff has discovered that tiny organisms in Brooklyn's highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes. The findings were published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology on April 15, 2025. The team identified 455 species of microorganisms wielding 64 different biochemical pathways to degrade pollutants and 1,171 genes to process heavy metals. This suggests the potential of a cheaper, more sustainable, and less disruptive method for cleaning contaminated waterways than the current oft-used dredging operations. Source: Phys

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March- 2025

Genomic sequencing reveals previously unknown genes that make microbes resistant to drugs and hard to kill

	In the 20th century, when a routine infection was treated with a standard antibiotic, recovery was expected. But over time, the microbes responsible for these infections have evolved to evade the very drugs designed to eliminate them. Each year, there are more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States, leading to over 35,000 deaths and US$4.6 billion in health care costs. As antibiotics become less effective, antimicrobial resistance poses an increasing threat to public health. Antimicrobial resistance began to emerge as a serious threat in the 1940s with the rise of penicillin resistance. By the 1990s, it had escalated into a global concern. Decades later, critical questions still remain: How does antimicrobial resistance emerge, and how can scientists track the hidden changes leading to it? Why does resistance in some microbes remain undetected until an outbreak occurs? Filling these knowledge gaps is crucial to preventing future outbreaks, improving treatment outcomes and saving lives. Source: Phys

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Dozens of surfers fell ill after swimming in seas that turned into a 'bacterial smoothie' of sea foam. What was in it?

	Two windswept beaches 80km south of Adelaide have been closed to the public after locals reported "more than 100" surfers fell ill on the weekend. Their symptoms included "a sore throat, dry cough and irritated eyes" or blurred vision. Dead sea dragons, fish and octopuses have also washed up on the beaches. Water samples have been taken for testing and health authorities suspect toxins from an algal bloom may be to blame. Source: Phys

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Universal RNA barcoding system for tracking gene transfer in bacteria created

	In the microscopic world of bacteria, gene transfer is a powerful mechanism that can alter cellular function, drive antibiotic resistance and even shape entire ecosystems. Now an interdisciplinary group of researchers at Rice University has developed an innovative RNA "barcoding" method to track these genetic exchanges in microbial communities, providing new insights into how genes move across species. The findings were recently published in Nature Biotechnology. "We've long known that bacteria swap genes in ways that impact human health, biotechnology and environmental stability," said James Chappell, associate professor of biosciences and bioengineering. "But mapping which microbes participate in gene transfer has been challenging. This new technique gives us a direct way to record this information inside the cells themselves." Source: Phys

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Antimicrobial resistance in soil bacteria without the use of antibiotics: Predatory interactions drive development

	Overuse of antibiotics is currently the primary reason for the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Kiel University, however, have shown that AMR can surprisingly be found in soil bacterial communities due to microbial interactions too, driven by a species of predatory bacteria. Published in Current Biology, the study looked at how the presence of the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus affects the number of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in soil samples. M. xanthus is a predatory species which is known to release antimicrobials and other molecules to kill its prey. Source: Phys

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February- 2025

What is a model organism? Moving beyond E. coli

	You wouldn't know by looking at Escherichia coli that it's kind of a big deal. The non-descript, pill-shaped cell is why we understand fundamental life processes (think DNA replication and transcription). With its speedy growth and adaptability, E. coli has spent many years at the top of the "model organism" list, with no signs of slipping. But E. coli is a blip in a rich microbial world; in an age of rapidly advancing technology, scientists are routinely uncovering a plethora of bacteria in, on and around us. With a siloed focus on E. coli and other go-to model microbes, what are we missing? How much of what we know about E. coli really applies to the countless bacteria inhabiting our planet? Such questions have prompted researchers to rethink our infatuation with microbiology's superstar and consider what can—and should—constitute a model going forward. Source: Phys

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How plants remember stress without a brain

	It may sound strange, but plants can remember stress. Scientists are still learning about how plants do this without a brain. But with climate change threatening crops around the world, understanding plant stress memory could help food crops become more resilient. Since their colonization of the land 500 million years ago, plants have evolved ways to defend themselves against pests and disease. One of their most fascinating abilities is to "remember" stressful encounters and use this memory to defend themselves. This phenomenon, called immune priming, is similar to how vaccines help humans build immunity but is based on different mechanisms. Source: Phys

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Efforts to find alien life could be boosted by simple test that gets microbes moving

	Finding life in outer space is one of the great endeavors of humankind. One approach is to find motile microorganisms that can move independently, an ability that is a solid hint for life. If movement is induced by a chemical and an organism moves in response, it is known as chemotaxis. Now, researchers in Germany have developed a new and simplified method for inducing chemotactic motility in some of Earth's smallest life forms. They published their results in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. Source: Phys

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Illuminating the elements under our feet: Laser tool offers insights into plant growth and soil health

	A vast field of tall, skinny trees sways in a light breeze. In the future, poplar trees in a scene like this could be a source of sustainable fuel to power aircraft or heavy vehicles. They could also help us store more carbon in the soil. Both bioenergy and carbon storage are important strategies for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere that causes climate change. But before that can become a reality, scientists need a better understanding of what is happening both above and below the soil. Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have led the way in using a unique measurement tool to analyze plants, soil, and other biological samples. It's part of the work that scientists have done for more than a decade at the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (a DOE Bioenergy Research Center) to improve the growth of bioenergy crops. Source: Phys

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January- 2025

Newly discovered microbes in Amazon peatlands could affect global carbon balance

	Complex organisms, thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand, can shape massive ecosystems and influence the fate of Earth's climate, according to a new study. Researchers from Arizona State University, along with their colleagues from the National University of the Peruvian Amazon, have identified an unknown family of microbes uniquely adapted to the waterlogged, low-oxygen conditions of tropical peatlands in Peru's northwestern Amazonian rainforest. Source: Phys

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Fertile land for growing vegetables is at risk—but a scientific discovery could turn the tide

	A large proportion of the vegetables consumed in Québec are grown in the Montérégie region in what are known as organic soils. Highly fertile and rich in organic matter, these soils are particularly well suited to vegetable production. Yet many farmers are now raising concerns about the rapid degradation of these soils over the last few years. This is happening so quickly they could potentially disappear in a period of 50 years. This situation, which is unfolding worldwide, is alarming. Organic soils are among the pillars of food self-sufficiency in Québec, as elsewhere, and are essential to producing the vegetables that we eat every day. So it is crucial to stop their degradation. Source: Phys

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Cover crops as living mulch boost soil health and nutrient cycling, study finds

	Researchers have discovered that using cover crops as "living mulch" between rows of maize can significantly improve soil health and nutrient cycling, offering a sustainable approach to agricultural management. The research, conducted in Changtu County in northeastern China, investigated the effects of different types of cover crops—legumes, grasses, and a mixture of both—on soil properties and microbial communities. The paper is published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Source: Phys

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Ocean microbe's unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage

	Stanford researchers have found a surprising genetic twist in a lineage of microbes that may play an important role in ocean carbon storage. The microbes, known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, have two different forms of a ubiquitous enzyme that rarely appear together in the same organism."This is one of those great examples of science where you go out looking for one thing, but you end up finding something else that's even better," said Anne Dekas, an assistant professor of Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and senior author of the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Source: Phys

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