This study elucidates the microbial and metabolic basis of mammalian aquatic herbivory, identifying a metabolic pathway for epilactose utilization that expands the known functional landscape of gut ca...

Beverage spoilage caused by microbes such as Alicyclobacillus poses a significant challenge for the food industry, leading to substantial economic losses and increased food waste. While it is known that some species, specifically those that produce the off-flavor compound guaiacol, are responsible for spoilage, current risk assessment practices often fail to accurately predict spoilage potential. These practices are often flawed because they rely on simple bacterial enumeration or use media-bas…

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The totality of bacteria, viruses and fungi that exist in and on a multicellular organism forms its natural microbiome.

We utilized metagenomic sequencing of non-lesional skin samples from children with AD to longitudinally characterize microbial species and clusters associated with disease progression. Shannon dive...

When scientists analyze soil DNA, they obtain millions of short fragments from bacteria, fungi, plants and other organisms. Identifying their

It looks as though Antarctica’s conditions have allowed unique microbial communities to develop.

An integrated biological approach is helping farmers restore soil health, lower costs, and reduce pollution — here's what it means for Indian

It looks as though Antarctica’s conditions have allowed unique microbial communities to develop.

When we think about Antarctica, many people imagine penguins, seals and whales. However, the majority of Antarctica’s scientific wonders cannot be seen without a microscope. These microbial communities form the foundation of Antarctic ecosystems yet remain largely invisible to most visitors. Recent research published in PNAS showed that some microbes living in Antarctic soils appear to exist nowhere else on Earth. This challenges scientists’ long-held belief that microbes are easily dispersed and therefore found everywhere. Antarctica is one of the Earth’s most isolated and harsh environments. Its organisms have to deal with extreme cold, dryness, intense UV radiation and limited nutrients, creating selective pressures unique to the continent. Soil temperatures can range from around 8˚C during the summer to below -25˚C in winter while air temperatures can fall below -40˚C. Rapid temperature fluctuations are common, which creates particularly challenging conditions for life. Read more: Why Antarctica froze millions of years before the Arctic – new research While extreme cold also occurs in the Arctic, it is the historical geographical isolation that characterises evolution to the cold in the Antarctic. Antarctic species have been effectively isolated in the cold from the rest of the planet by the circumpolar current for 10-15...