microbiota
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMonitoring COVID-19 Transmission Risks by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Tracing of Droplets in Hospital and Living EnvironmentsSeveral studies evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment. Saliva and nasopharyngeal droplets can land on objects and surfaces, creating fomites.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNasal Tissue Extraction Is Essential for Characterization of the Murine Upper Respiratory Tract MicrobiotaThe nasal microbiota is composed of species that play a role in the colonization success of pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Murine models provide the ability to explore disease pathogenesis, but little is known about the natural murine nasal microbiota.
...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Initial Gut Microbiota and Response to Antibiotic Perturbation Influence Clostridioides difficile Clearance in MiceClostridioides difficile is a leading nosocomial infection. Although perturbation to the gut microbiota is an established risk, there is variation in who becomes asymptomatically colonized, develops an infection, or has adverse infection outcomes. Mouse models of C. difficile infection (CDI) are...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDolosigranulum pigrum Cooperation and Competition in Human Nasal MicrobiotaStaphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. For both, nasal colonization is a risk factor for infection. Studies of nasal microbiota identify Dolosigranulum pigrum...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionOxalate-Degrading Bacillus subtilis Mitigates Urolithiasis in a Drosophila melanogaster ModelKidney stone disease is a morbid condition that is increasing in prevalence, with few nonsurgical treatment options. The majority of stones are composed of calcium oxalate. Unlike humans, some microbes can break down oxalate, suggesting that microbial therapeutics may provide a novel treatment for kidney stone patients. This study demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologyDilution as a Solution: Targeting Microbial Populations with a Simplified Dilution StrategyThe gut microbiota is an integral part of maintaining resistance against infection by Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, a pathogen of increasing concern in both health care and community settings. The recent article by J. M. Auchtung, E. C. Preisner, J. Collins, A. I. Lerma, and R. A. Britton (mSphere 5:e00387-20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere....
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: Translating Gut Microbiome Studies To Benefit Human HealthAnna M. Seekatz works in the field of the gut microbiome as it related to infectious diseases. In this “mSphere of Influence” article, she reflects on how two studies, “The impact of a consortium of fermented milk strains on the gut microbiome of gnotobiotic mice and monozygotic twins” (N. P. McNulty, T. Yatsunenko, A. Hsiao, et al., Sci Transl Med 3:106ra106, 2011) and “High-throughput DNA sequence analysis reveals stable engraftment...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: the Mycobiota in Human Health and DiseaseSoo Chan Lee works in the field of medical mycology. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how “Interactions between commensal fungi and the C-type lectin receptor Dectin-1 influence colitis” (Science 336:1314–1317, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1221789) by I. D. Iliev, V. A. Funari, K. D. Taylor, Q.
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: an Inupiat Journey in ScienceDr. Kathryn Milligan-Myhre works in the field of host-microbe interactions. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on the people and scientific ideas that influenced her journey from a small town in Alaska to a faculty position at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGut Microbial Dynamics during Conventionalization of Germfree ChickenThe domestic chicken is the cornerstone of animal agriculture worldwide, with a flock population exceeding 40 billion birds/year. It serves as an economically valuable source of protein globally. The microbiome of poultry has important effects on chicken growth, feed conversion, immune status, and pathogen resistance. The aim of our research was to develop a gnotobiotic chicken model appropriate for the study chicken gut microbiota...