microbiota
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...
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...
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...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySpatial and Temporal Analysis of the Stomach and Small-Intestinal Microbiota in Fasted Healthy HumansThe gut microbiota are linked to a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. Despite this importance, microbiota dynamics in the upper gastrointestinal tract are understudied. Our article seeks to understand what factors impact microbiota dynamics in the healthy human upper gut. We found that the upper gastrointestinal tract contains consistently prevalent bacterial OTUs that dominate the overall...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Antibiotic Neomycin Enhances Coxsackievirus Plaque FormationCoxsackieviruses primarily infect the gastrointestinal tract of humans, but they can disseminate systemically and cause severe disease. Using antibiotic treatment regimens to deplete intestinal microbes in mice, several groups have shown the bacteria promote infection with a variety of enteric viruses. However, it is possible that antibiotics have microbiota-independent effects on viruses. Here we show that an aminoglycoside antibiotic...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyComparison of Subtyping Approaches and the Underlying Drivers of Microbial Signatures for Chronic RhinosinusitisChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a major human health problem that significantly reduces quality of life. While various microbes have been implicated, there is no clear understanding of the role they play in CRS pathogenesis. Another equally important observation made for CRS patients is that the epithelial barrier in the sinonasal cavity is defective. Finding a robust approach to subtype CRS patients would be the first step toward...