More articles from Minireview
MinireviewPublic Microbial Resource Centers: Key Hubs for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) Microorganisms and Genetic MaterialsIn the context of open science, the availability of research materials is essential for knowledge accumulation and to maximize the impact of scientific research. In microbiology, microbial domain biological resource centers (mBRCs) have long-standing experience in preserving and distributing authenticated microbial strains and genetic materials (e.g., recombinant plasmids and DNA libraries) to support new discoveries and follow-on...
MinireviewPlastics: Environmental and Biotechnological Perspectives on Microbial DegradationPlastics are widely used in the global economy, and each year, at least 350 to 400 million tons are being produced. Due to poor recycling and low circular use, millions of tons accumulate annually in terrestrial or marine environments. Today it has become clear that plastic causes adverse effects in all ecosystems and that microplastics are of particular concern to our health.
MinireviewInsights into the Metabolism of Oleaginous Rhodococcus spp.Some species belonging to the Rhodococcus genus, such as Rhodococcus opacus, R. jostii, and R. wratislaviensis, are known to be oleaginous microorganisms, since they are able to accumulate triacylglycerols (TAG) at more...
MinireviewSoil Aggregate Microbial Communities: Towards Understanding Microbiome Interactions at Biologically Relevant ScalesSoils contain a tangle of minerals, water, nutrients, gases, plant roots, decaying organic matter, and microorganisms which work together to cycle nutrients and support terrestrial plant growth. Most soil microorganisms live in periodically interconnected communities closely associated with soil aggregates, i.e., small (<2 mm), strongly bound clusters of minerals and organic carbon that persist through mechanical disruptions and...
MinireviewBenzalkonium Chlorides: Uses, Regulatory Status, and Microbial ResistanceBenzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are chemicals with widespread applications due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review provides an overview of the market for BACs, as well as regulatory measures and available data on safety, toxicity, and environmental contamination.
Minireview | SpotlightDeterminants of Phage Host Range in Staphylococcus SpeciesBacteria in the genus Staphylococcus are important targets for phage therapy due to their prevalence as pathogens and increasing antibiotic resistance. Here we review Staphylococcus outer surface features and specific phage resistance mechanisms that define the host range, the set of strains that an individual phage can potentially infect.
MinireviewMolecular Hydrogen, a Neglected Key Driver of Soil Biogeochemical ProcessesThe atmosphere of the early Earth is hypothesized to have been rich in reducing gases such as hydrogen (H2). H2 has been proposed as the first electron donor leading to ATP synthesis due to its ubiquity throughout the biosphere as well as its ability to easily diffuse through microbial cells and its low activation energy requirement.
MinireviewTo Fix or Not To Fix: Controls on Free-Living Nitrogen Fixation in the RhizosphereFree-living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) in the rhizosphere, or N fixation by heterotrophic bacteria living on/near root surfaces, is ubiquitous and a significant source of N in some terrestrial systems. FLNF is also of interest in crop production as an alternative to chemical fertilizer, potentially reducing production costs and ameliorating negative environmental impacts of fertilizer N additions.
MinireviewFructophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria, a Unique Group of Fructose-Fermenting MicrobesFructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are a recently discovered group, consisting of a few Fructobacillus and Lactobacillus species. Because of their unique characteristics, including poor growth on glucose and preference of oxygen, they are regarded as “unconventional” lactic acid bacteria (LAB...
- MinireviewDiversity and Proliferation of Metallo-β-Lactamases: a Clarion Call for Clinically Effective Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitors
The worldwide proliferation of life-threatening metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria is a serious concern to public health. MBLs are compromising the therapeutic efficacies of β-lactams, particularly carbapenems, which are last-resort antibiotics indicated for various multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.