microbiome
Microbial EcologyResponse of Beef Cattle Fecal Microbiota to Grazing on Toxic Tall FescueConsumption of E+ tall fescue has an estimated annual $1 billion negative impact on the U.S. beef industry, with one driver of these costs being lowered weight gains. As global agricultural demand continues to grow, mitigating production losses resulting from grazing the predominant southeastern United States forage grass is of great value. Our investigation of the effects of E+ grazing on the fecal microbiota furthers our understanding...
Food MicrobiologyEstablishment Limitation Constrains the Abundance of Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Napa Cabbage PhyllosphereThe quality and safety of vegetable fermentations are dependent on the activities of LAB naturally present in the phyllosphere. Despite their critical role in determining the success of fermentation, the processes that determine the abundance and diversity of LAB in vegetables used for fermentation are poorly characterized. Our work demonstrates that the limited ability of LAB to grow in the cabbage phyllosphere environment may...
Meeting ReviewReports from a Healthy Community: the 7th Conference on Beneficial MicrobesThe last two decades have seen an explosion in research about the beneficial microbial communities associated with plants and animals. Initially, this explosion was driven by technological advances that enabled explorations of microbiomes on unprecedented scales.
Microbial EcologyHigh Genetic Potential for Proteolytic Decomposition in Northern Peatland EcosystemsNitrogen (N) is a common limitation on primary productivity, and its source remains unresolved in northern peatlands that are vulnerable to environmental change. Decomposition of complex organic matter into free amino acids has been proposed as an important N source, but the genetic potential of microorganisms mediating this process has not been examined. Such information can inform possible responses of northern peatlands to...
Microbial Ecology | SpotlightFarm Stage, Bird Age, and Body Site Dominantly Affect the Quantity, Taxonomic Composition, and Dynamics of Respiratory and Gut Microbiota of Commercial Layer ChickensThe poultry industry is faced with numerous challenges associated with infectious diseases and suboptimal performance of flocks. As microbiome research continues to grow, it is becoming clear that poultry health and production performance are partly influenced by nonpathogenic symbionts that occupy different habitats within the bird. This study has defined the baseline composition and overlaps between respiratory and gut bacteria in...
Microbial Ecology | SpotlightDetection of Natural Products and Their Producers in Ocean SedimentsNatural products are readily isolated from cultured bacteria and exploited for useful purposes, including drug discovery. However, these compounds are rarely detected in the environments from which the bacteria are obtained, thus limiting our understanding of their ecological significance. Here, we used environmental metabolomics to directly assess chemical diversity in marine sediments. We identified numerous metabolites and, in one...
Environmental Microbiology | SpotlightBiogeochemical Regimes in Shallow Aquifers Reflect the Metabolic Coupling of the Elements Nitrogen, Sulfur, and CarbonGroundwater is a key resource for drinking water production and irrigation. The interplay between geological setting, hydrochemistry, carbon storage, and groundwater microbiome ecosystem functioning is crucial for our understanding of these important ecosystem services. We targeted the encoded and expressed metabolic potential of groundwater microbiomes along an aquifer transect that diversifies in terms of hydrochemistry and land use....
Microbial EcologyRootstocks Shape the Rhizobiome: Rhizosphere and Endosphere Bacterial Communities in the Grafted Tomato SystemUnderstanding factors that control microbial communities is essential for designing and supporting microbiome-based agriculture. In this study, we used a grafted tomato system to study the effect of rootstock genotypes and grafting on bacterial communities colonizing the endosphere and rhizosphere. To compare the bacterial communities in control treatments (nongrafted and self-grafted plants) with the hybrid rootstocks used by farmers,...
Plant MicrobiologyHigh Levels of CO2 Induce Spoilage by Leuconostoc mesenteroides by Upregulating Dextran Synthesis GenesThe bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides is known to cause spoilage of different types of foods by secreting a slimy fluid that damages the quality and appearance of the produce. Here, we identified a potential mechanism by which high levels of CO2 affect the spoilage caused by this bacterium by upregulating dextran synthesis genes. These results have...
Food MicrobiologyA Vegetable Fermentation Facility Hosts Distinct Microbiomes Reflecting the Production EnvironmentFermented vegetables play a major role in global food systems and are widely consumed by various global cultures. In this study, we investigated an industrial facility that produces spontaneous fermented sauerkraut without the aid of starter cultures. This provides a unique system to explore and track the origins of an “in-house” microbiome in an industrial environment. Raw vegetables and the surfaces on which they are handled were...