A new study finds that microbiomes in similar habitats across geographically  distant regions are more alike than those found in the same region but in a different habitat type. While most microbes adapt to a specific ecosystem, a small subset known as ‘generalists’ can thrive across different habitats, ranging from wastewater to the human gut. The team found that generalists connect vastly disparate habitats by carrying genes, including those that confer antibiotic resistance, and passing them on to other microbes through horizontal gene transfer. Humans accelerate the dispersal of these microbes by creating new connections between environments that otherwise would not exist. The findings provide support for One Health, a framework which proposes that human, animal, and environmental health are interdependent and mutually influential.

 

 

Climate change is accelerating the arrival of warmer spring temperatures, and this phenomenon is affecting the conservation of many species. Now, a study published in the journal Global Change Biology reveals how a two-degree Celsius increase in temperature advances the reproductive process of the Mediterranean gorgonian, a species found in temperate waters that plays an important ecological role, providing structure and shelter and thus promoting biodiversity on the seabed.

Rivals or allies – how do bacteria and fungi interact in our bodies? Until now, bacteria on our mucous membranes were primarily considered to be antagonists of fungi, as they can inhibit their growth. However, an international research team led by the Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) in Jena has now been able to show that the yeast Candida albicans and the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis form a dangerous alliance under certain conditions: Instead of fighting each other, they can amplify their impact and cause significantly more severe cell damage together than alone. In the study now published in the journal PNAS, the researchers reveal the mechanisms behind this – and the crucial role of the bacterial toxin cytolysin.

A new study reveals a clear conclusion: strength (resistance) training is the most effective tool for achieving “high-quality” weight loss, reducing body fat while preserving, and even increasing, muscle mass.

Researchers in China identified Fusarium cugenangense as a novel causal agent of pear wilt in China. Systemic infection is demonstrated via GFP-labeling and ultrastructural analysis. This is the first report of F. cugenangense causing pear wilt disease in China.