Applied and Environmental Science
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceTime Series Genome-Centric Analysis Unveils Bacterial Response to Operational Disturbance in Activated SludgeDisturbance is a key determinant of community assembly and dynamics in natural and engineered ecosystems. Microbiome response to disturbance is thought to be influenced by bacterial growth traits and life history strategies. In this time series observational study, the response to disturbance of microbial communities in a full-scale activated sludge wastewater treatment plant was assessed by computing specific cellular traits of genomes...
Commentary | Applied and Environmental ScienceA Lot on Your Plate? Well-to-Well Contamination as an Additional Confounder in Microbiome Sequence AnalysesDNA sequence-based microbiome studies can be impacted by a range of different methodological artefacts. Contamination originating from laboratory kits and reagents can lead to erroneous results, particularly in samples containing a low microbial biomass.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceMarine Chitinolytic Pseudoalteromonas Represents an Untapped Reservoir of Bioactive PotentialInfectious bacteria are developing and spreading resistance to conventional treatments at a rapid pace. To provide novel potent antimicrobials, we must develop new bioprospecting strategies. Here, we combined in silico and phenotypic approaches to explore the bioactive potential of the marine bacterial genus Pseudoalteromonas. We found that pigmented strains in particular represent an untapped resource of secondary...
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceFunctional Gene Array-Based Ultrasensitive and Quantitative Detection of Microbial Populations in Complex CommunitiesThe rapid development of metagenomic technologies, including microarrays, over the past decade has greatly expanded our understanding of complex microbial systems. However, because of the ever-expanding number of novel microbial sequences discovered each year, developing a microarray that is representative of real microbial communities, is specific and sensitive, and provides quantitative information remains a challenge. The newly...
Special Issue Perspective | Applied and Environmental SciencePrecision Food Safety: a Paradigm Shift in Detection and Control of Foodborne PathogensThe implementation of whole-genome sequencing in food safety has revolutionized foodborne pathogen tracking and outbreak investigations. The vast amounts of genomic data that are being produced through ongoing surveillance efforts continue advancing our understanding of pathogen diversity and genome biology.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceMetaphenomic Responses of a Native Prairie Soil Microbiome to Moisture PerturbationsClimate change is predicted to result in increased drought extent and intensity in the highly productive, former tallgrass prairie region of the continental United States. These soils store large reserves of carbon. The decrease in soil moisture due to drought has largely unknown consequences on soil carbon cycling and other key biogeochemical cycles carried out by soil microbiomes. In this study, we found that soil drying had a...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceProteomic Profiling, Transcription Factor Modeling, and Genomics of Evolved Tolerant Strains Elucidate Mechanisms of Vanillin Toxicity in Escherichia coliA particular problem for the biotechnological production of many of the valuable chemicals that we are now able to manufacture in bacterial cells is that these products often poison the cells producing them. Solutions to improve product yields or alleviate such toxicity using the techniques of modern molecular biology first require a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of product toxicity. Here we have studied the economically...
Special Issue Perspective | Applied and Environmental ScienceDetermining Microbial Roles in Ecosystem Function: Redefining Microbial Food Webs and Transcending Kingdom BarriersMicroorganisms can have a profound and varying effect on the chemical character of environments and, thereby, ecological health. Their capacity to consume or transform contaminants leads to contrasting outcomes, such as the dissipation of nutrient pollution via denitrification, the breakdown of spilled oil, or eutrophication via primary producer overgrowth.
Special Issue Perspective | Applied and Environmental ScienceSoil Viruses: A New HopeAs abundant members of microbial communities, viruses impact microbial mortality, carbon and nutrient cycling, and food web dynamics. Although most of our information about viral communities comes from marine systems, evidence is mounting to suggest that viruses are similarly important in soil.
Special Issue Perspective | Applied and Environmental ScienceCulturing the Uncultured: Risk versus RewardIsolation of new microorganisms is challenging, but cultures are invaluable resources for experimental validation of phenotype, ecology, and evolutionary processes. Although the number of new isolates continues to grow, the majority of cultivars still come from a limited number of phylogenetic groups and environments, necessitating investment in new cultivation efforts.