Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyTransgenic Testing Does Not Support a Role for Additional Candidate Genes in Wolbachia Male Killing or Cytoplasmic IncompatibilityWolbachia are widespread bacterial endosymbionts that manipulate the reproduction of diverse arthropods to spread through a population and can substantially shape host evolution. Recently, reports identified three prophage WO genes (wmk, cifA, and cifB) that transgenically recapitulate many aspects of reproductive manipulation in ...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNetwork Analysis of the Papaya Orchard Virome from Two Agroecological Regions of Chiapas, MexicoVirus-virus interactions in plants can modify host symptoms. As a result, disease management strategies may be unsuccessful if they are based solely on visual assessment and diagnostic assays for known individual viruses. Papaya ringspot virus is an important limiting factor for papaya production and likely has interactions with other viruses that are not yet known. Using high-throughput sequencing, we recovered known and novel RNA and...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHuman Colon Mucosal Biofilms and Murine Host Communicate via Altered mRNA and microRNA Expression during CancerBacteria and bacterial biofilms have been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC), but it is still unclear what genes these microbial communities express and how they influence the host. MicroRNAs regulate host gene expression and have been explored as potential biomarkers for CRC. An emerging area of research is the ability of microRNAs to impact growth and gene expression of members of the intestinal microbiota. This study examined the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGalacto-Oligosaccharides Modulate the Juvenile Gut Microbiome and Innate Immunity To Improve Broiler Chicken PerformanceImprovements in the growth rate of broiler chickens can be achieved through dietary manipulation of the naturally occurring bacterial populations while mitigating the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters. Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are manufactured as a by-product of dairy cheese production and can be incorporated into the diets of juvenile chickens to improve their health and performance. This study investigated the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGut Microbiota Dysbiosis Is Associated with Altered Bile Acid Metabolism in Infantile CholestasisLiver health, fecal bile acid (BA) concentrations, and gut microbiota composition are closely connected. BAs and the microbiome influence each other in the gut, where bacteria modify the BA profile, while intestinal BAs regulate the growth of commensal bacteria, maintain the barrier integrity, and modulate the immune system. Previous studies have found that the co-occurrence of gut microbiota dysbiosis and BA metabolism alteration is...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Effects of Crude Oil and Dispersant on the Larval Sponge HolobiontLarvae of the sponge R. odorabile survived exposure to high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons; however, their ability to settle and metamorphose was adversely affected at environmentally relevant concentrations, and these effects were paralleled by marked changes in sponge gene expression and preceded by disruption of the symbiotic microbiome. Given the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGlobal Assessment of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis Genetic Requirement for Growth and VirulencePulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is increasing worldwide. The majority of these infections are caused by the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), whereof >90% are due to Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH). Treatment of MAH infections is currently difficult...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyEnvironmental Chemical Diethylhexyl Phthalate Alters Intestinal Microbiota Community Structure and Metabolite Profile in MiceSeveral previous studies have pointed to environmental chemical exposure during windows of development as a contributing factor in neurodevelopmental disorders and correlated these disorders with microbiota dysbiosis; however, little is known about how the chemicals specifically alter the microbiota to interfere with development. The findings reported in this paper unambiguously establish that a pollutant linked with neurodevelopmental...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDynamic Changes of Gut Microbial Communities of Bumble Bee Queens through Important Life StagesBumble bee queens undergo a number of biological changes as they transition through adult emergence, mating, overwintering, foraging, and colony initiation including egg laying. Therefore, they represent an important system to understand the link between physiological, behavioral, and environmental changes and host-associated microbiota. It is plausible that the bumble bee queen gut bacteria play a role in shaping the ability of the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDrug Repurposing of Bromodomain Inhibitors as Potential Novel Therapeutic Leads for Lymphatic Filariasis Guided by Multispecies TranscriptomicsThe current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host...