dormancy
- Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceDistribution of Mixotrophy and Desiccation Survival Mechanisms across Microbial Genomes in an Arid Biological Soil Crust Community
This study represents a comprehensive community-wide genome-centered metagenome analysis of biological soil crust (BSC) communities in arid environments, providing insights into the distribution of genes encoding different energy generation mechanisms, as well as survival strategies, among populations in an arid soil ecosystem. It reveals the metabolic potential of several uncultured and previously unsequenced microbial genera, families...
- Sponsored Content Minireview | Applied and Environmental ScienceEnergetic Basis of Microbial Growth and Persistence in Desert Ecosystems
Microbial life is surprisingly abundant and diverse in global desert ecosystems. In these environments, microorganisms endure a multitude of physicochemical stresses, including low water potential, carbon and nitrogen starvation, and extreme temperatures. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the energetic mechanisms and trophic dynamics that underpin microbial function in desert ecosystems. Accumulating evidence...
- Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary Science16S rRNA/rRNA Gene Ratios and Cell Activity Staining Reveal Consistent Patterns of Microbial Activity in Plant-Associated Soil
Although the majority of microorganisms in natural ecosystems are dormant, relatively little is known about the dynamics of the active and dormant microbial pools through both space and time. The limited knowledge of microbial activity-dormancy dynamics is in part due to uncertainty in the methods currently used to quantify active taxa. Here, we directly compared two of the most common methods (16S ratios and active cell staining) for...
- Special Issue Perspective | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceUnderstanding Microbiome Stability in a Changing World
Microbiomes underpin biogeochemical processes, sustain the bases of food webs, and recycle carbon and nutrients. Thus, microbes are frontline players in determining ecosystem responses to environmental change.
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyOsdR of Streptomyces coelicolor and the Dormancy Regulator DevR of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Control Overlapping Regulons
Dormancy is a state of growth cessation that allows bacteria to escape the host defense system and antibiotic challenge. Understanding the mechanisms that control dormancy is of key importance for the treatment of latent infections, such as those from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In mycobacteria, dormancy is controlled by the response regulator DevR, which responds to...