evolution
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceMetapopulation Structure of CRISPR-Cas Immunity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its VirusesPseudomonas aeruginosa is a widespread opportunistic pathogen and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis patients. Microbe-virus interactions play a critical role in shaping microbial populations, as viral infections can kill microbial populations or contribute to gene flow among microbes. Investigating how...
Special Issue Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyRole of the Gut Microbiome in Vertebrate EvolutionDarwin referred to life as a struggle. Organisms compete for limited resources in nature, and their traits influence the outcome.
Special Issue Perspective | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceSeven Billion Microcosms: Evolution within Human MicrobiomesRational microbiome-based therapies may one day treat a wide range of diseases and promote wellness. Yet, we are still limited in our abilities to employ such therapies and to predict which bacterial strains have the potential to stably colonize a person.
Special Issue Perspective | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceSynergy among Microbiota and Their Hosts: Leveraging the Hawaiian Archipelago and Local Collaborative Networks To Address Pressing Questions in Microbiome Research...Despite increasing acknowledgment that microorganisms underpin the healthy functioning of basically all multicellular life, few cross-disciplinary teams address the diversity and function of microbiota across organisms and ecosystems. Our newly formed consortium of junior faculty spanning fields such as ecology and geoscience to mathematics and molecular biology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa aims to fill this gap.
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceSignatures of Selection at Drug Resistance Loci in Mycobacterium tuberculosisMycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a significant burden on global health. Antibiotic treatment imposes strong selective pressure on M. tuberculosis populations. Identifying the mutations that cause drug resistance in...
Observation | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceAn Important Role for Purifying Selection in Archaeal Genome EvolutionThe evolution of genome complexities is a fundamental question in biology. A hallmark of eukaryotic genome complexity is that larger genomes tend to have more noncoding sequences, which are believed to be minimal in archaeal and bacterial genomes. However, we found that archaeal genomes also possessed this eukaryotic feature while bacterial genomes did not. This could be predicted from our analysis of genetic drift, which showed relaxed...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceParallel Evolution of Group B Streptococcus Hypervirulent Clonal Complex 17 Unveils New Pathoadaptive MutationsThe incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) neonatal disease continues to be a significant cause of concern worldwide. Strains belonging to clonal complex 17 (CC17) are the most frequently responsible for GBS infections in neonates, especially among late-onset disease cases. Therefore, we undertook the largest genomic study of GBS CC17 strains to date to decipher the genetic bases of their remarkable colonization and infection...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyEvolution of Ubiquinone Biosynthesis: Multiple Proteobacterial Enzymes with Various Regioselectivities To Catalyze Three Contiguous Aromatic Hydroxylation Reactions
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIs the Evolution of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Linked to Restriction-Modification Systems?The evolution of bacterial pathogens, their plasticity and ability to rapidly change and adapt to new surroundings are crucial for understanding the epidemiology and public health. With the application of genomics, it became clear that horizontal gene transfer played a key role in evolution. To understand the evolution and diversification of pathogens, we need to understand the processes that drive the horizontal gene transfer....
Editor's Pick Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceLong-Term Evolution of Burkholderia multivorans during a Chronic Cystic Fibrosis Infection Reveals Shifting Forces of SelectionBacteria may become genetically and phenotypically diverse during long-term colonization of cystic fibrosis (CF) patient lungs, yet our understanding of within-host evolutionary processes during these infections is lacking. Here we combined current genome sequencing technologies and detailed phenotypic profiling of the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia multivorans...