An enhanced domestication method for uncultured bacteria Abstract. When environmental bacteria transition to laboratory conditions, a process termed domestication, the shift from the native habitat to a culture m

Most bacteria remain uncultured with vast microbial ‘dark matter’ awaiting discovery.. to address this am excited to share EDEN - an enhanced domestication method to grow uncultured bacteria & new diversity. Using EDEN we isolate a new species active against MDR pathogens..

doi.org/10.1093/isme...

A bacterial CARD–NLR-like immune system controls the release of gene transfer agents - Nature Microbiology An immunity-like system functions as a lysis control hub to promote gene transfer agent particle release from host bacterial cells, suggesting that bacterial immune systems may be co-opted to promote ...

Delighted to share our latest work on gene transfer agents (GTAs). We found a lysis control hub which allows GTAs to escape their bacterial host cells and transfer DNA 🧬 between bacteria. Thanks to @tunglejic.bsky.social, all co-authors, and our amazing collaborators!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Now open: applications for the ASM–CSIR‑IGIB Symposium on Decoding Microbial Systems!

Join a global, interdisciplinary research community exploring microbial systems, genomics and data‑driven discovery.

📅 Apply by June 12.
👉 asm.social/2TJ

Epistasis and co-adaptation in bacterial genome evolution - Nature Reviews Genetics Bacterial genome evolution is shaped by epistasis, which can constrain or promote specific evolutionary paths. The authors review how integrating the effects of epistatic interactions into population-...

Cool paper !

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Meet the 2026 Marjory Stephenson Prize Winner, Professor Mark Buttner Ahead of the 2026 Marjory Stephenson Prize Lecture, Omolulu Fagunwa interviewed Professor Mark Buttner to learn more about his career and how it feels to win a Microbiology Society prize.

Marjory Stephenson Prize winner Professor Mark Buttner is presenting their lecture 'How c-di-GMP controls progression through the Streptomyces life cycle', at 18:15 in the Auditorium.
Read more about their work: https://microb.io/3PVXEVB

#Microbio26

Ribosome State Distributions Define Escherichia coli Persister Physiology: Links to Formation, Stress Responses, and Resuscitation Dynamics The AUCS70/AUCS100 ratio, derived from ribosome sedimentation profiling, quantitatively distinguishes Escherichia coli persisters from growing cells across multiple stress conditions and identifies R....

Ribosome State Distributions Define Escherichia coli Persister Physiology: Links to Formation, Stress Responses, and Resuscitation Dynamics enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #jcampubs

Lovely catch-up of the #AccessMicro editorial board today in Belfast @microbiologysociety.org #MicroBio26

Wonderful

Congratulations from Microbiology Society to the 2026 Prize Medal Winner, Professor Paul Williams!

#Microbio26

Stimulating keynote from @jojofoth.bsky.social on advancing phage therapy for chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis, addressing key translational challenges from clinical pathways and phage biobanking to delivery, diagnostics, and public engagement at #Microbio26.

DefensePredictor: A machine learning model to discover prokaryotic immune systems Antiphage defense systems protect bacteria from viral infection and have inspired important biotechnologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 while also revealing the evolutionary roots of eukaryotic innate immunit...

DefensePredictor: A machine learning model to discover prokaryotic immune systems
#microbiology #prokaryotes #CRISPR #MicroSky
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

All set for my 14.5K GU Forest Force run in Singapore

A blast from the past!

A scanning electron micrograph of #Borrelia taken in 1984, from Dr. Burgdorfer's original research identifying this bacteria as the cause of #Lyme disease.

Impressive, considering this image was taken 42 years ago!

#science #history #microscopy

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) evolved microscopic “compasses” to align to and navigate via Earth’s magnetic field. Today, those same magnetic powers are inspiring new ways to target cancer, deliver drugs and design microrobots for precision medicine. Get the full story: asm.org/articles/202...

The phage nucleus synergizes with an anti-defense protein to resist bacterial immunity Morgan et al. show that a phage-encoded protein functions as an antitoxin to counter DarTG2-mediated phage defense. They further explore the interplay between this anti-defense protein, the phage nucleus replication compartment, which encloses chimallivirus genomes, and the DarTG2 phage defense system.

The phage nucleus synergizes with an anti-defense protein to resist bacterial immunity: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...

Class II chaperones: indispensable components of the Gram-negative bacterial T3SS as guardians of translocators - Archives of Microbiology Archives of Microbiology - The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a nanomachinery through which Gram-negative bacteria release effector proteins into host cells and induce cytotoxicity. The T3SS...

Class II chaperones: indispensable components of the Gram-negative bacterial T3SS as guardians of translocators
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

The MarR Family Transcriptional Regulator EmrR Negatively Regulates the Type III Secretion System (T3SS) and Positively Modulates Pathogenicity in Dickeya oryzae This study revealed that the transcriptional regulator EmrR in Dickeya oryzae modulates virulence by regulating hrpL expression and c-di-GMP levels. It affects motility, biofilm formation, cellulase ...

The MarR Family Transcriptional Regulator EmrR Negatively Regulates the Type III Secretion System (T3SS) and Positively Modulates Pathogenicity in Dickeya oryzae - Lv - 2026 - Molecular Plant Pathology - Wiley Online Library bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Local peptidoglycan composition defines division site selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae Nature Microbiology, Published online: 07 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02322-6Sequential peptidoglycan carboxylase activity of DacA and DacB generates a local peptidoglycan signature that recruits MapZ and establishes the division site at the Streptococcus pneumoniae cell equator.

Out Now! Local peptidoglycan composition defines division site selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae #MicroSky

New in JB: In the CF airway, P. aeruginosa transitions from an acute to chronic pathogen. Roxana Flores-Vega, Roberto Rosales-Reyes et al. review the role of 2-component systems in this crucial adaptation.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology

The diverse molecular mechanisms of cellular motility. (A) The rotary T9SS and conveyor belt of Flavobacterium johnsoniae. (B) The focal adhesin complex of Myxococcus xanthus. (C) The leg-like attachment machinery of Mycoplasma mobile. Additional mechanistic models of motility for Mycoplasma genitalium (21) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (22–26) are described in the text, with additional details available in the cited literature. (D) Multiple Type IV pili strategically arranged at both sides of the septal wall ensure smooth, coordinated gliding in filamentous cyanobacteria. The molecular organization depicted is based on well-characterized Type IV pilus systems of cyanobacteria. (E) The actin and myosin-based glidosome of the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii. (F) The proposed raphe and actinomyosin system of the diatom Craspedostauros australis. (OM, outer membrane; IM, inner membrane; PG, peptidoglycan; IMC, inner membrane complex; pPM, parasite plasma membrane; hPM, host plasma membrane).

#MicrobiologyMonday: Gliding motility allows cells to move smoothly along surfaces without flagella. Although this strategy has evolved independently across many microbial lineages, common mechanical principles emerge. Learn more in #JBacteriology: asm.social/2SJ

λcI857 lytic infections and host lysogenization following induction of lysogens embedded within Escherichia coli biofilms with either WT curli production (curli+) or no curli production (curli−). Host biofilms were inoculated with λcI857 lysogens and uninfected host cells at a 1:10 ratio and cultured for 72 h prior to λcI857 phage induction. The image shows a time series of biofilms inoculated with lysogens and uninfected E. coli hosts that either produce (top row) or do not produce (bottom row) curli extracellular matrix. The first image in each row was taken just after heat was applied to induce some biofilm-embedded lysogens to switch to the lytic infection cycle.

How do #bacteriophage life history strategies influence host invasion & inter- #phage competition in #biofilms? This study shows that spatial structure shapes invasion success, favoring temperate phages over lytic ones when diffusion is limited @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/47Aripq

I am excited to share our latest paper, Uniform bacterial genetic diversity along the gut, now out in Nature Communications! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... (1/n)

#microsky

SCELSE clinched triple championships at the CReW Sports Lunch 2026, closing the NTU Staff Sports & Games 2025 on a high.
🏆 Road Race (+IDMxS) — James Ho
🏆 Bowling (+NTU mates) — Linda Choo, Wen Jia Phung, Allen Chow
🏆 Soccer (+NBS & SBS) — Eze Santillan
Superb teamwork! @fillouxlab.bsky.social

How graphene oxide kills bacteria while sparing human cells Hygiene in everyday items that touch the body—such as clothing, masks, and toothbrushes—is critically important. The underlying principle of how graphene selectively eliminates only bacteria has now…

How #graphene oxide kills #bacteria while sparing human cells ...

| #antibacterial | #microbiology | #antibiotics | #microbes | Via @sciencex.bsky.social

On the architecture and evolution of prokaryotic multicellularity AbstractProkaryotes form multicellular structures under both natural and experimental conditions, based on developmental programs that sometimes echo those known from eukaryotes. Recent research has i...

On the architecture and evolution of prokaryotic multicellularity

Preprint from @escolizzi.bsky.social

www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....

Spatial structure: shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities Spatial structure naturally emerges in microbial communities, shaping growth, interactions, and evolution, and revealing how microscale processes scale up

Spatial structure: shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities academic.oup.com/femsre/artic...

Our work with the Brun lab on the in situ architecture of the Caulobacter crescentus Tad pilus machine is published in mBio. Amazing collaborative effort led by James Iarocci @jamesiarocci.bsky.social

Drought drives elevated antibiotic resistance across soils - Nature Microbiology Drought conditions in soil systems lead to elevated concentrations of natural antibiotics, as well as the enrichment of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, highlighting a link between climate and the...

Drought drives elevated antibiotic resistance across soils

@natmicrobiol.nature.com from Dianne Newman
with @hannahjeckel.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Announcement for the Journal of Medical Microbiology virtual seminar on 27 March 2026 with a red background featuring microscopic cells.

Join Dr Rob Fagan's Seminar this Friday at 2pm on ‘Clostridioides difficile - an evolving AMR threat.' Register here: https://microb.io/4l58vI6 #JMM