Tuberculosis affects around a quarter of the global population even though significant progress has been made in understanding how the pathogen infects its host. 🦠

For #WorldTuberculosisDay, our #FEMSmicroBlog explores novel molecular approaches to fight this deadly disease. ❤️‍🩹

Water shapes microbial life, and microbes shape water systems.

From biofilms to bioremediation, this #FEMSmicroBlog explores how these interactions influence water quality. A timely read for #WorldWaterDay

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#FEMSmicroBlog: Exploring the metabolic activities of microbial methane munchers #FEMSmicroBlog: So-called “microbial methane munchers” have the unique abilities to lower methane emissions from various ecosystems.

Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas with a high heat-trapping capacity but a short lifespan in the atmosphere.

So-called “microbial methane munchers” can lower methane emissions from diverse ecosystems, as explored on the new #FEMSmicroBlog. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Plasmids as key drivers of the antibiotic resistance crisis #FEMSmicroBlog: IncH plasmids might be drivers of the spread of antibiotic resistances causing high numbers of bacterial infections.

It is not always clear where antibiotic resistances come from and why they spread so quickly between bacteria and even across environments. 🦠

This new #FEMSmicroBlog explores IncH plasmids as one potential driver of antibiotic resistances. #MicrobiologyIsEverywhere

FEMSmicroBlog: Uncovering Indonesia’s hidden fungal threats This #FEMSmicroBlog outlines how WHO-listed priority fungal pathogens appear across Indonesian ecosystems and why they often go undetected.

The WHO Priority Pathogen List includes 19 fungal pathogens that pose serious global health risks. 😷

Our new #FEMSmicroBlog explores how these pathogens appear in tropical Indonesian ecosystems and why they often go undetected. #MicrobiologyIsEverywhere

#FEMSmicroBlog: Tiny plastics with big consequences on soil microbial nitrogen cycling This #FEMSmicroBlog explores how plastics, pesticides, and veterinary pharmaceuticals interact to affect microbial nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils. #MicrobiologyIsEverywhere

Agricultural soils are exposed to plastics, as well as pesticides and veterinary pharmaceuticals, suffering from their combined effects.

Our new #FEMSmicroBlog discusses how their interactions affect a critical microbial soil process: nitrogen cycling. #MicrobiologyIsEverywhere

#FEMSmicroBlog: How bacteria mess with your DNA: Lessons from Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how Staphylococcus aureus induces damage that triggers complex DNA repair mechanisms. #FascinatingMicrobes

Some bacterial pathogens alter the integrity of human cells more profoundly, for example by harming the DNA of the cells they infect.

This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how Staphylococcus aureus induces damage that triggers complex DNA repair mechanisms. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Small bacterial proteins for big changes This #FEMSmicroBlog describes how a small membrane protein helps bacteria trigger a global stress response to adapt to hostile conditions.

To cope with changing environments, some bacteria compact their chromosomes to conserve resources.

This new #FEMSmicroBlog describes how a small membrane protein helps E. coli trigger a global stress response to adapt to hostile conditions. #FascinatingMicrobes

Sandy soils pose a challenge for sustainable agriculture and climate action because they drain water and nutrients, leaving crops thirsty and reducing yields. 🌽

This #FEMSmicroblog discusses how biochar can render poor soils more resilient and increase microbial diversity. 🦠

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The final edition of our “New Microbes Discovered in 2025” series is here. After exploring new viruses, bacteria, and fungi, this last #FEMSmicroBlog highlights the archaea identified in 2025: buff.ly/pJpA0Ax #NewMicrobes

Fungi got even more fascinating in 2025; zombie ants, plastic-eaters, bamboo aliens, and rust parasites. Check out the latest #FEMSmicroBlog that both captivated (and horrified) us in 2025: buff.ly/2qzregO
#NewMicrobes

A really nice reads about bacteria described in 2025!
#FEMSmicroblog

As 2025 wraps up, we’re looking back at some of the most intriguing microbes that made their scientific debut this year. This blog highlights standout bacterial species that caught our eye. Read the full #FEMSmicroBlog: buff.ly/2wz7k16

#NewMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Protein handover for efficient virulence This #FEMSmicroBlog sheds light on one molecular aspect of the type III secretion system, explaining why bacteria need them for infection.

To infect hosts, pathogenic bacteria like Yersinia enterocolitica rely on the type III secretion system to inject effectors directly into host cells.

This #FEMSmicroBlog explains why bacteria need specialized T3SS chaperones for infection. #FascinatingMicrobes

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#FEMSmicroBlog: Bacteria and magnets - a combo for increased carbon recovery This new #FEMSmicroBlog explores a bacterial co-culture with a magnetic twist to optimise bioalcohol production. #FascinatingMicrobes

Microbes have great potential to provide us with sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. 🦠

This new #FEMSmicroBlog explores a bacterial co-culture with a magnetic twist to optimise bioalcohol production. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Evolutionary insights into the bacterial carbon metabolism Read in our #FEMSmicroBlog why it seems likely that the metabolic pathway of glycolysis arose from gluconeogenesis in autotrophs.

Even though all life shares the same carbon metabolism, gluconeogenic enzymes are more conserved in archaea and bacteria than glycolytic enzymes.

Read in #FEMSmicroBlog why the metabolic pathway of glycolysis likely arose from gluconeogenesis in autotrophs. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog Synthetic Upgrades for Modern Expression Systems - FEMS Inducible promoters are everywhere in bacterial biotechnology but optimizing them remains a challenge. This blog, written by Andrés Felipe Carrillo Rincón, explores how he and co-author Natalie G.…

Inducible promoters are everywhere in bacterial biotechnology, but optimizing them isn’t easy. In this #FEMSmicroBlog, Andrés Felipe Carrillo Rincón walks us through how synthetic σ70 promoters and tunable plasmids can unlock stronger expression, tighter control, & portability:

How parasitic worms shape our response to viral infections and vaccines This #FEMSmicroBlog discusses how the interactions between viruses and parasites can have profound consequences on human health and vaccines.

Viruses and parasitic worms sometimes meet in the same human host, where they start to interact.

This #FEMSmicroBlog discusses how these interactions can have profound consequences on health, disease outcome, and vaccination efficiency. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Double trouble: How a Mini-Me endolysin isoform supercharges bacterial lysis For World Phage Day, this #FEMSmicroBlog explores the endolysin from a staphylococcal phage, optimized to kill its bacterial host.

To escape their hosts, bacteriophages use endolysins to break down bacterial cell walls and spread to new targets.

For World Phage Day, our new #FEMSmicroBlog explores how the endolysin from a staphylococcal phage is optimized to kill its bacterial host. #FascinatingMicrobes

Excited to see my #FEMSmicroBlog online! It's about optimizing ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the advantages (and challenges) related to combining different engineering strategies!

#FEMSmicroBlog: Optimizing the production of ethanol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae This #FEMSmicroBlog explains two engineering strategies in a single yeast strain to boost the production of bioethanol. #FascinatingMicrobes

Yeast-based ethanol production is one of the largest biotechnological industries, always calling for new ways to optimise efficiency.

This #FEMSmicroBlog explains two engineering strategies in a single yeast strain to boost the production of bioethanol. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Current knowledge and understanding of Mpox This #FEMSmicroBlog discusses its molecular and clinical features, how the virus spreads and recommendations for vaccination, infection control and treatment. #FascinatingMicrobes

The Monkeypox virus from the genus Orthopoxvirus has led to a rise in cases in recent years.

This #FEMSmicroBlog discusses its molecular and clinical features, how the virus spreads and recommendations for vaccination, infection control and treatment. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Halophile archaea healing themselves This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how the halophile model organism Haloferax volcanii repairs DNA double strand breaks quickly and efficiently. #FascinatingMicrobes

To maintain genome integrity, extreme organisms like archaea rely heavily on repair pathways.

This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how the halophile model organism Haloferax volcanii repairs DNA double strand breaks quickly and efficiently. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Revealing the hidden diversity of wine yeasts This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how the well-adapted yeast species Hanseniaspora shapes grape fermentation and thus the final wine product. #FascinatingMicrobes

Microbial communities of grapevines vary between wine regions, grape variety, climate, geography and vineyard practices. 🍇

This #FEMSmicroBlog explains how the well-adapted yeast species Hanseniaspora shapes grape fermentation and thus the final wine product. #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: MicroMundo@Oeiras as a citizen science project to tackle antibiotic resistance Read about the MicroMundo@Oeiras project on the #FEMSmicroBlog and learn how non-scientists learn about #antibiotics while chasing new bacteria. #CulturePlate

In the global battle against #AntimicrobialResistance, citizens too can play a key role.

Read about the MicroMundo@Oeiras project on the #FEMSmicroBlog and learn how non-scientists learn about #antibiotics while chasing new bacteria. #CulturePlate

Interactions between a mother’s milk and baby's microbes To explore the interactions between a baby's gut microbes and mother's milk, a study applies a synthetic community of glycan degraders and cross-feeders.

💡 Curious how we applied a synthetic community to study interactions between baby gut microbes and a lot of different sugars?

📖 I wrote a blog for the #FEMSmicroBlog to explain!

🦠 #microsky #microbiomesky #glycotime

fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...

About the interactions between sugars from mother’s milk and the baby’s microbes To explore the interactions between different sugars and the gut microbes in an infant, a new study applies a synthetic community consisting of glycan degraders and cross-feeders.

Milk sugars from the mother play crucial roles in the development of a baby's gut microbiome. 🍼

To explore the interactions between sugars and the gut microbes in an infant, a study applies a community of glycan degraders and cross-feeders. #FEMSmicroBlog #FascinatingMicrobes

#FEMSmicroBlog: Microbiology going comic - FEMS For a while, educational microbiology was found in textbooks. Gladly, it transformed into new forms, such as microbiology-related comics.

Only 50 years ago, microbiology was to be found only in thick textbooks full of biochemical details and Latin nomenclature 🧪🦠📘

But now we have a bust of microbiology-related comics — and I explain it for #FEMSmicroBlog by @femsmicro.org

#MicrobiologyInArt

fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...

The Antarctic environment harbours diverse and unique microbial species, with several producing chemicals with interesting functions. 🦠

This #FEMSmicroBlog explores a recent study on Antarctic bacteria and their potential antimicrobial activities. #FascinatingMicrobes

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Every 1st Friday in August, beer lovers celebrate International Beer Day. But behind every pint is a tiny, unsung hero: yeast. Our latest #FEMSmicroBlog explores this fascinating science behind this beloved drink: buff.ly/J4SZpXG Cheers! 🍻