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Spores of Fusarium xylarioides
Researchers Resurrect Coffee-Destroying Fungus—to Study It
Comparing the genomes of modern pathogens with those of cryopreserved strains from several decades ago shed light on the evolution of coffee wilt disease outbreaks in Africa.
Researchers Resurrect Coffee-Destroying Fungus—to Study It
Researchers Resurrect Coffee-Destroying Fungus—to Study It

Comparing the genomes of modern pathogens with those of cryopreserved strains from several decades ago shed light on the evolution of coffee wilt disease outbreaks in Africa.

Comparing the genomes of modern pathogens with those of cryopreserved strains from several decades ago shed light on the evolution of coffee wilt disease outbreaks in Africa.

genetics, microbiology, genetics & genomics

photo of marshy wetland in california at sunset
Researchers Find DNA “Borgs” in Methane-Chomping Archaea
Annie Melchor | Jul 20, 2021 | 3 min read
Massive extrachromosomal elements named after the hive-minded cyborg villains in Star Trek may be the first of their kind.
an illustration of the sars-cov-2 spike protein in purple tethered to the viral membrane in dark gray
Spike Protein Deletions Linked to COVID-19 Surges: Preprint
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Jun 15, 2021 | 4 min read
Researchers find that surges in COVID-19 case numbers are associated with deletions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome in an antigenic site of the spike protein. Some of these mutations are present in vaccine breakthrough infections or reinfections.
streaks of white bacterial colonies on a blue Petri dish
Many Bacteria and Archaea Promoters Work Forward and Backward
Jack J. Lee | May 28, 2021 | 4 min read
New analyses find that divergent transcription, in which one promoter directs the expression of two adjacent genes oriented in opposite directions, is conserved across all domains of life.
An illustration of an orange bacteriophage virus sitting on top of a green bacterium
Some Viruses Use an Alternative Genetic Alphabet
Abby Olena, PhD | Apr 29, 2021 | 4 min read
In a trio of studies, researchers follow up on a 40-year-old finding that certain bacteriophages replace adenine with so-called diaminopurine, perhaps to avoid host degradation.
a photo of ampules stored in wire racks
Scripps Acquires Pfizer’s Massive Microbial Library
Jef Akst | Jan 9, 2020 | 5 min read
The East Coast campus of the research institute received shipments of freeze-dried or frozen samples of more than 210,000 microbial strains, which scientists plan to mine for potentially useful natural products.
mouse microbiome
Mouse Genetics Shape the Gut Microbiome More than Their Environment
Nicoletta Lanese | Aug 6, 2019 | 3 min read
Neither the maternal microbiome nor housing conditions appear to permanently alter which microbes remain in the animals.
Gut Bacteria Vary with Diet
Jef Akst | Dec 13, 2013 | 2 min read
Extreme diets can alter the microbial makeup of the human GI tract, and change the behavior of those bacteria.
Bacterial Identity Crisis
Cristina Luiggi | Nov 9, 2011 | 1 min read
Researchers probe the genetics of a group of bacteria known to extensively swap DNA sequences with other species—blurring the species boundaries.
Honey bee microbiome probed
Bob Grant | Jun 9, 2011 | 1 min read
Researchers reveal several new viruses lurking in healthy hives.
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