Mostly Microbes and Infection

University of the Pacific secured 62 grants from federal, state and county agencies totaling more than $36 million—one of the best years for government grants in school history. The dramatic increase in fiscal year 2023—double the amount awarded to Pacific in 2022—was largely driven by three of the university’s largest grants, which include $6 million for the School of Health Sciences to  expand the social work program , $5.6 million for Benerd College to  support mental health services in K-12 schools  and $5 million to McGeorge School of Law to  improve mental health services in California . This was the best year for grants at Pacific in 15 years. “This is a reflection of the exceptional work our faculty are doing to address pressing issues,” said David Ojcius, assistant provost for research and scholarship. “These grants will have a significant impact on the community.”   Read full article at: https://www.pacific.edu/pacific-newsroom/pacific-has-on...

  Highlights • MrkA is required for siderophore production, revealing an unexpected link between type 3 fimbriae and iron acquisition. • MrkA could mediates bacterial adhesion to bladder and intestinal epithelium, indicating a role in mucosal tropism. • MrkA maintains carbon homeostasis via the PTS and csrA, and its loss reprograms metabolism and attenuates virulence.

  Highlights • Grass types variably affect soil microbes and nutrient cycling gene abundance. • Carex breviculmis enhances soil C fixation, denitrification, and P activation. • Festuca arundinacea Schred promotes soil nitrogen fixation capacity. • Soil pH, AP and AN boost C/N/P/S-cycling genes.

  Highlights • Experimentally infected participants expel infectious influenza virus into the air • The magnitude of infectious expulsions varies widely by individual • Infectivity of expulsions correlates with viral loads and symptoms • Viral genetic diversity is maintained through the expulsion process

  Highlights • Type II CRISPR-Cas systems are highly prevalent in the human gut • Gut phages harbor diverse type II CRISPR inhibitors, including one for type II-B • Members of the GutAcr aca  family share similar structures but have diverse sequences • GutAcr aca  members inhibit bacterial immunity and regulate their own production

  Highlights • Colonocyte regionalization is microbiome-driven rather than stem cell intrinsic • Microbiome-derived nicotinic acid establishes proximal identity partly via PPARα • Microbiome-mediated proximal identity protects the colon from DSS-induced injury • In humans, proximal/ascending identity is lost in Crohn’s disease patients