Mostly Microbes and Infection - by David Ojcius

Highlights • Gut microbiome CRC signature is universal across age groups and sequencing approaches • Tumor-enriched microbes are concordant with fecal CRC signatures • Increasing dietary fiber intake reduces the microbiome CRC signature score • Fusobacterium subspecies show biogeographic variation in CRC enrichment

Highlights • Climate stressors restructure soil microhabitats, reassembling microbial guilds that regulate C–N–P cycling and resilience. • Cross-domain feedbacks link pore architecture and soil chemistry to microbiome functions and emergent soil health outcomes. • Rhizosphere mechanisms (exudates, siderophores, ACC deaminase, ISR, AMF/N-fixing symbioses) provide actionable leverage points under stress. • Integrative indicators connect physical, chemical, and biological metrics to soil multifunctionality for monitoring under climate extremes. • Emerging tools (meta-omics, 3D imaging, spectroscopy, isotopic tracing, in situ sensors) enable mechanistic diagnosis and decision support.

Highlights • CBASS antagonizes phage replication while preserving cell viability in P. aeruginosa • 3′,3′-cGAMP-activated CapV targets diverse phages and overcomes CBASS inhibitors • CBASS-sensitive phages transcribe and replicate their genome • CBASS activity limits packaged phage DNA, reducing virion production

Highlights • Isolated TPD-causing V. parahaemolyticus strain P40.49 from infected shrimp. • Experimental infection confirmed the pathogenicity of the TPD-causing strain P40.49. • Whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of ∼69 kbp TPD-associated plasmid. • The shrimp stomach and intestine tissues are ideal for early TPD detection (6 hpi). • Four unique TPD-associated genes may serve as additional markers for TPD detection.

Highlights • W. chondrophila encodes two Ndk paralogs, unlike most Chlamydiota. • ndk genes are early expressed and protein levels peak during bacterial replication. • WcNdk1 is inclusion-bound, while WcNdk2 localizes to host cell compartments. • AZT inhibits bacterial growth and protects host cells from infection-induced death. • AZT sensitivity is linked to ndk2 presence, implicating WcNdk2 as functional target.

Highlights • Adjunctive oral FMT accelerates antidepressant response as early as week 2 • Superior efficacy persists through 8 weeks with no additional side effects • FMT reshapes gut microbes, with donor strains coexisting in recipients • Benefits are mediated by elevated bile acids and reduced systemic inflammation