ASM Microbe: Could your microbial signature be used in forensics?
Researchers have demonstrated that microbial signatures could be used to identify individuals involved in crimes such as burglaries, according to research presented at ASM Microbe.
Browsing: Genomics
Expansion of the virus world in the era of metagenomics – an interview with Eugene Koonin
In line with our focus this month on emerging technologies, we spoke to Eugene Koonin, Senior Investigator at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, about metagenomics and how it can be used to understand more about the global virome.
Research suggests gonorrhoea can resist last-resort antibiotics and maintain growth rate
New research has identified growth-restoring mutations in ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea strains, providing insight into this bacteria’s evolution and raising concerns over the spread of this ‘superbug’.
A peek behind the paper – Shilian Xu on the dominance of different bacterial genotypes under sublethal antibiotic pressure
In this interview, take a look behind the scenes of a recent Future Microbiology article investigating the collective resistance of different bacterial genotype populations, with authors, Shilian Xu, Jiaru Yang, Chong Yin and Xiaohua Zhao.
In focus: The microbiome
Although the microbiome has been implicated in many pathologies, from obesity to Alzheimer’s, in this feature, we take a closer look at the role of the microbiome in infectious diseases. Discover more in our February focus.
The Microbe Directory – an interview with Heba Shaaban and David Westfall
The Microbe Directory is a collective research effort aiming to profile over 7,000 microbes in order to provide further information for any researchers carrying out metagenomic analyses. We spoke to two of the Project Leaders, Heba Shaaban and David Westfall about the project, how it’s being used in research and how you can get involved.
New CRISPR technology could detect infections
The gene-editing technique CRISPR could be used to detect infections, potentially revolutionizing the detection of viruses such as HPV and Zika, according to two papers recently published in Science.
Largest genetic study of Anopheles gambiae highlights spread of insecticide resistance
Researchers have carried out the largest genetic study of Anopheles gambiae, discovering the spread of resistance and high genetic diversity.
Suppression of CG dinucleotides in viruses may help them to evade our cellular defences
Scientists have explored how the viral genome affects the infectious potency of HIV; discovering that viruses have likely evolved to remove CG dinucleotides in order to avoid surveillance to mammalian defence mechanisms.
New mechanisms of antibiotic resistance discovered in Escherichia coli
Researchers have unveiled novel pathways controlled by the multiple antibiotic resistance operon and identified new ways in which bacteria protect themselves against antibiotics.