#MicroSky: SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY. How do microbes respond to electricity? Al Sbei et al show that microbial electrosynthesis drives Clostridium ljungdahlii into a unique physiological sate, offering new insights into carbon capture, energy storage and biomanufacturing. Don’t miss doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Cancer Research: Microbial genetics can transform cancer diagnostic. Xi et al identified thousands of E. coli SNOs associated with colorectal cancer, enabling a highly accurate, non-invasive risk prediction model. Don’t miss doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: PLANT HEALTH: Can bacteriophages protect oak trees? Grace et al doi.org/10.1111/1751... isolated the first phages targeting bacteria linked to acute oak decline. While promising in the lab, field assays highlight the complexity of applying phage therapy in natural environments.

#MicrosKY: VACCINES: A new nanoparticle vaccine platform against West Nile virus shows strong immune responses, scalability and safety. Built on bacterial expression systems, the novel approach can accelerate affordable vaccine development against multiple viruses. Byun et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Scientific academies are more than honor societies; they are public institutions with a responsibility to lead. In an era of climate change, inequality, declining trust in science, evidence-based leadership has never been so important. Timmis et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: From Antarctica comes a new discovery by Kralova et al doi.org/10.1111/1751.... They identified kineochelins, an unknown group of siderophores produced by rare actinomycetes. A new step toward uncovering new bioactive compounds and antimicrobials.

#MicroSky: MBT has achieved a CiteScore of 9.4! We’re thrilled to rank in the top 15% of the areas of Applied Microbiol & Biotechnol and Biochemistry, Genetics & Mol Biol. THANKS to our readers, authors, staff & editors for their unwavering support!

#MicroSky: SCIENCE COMMUNICATION: Microbes shape our world, yet they are often misunderstood. Bakteriopolis is bringing the hidden microbial world directly to communities through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities and dialogue with scientists. Read Friebel et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: ONE HEALTH: Cutibacterium acnes extracellular vesicles promote ovarian tumor growth by activating the KEAP1–NRF2 axis and suppressing ferroptosis. RSL3 reversed these effects, highlighting microbial EVs therapeutic targets in EOC. Learn more. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: BIOREMEDIATION In the environment, bacteria sense aromatic pollutants, move to them, adapt to toxicity, & use specialized uptake & catabolic systems. Genomic plasticity, metabolic versatility & division of labor within populations aid to remove persistent chemicals doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Kim et al (doi.org/10.1111/1751...) improved microbial chemical production by combining genomic libraries with fluorescent biosensors. They identified genes involved in 3-HP import & locking product re-uptake boosted 3-HP titers by 21%, advancing smarter microbial cell factories.

#MicroSky: SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY. Kato et al (doi.org/10.1111/1751...) engineering bacterial P450 into an H₂O₂-driven biocatalyst boosting activity 28-fold & enabled efficient synthesis of valuable compounds, including indigo dye. A simple, powerful strategy to expand sustainable enzyme-driven chemistry

#MicroSky: Machine learning meets microbiome science: optimized amino acid formulations for Bifidobacterium longum reduced nutrient inputs by up to 77% while maintaining growth. Kaneco et al reveal key amino acids shaping fitness and enables streamlined media design. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Science conversations are evolving. By analysing interactions on X and BlueSky, Bernal et al highlight the microbiology and biotechnology topics our community cares about most: from precision medicine to synthetic biology and sustainability. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Park et al present ways for fighting antibiotic resistance by targeting bacterial persisters. bymBDZ accelerates persister regrowth & increases antibiotic susceptibility in E. coli, boosting killing during early recovery. A promising strategy to prevent relapse. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: A greener future for bioplastics: near-solvent-free recovery of microbial PHAs directly from wet biomass using insect-derived enzymes. High polymer recovery & material quality, & up to 7× lower carbon footprint without drying or toxic solvents. Read Bogojevic et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: GREEN CHEMISTRY: Succinic acid is key for sustainable green chemistry, but cost & sustainability challenges limit scale-up. Gunkel and Blombach explore next-generation feedstocks, low-pH fermentations & novel yeasts to advance competitive succinic acid production. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

Excessive paperwork and inefficient systems are sabotaging scientific progress. Really proud to be part of this global manifesto spearheaded by @kentimmis.bsky.social. We need action at all levels to tackle the root causes. Our analysis & proposals @microbiotech.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Adapting Bacteria for Better Bioremediation. Evolving Dehalobacter on mixed substrates boosts 1,1-DCA dechlorination. Key mutations in TmrA enhance binding to xenobiotic pollutants, a new path to engineer more efficient cleanup microbes. Read Ren et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Engineering Better Fucosylation with Enzyme Design. MBT ( doi.org/10.1111/1751...) presents a study led by Patricie Vodičková, that boosts transfucosylation >20× via a single mutation (S237V), enabling precise synthesis of fucosyllactose derivatives for biosensors and diagnostics.

#MicroSky: Better Biosensors: Engineering Geobacter biofilms via cGAMP signaling enhances electron transfer, creating thinner, more conductive films. Result: a 20× improvement in Cd(II) detection sensitivity, hence advancing bioenergy and biosensing tech. By Zhang , Han et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Wastewater: Prototheca, rare pathogenic microalgae, are widespread in wastewater (78% samples). Treatment cuts levels by up to 99.9%, yet detectable cells remain, highlighting WWTPs as potential release routes & the need for routine monitoring + safety guidelines. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Healthcare systems are failing on access, equity, and resilience. Timmis et al propose a bold reset: patient-driven digital care, microbial tech innovation, and a shift to prevention, reframing healthcare as a public good, not a commodity. Learn more doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: How does a methylotrophic yeast fine-tune methanol metabolism? Cai et al reveal high-res structures of two alcohol oxidase isozymes in Ogataea methanolica, showing distinct cofactor preferences & assembly into functional octamers: biotech protein production. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: PET waste is tough to recycle, but Barriuso’s group upcycled it into biodegradable PHAs using a hybrid approach: fast glycolysis + engineered microbial consortium. By splitting tasks between microbes, they boost efficiency and valorize plastic waste. Read doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Magnetospirillum MSR-1 produces magnetosomes, ie uniform, magnetic nanocrystals with huge biotech potential. Oxygen levels control their size: more O₂ → smaller crystals. Fine-tuning O₂ could boost scalable production of tailored magnetic nanoparticles. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Smarter bioreactors can better control how cells behave under real-world stress. Using real-time monitoring, Delvenne et al show how dynamic environments shape cell response and make biotech processes more reliable, scalable, and efficient. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky:Persister bacteria evade antibiotics by “hibernating” their ribosomes. Kim & Song show a shift from active (70S) to inactive (100S) states defines persistence & reversing this shift drives recovery.Targeting ribosome hibernation could help prevent infection relapse. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Bacterial vesicles could transform One Health—linking human, animal & environmental health with next-gen vaccines, diagnostics, and drug delivery. Tiny messengers, big impact. Read Arce-Rodriguez et al doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: ONE HEALTH: Turning pests into cures. Chen et al show that A cockroach-associated Streptomyces exhibits strong anti-Candida potential, revealing new antifungal compounds via multi-omics—opening ways to fight drug-resistant infections. Find more at doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Decades of plant-focused breeding boosted yields, but reshaped (& often reduced) beneficial microbiomes. What if we bred plants and their microbiomes together? By combining rewilding & microbiome-aware genetics. An approach for climate-resilient crops. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Brüssow reviews COVID-19 antivirals. Remdesivir, molnupiravir & nirmatrelvir show variable benefits—greatest with early use in high-risk patients. Outcomes depend on timing, variants, and patient context. Right drug, right time = better impact. Highly recommended: doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Boosting antibiotic production. BCAA metabolism regulates erythromycin biosynthesis via SACE_Lrp → ilvE. Tuning this axis + valine supplementation drives up to 71% higher yields. Regulatory + metabolic coupling ->better actinobacterial cell factories. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Metabolic engineering in action. Acetylation inhibits E. coli isocitrate lyase, but KR mutations restore activity, rebalance carbon flux, cut acetate overflow, and boost lycopene production +61%. Smarter enzyme control -> better cell factories. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Cell Factories meet Extracellular Vesicles (EV): Li et al establish S. cerevisiae as a model for EV biogenesis and cargo loading. By expressing ChiIFN-λ + cell wall perturbation, they boost EV yield 10× and reveal conserved sorting machinery (SNARE, ESCRT). doi.org/10.1111/1751...

Enrique Cerdá-Olmedo was a brilliant mind, a fearless thinker & a mentor who opened windows for generations. His legacy lives on in every curious question we dare to ask. A remarkable scientist, a devoted teacher & a person of immense generosity. Read his life & contributions doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Hybrid vigour in yeast isn’t one-size-fits-all. They found that across 1,023 hybrids, heterosis depends on stress, ploidy, and parent genetics: strongest under ethanol & salt stress, but reduced at higher ploidy. Smarter breeding = better industrial strains! doi.org/10.1111/1751....

#MicroSky: One Health: Tumors hijack the constant crosstalk between ur gut, brain, and immune system. Decoding this neuroimmune: microbiome axis could supercharge immunotherapy and microbiota-based cancer treatments. Wang et al at doi.org/10.1111/1751...

Eco-Microbiology: A Frugal-Circular Framework for Biosafe, Low-Cost Practical Microbiology in Secondary Education. enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

#MicroSky: Mystery gut infections with no detectable pathogen are deadly- hard to treat. In severe cases, washed microbiota transplantation showed >60% response and 43% cure rates, hinting that restoring gut ecosystems may succeed where antibiotics fail. Zhang et al at doi.org/10.1111/1751...

Can We Breed Microbiomes to Sustain Plant Productivity? @microbiotech.bsky.social Opinion by Noémie De Zutter and Kris Audenaert enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

#MicroSky: Synthetic biology boosts bio-production. A new “scaffoldomics” platform enables combinatorial enzyme colocalisation, increasing pathway efficiency up to 20 higher yield, demonstrated with naringenin synthesis in E. coli by Elias et al in Microb Biotech doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Reduce nerve-related pain! Zhang et al report a breakthrough in Pregabalin synthesis. R-selective D-hydantoinases enable efficient production of key intermediate R-IBM. Engineered mutations boost enantiomeric purity >97%. A way for greener & cheaper manufacturing. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Fertility meets the microbiome. Healthy, Lactobacillus-rich environemnts may support implantation, while dysbiosis fuels inflammation& pregnancy loss. Next gen-therapies: from probiotics to microbiota transplants may redefine reproductive medicine. Read Li et al. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Fighting vaginitis. Probiotics vs. postbiotics—why not both? Dual Lactobacillus strains (and their postbiotics) restore vaginal immunity, suppress inflammation, and outperform single therapies in AV. A promising, resistance-proof path beyond antibiotics. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Therapeutic approach against fungal infection: Pseudolaric acid B directly eradicates C. albicans via Erg11 inhibition & uniquely, restores vaginal microecological homeostasis by promoting probiotic lactobacilli, addressing both the pathogen & dysbiotic environment doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: The HNH endonuclease HrdP is a highly conserved and essential determinant of infectivity among Skunavirus phages, required for successful completion of DNA packaging. HrdP is a promising and specific anti-phage target to protect dairy starter cultures from failure. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: This study offers a novel strategy for optimizing the synergistic fermentation of L. plantarum and phenylethyl acetate, thereby enhancing alfalfa silage flavor quality & promoting sheep feed intake. Read Fu et al. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: From Fecal Microbial Transplantation to Advance Microbiota Transplantation: precision microbiota therapy begins with the so-called “addition–subtraction” strategy that brings consistency to microbiome treatments. Smarter design & better outcome for microbiotherapy. doi.org/10.1111/1751...

#MicroSky: Turning fungi into insulin factories! Yan et al in Microb. Biotechnol. report that engineered Trichoderma unlocks efficient secretion of insulin glargine with high yields and bypassing stress. This paves the way for scalable production of complex therapeutics! doi.org/10.1111/1751...