Microbial synthesis of L-DOPA as Parkinson’s disease treatment Gut microbe bioengineered to produce L-DOPA in non-pulsatile manner. Biotherapeutic reduces drug fluctuations causing debilitating symptoms & improves motor performance in multiple animal models www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Soil organic carbon-microbiome axis: Soil organic carbon(SOC) influences microbial inoculant performance, w/wheat yield responses peaking at intermediate SOC. At these levels, shifts in plant immunity & microbial interactions shape rhizosphere colonization www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Catalog of human oral microbiome: Human reference oral microbiome (HROM) comprises 72,641 genomes from 3,426 species, including 2,019 novel species. HROM reveals disease-assoc. species & ectopic oral species in the gut predictive of systemic diseases www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Bacterial effector hijacks apoptosis via remodeling BCL-2 family proteins: Shigella OspB enzymatically recombines BH3-only activators & BAX/BAK via peptide-bond exchange. Chimeric proteins fail to mediate mitochondrial membrane permeabilization & apoptosis www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Genetically engineered plant endophytes broaden ETI: Engineered plant endophytes express effectors that trigger NLR-mediated ETI upon pathogen infection. Sentinel bacterium maintains plant growth & microbiota diversity & broadens plant defense www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Gut bacterial metabolism of steroid hormones Gut bacterial pathway involving OsrABC reduces natural & synthetic steroid hormones, including anti-inflammatory prednisolone. This microbial activity is enriched in Crohn’s disease patients & diminishes drug bioavailability www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Evolution of Ab cross-reactivity to influenza H5N1 NA New work isolates & characterizes protective antibody against influenza neuraminidase that acquires cross-reactivity to avian H5N1 as a byproduct of affinity maturation against human H3N2 @wchnicholas.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Co-secretion of T6SS effectors: Bacteroidota T6SS effectors BtpeA & BtaeB have distinct cell-wall destructive activities yet are co-delivered via coordinated binding to adaptor BtapC. This conserved synergistic system enhances fitness of encoding strains www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Carving out the microbiota of Earth’s largest biomass reservoir @naturalist1986.bsky.social @finkel-lab.bsky.social highlight work of Peccia lab on microbiome of trees- an overdue dive into unique & diverse prokaryotic & fungal communities of heartwood & sapwood www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Prophage intercepts pathogenic activity of infecting phage: Antitermination during phage replication activates RemS/PokE, encoded in prophage. PokE, membrane-depolarizing protein embedded in prophage lysis cassette, disrupts phage lytic cycle www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Eislmayr et al. find neutrophils are *not* key to clearing Shigella. Instead, macrophages trigger IL-12 → IFN-γ, restricting bacterial replication in intestinal epithelial cells. New innate immunity from the lab of Russell Vance in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.ch... 🧪

Misfortunes never come singly Fu & Knoers @rug.nl highlight work reporting toxin-generating E.coli tryptophan metabolism induces myocardial apoptosis, contributing to heart failure risk w/kidney dysfunction. Probiotic reduces risk. www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota-derived indole sulfate promotes heart failure in CKD: E. coli-derived indoxyl sulfate promotes heart failure progression in chronic kidney disease via AHR-CYP1B1. Targeting microbiota-indoxyl sulfate pathway offers therapeutic potential www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Lost & found: Reconstituting PRR immune function through co-receptor transfer @isabelmonte.bsky.social highlights work revealing cross-species co-receptor transfer can overcome restricted taxonomic functionality in rice, pointing to strategies for crop protection www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Restoring fungal resistance in rice: Identification of STOM, a fungal MAMP, and its receptor-co-receptor pair, STOMR/STOMRh. Evolutionary loss of functional STOMRh in monocots restricts immune recognition, while restoring it in rice reconstitutes defense www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Metabolic tug-of-war: Mitochondria starve Toxoplasma of folate @drdstojanovski.bsky.social highlights work of Pernas lab @science.org showing infected cells use mitochondria as metabolic guardians, outcompeting Toxoplasma for folate-essential for DNA synthesis www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Featured Article: Mycorrhizal networks facilitate resistance: Transfer of jasmonic acid via mycorrhizal networks from B.cinerea-infected to healthy plants induces shifts in root exudates that recruit disease-suppressive bacteria to rhizosphere, yielding resistance www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Inter-kingdom lipid messengers sustain gut harmony Preview of work revealing uLCFAs accumulate in gut upon immune activation. Blautia ohyA converts uLCFAs into non-toxic hydroxy FAs that suppress pro-inflammatory T cells, thereby regulating immunostasis www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Featured Article: uLCFAs in host-microbe crosstalk Immune responses trigger release of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (uLCFAs) in gut, reprogramming bacteria, ie Blautia. Blaudia ohyA converts toxic uLCFAs to hydroxy-FAs w/immunomodulatory effects www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Our October issue is live—rooted in strong microbiology and growing insights. With cover art highlighting the gut-brain axis and work from @katesadlerphd.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Molecular mechanisms of host-microbiome interactions: We teamed up w/ @cp-cellchembiol.bsky.social for a Collection of articles uncovering mechanisms by which microbes communicate w/their hosts, shedding light on various conditions & offering therapeutic avenues.Enjoy! www.cell.com/cp/collectio...

Cadaverine rewires macrophages: Gut-microbiota-derived cadaverine reprograms macrophage energy metabolism, altering inflammatory immunophenotypes. In IBD, cadaverine is associated w/increased flare risk & regulated by Enterobacteriaceae www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

#WeekendRead! #ImmunometabolismPower! Formiga, Sokol &co show @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social that #microbiota derived cadaverine 🧟‍♂️ controls macrophage metabolism & gut inflammation. Low 🧟‍♂️ activates NRF2 promoting OXPHOS & homeostasis, while high 🧟‍♂️ drives glycolysis & intestinal inflammation 🔥 !!

Thrilled to see our paper published! Macrophages orchestrate elimination of Shigella from the intestinal epithelial cell niche via TLR-induced IL-12 and IFN-γ. A huge thank you to everyone involved! @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

B. fragilis protease cuts through the pain Bacteroides fragilis protease Bfp1 cleaves and activates PAR2, disrupting intestinal barrier function, sensitizing nociceptors, and triggering inflammation and pain www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota extends reproductive lifespan: Germ-free female mice undergo accelerated primordial follicle loss & reduced reproductive capacity that are restored upon post-natal colonization. Microbial SCFAs & fiber mitigates ovarian dysfunction www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Bacteria enhance sulfur deficiency tolerance in plants Rhizosphere microbiome is remodeled under sulfur (S) deficiency with competition among bacteria increasing their release of glutathione, which benefits the plant at expense of bacterial fitness www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

uLCFAs in host-microbe crosstalk: Immune responses trigger release of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (uLCFAs) in gut, reprogramming bacteria, ie Blautia. Blaudia ohyA converts toxic uLCFAs to hydroxy-FAs w/immunomodulatory effects www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Restoring fungal resistance in rice: New work identifies STOM, a fungal MAMP, and its receptor-co-receptor pair, STOMR/STOMRh. Evolutionary loss of functional STOMRh in monocots restricts immune recognition, while restoring it in rice reconstitutes defense www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota-derived indole sulfate promotes heart failure in CKD: E. coli-derived indoxyl sulfate promotes heart failure progression in chronic kidney disease via AHR-CYP1B1. Targeting microbiota-indoxyl sulfate pathway offers therapeutic potential www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Mycorrhizal networks facilitate plant resistance: Transfer of jasmonic acid via mycorrhizal networks from B.cinerea-infected to healthy plants induces shifts in root exudates that recruit disease-suppressive bacteria in receiver rhizosphere, yielding resistance www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota drives sickle cell disease pain Sickle cell disease mice have excessive heme catabolites, fewer bacteria metabolizing bilirubin & low A. muciniphila. A. muciniphila or TRPM2 inhibitors (blocking bilirubin signals) reduce SCD pain @katesadlerphd.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

All systems go: CRISPR crosstalk for enhanced immunity Barrangou Previews papers led by @peterfineran.bsky.social & Meeske demonstrating CRISPR-Cas systems have unprecedented level of cooperative crosstalk between different subtypes, enabling primed spacer acquisition www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Type I CRISPR-Cas immunity primes type III spacer acquisition Priming by type I CRISPR-Cas aids spacer maintenance by co-occurring type III. Concurrent DNA&RNA-targeting minimize phage escape for population benefit @peterfineran.bsky.social @leahmsmith.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

CRISPR-Cas Crosstalk Margolis & Meeske show RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 system acquires immunological memory in native host L. seeligeri using machinery of 2 co-occurring CRISPR types, which work together to acquire DNA fragments from invading phages www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Macrophages take center stage in shigellosis In mouse model of shigellosis, macrophages (not neutrophils) are key to controlling Shigella. Macrophages sense Shigella via TLRs to produce IL-12, which induces IFN-γ to help epithelial cells fight infection www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Veillonella gives C. diff a jump start Oral commensal Veillonella promotes C. difficile germination by disrupting bile acid recycling. Veillonella LPS activates signaling to suppress BA transporter, preventing bile acid reabsorption www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Global currents, microbial footprints Preview of @bethanykolody.bsky.social & Allen & @banfieldlab.bsky.social work integrating oceanographic measurements w/molecular sampling to show hydrographic features shape microbial functional landscape www.cell.com/cell-host-mi... @guillemsalazar.bsky.social

Excited to share our @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social led by Magda showing how Bif has co-evolved with different animal hosts 🐒🐭🐷🐦 Key takeaways: 🔹 Host ancestry + diet shape Bif evolution 🔹 Mammals enriched for carb-busting enzymes 🔹 Untapped diversity in non-human hosts = new probiotic potential

Microbial matchmakers: Pope & Tyson highlight work of @halllab.bsky.social revealing how Bifidobacterium species have co-evolved w/in various hosts, w/ diversity & host-specific metabolic adaptations shaped by evolutionary history, diet & vertical transmission www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Bifido adaptations across hosts @halllab.bsky.social survey insects, reptiles, birds & mammals to uncover how Bifidobacterium adapts to hosts. Bifidobacterium & host exhibit strong co-phylogenetic associations, driven by vertical transmission & dietary selection www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Changes & inhibition of Lassa virus spike LASV spike undergoes multiple conformational changes during cell entry and a new experimental drug, ARN-75039, inhibits the cell entry of LASV by antagonizing these changes in spike www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

I wrote a Preview in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! A new study suggests that #curli may protect prey from bacterial predators like #Bdellovibrio. Really looking forward to seeing this model confirmed with live-cell imaging and specific reporters! www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Maternal microbiome & preterm birth Early-pregnancy maternal gut microbiome linked to preterm birth. C. innocuum & its estradiol-degrading gene enriched in women w/preterm birth. C. innocuum degrades estradiol & interacts w/host genetics to amplify risk. www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Gut bacteria help the brain with an oil change Connerly & Needham Preview work revealing link between gut bacteria & recovery from brain damage. In bacteria-dependent manner, a fatty acid “oil” improves microglial function through increased peroxisomes www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

L. acidophilus boosts cognition: L. acidophilus deficiency linked to cognitive decline in cerebral ischemia patients In mice, L. acidophilus increases linoleic acid, triggering anti-inflammatory signals In clinical trial, L. acidophilus increases cognitive function www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

The September issue is now live with new findings on Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Lassa virus, Bifidobacterium and more! This month’s cover features Veillonella clearing a path for C. difficile infection www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Weekend read! Our Special issue on Plants & Microbes We present “growing insight” on cutting edge topics, from immune cell states to rewilding plant microbiomes to plant-microbe interactions amid global change. www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Promoter variation in Streptococcus: S. pneumoniae promoters contain repetitive nucleotides, driving strand slippage & promoter mutations. This drives population-level heterogeneity in gene expression, offering evolutionary strategy to maximize fitness www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Light-dependent virulence of plant pathogen: Bacterial effector AvrPtoB promotes virulence by ubiquitinating &degrading HY5, disrupting light-dependent HY5-NPR1 signaling. In darkness, COP1 degrades HY5, suppressing HY5-enhanced immunity &AvrPtoB virulence www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...