Homing in on stressed coral
Sulfurous chemical known as ‘smell of the sea’ serves as clarion call for coral pathogens.
For the good of the colony
Research shows the success of a bacterial community depends on its shape.
Separating the good from the bad in bacteria
New microfluidic technique quickly distinguishes bacteria within the same strain; could improve monitoring of cystic fibrosis and other diseases.
How quickly can a bacterium grow?
Physicist finds that E. coli replicate close to thermodynamic limits of efficiency.
Unraveling bacterial behavior
Michael Laub studies the complex interactions that underlie cells’ responses to their environment.
Buckling up to turn
Marine microbes change swimming direction via a high-speed mechanical instability.
It pays to cooperate
Yeast cells that share food have a survival edge over their freeloading neighbors — particularly when there is bacterial competition.
Fighting bacteria with mucus
Study shows that key proteins in mucus prevent bacterial adhesion to surfaces, could help prevent growth of biofilms.
Researchers build a toolbox for synthetic biology
Engineers design new proteins that can help control novel genetic circuits in cells.
Newfound gene may help bacteria survive in extreme environments
Resulting microbial lipids may also signify oxygen dips in Earth’s history.
Pinpointing how antibiotics work
Team uncovers mechanism that produces fatal DNA damage in bacteria.