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.