Leptospira interrogans encodes a canonical BamA and three novel noNterm Omp85 outer membrane protein paralogs.

The Omp85 family of outer membrane proteins are ubiquitously distributed among diderm bacteria and play essential roles in outer membrane (OM) biogenesis. The majority of Omp85 orthologs are bipartite and consist of a conserved OM-embedded 16-stranded beta-barrel and variable periplasmic functional domains. Here, we demonstrate that Leptospira interrogans encodes four distinct Omp85 proteins.

Investigating Additive and Replacing Horizontal Gene Transfers Using Phylogenies and Whole Genomes.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is fundamental to microbial evolution and adaptation. When a gene is horizontally transferred, it may either add itself as a new gene to the recipient genome (possibly displacing nonhomologous genes) or replace an existing homologous gene. Currently, studies do not usually distinguish between "additive" and "replacing" HGTs, and their relative frequencies, integration mechanisms, and specific roles in microbial evolution are poorly understood.

An ounce of prevention is better : Monitoring wildlife health as a tool for pandemic prevention.

Long-term observations of wildlife are key to understanding the ecological foundations of disease emergence. They provide unique opportunities to detect pathogens with zoonotic potential that could threaten human health but also pose a threat for the animals. [Image: see text]

Using the pan-genomic framework for the discovery of genomic islands in the haloarchaeon .

In this study, we use pan-genomics to characterize the genomic variability of the widely dispersed halophilic archaeal species ). We include a multi-regional sampling of newly sequenced, high-quality draft genomes. The pan-genome graph of the species reveals 50 genomic islands that represent rare accessory genetic capabilities available to members.

Functional host-specific adaptation of the intestinal microbiome in hominids.

Fine-scale knowledge of the changes in composition and function of the human gut microbiome compared that of our closest relatives is critical for understanding the evolutionary processes underlying its developmental trajectory. To infer taxonomic and functional changes in the gut microbiome across hominids at different timescales, we perform high-resolution metagenomic-based analyzes of the fecal microbiome from over two hundred samples including diverse human populations, as well as wild-living chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. We find human-associated taxa depleted within non-human apes and patterns of host-specific gut microbiota, suggesting the widespread acquisition of novel microbial clades along the evolutionary divergence of hosts.