Integration of horizontally acquired light-harvesting genes into an ancestral regulatory network in the cyanobacterium MBIC11017.

The acquisition of new capabilities by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) shapes the distribution of traits during microbial diversification. In the Chlorophyll (Chl) -producing cyanobacterium , the genes involved in the production and disassembly of the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein phycocyanin (PC) were lost in the common ancestor but then subsequently regained via HGT in strain MBIC11017. However, it remains unknown how the HGT-acquired PC genes in MBIC11017 have been reintegrated into its existing regulatory network after tens of millions of years since their loss.

Cellular heterogeneity and dynamics of the human uterus in healthy premenopausal women.

The human uterus is a complex and dynamic organ whose lining grows, remodels, and regenerates every menstrual cycle or upon tissue damage. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to profile more the 50,000 uterine cells from both the endometrium and myometrium of five healthy premenopausal individuals, and jointly analyzed the data with a previously published dataset from 15 subjects. The resulting normal uterus cell atlas contains more than 167K cells, representing the lymphatic endothelium, blood endothelium, stromal, ciliated epithelium, unciliated epithelium, and immune cell populations.

Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions.

Photodegradation of plastic consumer products is known to accelerate weathering and facilitate the release of chemicals and plastic particles into the aquatic environment. However, these processes are complex. In our presented pilot study, eight plastic consumer products were leached in distilled water under strong ultraviolet (UV) light simulating eight months of Central European climate and compared to their respective dark controls (DCs).

Sequential Anaerobic-Aerobic Treatment Enhances Sulfamethoxazole Removal: From Batch Cultures to Observations in a Large-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) passes through conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) mainly unaltered. Under anoxic conditions sulfate-reducing bacteria can transform SMX but the fate of the transformation products (TPs) and their prevalence in WWTPs remain unknown. Here, we report the anaerobic formation and aerobic degradation of SMX TPs.

Ecological diversification of a cyanobacterium through divergence of its novel chlorophyll d-based light-harvesting system.

The evolution of novel traits can have important consequences for biological diversification. Novelties such as new structures are associated with changes in both genotype and phenotype that often lead to changes in ecological function. New ecological opportunities provided by a novel trait can trigger subsequent trait modification or niche partitioning; however, the underlying mechanisms of novel trait diversification are still poorly understood.