The cell envelope of suggests a mechanism for outer membrane biogenesis.

The presence of a cell membrane is one of the major structural components defining life. Recent phylogenomic analyses have supported the hypothesis that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) was likely a diderm. Yet, the mechanisms that guided outer membrane (OM) biogenesis remain unknown.

Structural, Metabolic and Evolutionary Comparison of Bacterial Endospore and Exospore Formation.

Sporulation is a specialized developmental program employed by a diverse set of bacteria which culminates in the formation of dormant cells displaying increased resilience to stressors. This represents a major survival strategy for bacteria facing harsh environmental conditions, including nutrient limitation, heat, desiccation, and exposure to antimicrobial compounds. Through dispersal to new environments via biotic or abiotic factors, sporulation provides a means for disseminating genetic material and promotes encounters with preferable environments thus promoting environmental selection.

No endospore formation confirmed in members of the phylum Proteobacteria.

Endospore formation is used by members of the phylum Firmicutes to withstand extreme environmental conditions. Several recent studies have proposed endospore formation in species outside of Firmicutes, particularly in and , members of the phylum Proteobacteria. Here, we aimed to investigate endospore formation in these two species by using advanced imaging and analytical approaches.

Comparative Genomics Identified a Genetic Locus in Plant-Associated spp. That Is Necessary for Induced Systemic Susceptibility.

Plant root-associated microbes promote plant growth and elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) to foliar pathogens. In an attempt to find novel growth-promoting and ISR-inducing strains, we previously identified strains of root-associated spp. that promote plant growth but unexpectedly elicited induced systemic susceptibility (ISS) rather than ISR to foliar pathogens.

A Genome-Wide Screen Identifies Genes in Rhizosphere-Associated Required to Evade Plant Defenses.

and related plant root ("rhizosphere")-associated species contribute to plant health by modulating defenses and facilitating nutrient uptake. To identify bacterial fitness determinants in the rhizosphere of the model plant , we performed a high-throughput transposon sequencing (Tn-Seq) screen using the biocontrol and growth-promoting strain sp. WCS365.