C. R. Currie

Upper respiratory microbial communities of healthy populations are shaped by niche and age

This study compares nasal and oral microbiomes of infants and adults, finding age-related differences in diversity, composition, and functional capabilities.

Disturbance-Diversity Relationships of Microbial Communities Change Based on Growth Substrate

This study shows microbial community diversity responses to disturbance frequency vary by substrate, with cellulose supporting a unimodal relationship and glucose a monotonically increasing one.

Bacillus subtilis derived lipopeptides disrupt quorum sensing and biofilm assembly in Staphylococcus aureus

This paper identifies lipopeptides from Bacillus subtilis that inhibit Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and virulence through quorum sensing interference.

Burkholderia from fungus gardens of fungus-growing ants produce antifungals that inhibit the specialized parasite Escovopsis

The paper isolates Burkholderia spp. from fungus-growing ants and identifies two antifungals that inhibit Escovopsis, a parasite of the mutualistic fungus Leucoagaricus.

Bacteria contribute to plant secondary compound degradation in a generalist herbivore system

This study identifies bacterial species in leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens capable of degrading plant secondary compounds, highlighting their role in detoxification and supporting ant foraging.

Experimental warming reduces gut prokaryotic diversity, survival and thermal tolerance of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)

This study shows that experimental warming reduces gut bacterial diversity and thermal tolerance in eastern subterranean termites.

Long-term cellulose enrichment selects for highly cellulolytic consortia and competition for public goods

This study shows that long-term cellulose enrichment leads to stable or variable cellulolytic abilities in microbial communities, with competition for public goods affecting decomposition rates.

Biomineral armor in leaf-cutter ants

The paper discovers a high-magnesium calcite armor in leaf-cutter ants, showing it enhances exoskeleton hardness and protects against predation and fungal infection.

Metagenomics reveals diet-specific specialization of bacterial communities in fungus gardens of grass- and dicot-cutter ants

The paper examines bacterial community differences in fungus gardens of grass- and dicot-cutter ants, finding distinct compositions and functional profiles linked to substrate type.

Biogeography and Microscale Diversity Shape the Biosynthetic Potential of Fungus-growing Ant-associated Pseudonocardia

The paper analyzes genetic diversity and biosynthetic potential in Pseudonocardia bacteria associated with fungus-growing ants across a 20km transect, revealing geographic and phylogenetic patterns of microbial diversity.

Cycloheximide-Producing Streptomyces Associated with Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis Fungus-Farming Ambrosia Beetles

The paper identifies a Streptomyces species producing cycloheximide that inhibits a fungal parasite in ambrosia beetles.

Bacterial competition mediated by siderophore production among the human nasal microbiota

This study identifies siderophore production by Corynebacterium propinquum as a mechanism for iron competition in the human nasal microbiota, inhibiting Staphylococcus epidermidis growth.