J. A. West-Roberts

Giant genes are rare but implicated in cell wall degradation by predatory bacteria

The paper identifies giant genes in predatory bacteria, showing they are associated with prey adhesion and cell wall degradation.

Infant gut bacteriophage strain persistence during the first three years of life

The paper investigates phage succession in infants over three years, finding that 9% of early phage colonizers persist, with maternal transmission and stop codon reassignment playing key roles.

Do lanthanide-dependent microbial metabolisms drive the release of REEs from weathered granites?

This study identifies microbial gene clusters involved in lanthanide metabolism in weathered granites, highlighting their role in phosphate mineral dissolution and soil formation.

A widespread group of large plasmids in methanotrophic Methanoperedens archaea

This paper identifies large plasmids in Methanoperedens archaea that are essential for their physiology and may be used to study and manipulate methane oxidation.

The Chloroflexi supergroup is metabolically diverse and representatives have novel genes for non-photosynthesis based CO2 fixation

This study investigates the metabolic diversity of the Chloroflexi supergroup, revealing novel genes for non-photosynthesis based CO2 fixation and diverse metabolic capabilities across related phyla.