M. J. Mandel

A label-free approach for relative spatial quantitation of c-di-GMP in microbial biofilms

This study develops a label-free method to detect spatial changes in c-di-GMP levels in microbial biofilms using MALDI-MSI and applies it to three bacterial species.

Transcriptional pathways across colony biofilm models in the symbiont Vibrio fischeri

This study identifies shared transcriptional pathways in two biofilm models of Vibrio fischeri, revealing genes involved in exopolysaccharide production and flagellar motility regulation.

Functional analysis of cyclic diguanylate-modulating proteins in Vibrio fischeri

This study systematically characterizes the functional roles of 50 c-di-GMP-modulating proteins in Vibrio fischeri during lifestyle transitions.

High levels of cyclic diguanylate interfere with beneficial bacterial colonization

This study shows that high levels of c-di-GMP impair Vibrio fischeri colonization of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, revealing a role for c-di-GMP in regulating biofilm formation and polysaccharide interactions during symbiosis.

Hybrid histidine kinase BinK represses Vibrio fischeri biofilm signaling at multiple developmental stages

This study identifies BinK as a negative regulator of Vibrio fischeri biofilm formation and shows it inhibits biofilm gene expression during host colonization.

Multiplexed competition in a synthetic squid light organ microbiome using barcode-tagged gene deletions

The paper develops a method to rapidly generate barcode-tagged gene deletions in Vibrio fischeri and uses high-throughput competition experiments to identify colonization factors in the squid microbiome.

Discovery of a microbially produced small molecule in a host-specific organ

The paper identifies a diketopiperazine small molecule produced by Vibrio fischeri that modulates luminescence and is detected in the squid's light organ, linking biofilm formation and symbiosis maintenance.

Genome-wide fitness profiling reveals limited modeled microgravity-specific gene requirements in Vibrio fischeri

The paper identifies few microgravity-specific gene requirements in Vibrio fischeri using transposon sequencing, suggesting minimal genetic adaptation is needed for spaceflight biomanufacturing.

Natural strain variation reveals diverse biofilm regulation in squid-colonizing Vibrio fischeri

This study examines natural variation in V. fischeri isolates to reveal diverse biofilm regulation mechanisms during squid colonization, showing that while Syp biofilm is essential, regulatory pathways differ across evolutionary groups.