M. Lopez-Perez

Large diversity in the O-chain biosynthetic cluster within populations ofPelagibacterales

The paper examines O-chain polysaccharide biosynthesis cluster diversity in Pelagibacterales using SAGs and long-read metagenomics, finding high diversity and limited recent horizontal gene transfer.

Impact of sickle cell trait hemoglobin in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes

This study investigates how PfEMP1 expression changes in Plasmodium falciparum parasites cultured in sickle cell trait (HbAS) versus normal (HbAA) erythrocytes, finding reduced parasite survival and PfEMP1 expression in HbAS IEs, with increased pfsa2 transcription.

Flotillin-Associated rhodopsin (FArhodopsin), a widespread paralog of proteorhodopsin in aquatic bacteria with streamlined genomes

The paper identifies a new class of rhodopsins, FArhodopsins, found in marine and freshwater microbes, associated with membrane microdomains and potentially retinal-less function.

Allelic diversity uncovers protein domains contributing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance

This study identifies protein domains in OmpU linked to antimicrobial resistance by analyzing allelic diversity in Vibrio cholerae.

Allelic variations and gene cluster modularity act as non-linear bottlenecks for cholera emergence

This study identifies allelic variations and gene cluster modularity as non-linear bottlenecks for the emergence of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae strains.

Nasopharyngeal Microbiota as an early severity biomarker in COVID-19 hospitalised patients: a retrospective cohort study in a Mediterranean area.

This study identifies nasopharyngeal microbiota diversity and specific taxa as early biomarkers for reduced severity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Phylogenomics of SAR116 clade reveals two subclades with different evolutionary trajectories and important role in the ocean sulfur cycle

This study uses genomic data to identify two subclades within SAR116 with distinct evolutionary trajectories and roles in the ocean sulfur cycle.

Afucosylated Plasmodium falciparum-specific IgG is induced by infection but not by subunit vaccination

The paper shows that natural infection with Plasmodium falciparum induces afucosylated PfEMP1-specific IgG, while subunit vaccination produces fully fucosylated IgG.

Metagenome-derived virus-microbe ratios across ecosystems

The paper estimates virus-to-microbe ratios using metagenomic data across ecosystems, finding viruses outnumber cells by ~13x in freshwater and ~2-4x in marine/saline plankton, but only ~2x in non-aquatic environments.

Nasopharyngeal microbial communities of patients infected with SARS-COV-2 that developed COVID-19.

This study examines the nasopharyngeal microbiome of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with varying COVID-19 severity, finding differences in OTU composition and co-abundance network complexity.

Long read metagenomics, the next step?

This study compares third-generation long-read sequencing technologies with short-read sequencing in metagenomics, finding that long reads improve gene and genome reconstruction, especially for microbes with high microdiversity.

Staphylococcus sciuri C2865 from a distinct subspecies cluster as reservoir of the novel transferable trimethoprim resistance gene, dfrE, and adaptation driving mobile elements

The paper identifies a novel trimethoprim resistance gene, dfrE, in a distinct Staphylococcus sciuri strain and reveals its association with mobile genetic elements and high genome plasticity.

New Viral Biogeochemical Roles Revealed Through Metagenomic Analysis of Lake Baikal

The paper analyzes viral communities in Lake Baikal, identifying new viral roles in carbon and methylotrophy cycles through metagenomic data.