N. T. Jacobs

BlpC-mediated selfish program leads to rapid loss of Streptococcus pneumoniae clonal diversity during infection

The paper shows that BlpC-mediated intra-strain competition reduces clonal diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae during infection and transmission.

Competitive exclusion strengthens selection for transmissibility and increases the benefit of recombination for within-host adaptation.

The paper models how competitive exclusion in hosts affects pathogen transmissibility and within-host fitness, finding it strengthens selection for transmissibility and increases recombination's benefit for adaptation.

Collective interactions augment influenza A virus replication in a host-dependent manner

The paper shows that influenza A virus requires collective interactions for replication in mammalian cells but not in avian cells, with the PA gene segment playing a key role.

Dysregulation of M segment gene expression contributes to influenza A virus host restriction

This study identifies dysregulation of M segment gene expression, particularly M2 overexpression, as a key factor in avian influenza A virus restriction in mammalian hosts.

Incomplete influenza A virus genomes are abundant but readily complemented during spatially structured viral spread

The paper quantifies incomplete influenza A virus genomes (IVGs) and shows they require complementation for replication, but spatial structure facilitates this process, supporting viral spread but not transmission.