P. Engel

Genomic and phenotypic imprints of microbial domestication on cheese starter cultures

This study examines cheese starter cultures to determine if they show signs of microbial domestication, finding low genetic diversity, taxonomic stability, and evidence of genome decay.

Comparative genomic analysis reveals novel phylogenetically intermediate Streptococci with high phenotypic diversity in the human distal lung microbiota.

The paper identifies five new Streptococcus species and one subspecies from human distal lung microbiota, revealing genetic diversity and metabolic functions.

Gut microbiota influences foraging onset without affecting division of labor and associated physiological hallmarks in honeybees

This study shows that gut microbiota in honeybees affects the onset of foraging but not division of labor or associated physiological traits.

Fecal transplant allows transmission of the gut microbiota in honey bees

This study shows fecal transplantation in honey bees transfers gut microbiota similar to gut homogenates, supporting fecal contact as a route for microbiota acquisition.

Deconstructing Complexity: A Computational Topology Approach to Trajectory Inference in the Human Thymus with tviblindi

This paper introduces tviblindi, a trajectory inference tool for thymus development, revealing new insights into T cell maturation and regulatory T cell subpopulations.

Genital microbiota in infertile couples

This study examines the genital microbiota of infertile couples to assess its association with fertility treatment outcomes.

Spatial structure, chemotaxis and quorum sensing shape biomass accumulation in complex systems

This study shows how flow, quorum sensing, and chemotaxis influence bacterial biomass accumulation in porous environments like the gut.

Foraging on host synthesized metabolites enables the bacterial symbiont Snodgrassella alvi to colonize the honey bee gut

This study shows that Snodgrassella alvi, a honey bee gut symbiont, relies on host-derived organic acids and modulates tryptophan metabolism to colonize the gut.

A defined community of core gut microbiota members promotes cognitive performance in honey bees

This study identifies a defined gut microbiota community in honey bees that enhances cognitive performance through synergistic effects, not individual members or total biomass.

Turnover of strain-level diversity modulates functional traits in the honeybee gut microbiome between nurses and foragers

The paper examines strain-level diversity in the honeybee gut microbiome, showing it changes between nurse and forager bees, affecting functional traits.

Deep divergence and genomic diversification of gut symbionts of neotropical stingless bees

The paper analyzes the gut microbiota of neotropical stingless bees, finding genomic divergence and evidence of host switches in their microbial evolution.

Antimicrobial wound care in an ant society

This study shows that ants use antimicrobial compounds from their metapleural gland to treat infected wounds, reducing mortality by 90%.

Extensive diversity and rapid turnover of phage defense repertoires in cheese-associated bacterial communities

The paper analyzes defense mechanisms in cheese-associated bacterial communities, finding rapid turnover of phage defense repertoires and functional CRISPR spacers, but incomplete immunity.

The gut microbiota affects the social network of honeybees

This study shows that gut microbiota manipulation in honeybees increases social interaction rates and specialization, linked to brain metabolite and transcriptional changes.

Integration host factor regulates colonization factors in the bee gut symbiont Frischella perrara

This study identifies IHF as a regulator of colonization factors in the bee gut symbiont F. perrara, showing its role in metabolite production and gut colonization.

Niche partitioning facilitates coexistence of closely related gut bacteria

The paper shows that four Lactobacillus species coexist in the honey bee gut by partitioning pollen-derived resources, but not simple sugars, despite negative interactions.

Functional strain redundancy and persistent phage infection in Swiss hard cheese starter cultures

The paper analyzes a Swiss cheese starter culture over 82 years, finding functional strain redundancy and persistent phage infection despite CRISPR resistance.

Vast differences in strain-level diversity in the gut microbiota of two closely related honey bee species

This study compares strain-level diversity in the gut microbiota of two closely related honey bee species, finding significant differences in functional gene content and diversity despite similar 16S rRNA phylotype overlap.

A prevalent and culturable microbiota links ecological balance to clinical stability of the human lung after transplantation

The paper links lung microbiota composition to clinical outcomes in transplant recipients by identifying four distinct microbial states associated with immune activity and lung function.

Gut microbiota structure differs between honey bees in winter and summer

The paper compares gut microbiota structure between honey bees in winter and summer, finding significant differences in bacterial loads and community composition.

Genomic changes underlying host specialization in the bee gut symbiont Lactobacillus Firm5

This study identifies genomic changes in Lactobacillus Firm5 strains from honey bees and bumble bees that underlie host specialization, showing honey bee strains have greater metabolic flexibility.

Disentangling metabolic functions of bacteria in the honey bee gut

This study uses untargeted metabolomics to determine the metabolic contributions of individual bacteria in the honey bee gut microbiota, revealing independent metabolic niches and key roles in pollen digestion and host hormone production.