P. M. Berube

Novel isolates expand the physiological diversity of Prochlorococcus and illuminate its macroevolution

The paper isolates and characterizes four new Prochlorococcus strains, revealing physiological and genomic features that expand the understanding of its macroevolutionary history.

Production and cross-feeding of nitrite within Prochlorococcus populations

The paper investigates nitrite production and cross-feeding in Prochlorococcus strains during nitrate assimilation, revealing metabolic partnerships that may influence ocean nutrient cycles.

Siderophores as an iron source for Prochlorococcus in deep chlorophyll maximum layers of the oligotrophic ocean

The paper shows that Prochlorococcus in iron-depleted regions uses siderophores for iron uptake, with this trait more common in the North Pacific than the North Atlantic.

Evaluating and Improving SSU rRNA PCR Primer Coverage for Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes Using Metagenomes from Global Ocean Surveys

This paper evaluates marine PCR primers for SSU rRNA and 18S rRNA across bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes using global ocean metagenomes, finding that 515Y/926R performs best overall and proposing improvements for universal primer sets.

Phosphonate production by marine microbes: exploring new sources and potential function

This study identifies phosphonate biosynthesis in marine microbes, showing its prevalence in diverse lineages and potential role in reducing grazing and viral mortality.

Gene exchange networks define species-like units in marine prokaryotes

The paper identifies gene exchange networks in marine prokaryotes, showing they form broader evolutionary units than traditional species definitions.

Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus

The paper examines nitrate assimilation gene distribution across Prochlorococcus genomes to understand evolutionary mechanisms shaping trait variability in microbial species.