R. A. Schmitz

Expanding the cultivated human archaeome by targeted isolation of novel Methanobrevibacter strains from fecal samples

This study isolates and characterizes novel Methanobrevibacter strains from human fecal samples, expanding the cultivated archaeome and linking them to gastrointestinal health.

2-oxoglutarate triggers assembly of active dodecameric Methanosarcina mazei glutamine synthetase

This study shows that 2-oxoglutarate induces dodecamer assembly of Methanosarcina mazei glutamine synthetase, enhancing its activity through a cooperative mechanism.

Four novel Caudoviricetes bacteriophages isolated from Baltic Sea water infect colonizers of Aurelia aurita

The paper isolates and characterizes four novel bacteriophages from Baltic Sea water that infect bacteria associated with the moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita.

Closely related Bacteroides of the murine intestinal microbiota affect each other's growth positively or negatively

The paper tests growth interactions between closely related Bacteroides strains from mice and finds both positive and negative effects, with growth promotion more common than inhibition.

First insights into the Aurelia aurita transcriptome response upon manipulation of its microbiome

This study investigates how Aurelia aurita responds to microbiome manipulations using transcriptomics, revealing immune and defense gene upregulation and quorum sensing interference as potential defense strategies.

Antimicrobial peptides originating from expression libraries of Aurelia aurita and Mnemiopsis leidyi prevent biofilm formation of opportunistic pathogens

The paper identifies antimicrobial peptides from marine invertebrates that inhibit biofilm formation of opportunistic pathogens.

Comparative genomics of novel Bacteroides acidifaciens isolates reveals candidates for adaptation to host subspecies in house mice

Bacterial colonizers of Nematostella vectensis are initially selected by the host before interactions between bacteria determine further succession

This study shows that host selection drives initial bacterial colonization in Nematostella vectensis, while subsequent succession depends on bacterial metabolic interactions.

The first archaeal PET-degrading enzyme belongs to the feruloyl-esterase family

The paper identifies and characterizes PET46, an archaeal feruloyl esterase capable of degrading PET, expanding the known diversity of PET-hydrolyzing enzymes.

Methanotrophs are vigorous H2S oxidizers using a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase and a ba3-type terminal oxidase

This study shows that the methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV can oxidize both CH4 and H2S, using SQR and ba3-type oxidase to detoxify H2S and support CH4 oxidation.

An alternative tetrahydrofolate pathway for formaldehyde oxidation in verrucomicrobial methanotrophs: Primer design for folD and ftfL and transformation of E. coli

The paper designs primers for folD and ftfL genes in Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV and demonstrates their successful cloning and transformation into E. coli for potential biochemical analysis.

Bacteroides muris sp. nov. isolated from the cecum of wild-derived house mice

The paper isolates and characterizes two bacterial strains from wild-derived house mice, identifying them as a novel species of Bacteroides with distinct genomic and phylogenetic features.

Label-free Raman microspectroscopy for identifying virocells

This paper uses Raman microspectroscopy to identify virocells by analyzing biochemical changes in bacterial and archaeal cells during viral infection.

Microbial regulation of hexokinase 2 links mitochondrial metabolism and cell death in colitis

This study shows that microbial regulation of HK2 links mitochondrial metabolism and cell death in colitis, with butyrate protecting against inflammation by repressing HK2.

Small protein 26 interacts and enhances glutamine synthetase activity in Methanosarcina mazei

This study identifies and characterizes sP26, a small protein in Methanosarcina mazei that interacts with and enhances glutamine synthetase activity under nitrogen limitation.

Histone variants in archaea and the evolution of combinatorial chromatin complexity

This study investigates archaeal histone paralogs, showing they can form hetero-oligomeric complexes with distinct properties and have evolved conserved functional roles, suggesting combinatorial chromatin complexity predates eukaryotes.

Neutrality in the Metaorganism

This study shows that microbiota community structure across various host organisms aligns with neutral model predictions, suggesting neutral processes rather than host selection primarily shape microbial communities after colonization.

Comparative analysis of amplicon and metagenomic sequencing methods reveals key features in the evolution of animal metaorganisms