R. Stocker

Salmonids exhibit an acute behavioral response to heterothermal environments

This study quantifies how brown trout parr respond to rapid temperature changes by avoiding cold water and crossing warm water interfaces.

Mechanism of bacterial predation via ixotrophy

This study identifies the molecular mechanisms of ixotrophy in bacteria, revealing the role of multiple secretion systems and regulatory elements in predatory behavior.

Microbial metabolic specificity controls pelagic lipid export efficiency

The paper investigates how microbial metabolic specificity affects lipid export efficiency in the ocean by analyzing bacterial degradation of algal lipid droplets and microbial interactions.

Variability in single-cell oxygen consumption kinetics

This study measures oxygen consumption kinetics in single human hepatic cells and finds size-dependent metabolic rates and cooperative behavior in cell clusters.

Myeloperoxidase activity predicts atherosclerotic plaque disruption and atherothrombosis

This study shows that myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in atherosclerotic plaques predicts atherothrombosis in rabbits and correlates with ruptured human atheroma.

Colchicine promotes atherosclerotic plaque stability independently of inflammation

This study shows colchicine stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques by converting harmful SMC-derived cells into protective myofibroblast-like cells, independent of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Polysaccharide breakdown products drive degradation-dispersal cycles of foraging bacteria through changes in metabolism and motility

This study shows that marine bacteria switch from polysaccharide degradation to motility when exposed to breakdown products, enabling dispersal to new nutrient sources.

Interspecies interactions determine growth dynamics of biopolymer degrading populations in microbial communities.

This study investigates how consumer cells affect the growth and spatial distribution of biopolymer-degrading microbes in marine communities, revealing their impact on enzyme production and community dynamics.

Intercellular collectivity is governed by enzyme secretion strategies in marine polysaccharide degrading bacteria

The paper studies how enzyme secretion strategies in marine bacteria affect their aggregative behaviors and intercellular interactions during polysaccharide degradation.

A microfluidic platform for characterizing the structure and rheology of biofilm streamers

This paper introduces a microfluidic platform to study biofilm streamer structure, morphology, and rheology under controlled conditions.

Bacterial chemotaxis to saccharides is governed by a trade-off between sensing and uptake

This paper shows E. coli limits maltose uptake via porins to enhance chemotactic sensitivity to micromolar maltose gradients despite having a high-affinity transport system.

The structural role of bacterial eDNA in the formation of biofilm streamers

This study shows that extracellular DNA (eDNA) forms the backbone of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm streamers and is essential for their mechanical stability, with exopolysaccharide Pel playing an indirect role.

Heme oxygenase limits mycobacterial infection-induced ferroptosis

This study identifies zebrafish Hmox1a as a protective factor against mycobacterial infection by reducing iron accumulation and ferroptosis.

Bistability in oxidative stress response determines the migration behavior of phytoplankton in turbulence

This study shows that bistable oxidative stress response in phytoplankton determines migration behavior in turbulence, with stress signaling triggering directional switches.

Mechanistic model of nutrient uptake explains dichotomy between marine oligotrophic and copiotrophic bacteria

The paper develops a mechanistic model showing that oligotrophic bacteria use binding proteins to achieve low KM values for nutrient uptake, despite their slow diffusion, which limits growth rates compared to copiotrophs.

A distinct growth physiology enhances bacterial growth under rapid nutrient fluctuations

This study shows that E. coli grown in fluctuating nutrient environments has a distinct physiology that reduces growth rate loss compared to steady environments with the same average nutrient concentration.

The effect of flow on swimming bacteria controls the initial colonization of curved surfaces

This study shows that flow conditions control where motile bacteria attach to curved surfaces, with attachment preferentially occurring on leeward sides and downstream of apexes, and increases attachment rates by up to two orders of magnitude compared to non-motile cells.

Bacterial glycogen provides short-term benefits in changing environments

This study shows glycogen in E. coli provides short-term metabolic benefits during rapid environmental changes by enabling quick carbon and energy access.

Heterologous Expression of Pseudomonas putida Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins Yields Escherichia coli Chemotactic to Aromatic Compounds

This study expresses heterologous chemoreceptors from Pseudomonas putida in E. coli to enable chemotaxis to aromatic compounds, showing partial functionality for toluene and benzoate.

Synthesis and degradation of FtsZ determines the first cell division in starved bacteria

The paper shows that FtsZ synthesis and degradation determine the first division of starved bacteria in response to nutrient pulses.