S. J. Sorensen

A comparison of short-read, HiFi long-read, and hybrid strategies for genome-resolved metagenomics

The paper compares short-read, HiFi long-read, and hybrid sequencing strategies for genome-resolved metagenomics, finding each excels in different metrics like assembly quality, bin refinement, and mapping rate.

The role of plasmids in the gut microbiome during the first year of life

This study characterizes the acquisition and development of plasmids in the infant gut microbiome using longitudinal metagenomic data from 98 Swedish children.

The influence of early life exposures on the infant gut virome

This study investigates how early life factors influence the gut virome composition in infants, identifying environmental exposures that shape viral communities and their potential metabolic impacts.

Co-localization of antibiotic resistance genes is widespread in the infant gut microbiome and associates with an immature gut microbial composition

This study finds that antibiotic resistance gene co-localization is common in infants' gut microbiomes and linked to immature microbial composition.

An easily modifiable conjugative plasmid for studying horizontal gene transfer

This paper develops a conjugative plasmid model with an attTn7 site for efficient genetic modification to study horizontal gene transfer.

Droplet size and surface hydrophobicity enhance bacterial plasmid transfer rates in microscopic surface wetness

The paper investigates how droplet size and surface hydrophobicity influence plasmid transfer rates in microscopic surface wetness using Pseudomonas putida.

Hundreds of viral families in the healthy infant gut

This study manually resolves viral dark matter in a large infant gut virome dataset, identifying over ten thousand viral species across 248 families and expanding bacteriophage taxonomy.

Prophages in the infant gut are largely induced, and may be functionally relevant to their hosts.

This study identifies prophages in infant gut metagenomes, showing they are largely induced and may influence microbiome dynamics through functional elements.

Kin discrimination promotes horizontal gene transfer between unrelated strains in Bacillus subtilis

This study shows that kin discrimination in B. subtilis promotes horizontal gene transfer between distantly related strains by inducing competence in recipients through a stress response.

Comparative genomics analysis of Chryseobacterium sp. KMC2 reveals metabolic pathways involved in keratinous utilization and natural product biosynthesis

This study uses comparative genomics to analyze Chryseobacterium sp. KMC2 and identifies secondary metabolite gene clusters and metabolic pathways involved in keratin utilization and natural product biosynthesis.

Extended spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes are substantially and sequentially reduced during conveyance and treatment of urban sewage

The paper quantifies the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes during urban sewage conveyance and treatment, showing greater removal occurs during conveyance than treatment.

Adaptive evolution of phenotypic switching during environmental change

This study shows that in changing environments, generalist bacteria outcompete specialists initially but are later outcompeted by specialists under local competition, with c-di-GMP system mutations driving phenotypic adaptation.

The microbiome of captive hamadryas baboon

This study analyzes the microbiome of captive hamadryas baboons across body sites, comparing it to humans and showing shared microbial profiles and potential bacterial exchange.

Plasmids persist in a microbial community by providing fitness benefit to multiple phylotypes

This study shows that plasmids can persist in microbial communities by providing fitness benefits to multiple bacterial phylotypes, enabling long-term community-wide access to antibiotic resistance genes.

Construction of simplified microbial consortia to degrade recalcitrant materials based on enrichment and dilution-to-extinction cultures

This paper develops a method using enrichment and dilution-to-extinction cultures to construct simplified microbial consortia for keratinous waste degradation, showing they retain biodegradation efficiency.

The scent of symbiosis: gut bacteria affect social interactions in leafcutting ants

This study shows that gut bacteria in leaf-cutting ants influence social behavior by altering chemical signals involved in nestmate recognition.