S. K. Garushyants

Microbial diversity and ecological complexity emerging from environmental variation and horizontal gene transfer in a simple mathematical model.

This study shows that environmental variation and horizontal gene transfer can stabilize microbial diversity and ecological complexity in a mathematical model of competing populations.

Mutational signatures in wild type Escherichia coli strains reveal dominance of DNA polymerase errors

The paper analyzes mutational signatures in E. coli strains to show DNA polymerase errors, not DNA repair disruptions, drive mutation accumulation in both natural and lab settings.

Synergistic anti-phage activity of bacterial defence systems

The paper investigates bacterial defence systems against phage predation, finding synergistic anti-phage activity and compatibility between systems in different bacterial taxa.

Evolution towards small colony variants of pandemic multidrug resistant ST131 Escherichia coli isolates from a 10-year bone infection

The paper characterizes the evolution of multidrug-resistant ST131 E. coli isolates in a chronic bone infection, identifying genomic changes linked to small colony variants and persistence.

Insertions in SARS-CoV-2 genome caused by template switch and duplications give rise to new variants that merit monitoring

The paper identifies 347 unique insertions in SARS-CoV-2 genomes, showing they arise from polymerase slippage and template switch, and some may affect immune evasion.

Population genomics of two closely related anhydrobiotic midges reveals differences in adaptation to extreme desiccation

This study compares the population genomics of two anhydrobiotic midges, revealing differences in the genetic architecture and adaptation of the PIMT gene family to desiccation.

Simplification of ribosomes in bacteria with tiny genomes

The paper analyzes ribosomal protein composition in small bacterial genomes and identifies patterns of loss and conservation.