S. Shitut

Bacterial heterozygosity promotes survival under multidrug selection

This study shows that bacterial heterozygosity increases survival under multidrug selection by allowing flexible chromosome ratio adjustments, reducing fitness costs compared to homozygous cells.

DNA uptake by cell wall-deficient bacteria reveals a putative ancient macromolecule uptake mechanism

The paper identifies a DNA uptake mechanism in cell wall-deficient bacteria that resembles eukaryotic endocytosis and may represent an ancient process for macromolecule acquisition.

Generating heterokaryotic cells via bacterial cell-cell fusion

This study generates heterokaryotic bacterial cells through controlled cell-cell fusion using synthetic lipopeptides, revealing membrane fluidity and specificity as key factors.

Mutational meltdown of microbial altruists in Streptomyces coelicolor colonies

The paper shows altruistic mutant cells in Streptomyces coelicolor experience mutational meltdown due to genomic deletions and increased mutation rates, leading to reduced fitness and sterility.

Metabolic dissimilarity determines the establishment of cross-feeding interactions in bacteria

The study shows that metabolic dissimilarity between bacterial strains promotes cross-feeding interactions, as demonstrated through cocultivation experiments and in-silico analysis of gut microbiota.

Nanotube-mediated cross-feeding couples the metabolism of interacting bacterial cells

The paper shows that auxotrophic E. coli cells increase amino acid production when co-cultured with prototrophic donors via nanotubes, due to cytoplasmic amino acid depletion delaying feedback inhibition.