T. D. Lieberman

De novo mutations mediate phenotypic switching in an opportunistic human lung pathogen

This study shows that de novo mutations in Burkholderia dolosa cause phenotypic switching, with O-antigen loss increasing immune cell uptake but reducing lung competitiveness, depending on infection duration and tissue localization.

Commensal skin bacteria exacerbate inflammation and delay skin healing

This study shows that high-dose application of commensal skin bacteria delays wound healing and increases inflammation in mice.

Reversions mask the contribution of adaptive evolution in microbiomes

The paper shows that adaptive reversion explains dN/dS decay in microbiomes, challenging the classical interpretation of purifying selection.

Anatomy promotes neutral coexistence of strains in the human skin microbiome

The paper investigates how host anatomy influences strain coexistence in the human skin microbiome, finding that pores limit competition by maintaining single-strain dominance.

On-person adaptive evolution of Staphylococcus aureus during treatment for atopic dermatitis

This study tracks S. aureus adaptation during AD treatment, finding de novo mutations and capD gene selection linked to disease severity.

Adaptive evolution within the gut microbiome of individual people

This study tracks genetic adaptation of B. fragilis in individual human gut microbiomes over time, revealing persistent evolutionary dynamics and niche differentiation within a single host.