The past decade of research has potentiated a revolution in our understanding of mammalian health and evolution by revealing that the gut microbiome plays a central role in mammalian physiology. Our ability to unlock this potential hinges upon the identification of specific groups of gut microbes that elicit effects on...
Agricultural and companion animals are integral to our way of life as they provide us with nourishment, financial resources, transportation, and companionship. However, pets, managed animals in the agricultural industry, as well as wild populations of food animals are all subject to health and mortality risks. The gut microbiome is...
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a common environmental pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of organic matter, such as fossil fuel emissions. In vertebrates, B[a]P exposure is associated with hyperactivity, though the underlying mechanisms driving this effect are undescribed. Mounting evidence indicates that the gut microbiome, which is the diverse community of...
Microscopic organisms inhabit virtually every niche on this planet, where they perform functions vital to all life on earth. Accordingly, humans host a complex community of microorganisms (i.e. the gut microbiome) that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and modulate host physiology. Insight into the specific mechanisms through which gut microbes influence...
Investigations of 16S rRNA gene sequences hallmark modern microbiology. These sequences provide culture-independent insight into the abundance and distribution of microbiota and serve as a principle resource through which microbial community diversity is measured. Consequently, researchers rely on 16S gene sequences to test hypotheses rooted in ecology, evolution, and disease....
A rapidly expanding body of evidence suggests that relationships exist between the microbiome and vertebrate health and disease. The zebrafish is a frequently utilized model organism to support this claim. Specifically, its gut microbiome is an advantageous resource for the study of microbiome health and diversity. While it is an...
The fungal pathogen Cochliobolus victoriae, the causal agent of Victoria blight, produces a host-selective pathogenicity factor called victorin. In Arabidopsis thaliana, a dominant gene called "supersense" (SSN) confers constitutive victorin sensitivity at very low concentrations. SSN encodes a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat (NB-LRR) protein. In the SSN-carrying Heiligkreuztal 2 ecotype (TAIR Germplasm...