Cell Host & Microbe

Special Issue Day!! July marks our Special issue focusing on Microbial Therapies: challenges and the path ahead We have reviews, forums & perspectives on the power (and pitfalls) of microbes. cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Hidden microbial hotspots in deepest ocean Sediments across 55 locations in Mariana Trench reveal hadal topography as important determinant of microbial ecosystems, w/ trench bottoms act as refugia, preserving microbial biomass, diversity & activity cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Are we ready to improve vaccines' efficacy through microbiome therapies? This Forum examines why empiric probiotics and broad taxonomic approaches are largely ineffective in boosting mucosal vaccine immunity and proposes alternatives @cellhostmicrobe  tinyurl.com/yyrbvjd7

A family of lanthipeptides with anti-phage function Discovery of 2,000+ lanthipeptide biosynthetic gene clusters with anti-phage potential. Lanthivirins inhibit phage replication by targeting phage proteins & interfering with phage DNA replication. cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Gut microbiota alters drug metabolism and therapeutic outcomes This review in @cellhostmicrobe updates progress in microbiota-modulated drug metabolism and assesses microbe-targeted approaches to enhance clinical drug performance: tinyurl.com/5f5pua4u

Weekend read! Structural proteome unfolds insight into microbiome: Structure database of gut microbial proteins & structure-aware AI model for remote homolog detection. Reveals diversification of phage endolysins & bacterial enzymes in melatonin biosyn cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Gabija restricts phage circularization & DNA replication Gabija prevents phage genome circularization & replication w/out impacting bacterial host. Exposed DNA ends & phage end-binding proteins license DNA targeting while RecBCD protects host from Gabija cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Fueling C. albicans & colitis C. tenuissimum alleviates colitis by inhibiting C. albicans via ornithine competition · C. albicans escapes by exploiting threonine · B. fragilis supports C. albicans via threonine, but threonine-restricted diet limits escape cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Following Ariadne’s thread through microbiome-based biomarker discovery in CRC Preview of work stitching together large-scale stool and tumor data to reveal a universal microbial signal while exposing where stool-based biomarkers fall short. cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Universal microbiome signature for CRC Large gut microbiome meta-analysis of colorectal cancer uncovers CRC microbiome signatures universal across ages & sequencing methods & modifiable by dietary interventions, i.e. fiber. cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Is it time for engineering commensal microbes for host health? This timely review updates advances in the context of inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases @cellhostmicrobe  tinyurl.com/c2vz6chh

A repair helicase unravels the tangled web of bacterial immunity Highlight of work presenting phylogenetic reconstruction of evolutionary routes of YprA repair helicase, revealing broad diversity of its genomic neighborhoods & discovery of ARMADA cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Missing link between prokaryotic immune systems Phylogenetic analysis of YprA (widespread helicases) reveals distinct class of defense systems-ARMADA-that connect DISARM & Druantia. ARMADA protects against diverse phages, synergizing w/Druantia III cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Decoding the microbiome: Insights into FMT for depression Preview of recent paper providing insights into the potential underpinnings of FMT in MDD & offering a step toward decoding the molecular pathways accompanying the clinical response cell.com/cell-host-micr…

FMT for major depressive disorder In clinical trial, adjunctive oral FMT provides rapid & sustained antidepressant response in patients w/MDD. Benefit linked to donor strain engraftment, which alters bile-acid metabolism & inflammatory signaling cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Oat-β-glucan boosts anti-PD-1 In CRC, oat-β-glucan enhances anti-PD-1 efficacy ⬆️via F. prausnitzii & production of butyrate & IPA, which enhance CD8 T cell & DC functions. In human trial, oat-β-glucan ⬆️F. prausnitzii, butyrate & IPA cell.com/cell-host-micr…

An acidic welcome: How microbial metabolites keep fungi in line Preview of 2 papers identifying short-chain fatty acids as antifungal metabolites promoting colonization resistance against Candida species via intracellular acidification & metabolic stress cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Microbiota-derived valeric acid blunts C. parapsilosis Valeric acid levels inversely correlate w/Candida burden in allo-HCT patients. VA induces loss of intracellular C. parapsilosis pH homeostasis & VA derivatives suppress C. parapsilosis growth in vivo cell.com/cell-host-micr…

SCFAs mediate C. albicans colonization resistance Microbiota-derived SCFAs inhibit C. albicans GI colonization via direct fungal inhibition (acidification, impaired glucose uptake & metabolic arrest) & reshaping microbiota for colonization resistance cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Operationalizing microbiome ecology in cancer care Forum examines impacts of cancer treatment on the microbiome & how longitudinal monitoring of these ecological changes can enable prediction of microbiome trajectories to improve clinical decisions & care cell.com/cell-host-micr…

Toward precision microbiome therapeutics: From black box to blueprint Forum discusses path forward for microbiome-mediated therapies via in situ genome editing of native bacteria for mechanism-driven, programmable, species-specific therapeutics cell.com/cell-host-micr…