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Bacterial physiology is a scientific discipline that concerns the life-supporting functions and processes of bacteria, which allow bacterial cells to grow and reproduce.
Intestinal mucus consists of densely O-glycosylated mucins, serving as a nutrient source for bacteria. Elzinga et al. show that mucin-degrading Akkermansia muciniphila selectively binds to O-glycan structures found on human colonic mucins.
Iron and phosphorus exist at low concentrations in surface waters and may be co-limiting resources for phytoplankton growth. Here, the authors show that phosphorus deficiency increases the growth of iron-limited cyanobacteria through a PhoB-mediated regulatory network.
Trade-offs play a key role in controlling bacterial growth and shaping microbial phenotypes, which further drives the emergence of ecologically relevant phenomena including co-existence, population heterogeneity and oligotrophic/copiotrophic lifestyles.
Atmospheric methane-oxidizing bacteria constitute the sole biological sink for atmospheric methane. Here, Schmider et al. assess the ability and strategies of seven methanotrophic species to grow with air as sole energy, carbon, and nitrogen source, showing that these bacteria can grow on the trace concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen present in air.
In this Review, Sugrue, Ross and Hill explore recent developments in bacteriocin research, including new discoveries and bioengineering approaches for improved activity, and discuss their application in microbiome modulation and clinical potential.
The ubiquitous second messenger c-di-GMP regulates many biological processes in bacteria, including cell cycle, motility, virulence and biofilm formation. Here, Kaczmarczyk et al. develop a c-di-GMP biosensor that enables dynamic real-time tracking of c-di-GMP levels in individual living cells.
This study shows that the distinct cellular organization across the depth of a biofilm is tightly regulated and has consequences for cell physiology and antibiotic tolerance.
This study describes Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus trimeric fibre proteins with diverse adhesive tips that enable the identification of a broad range of prey.
In this study, Gül et al. show that usage of different carbon sources by Enterobacteriaceae strains determines their expansion and co-existence in the mouse gut and favours plasmid transfer.
In this study, Irazoki et al. show that Vibrio cholerae releases d-amino acids into the environment, which are sensed by a bacterial chemoreceptor to prompt a repellent chemotactic response.