🦠 Category

microbiology

771 papers

Microbiology explores the invisible world of tiny life forms that shape our health, environment, and even the air we breathe. From bacteria and viruses to fungi and parasites, this field investigates how these microscopic organisms interact with us and each other, driving everything from disease outbreaks to beneficial fermentation processes. Understanding them is crucial for developing new medicines, improving food safety, and combating global health challenges.

At Gist.Science, we make the latest discoveries in this dynamic field accessible to everyone. We process every new preprint uploaded to bioRxiv in this category, transforming dense academic findings into both clear, plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries. This ensures that whether you are a student, a researcher, or simply curious, you can grasp the significance of cutting-edge science without getting lost in jargon.

Below are the most recent papers in microbiology, curated and summarized directly from the bioRxiv server to keep you at the forefront of discovery.

🦠 microbiology

Role of the unstructured N-linker of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily member BcsG in the gastrointestinal pathogen Salmonella typhimurium

This study demonstrates that in *Salmonella typhimurium*, the unstructured N-linker of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily member BcsG is a critical, length-dependent determinant of protein stability and phosphorylethanolamine transfer efficiency to cellulose, while also highlighting the enzyme's promiscuity and potential for functional diversification across bacterial species.

Li, L., ROMLING, U.2026-09-25
🦠 microbiology

Gut complement C1q and C3 interact with Clostridioides difficile spores via CdeM and contribute to pathogenesis.

This study reveals that gut complement proteins C1q and C3 interact with *Clostridioides difficile* spores via the exosporium protein CdeM to facilitate epithelial entry and drive recurrent disease, while their absence accelerates recovery and attenuates recurrence.

Pizarro-Guajardo, M., Brito-Silva, C., Castro-Cordova, P., Montes-BRavo, N., Callegari, E., Gil, F., Paredes-Sabja, D.2026-09-25
🦠 microbiology

A climate-resilient microalga, Desmodesmus ecotolerans sp. nov., for biophotovoltaic applications

This study describes *Desmodesmus ecotolerans* sp. nov., a novel climate-resilient microalga isolated from Seondong Lake that outperforms the model strain *Chlamydomonas reinhardtii* in biomass production under low-light conditions and demonstrates enhanced electrochemical performance, making it a promising candidate for biophotovoltaic applications in variable environments.

Yoon, H., Yoon, J.-T., Cheng, M., Muhammad, S., Li, T., Han, Z., Lee, J., Kim, J., Lee, H.-S., Kim, J., Kim, E. Y.2026-09-25
🦠 microbiology

Microbial community response and recovery through an aeration-cessation time series in a eutrophic estuary

This study demonstrates that in a eutrophic estuary, the cessation of engineered aeration triggers a rapid shift toward harmful algal dominance and alters microbial community structure, while resuming aeration effectively suppresses these blooms and drives complex, non-reversible successional changes in the microbial community.

Schroer, W., Zhang, Y., Arora-Williams, K., Turnham, A., Harris, L., Heyes, A., Testa, J., Lapham, L., Preheim, S. P.2026-09-25
🦠 microbiology

An expanded microsporidia species attribute database documents the extensive ecological and phenotypic diversity of these parasites

This paper presents an expanded database of 1,795 microsporidia species that documents their extensive ecological and phenotypic diversity, reveals phylogenetic links between host and parasite taxonomy, identifies potential cryptic species within known pathogens, and provides a web portal for ongoing taxonomic updates.

Chen, C., Alassal, A., Reinke, A. W.2026-09-24
🦠 microbiology

Distinct kinetics and mechanisms of microbial inactivation of enteric virus revealed by capsid and genome integrity

This study reveals distinct inactivation kinetics and mechanisms for three enteric viruses in lakewater, demonstrating that microbial proteases and capsid structural integrity loss drive infectivity loss in a virus-specific manner while genome decay often fails to correlate with the loss of infectivity, thereby highlighting the limitations of genome-based detection for assessing microbial risks.

Meibom, J., Morales, L. D., Wynn, H. K., Shin, S., Kohn, T.2026-09-24
🦠 microbiology

Coxiella burnetii type IVB secretion system modulates TLR3/TRIF-dependent NF-κB and IRF responses during infection

*Coxiella burnetii* utilizes its type IVB secretion system to suppress TLR3/TRIF-dependent NF-κB and IRF responses by preventing TLR3 recruitment to the bacterial vacuole and disrupting TRIF-TRAF6 interactions, a mechanism that allows the pathogen to evade innate immunity while revealing distinct roles for TLR3/TRIF and IFNAR pathways in controlling host cachexia and bacterial dissemination, respectively.

Samuel, J. E., Mahapatra, S., Arunima, A., Busbee, A., Dumaine, J., Stranahan, L., Zeledon, R., Dow, B., Butler, S., Cla (…)2026-09-24
🦠 microbiology

Scalable Agricultural Microbiome Sampling: Operational Definitions, Pooling Strategies, and Preservation Methods

This study introduces the standardized "RhizoCore" sampling method and evaluates pooling and preservation strategies to demonstrate that scalable, reproducible agricultural microbiome monitoring can be achieved with minimal impact on microbial community composition while significantly improving logistical feasibility and comparability across diverse field conditions.

Ossowicki, A., Griffioen, T., Mileti, E., Attanasi, V., Hames, C., Carrion, V. J., Oyserman, B.2026-09-23
🦠 microbiology

Epigenetic regulation of DPP4 receptor expression by NONO enables replication of MERS-CoV

This study reveals that the host RNA-binding protein NONO facilitates MERS-CoV replication by epigenetically upregulating the expression of the viral entry receptor DPP4 through the modulation of histone modifications, identifying a novel therapeutic target for the virus.

Hage, A., Janes, M., Scott, S. D., Yoon, S., Rose, K., Markowitz, T. E., Myers, L. M., Carmody, A. B., Triem, L., Straw (…)2026-09-23