🦠 Category

microbiology

652 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

In vitro evolution of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to fosfomycin resistance in a 3D cultured human bladder microtissue model

This study demonstrates that evolving uropathogenic *E. coli* for fosfomycin resistance within a human bladder 3D microtissue model yields clinically relevant mutations in genes like *glpT* and *uhpT* that mirror those found in patient isolates, thereby validating the model's potential to improve the translational relevance of antimicrobial resistance research.

James, B., Wilde, M. J., Fryer, M. T., Murray, B. O., Whiley, D. J., Cornbill, C., Rohn, J. L., Hubbard, A. T. M.2026-07-22
🦠 microbiology

Flu Mutation Explorer: an Interactive Platform for Mapping Host Adaptation Mutations in Influenza A Viruses

The Flu Mutation Explorer is an accessible, interactive web platform that integrates large-scale influenza A virus genomic data with a curated database of mammalian adaptation mutations to help users interpret viral genetic variation and host adaptation without requiring bioinformatics expertise.

Mojsiejczuk, L., Wright, D., Gifford, R. J., Peacock, T. P., Robertson, D. L., Hughes, J. L., Goldhill, D. H., Hutchinso (…)2026-07-22
🦠 microbiology

Environment and plant genetics shape barley rhizosphere microbiome structure across contrasting locations

This study demonstrates that while environmental factors are the dominant constraint on barley rhizosphere microbiome composition across diverse locations, barley genotype significantly influences the recruitment of specific bacterial and fungal taxa within those environmental constraints.

Killian, E., Williams, J., Halpin-McCormick, A., Ewing, P., Kantar, M. B., Lachowiec, J., Sherman, J., Eberly, J.2026-07-21
🦠 microbiology

Diversity at the Acinetobacter baumannii K locus: towards a comprehensive in silico database for prediction of capsular polysaccharide types

This study expands the *Acinetobacter baumannii* K locus reference database to 409 types by incorporating 168 novel loci and curating 309 protein clusters, thereby enhancing the *in silico* prediction of capsular polysaccharide diversity and revealing that a small subset of K loci dominates the majority of sequenced isolates.

Kenyon, J. J.2026-07-21
🦠 microbiology

Target-Specific Discovery of BMM_1567 Restores Aminoglycoside Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative ESKAPE Pathogens

This study identifies BMM_1567, a peptide potentiator that restores aminoglycoside efficacy against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens by directly inhibiting aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, thereby reducing bacterial burden in vivo with a low risk of resistance development.

Chawla, M., Narendrakumar, L., Paul, D., Kapuganti, R. S., Kumar, S., Das, D., Kamboj, K., Bakshi, S., Priyadarshi, P. (…)2026-07-21
🦠 microbiology

Prevalent glutamyl-endopeptidases in the commensal skin microbiome have itch-relevant activity

This study reveals that glutamyl-endopeptidases (GEPs) produced not only by the pathogen *Staphylococcus aureus* but also by commensal species like *Staphylococcus epidermidis* and *Staphylococcus capitis* can cleave PAR1 to induce itch signaling and disrupt skin barrier integrity, suggesting a broader microbial basis for atopic dermatitis symptoms than previously recognized.

Wittlinger, J.-P., Weninger, S., Seneca Cardoso da Silva, J., Tu, A., Grey, L., Heber, S., Fischer, M., Schneider, S., E (…)2026-07-20
🦠 microbiology

Biparental vertical transmission of Aedes anphevirus, Guadeloupe mosquito virus, and verdadero virus in colonized Aedes aegypti

This study demonstrates that Aedes anphevirus, Guadeloupe mosquito virus, and verdadero virus persist in long-term laboratory colonies of *Aedes aegypti* through highly efficient biparental vertical transmission, suggesting their potential as candidates for gene delivery in mosquito vector control strategies.

Dunham, T. J., Saavedra-Rodriguez, K., Foy, B. D., Mayo, C. E., Stenglein, M. D.2026-07-20
🦠 microbiology

Bovine-derived H5N1 influenza virus efficiently infects lactating swine via the mammary gland

This study demonstrates that bovine-derived H5N1 influenza virus can efficiently infect lactating swine via the mammary gland and be transmitted to piglets through milk, causing productive but clinically inapparent infections that pose a significant risk of subclinical spread within commercial swine populations.

Liu, M., Chillson, N. N., Martin, E. A., Cochran, H. J., Park, J. Y., O'Boyle, B., Huey, D., Corps, K. N., Bowman, A. S. (…)2026-07-18
🦠 microbiology

An engineered biofactory for efficient production of diverse recombinant superoxide dismutase isozymes loaded with specific metal ions for biochemical characterisation

This study introduces and characterizes an engineered *E. coli* BL21 (DE3) strain lacking endogenous SodFMs, which serves as an effective host for producing high-purity, metal-specific recombinant superoxide dismutase isozymes for detailed biochemical and structural analysis.

Esmaeeli, M., Kołpa, A., Mazgaj, R., Pełczynska, J., Galea, D., Gawor, J. J., Malinowska, A., Szczypiorowska, A., Kehl-F (…)2026-07-17