🦠 Category

microbiology

560 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

H5N1 2.3.4.4b HA E190D and Q226H mutations, picked up as minority variants in a patient, result in an inability to bind sialic acid.

This study demonstrates that the E190D and Q226H mutations in the hemagglutinin receptor-binding site of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1, identified as minority variants in a Canadian patient, completely abolish the virus's ability to bind sialic acid receptors across multiple H5 backgrounds, indicating that such single mutations disrupt rather than facilitate adaptation to human-type receptors.

Kovacs, E., Rios Carrasco, M., Guerreiro Cabana, M. F., de Vries, R. P.2026-03-08
🦠 microbiology

Spatiotemporal clustering of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 at the wild waterfowl-poultry interface: Vector-specific spillover risks in the U.S., 2022-2025

This study analyzes spatiotemporal clustering of HPAI H5N1 in the U.S. from 2022 to 2025, revealing distinct, vector-specific spillover patterns where detections in wild waterfowl species like mallards, snow geese, and Canada geese preceded or coincided with outbreaks in specific poultry sectors, underscoring the need for adaptive, species-targeted biosecurity strategies.

Varga, C.2026-03-07
🦠 microbiology

Carbon substrate type shapes spatial self-organization in a multi-species biofilm community

This study demonstrates that the type of carbon substrate, specifically distinguishing between diffusible sugars and polymeric substrates, acts as a critical ecological determinant that shapes the spatial self-organization of a multi-species biofilm community, driving either intermixed growth or structured segregation based on metabolic interactions.

Zhu, D., Svagan, A. J., Kühl, M., Burmolle, M.2026-03-06
🦠 microbiology

Potato foliar infection with Phytophthora infestans drives strong, cultivar-specific shifts in rhizosphere communities

This study demonstrates that foliar late blight infection induces cultivar-specific shifts in potato rhizosphere communities, revealing that the resistant cultivar harbors a more effective native microbiome with higher biocontrol potential against *Phytophthora infestans* compared to the susceptible cultivar.

Pichon, V., De Vrieze, M., Bellameche, F., Cristea, R., L'Haridon, F., Falquet, L., Weisskopf, L.2026-03-06
🦠 microbiology

In vivo de-amplification of a multi-resistance pseudo-compound transposon in Escherichia coli

This study characterizes the 18-week in vivo evolution of a multi-drug resistant *Escherichia coli* in an infant gut, revealing a unique de-amplification of an IS26-mediated tandem array of antibiotic resistance genes that reduced the gene copy number without compromising bacterial fitness or altering susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam.

Pulmones, R., Moyo, S. J., Tesfay, B., Gidabayda, J., Justine, M., Hoyland Lohr, I., Blomberg, B., Wagstaff, S. P., Lang (…)2026-03-06