A wide array of microorganisms, including many novel, phylogenetically deeply rooted taxa,
survive and thrive in extreme environments. These unique and reduced-complexity …

Developing economically viable, scalable, and sustainable technologies for the conversion
of lignocellulosic polysaccharides to liquid fuels is widely seen as a centerpiece of the …

Recent studies have brought forward the critical role of emergent properties in shaping
microbial communities and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Emergent properties …

Bacterial biofilms are formed by communities that are embedded in a self-produced matrix of
extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Importantly, bacteria in biofilms exhibit a set …

The human gut harbors a large and complex community of beneficial microbes that remain
stable over long periods. This stability is considered critical for good health but is poorly …

Microbes are typically surrounded by different strains and species with whom they compete
for scarce nutrients and limited space. Given such challenging living conditions, microbes …

Microorganisms typically form diverse communities of interacting species, whose activities
have tremendous impact on the plants, animals and humans they associate with. The ability …

Soil salinization adversely affects plant growth and has become one of the major limiting
factors for crop productivity worldwide. The conventional approach, breeding salt-tolerant …

Bacterial communities associated with plant roots play an important role in the suppression
of soil-borne pathogens, and multispecies probiotic consortia may enhance disease …

Background The pure culture of prokaryotes remains essential to elucidating the role of
these organisms. Scientists have reasoned that hard to cultivate microorganisms might grow …