BMAC Weekly — 2026-W33

8 papers selected for 2026-W33.

← Weekly papers

2026-08-04–2026-08-10 · 8 papers

Editorial: Integrative microbial and chemical genomics to decipher antibiotic resistance mechanisms and developing innovative antimicrobial approaches

William Calero‐Cáceres, Bimal Jana, João Pedro Rueda Furlan, Juan C. Ortiz-Marquez

2026-08-04 · Frontiers in Microbiology

TL;DR. This editorial summarizes thirteen studies covering multi-omics approaches to antibiotic resistance mechanisms, genome mining for antimicrobial discovery, genomic epidemiology of hospital outbreaks, and alternative therapies including phage therapy and CRISPR-based tools.

Key signal. Multi-omics approaches reveal coordinated genetic and transcriptional responses in AMR, such as efflux pump activation and protein acetylation, while genomic epidemiology can trace silent hospital transmission clusters.

Why it matters here. Provides a broad overview of current AMR research, connecting to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in antibiotic resistance mechanisms and microbial adaptation in communities.

Microbial physiology, growth & divisionMicrobial populations & communities PDF

Antimicrobial resistance in plant-associated microbial communities: mechanisms, ecology, and one health implications

M Sandhya, E. Priyadharshini, T. Anand, Nagendran Tharmalingam, Govindasamy Senthilraja

2026-08-03 · Frontiers in Microbiology

TL;DR. This review synthesizes knowledge on antimicrobial resistance in plant-associated microbial communities, discussing resistance mechanisms, ecological drivers, and sustainable alternatives to conventional antimicrobials.

Key signal. Soil, rhizosphere, and phyllosphere microbiomes serve as reservoirs and transmission hubs for antimicrobial resistance genes, and alternatives like phage therapy and microbiome engineering may mitigate selection pressure.

Why it matters here. Relevant to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in microbial community ecology and antibiotic resistance, particularly the ecological drivers of resistance spread in environmental microbiomes.

Microbial populations & communitiesMicrobial physiology, growth & division PDF

An Experimentally Verified Mechanistic Model for Predicting Quorum Sensing‐Based Switches

J De Baets, M De Mey, B De Paepe

2026-01-01 · Microbial Biotechnology

TL;DR. This paper presents an experimentally verified mechanistic model for predicting quorum sensing-based switches in synthetic biology circuits.

Key signal. A mechanistic model accurately predicts the behavior of quorum sensing-based genetic circuits, validated against experimental data.

Why it matters here. Connects to Fangzhou Xiao's work on synthetic biology circuits and microbial decision-making, providing a predictive framework for population-level behavior.

Microbial populations & communitiesSynthetic biology circuits

Soil burial evaluation of finished leather biodegradability: microbial community dynamics and biogeochemical cycles

Xia Li, Yuxin Zhang, Yue Yu, Yunhang Zeng, Bi Shi, Yanan Wang

2026-08-01 · Collagen and Leather

TL;DR. This study evaluates the biodegradability of finished leather using soil burial, revealing that chrome-free leather degrades faster and that microbial community dynamics and nitrogen cycling are key drivers.

Key signal. Chrome-free leather showed a 2.16-fold higher biodegradation rate than chrome leather, with soil microbial diversity enhanced and shifts in amino acid metabolism genes.

Why it matters here. Relevant to microbial community ecology and biogeochemical cycles, connecting to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in microbial populations and their roles in environmental processes.

Microbial populations & communities PDF

Establishment of an in vitro aerobic bacterial community as a model of the human lung microbiome

Maria Kulosa, Matheus R. Belisário‐Ferrari, F Semmler, M. Büttner, Corinna Duck, Zeinab Namazi, Nico Jehmlich, Martin von Bergen, Tobias Bonitz, Leonard Kaysser

2026-08-03 · mSystems

TL;DR. This study establishes an in vitro aerobic bacterial community of four lung microbiome species, stable for 10 days, and reveals potential microbe-microbe interactions via metaproteomics.

Key signal. A simplified lung microbiome model supports stable co-culture, with metaproteomics indicating bioactive interactions among species.

Why it matters here. Provides a model system for studying microbial community interactions, which is relevant to Fangzhou Xiao's work on microbial population dynamics and community ecology.

Microbial populations & communities PDF

Major microbiota transitions across liver disease progression are mediated by key taxa linking host environments and microbial communities

Kenta Suzuki, Tomonori Kamiya, Hideki FUJI, Sotaro Takano, Yoshimi Yukawa‐Muto, Norifumi Kawada, Shinji Fukuda, Hiroshi Masuya, Naoko Ohtani

2026-07-30 · bioRxiv

TL;DR. This preprint applies energy landscape analysis and a community shaping index to identify key taxa that mediate gut microbiota transitions across liver disease severity.

Key signal. Streptococcus salivarius and an unclassified Subdoligranulum show contrasting associations with disease states, suggesting active roles in linking host conditions with microbial community structure.

Why it matters here. Directly relates to microbial community structure dynamics and host-microbe interactions, relevant to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in community ecology and microbial decision-making.

Microbial populations & communities PDF

Microbial community diversity predicts invasion resistance of freshwater biofilms against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Elisa Catão, Uli Klümper, Giulia Gionchetta, Xavier Bellanger, Amélie Porteu de la Morandière, Kenyum Bagra, Irina Dielacher, Alan Elena, Eda Deniz Erdem, Sonia Galazka, Agata Goryluk-Salmonowicz, Mateusz Szadziul, Edina Szekeres, Adela Teban-Man, Cristian Coman, Norbert Kreuzinger, Magdalena Popowska, Julia Vierheilig, Shauna O'Shea, Fiona Walsh, Markus Woegerbauer, Helmut Bürgmann, Thomas U. Berendonk, Christophe Merlin

2026-08-05 · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

TL;DR. This preprint shows that the diversity and phylogenetic composition of river biofilm microbial communities predict their resistance to invasion by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Key signal. Higher bacterial diversity accelerates the loss of an invading E. coli strain, and diversity loss during experimental transfer is a strong predictor of invasion resistance.

Why it matters here. Connects biodiversity and community organization to invasion resistance, relevant to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in microbial population dynamics and antibiotic resistance spread in environmental communities.

Microbial populations & communities PDF

Modulating Oral Microbiota to Prevent Dental Caries: A Microbial Ecology Approach

Yu‐Chen Lee, Yu‐Che Cheng, Chun-Ming Kung, Chi‐Jung Huang

2026-08-04 · Dentistry Journal

TL;DR. This review discusses microbiota-centered prevention strategies for dental caries, including probiotics, prebiotics, and ecological modulation, highlighting the shift from pathogen eradication to ecological balance.

Key signal. Caries is driven by ecological shifts favoring acidogenic/aciduric microorganisms, and novel prevention approaches target restoring microbial homeostasis.

Why it matters here. Provides an example of applied microbial ecology in a clinical context, relevant to Fangzhou Xiao's interest in microbial communities and their roles in health and disease.

Microbial populations & communities PDF