BMAC Weekly — 2026-W37
8 papers selected for 2026-W37.
2026-09-01–2026-09-07 · 8 papers
Bacteriophage Density Influences the Rate of Resistance Evolution
Tuan Anh Phan, Anuja Shrestha, Jacob Schow, Craig R. Miller, Tracey L. Peters, James T. Van Leuven
2026-08-20 · Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
TL;DR. A mathematical model of phage-bacteria interactions shows that phage resistance evolution is governed by competitive dynamics and fitness costs rather than intrinsic mutation rates, yielding distinct growth patterns depending on phage density.
Key signal. Competitive interactions and fitness costs, not mutation rates, primarily determine phage resistance patterns, with three distinct growth patterns emerging as initial phage concentration increases.
Why it matters here. This connects to Fangzhou's interest in microbial population dynamics and community ecology by linking ecological competition to evolutionary outcomes in bacteria-phage systems, relevant to his work on microbial physiology and growth.
Dynamics of Microbial Communities and Antibiotic Resistance Genes During Arthrospira platensis Cultivation in Swine Wastewater
Authen Promariya, Sekbunkorn Treenarat, Chanchanok Duangsri, Niyada Lansubsakul, Sorawit Powtongsook, Wanthanee Khetkorn, Wuttinun Raksajit
2026-09-01 · Biology
TL;DR. Cultivating Arthrospira platensis in 25% swine wastewater achieved high biomass productivity and nutrient removal while altering bacterial community composition and reducing antibiotic resistance gene diversity.
Key signal. A. platensis cultivation removed 98.5% ammonium and 80% orthophosphate, shifted microbial community composition, and left tet(X) as the only detectable ARG after cultivation.
Why it matters here. This study connects to Fangzhou's focus on microbial communities and antibiotic resistance by examining how cyanobacterial cultivation alters community structure and resistance gene profiles in wastewater.
Polystyrene Microplastics Accelerate Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and Exacerbate Pathogenicity in Acinetobacter Baumannii
Muneer Yaqub, Namrata Bonde, Suman Tiwari, Ravali Arugonda, Tuhina Maity, William Cutts, Samuel Cornelius, Jon Sin, Nicole J. De Nisco, Ingrid Cornax, Brandon Kim, Nicholas Dillon
2026-09-01 · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
TL;DR. Exposure to polystyrene microplastics accelerates antibiotic resistance evolution and increases pathogenicity in Acinetobacter baumannii, as shown by experimental evolution and a murine pneumonia model.
Key signal. Microplastic exposure enhanced resistance emergence across multiple antibiotic classes, impaired macrophage clearance, and worsened disease severity in mice.
Why it matters here. This ties to Fangzhou's interest in antibiotic resistance and microbial adaptation, suggesting environmental factors like microplastics can modulate resistance evolution and host-pathogen interactions.
Influence of Acetate Enrichment on Bacterial Community and Bio-electrochemical Performance of Low-Cost Dual-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell
Aliyu Jalaluddeen Kware, Mustapha Gani, U. B. Ibrahim, A. A. Farouq, A. Y. Fardami
2026-08-31 · Journal of Science Research and Reviews
TL;DR. Acetate enrichment in a low-cost dual-chamber microbial fuel cell improved bio-electrochemical performance, with high initial acetate loading accelerating electrogenic biofilm formation dominated by Bacillus spp.
Key signal. Initial high-dose acetate (MFC B) yielded a peak voltage of 140.4 mV and power output of 3942.43 μW, with a strong correlation (r=0.9975) between microbial counts and voltage.
Why it matters here. This relates to Fangzhou's interest in fermentation ecology and microbial communities, illustrating how substrate enrichment shapes community function in bioelectrochemical systems.
Nitrogen-to-phosphorus limitation shift in a polyhydroxyalkanoate-enriched mixed microbial community
Serena Falcioni, Leandro Di Gloria, A. Manmeen, Eleftherios Touloupakis, Matteo Ramazzotti, María Eugenia Suárez‐Ojeda, David Gabriel, Giulio Munz
2026-08-31 · International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
TL;DR. Transitioning a mixed microbial community from nitrogen to phosphorus limitation in a reactor altered polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation and microbial community composition, with nitrogen limitation yielding higher polyhydroxybutyrate.
Key signal. Nitrogen limitation associated with higher polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation than phosphorus limitation, with filamentous Neomegalonema dominating under N limitation and Thauera/Paracoccus increasing under P limitation.
Why it matters here. This connects to Fangzhou's interest in microbial metabolism and community dynamics, as nutrient limitation shapes resource allocation and community structure in biopolymer production.
Optimized Fertilization Balances Microbial Carbon and Nitrogen Use Efficiency: Evidence From Microbial Communities
Yazhen Chen, Yichen Xu, Haobo Xu, Juan Chen, Xiaozhou Huang, Wenqiong Jiang, Jinsong He, Xiaohong Wu, Xinxing He, Jun Wang, Xiaocui Liang, Wende Yan
2026-09-04 · Land Degradation and Development
TL;DR. Optimized fertilization with reduced mineral nitrogen and manure increased microbial nitrogen use efficiency and balanced carbon vs nitrogen efficiency, with time-dependent effects on microbial network properties.
Key signal. Reduced mineral N plus manure (RNM) showed the most balanced CUE-NUE trade-off, increasing NUE by 1.13-fold while decreasing CUE by 7.5% at 120 days.
Why it matters here. This relates to Fangzhou's interest in microbial communities and ecosystem function, showing how resource stoichiometry alters microbial efficiency and network structure in soil.
Spatial heterogeneity shapes microbial eco-evolutionary dynamics of soil carbon
Agathe Chave, Régis Ferrière
2026-09-03 · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
TL;DR. A spatially structured model of soil organic matter decomposition shows that microsite density determines whether microbial adaptation to warming buffers or amplifies soil carbon loss.
Key signal. Small changes in microsite density across a threshold can reverse the ecosystem-level effect of adaptation, with high density typically buffering carbon loss and low density amplifying it in warm ecosystems.
Why it matters here. This aligns with Fangzhou's interest in eco-evolutionary dynamics and microbial communities, linking spatial heterogeneity to evolutionary adaptation and ecosystem-level carbon fluxes.
Tracking upper respiratory microbiome dynamics in patients admitted to intensive care unit: insights from a pilot study
Prabuddha Mukhopadhyay, Deepayan Kundu, Abhishake Lahiri, Debangana Mukherjee, Sayantan Mitra, K. Surekha, Poulami Mukherjee, Rukhshana Chowdhury, S Lawal Paul
2026-09-03 · Scientific Reports
TL;DR. Longitudinal 16S rRNA profiling of ICU patients revealed progressive upper respiratory microbiome dysbiosis with depletion of commensals and enrichment of pathogens during antibiotic treatment.
Key signal. Microbial diversity declined over ICU stay, with commensals like Neisseria and Rothia depleted and opportunistic pathogens like Acinetobacter and Klebsiella enriched.
Why it matters here. This connects to Fangzhou's interest in microbial community dynamics and antibiotic resistance, providing insights into microbiome shifts in clinical settings.