mLife Journal
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mLife is an open access microbiology journal. It strives to build a high-level academic exchange platform for the global microbiology community.
Mechanistically, selection effects dominate at high salt (contributing ~63–72% of net biodiversity effects), while complementarity weakens. This stresses the key role of biodiversity in buffering ecosystems against salinization.
January 19, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Mechanistically, selection effects dominate at high salt (contributing ~63–72% of net biodiversity effects), while complementarity weakens. This stresses the key role of biodiversity in buffering ecosystems against salinization.
Under hypersaline conditions, communities shift toward halophiles (e.g., Halomonas dominates at 20% salinity) and metabolic functions like glycosyl hydrolase activity are inhibited—highlighting how extreme salt reshapes both composition and function.
January 19, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Under hypersaline conditions, communities shift toward halophiles (e.g., Halomonas dominates at 20% salinity) and metabolic functions like glycosyl hydrolase activity are inhibited—highlighting how extreme salt reshapes both composition and function.
Using artificial microbial communities across 0.9–20% salinity, the authors show that low (0.9–7%) salt doesn’t change BEF much, but high salinity (15–20%) amplifies biodiversity loss effects—ecosystem yield drops sharply when richness is low.
January 19, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Using artificial microbial communities across 0.9–20% salinity, the authors show that low (0.9–7%) salt doesn’t change BEF much, but high salinity (15–20%) amplifies biodiversity loss effects—ecosystem yield drops sharply when richness is low.
Deleting ilvC increases CFUs and decreases ROS; adding BCAAs restores both. This indicates an IAA → BCAAs → ROS → viability cascade contributing to pathogen success — critical for understanding plant–Xcc interactions and microbial virulence regulation.
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Deleting ilvC increases CFUs and decreases ROS; adding BCAAs restores both. This indicates an IAA → BCAAs → ROS → viability cascade contributing to pathogen success — critical for understanding plant–Xcc interactions and microbial virulence regulation.
IAA reduces ROS levels in Xcc, lowering oxidative stress and boosting bacterial colony formation. Transcriptomics show IAA also represses the ilvCGM leuA BCAA biosynthesis cluster, linking amino acid metabolism to stress responses.
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
IAA reduces ROS levels in Xcc, lowering oxidative stress and boosting bacterial colony formation. Transcriptomics show IAA also represses the ilvCGM leuA BCAA biosynthesis cluster, linking amino acid metabolism to stress responses.
Xcc strain XC1 synthesizes IAA via an L tryptophan dependent route, involving indole 3 ethanol and aromatic aminotransferases. IAA enhances CFUs, EPS production, protease activity, and disease severity — revealing microbial IAA’s physiological role.
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Xcc strain XC1 synthesizes IAA via an L tryptophan dependent route, involving indole 3 ethanol and aromatic aminotransferases. IAA enhances CFUs, EPS production, protease activity, and disease severity — revealing microbial IAA’s physiological role.
The work clarifies a long-standing question: how Z ring organization is orchestrated by accessory proteins. Understanding ZapA’s mechanistic role could inform antibacterial strategies targeting cell division.
January 9, 2026 at 2:03 AM
The work clarifies a long-standing question: how Z ring organization is orchestrated by accessory proteins. Understanding ZapA’s mechanistic role could inform antibacterial strategies targeting cell division.
ZapA prefers FtsZ polymers (not monomers), and mutations at these interaction sites weaken ZapA binding in vitro & in vivo. This explains how ZapA leverages FtsZ polymerization dynamics to promote robust Z-ring assembly.
January 9, 2026 at 2:03 AM
ZapA prefers FtsZ polymers (not monomers), and mutations at these interaction sites weaken ZapA binding in vitro & in vivo. This explains how ZapA leverages FtsZ polymerization dynamics to promote robust Z-ring assembly.
ZapA binds two sites on FtsZ filaments: the N terminal tail and the junction between adjacent FtsZ subunits. This dual engagement lets ZapA straighten and crosslink FtsZ filaments into a coherent Z ring scaffold.
January 9, 2026 at 2:03 AM
ZapA binds two sites on FtsZ filaments: the N terminal tail and the junction between adjacent FtsZ subunits. This dual engagement lets ZapA straighten and crosslink FtsZ filaments into a coherent Z ring scaffold.
🔟 Correspondence – Wastewater & COVID-19 Surveillance
Szeto et al. demonstrate how machine learning applied to wastewater data helps detect underreported COVID-19 cases.
Public health meets environmental microbiology.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Szeto et al. demonstrate how machine learning applied to wastewater data helps detect underreported COVID-19 cases.
Public health meets environmental microbiology.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Community‐level wastewater surveillance with machine learning methods to assess underreporting of COVID‐19 case counts
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
🔟 Correspondence – Wastewater & COVID-19 Surveillance
Szeto et al. demonstrate how machine learning applied to wastewater data helps detect underreported COVID-19 cases.
Public health meets environmental microbiology.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Szeto et al. demonstrate how machine learning applied to wastewater data helps detect underreported COVID-19 cases.
Public health meets environmental microbiology.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
9️⃣ Case Report – Phage Therapy in Kidney Transplantation
Liu et al. report a successful use of phage therapy to treat P. aeruginosa-caused perinephric abscess in immunocompromised patients.
🧪 A compelling clinical advance.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Liu et al. report a successful use of phage therapy to treat P. aeruginosa-caused perinephric abscess in immunocompromised patients.
🧪 A compelling clinical advance.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Phage therapy of perinephric abscess in kidney transplantation recipients caused by drug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
9️⃣ Case Report – Phage Therapy in Kidney Transplantation
Liu et al. report a successful use of phage therapy to treat P. aeruginosa-caused perinephric abscess in immunocompromised patients.
🧪 A compelling clinical advance.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Liu et al. report a successful use of phage therapy to treat P. aeruginosa-caused perinephric abscess in immunocompromised patients.
🧪 A compelling clinical advance.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
8️⃣ Original Research – Salinity & Ecosystem Function
Huang et al. report that salinization intensifies biodiversity–function relationships at higher salt concentrations. Important for ecological resilience studies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Huang et al. report that salinization intensifies biodiversity–function relationships at higher salt concentrations. Important for ecological resilience studies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Salinization influences the biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning relationship more strongly at high salinity
Salinization threatens ecosystem stability by altering microbial diversity and function, yet how salinity influences biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships remains unclear. In this st...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
8️⃣ Original Research – Salinity & Ecosystem Function
Huang et al. report that salinization intensifies biodiversity–function relationships at higher salt concentrations. Important for ecological resilience studies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Huang et al. report that salinization intensifies biodiversity–function relationships at higher salt concentrations. Important for ecological resilience studies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
7️⃣ Original Research – Probiotic & Immunity
Pretreatment with E. coli Nissle 1917 boosts resistance against influenza A in mice.
Wang et al. highlight gut-lung axis crosstalk with therapeutic implications.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Pretreatment with E. coli Nissle 1917 boosts resistance against influenza A in mice.
Wang et al. highlight gut-lung axis crosstalk with therapeutic implications.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Oral pretreatment with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 enhances the host's defense against influenza A virus infection
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) pose a significant threat to global health, causing annual epidemics and occasional pandemics with substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of vaccines...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
7️⃣ Original Research – Probiotic & Immunity
Pretreatment with E. coli Nissle 1917 boosts resistance against influenza A in mice.
Wang et al. highlight gut-lung axis crosstalk with therapeutic implications.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Pretreatment with E. coli Nissle 1917 boosts resistance against influenza A in mice.
Wang et al. highlight gut-lung axis crosstalk with therapeutic implications.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
6️⃣ Original Research – S. aureus Pigmentation
Chen et al. identify that CcpA directly upregulates staphyloxanthin, linking metabolic control to virulence factor expression in S. aureus.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Chen et al. identify that CcpA directly upregulates staphyloxanthin, linking metabolic control to virulence factor expression in S. aureus.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
CcpA promotes Staphylococcus aureus virulence by directly controlling staphyloxanthin production
Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious opportunistic pathogen with remarkable adaptability, enabling it to infect virtually every human tissue. Staphyloxanthin (STX), a critical virulence factor, contr...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
6️⃣ Original Research – S. aureus Pigmentation
Chen et al. identify that CcpA directly upregulates staphyloxanthin, linking metabolic control to virulence factor expression in S. aureus.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Chen et al. identify that CcpA directly upregulates staphyloxanthin, linking metabolic control to virulence factor expression in S. aureus.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
5️⃣ Original Research – Listeria Virulence
Yao et al. report that dual glycosylation of wall teichoic acid impacts O-antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes, modulating virulence in serovar 4b.
🧫 Teichoic tweaks, major consequences.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Yao et al. report that dual glycosylation of wall teichoic acid impacts O-antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes, modulating virulence in serovar 4b.
🧫 Teichoic tweaks, major consequences.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Dual glycosylation of wall teichoic acid modulates the O‐antigen pattern and virulence in serovar 4b Listeria monocytogenes
Among the 14 serovars of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), serovar 4b strains are the most predominant isolates linked to human listeriosis outbreaks-a phenotype associated with their unique wall teichoic...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
5️⃣ Original Research – Listeria Virulence
Yao et al. report that dual glycosylation of wall teichoic acid impacts O-antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes, modulating virulence in serovar 4b.
🧫 Teichoic tweaks, major consequences.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Yao et al. report that dual glycosylation of wall teichoic acid impacts O-antigen patterns in L. monocytogenes, modulating virulence in serovar 4b.
🧫 Teichoic tweaks, major consequences.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
4️⃣ Original Research – Quorum Signals & Virulence
Song et al. show that cis-2-decenoic acid attenuates P. aeruginosa virulence via a noncanonical regulator.
🧬 Highlights metabolic regulation beyond classical QS circuits.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Song et al. show that cis-2-decenoic acid attenuates P. aeruginosa virulence via a noncanonical regulator.
🧬 Highlights metabolic regulation beyond classical QS circuits.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Cis‐2‐decenoic acid modulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence through a noncanonical transcriptional regulator
Diffusible signal factor (DSF)-family quorum sensing (QS) signals are widely utilized by many pathogenic bacteria to modulate various biological functions and virulence. Previous studies showed that ...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
4️⃣ Original Research – Quorum Signals & Virulence
Song et al. show that cis-2-decenoic acid attenuates P. aeruginosa virulence via a noncanonical regulator.
🧬 Highlights metabolic regulation beyond classical QS circuits.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Song et al. show that cis-2-decenoic acid attenuates P. aeruginosa virulence via a noncanonical regulator.
🧬 Highlights metabolic regulation beyond classical QS circuits.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
3️⃣ News & Views
Du et al. explore how an RNA editing system in fungi mediates antiviral defense—highlighting the evolutionary balance between immunity and fitness cost.
🔄 A fascinating window into fungal self-regulation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Du et al. explore how an RNA editing system in fungi mediates antiviral defense—highlighting the evolutionary balance between immunity and fitness cost.
🔄 A fascinating window into fungal self-regulation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
RNA editing system: Balancing altruistic antiviral defense and fitness trade‐offs in fungi
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
3️⃣ News & Views
Du et al. explore how an RNA editing system in fungi mediates antiviral defense—highlighting the evolutionary balance between immunity and fitness cost.
🔄 A fascinating window into fungal self-regulation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
Du et al. explore how an RNA editing system in fungi mediates antiviral defense—highlighting the evolutionary balance between immunity and fitness cost.
🔄 A fascinating window into fungal self-regulation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/mlf2...
2️⃣ Review
Coxiella burnetii uses Dot/Icm effectors to rewire host pathways.
This review by Yuan et al. dissects key mechanisms of this intracellular pathogen and its manipulation of eukaryotic cells.
🦠 A must-read for infection biology.
🔗 doi.org//10.1002/mlf...
Coxiella burnetii uses Dot/Icm effectors to rewire host pathways.
This review by Yuan et al. dissects key mechanisms of this intracellular pathogen and its manipulation of eukaryotic cells.
🦠 A must-read for infection biology.
🔗 doi.org//10.1002/mlf...
Modulation of host cell pathways by Coxiella burnetii Dot/Icm effectors
Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever, is a significant intracellular bacterial pathogen. C. burnetii is a highly infectious pathogen that primarily targets pulmonary alveolar macrophag...
doi.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
2️⃣ Review
Coxiella burnetii uses Dot/Icm effectors to rewire host pathways.
This review by Yuan et al. dissects key mechanisms of this intracellular pathogen and its manipulation of eukaryotic cells.
🦠 A must-read for infection biology.
🔗 doi.org//10.1002/mlf...
Coxiella burnetii uses Dot/Icm effectors to rewire host pathways.
This review by Yuan et al. dissects key mechanisms of this intracellular pathogen and its manipulation of eukaryotic cells.
🦠 A must-read for infection biology.
🔗 doi.org//10.1002/mlf...