Mobile genetic elements are key to the evolution of bacteria and traits that affect host and
ecosystem health. Here, we use a framework of a hierarchical and modular system that …

Microbes were the only form of life on Earth for most of its history, and they still account for
the vast majority of life's diversity. They convert rocks to soil, produce much of the oxygen we …

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Microorganisms largely
drive the biogeochemical cycling of methane, yet little is known about viral contributions to …

Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that often encode fitness-enhancing
features. However, many bacteria carry" cryptic" plasmids that do not confer clear beneficial …

Electrically conductive appendages from the anaerobic bacterium Geobacter
sulfurreducens, recently identified as extracellular cytochrome nanowires (ECNs), have …

Methanogenic archaea are major producers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and
biofuel, and are widespread in diverse environments, including the animal gut. The …

Microbial hydrogen (H 2) cycling underpins the diversity and functionality of diverse anoxic
ecosystems. Among the three evolutionarily distinct hydrogenase superfamilies …

The roles of Asgard archaea in eukaryogenesis and marine biogeochemical cycles are well
studied, yet their contributions in soil ecosystems remain unknown. Of particular interest are …

Methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea produce and consume the greenhouse gas
methane, respectively, using the reversible enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) …

Synthetic biology confers new functions to hosts by introducing exogenous genetic
elements, yet rebuilding complex traits that are based on large-scale genetic information …