A. Dragos

The Bacillus phage SPβ and its relatives: A temperate phage model system reveals new strains, species, prophage integration loci, conserved proteins and lysogeny management components

The paper identifies new SPβ phage strains, integration loci, and prophage features, revealing conserved genes and lysogeny management components in Bacillus phages.

Bacillus velezensis stimulates resident rhizosphere Pseudomonas stutzeri for plant health through metabolic interactions

This study identifies metabolic interactions between Bacillus velezensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri in the cucumber rhizosphere that enhance plant growth and salt stress tolerance.

Phages weaponize their bacteria with biosynthetic gene clusters

The paper identifies phage-encoded biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that weaponize bacteria, enhancing their competitive fitness against relatives.

Impact of Rap-Phr system abundance on adaptation of Bacillus subtilis

This study examines how Rap-Phr regulators influence genetic adaptation and evolution in Bacillus subtilis through competition experiments and whole-genome sequencing.

Privatization of biofilm matrix in structurally heterogeneous biofilms

The paper investigates structural heterogeneity in biofilms, showing that matrix gene expression varies and that producer cells maintain partial privatization of the matrix, enhancing biofilm robustness.

Phage recombination drives evolution of spore-forming Bacilli

The paper shows that phage recombination under sporulation selection drives genetic diversity in Bacillus phages, leading to new prophages and virulent hybrids.

Cheaters shape the evolution of phenotypic heterogeneity in Bacillus subtilis biofilms

This study shows that EPS-deficient cheaters in Bacillus subtilis biofilms increase phenotypic heterogeneity, leading to adaptive strategies that enhance EPS production in the presence of cheaters.

BiofilmQ, a software tool for quantitative image analysis of microbial biofilm communities

BiofilmQ is a software tool that enables automated, high-throughput quantitative analysis of 3D and 2D microbial biofilm communities through image cytometry.

Division of labor during biofilm matrix production

This study shows that genetic division of labor in Bacillus subtilis enhances biofilm productivity by allowing specialized mutants to exchange matrix components, outperforming phenotypic specialization.

Evolution of exploitative interactions during diversification in Bacillus subtilis biofilms

This study shows how Bacillus subtilis biofilms evolve into distinct colony variants with different biofilm-forming abilities and interactions, driven by genetic changes and complementarity effects.

Impaired competence in flagellar mutants of Bacillus subtilis is connected to the regulatory network governed by DegU

This study shows that flagellar mutants of Bacillus subtilis have reduced competence due to decreased comK expression, linked to increased phosphorylated DegU.