D. R. Utter

Convergence and horizontal gene transfer drive the evolution of anaerobic methanotrophy in archaea

This study identifies convergent evolution and horizontal gene transfer as key drivers in the evolution of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea using comparative metagenomics of Candidatus Methanovorans.

Persistent enrichment of multidrug resistant Klebsiella in oral and nasal communities during long-term starvation

This study shows that Klebsiella outcompetes other microbes in oral and nasal communities during starvation, contributing to its persistence and potential pathogenicity.

Non-cognate immunity proteins provide broader defenses against interbacterial effectors in microbial communities

The paper demonstrates that immunity proteins can protect against non-cognate interbacterial effectors, challenging existing models of bacterial defense mechanisms.

Gene- and genome-centric dynamics shape the diversity of oral bacterial populations

The paper analyzes oral microbiota metagenomes to determine whether adaptation is driven by gene- or genome-centric processes, finding both occur but genome-wide selection is dominant.

Metapangenomics of the oral microbiome provides insights into habitat adaptation and cultivar diversity

The paper uses metapangenomics to analyze oral microbiome diversity, revealing habitat-specific genomic groups and highlighting limitations in cultivated organisms' representation.

A family of contact-dependent nuclease effectors contain an exchangeable, species-identifying domain

The paper identifies a species-identifying domain in contact-dependent nuclease effectors and uses it to differentiate species in microbiomes.