L.-X. Chen

Inference and reconstruction of the heimdallarchaeial ancestry of eukaryotes

The paper reconstructs the evolutionary ancestry of eukaryotes by analyzing Asgard archaea phylogenetic data and infers the last common ancestor of Asgard archaea and eukaryotes as a thermophilic chemolithotroph.

Phage-encoded ribosomal protein S21 expression is linked to late stage phage replication

The paper investigates the expression of the bS21 gene in phages, finding it is active during late-stage replication and may aid in phage particle assembly.

Acidity and sulfur oxidation intermediate concentrations controlled by O2-driven partitioning of sulfur oxidizing bacteria in a mine tailings impoundment

The paper investigates sulfur oxidation by bacteria in a mine tailings impoundment, showing how oxygen drives niche partitioning among sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and affects acidity and thiosulfate levels.

Long-term incubation of lake water enables genomic sampling of consortia involving Planctomycetes and Candidate Phyla Radiation bacteria

The paper describes long-term incubation of lake water to enrich and reconstruct genomes of rare Planctomycetes and CPR bacteria, revealing metabolic traits and potential interactions with phages.

The Chloroflexi supergroup is metabolically diverse and representatives have novel genes for non-photosynthesis based CO2 fixation

This study investigates the metabolic diversity of the Chloroflexi supergroup, revealing novel genes for non-photosynthesis based CO2 fixation and diverse metabolic capabilities across related phyla.

Wide distribution of alternatively coded Lak megaphages in animal microbiomes

The paper identifies a wide distribution of alternatively coded Lak phages in animal microbiomes, including new genomes and associations with specific animal types.

Groundwater Elusimicrobia are metabolically diverse compared to gut microbiome Elusimicrobia and some have a novel nitrogenase paralog

The paper analyzes genomes of Elusimicrobia from various environments, finding groundwater-associated species show diverse metabolic capabilities and some encode novel nitrogenase paralogs.

Functional and genetic markers of niche partitioning among enigmatic members of the human oral microbiome

The paper analyzes oral microbiome metagenomes to identify niche partitioning among TM7 taxa, revealing distinct ecological and genetic patterns between plaque and tongue-associated TM7.

Large Freshwater Phages with the Potential to Augment Aerobic Methane Oxidation

The paper identifies large freshwater phages encoding the pmoC gene, which may enhance bacterial methane oxidation and influence greenhouse gas emissions.

Genome-resolved metagenomics and detailed geochemical speciation analyses yield new insights into microbial mercury cycling in geothermal springs

This paper identifies microorganisms involved in mercury cycling in geothermal springs using metagenomics and geochemical analysis, revealing new insights into microbial mercury speciation and biogeochemical processes.

Accurate and Complete Genomes from Metagenomes

The paper improves metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) by curating them to achieve complete, circularized genomes (CMAGs) using cumulative GC skew and other metrics.

Wide distribution of phage that infect freshwater SAR11 bacteria

The paper identifies and characterizes phages infecting Fonsibacter, showing their global distribution and ecological impact on freshwater microbial communities.

Clades of huge phage from across Earth’s ecosystems

The paper identifies major clades of large phage genomes across diverse ecosystems and highlights their expanded genetic repertoires and potential functional roles.

Candidate Phyla Radiation Roizmanbacteria from hot springs have novel, unexpectedly abundant, and potentially alternatively functioning CRISPR-Cas systems

The paper identifies novel CRISPR-Cas systems in Roizmanbacteria from hot springs, including CasY and type I-B/III-A systems, and reports phage genomes associated with these systems.