Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Time-Lapse Epifluorescence Microscopy Imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Heterogeneous Phenotypes
07:44

Time-Lapse Epifluorescence Microscopy Imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Heterogeneous Phenotypes

Published on: February 14, 2025

1.5K

Scales of persistence: transmission and the microbiome

Catherine D Robinson1, Brendan Jm Bohannan2, Robert A Britton3

  • 1Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|October 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microbiomes are not isolated; they exchange microbes with other hosts and the environment. Understanding microbial transmission is key to comprehending microbiome dynamics and improving human health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Historically, microbiome research focused on individual hosts.
  • Recent studies highlight the significance of inter-host transmission in shaping microbiomes.
  • Microbiomes are now understood as dynamic communities exchanging microbes with other hosts and the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the importance of microbial transmission in microbiome assembly.
  • To underscore the need for high-resolution studies on strain-level colonization and persistence.
  • To identify challenges and future directions for microbiome research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent findings on inter-host microbial transmission.
  • Discussion of the necessity for advanced sampling and bioinformatics.
  • Highlighting the utility of tractable experimental models.

Main Results:

  • Microbiome composition is influenced by microbial exchange between hosts and the environment.
  • Strain-level analysis is crucial for understanding transmission dynamics.
  • Current methods present challenges in achieving high-resolution insights.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of microbiome assembly requires considering transmission.
  • Future research must focus on high-resolution strain tracking.
  • Improved methodologies will enhance our ability to modulate microbiomes for health benefits.

More Related Videos

ScanLag: High-throughput Quantification of Colony Growth and Lag Time07:47

ScanLag: High-throughput Quantification of Colony Growth and Lag Time

Published on: July 15, 2014

16.8K
High-throughput Screening of Chemical Compounds to Elucidate Their Effects on Bacterial Persistence07:25

High-throughput Screening of Chemical Compounds to Elucidate Their Effects on Bacterial Persistence

Published on: February 23, 2021

4.4K

Related Concept Videos

Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
11.6K
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
1.0K
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.2K
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
363
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
905