Transposable elements have proliferated in the bacterium Enterococcus faecium, altering its metabolism and genome structure.

Scientists in Tokyo have uncovered “Inocles,” massive strands of extrachromosomal DNA hidden inside bacteria in human mouths. These giants, overlooked by traditional sequencing, could explain how oral ...

Scientists have long known that our skin is home to vast communities of bacteria, fungi and viruses. But knowing which ...

Rising heat and drought may spur bacteria to exchange antibiotic resistance genes, with potential risks to human health.

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There is usually one bit of genomic DNA in a bacterial cell that encodes for most of its functions, but bacteria can carry other bits of genetic material like plasmids, which could carry a gene for ...

A comprehensive study that took over 20 years to develop has explained the tradeoff that the cholera bacteria faces when ...

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It damages ecosystems, endangers animals, and in the form of nanoplastic particles, can also have consequences for human health. A global agreement to regulate ...

A group of ecologically tolerant microbes known as ‘generalists’ can thrive across very different environments, creating a planet-wide, interconnected network of microbiomes. In a new study published ...

Humanity’s path to Mars will not be paved by rockets alone. The harsh cold, thin air, and toxic soil of the Red Planet demand a kind of resilience that metal and machinery cannot provide on their own, ...