The human body is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms–collectively called the ‘microbiota’ or 'microbiome’. We now know that the variety of bacteria inhabiting one’s skin, mouth and intestine can greatly influence their health. Current research efforts are intensely focused on how the microbiota assembles and functions.

This video is a great introduction to some of the key features of the microbiota and the mysteries surrounding it.

via NPR:

The Invisible Universe

Wonder what’s going on inside your microbiome? Artist Ben Arthur gives NPR an illustrated tour.

Source: n.pr

‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance Project Description: Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a...
Zoom Info
‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance Project Description: Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a...
Zoom Info
‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance Project Description: Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a...
Zoom Info
‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance Project Description: Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a...
Zoom Info
‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance Project Description: Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a...
Zoom Info

‘The inner workings of a bacterial pathogen’ project by Travis Wiles via Behance

Project Description:

Extracting pertinent biological information from the large and complex datasets that are generated by high-throughput genetic approaches remains a challenge. We performed a negative selection screen using Tn-seq to dissect out genes required by a strain of ExPEC (Extraintestinal Pathogenic E. coli) in vivo. To zero in on genes that act specifically to enhance fitness under pathogenic conditions, we developed a novel algorithm referred to as ‘TEA’ (Trait Enrichment Analysis). TEA allowed us to identify several previously uncharacterized genes that are more often confined to the genomes of pathogens—suggesting that they may have evolved to specifically promote pathogenic behaviors. The images above depict the overflow of candidate genes that can result from high-throughput experimental procedures (text, background) and the penultimate goal of assembling this information into a working, functional model (bacterium with inner workings shown, foreground).

our findings are reported in the open access journal PLOS Genetics