Microbiology

Cuatro Cienegas, in Mexico's Chihuahuan desert, might hold the key to secrets about microbial evolution, the Cambrian Explosion, speciation, extraterrestrial life, and just about everything else. That key is phosphorus. --by Margaret Coulombe

A new study suggests that the composition of microbes in the gut may be one reason why gastric-bypass surgery is so effective. It also helps solidify the link between methane-producing microbes and obesity.--by Richard Harth

Miles below the surface of the planet, Earth is astir with life--microbial life. A team of ASU researchers is working to understand how these organisms get energy. Their work may have applications ranging from finding petroleum resources to cleaning up the environment. --by Nikki Staab

ASU researchers are using new genetic tools to trace the evolution of tuberculosis, a bacterium that claims millions of lives each year. Their study of the past can help us develop better treatments for the disease in the future. (photo: Janice Carr, CDC) --by Rebecca Howe

Microbial symbionts live in the guts of animals, the interiors of corals, and the roots of plants. They help plants take up nutrients and help cows break down cellulose, but they can also be harmful to their hosts. Stan Faeth wants to understand the relationship between symbionts, their hosts, and their role in everything from conservation to cancer cures. --by Margaret Coulombe

Room for experiments on the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station is hard to come by. Sometimes scientists have to mimic the effects of space right here on Earth. --by Margaret Coulombe

Scientists have learned plenty about how life in outer space affects the human body. But what about germs and other nasty microorganisms? Cheryl Nickerson wants to know how disease-causing pathogens themselves are affected by space travel. --by Margaret Coulombe

Scientists have developed a method that extends the power of fluorescence-mediated bioimaging to see discrete pigments inside live cells of bacteria. The method is providing fresh insights into what happens on a molecular level during photosynthesis. It also promises to provide important information about the inner workings of cells as they engage in the process of collecting sunlight and turning it into chemical energy. --by Skip Derra

Researchers have cracked the genetic code of a bacterium that harvests far-red light by making a rare form of chlorophyll (chlorophyll d). The bacterium, Acaryochloris marina, uses light from a part of the spectrum that few other organisms can use. Understanding how it works could help drive advances in agriculture and bioenergy. --by Skip Derra

ASU researchers are using bacteria and sunlight to generate hydrogen, a clean fuel that produces no greenhouse gases. The biohydrogen project aims to harness the energy in sunlight using microbial photosynthesis to produce hydrogen. --by Skip Derra