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Genome of Deadly Amoeba Shows Surprising Complexity; Study Reveals Evidence for Lateral Gene Transfer from Bacteria
The genome sequence of the parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica, a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in developing countries, includes an unexpectedly complex repertoire of sensory genes as well as a variety of bacterial-like genes that contribute to the organism's unique biology. TIGR scientists led the project, which presents the first genome-wide study of an amoeba. About 50 million people a year are infected by the parasite, which causes as many as 100,000 deaths annually.
Scientists Decipher Genome of a Fungus That Causes Life-Threatening Infections in Persons With Impaired Immunity
Cryptococcus Study Sheds Light On How Fungi Cause Disease
Scientists Reveal Molecular Secrets of the Malaria Parasite
Groundbreaking Research Project May Help Boost Vaccine Development
Scientists Decipher Genome of Bacterium that Helps Clean Up Major Groundwater Pollutants
Cryptococcus Study Sheds Light On How Fungi Cause Disease
Genome Comparison of Four Campylobacter Strains Yields New Genetic Markers and Clues to Virulence
In a study that could benefit medical and food-safety research, scientists have used the tools of comparative genomics to find new clues about why some strains of the bacterium Campylobacter - which each year cause more than 400 million cases of gastrointestinal disease - are more virulent than others. The analysis is helping researchers develop more comprehensive detection methods for analyzing human and environmental isolates of the bacteria.
Microbe's Genome Reveals Insights Into Ocean Ecology
Unexpected findings about the genetic makeup of a marine microbe have given scientists a new perspective on how bacteria make a living in the ocean - a view that may prove useful in wider studies of marine ecology. The analysis by TIGR and collaborators of the DNA sequence of Silicibacter pomeroyi found that the metabolic strategies of marine bacterioplankton are more diverse and less conventional than previously thought.
Innovative Metagenomics Strategy Used To Study Oral Microbes
In an innovative new project, TIGR scientists and collaborators are using a metagenomics strategy to explore the complex mix of microbes in the human mouth. The research could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis and other oral diseases.
Influenza Genome Sequencing Project Is Launched
TIGR will sequence a large number of human isolates of the influenza virus as part of a landmark influenza genome sequencing project announced Monday by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The project aims to help scientists better understand how flu viruses evolve as they spread through the population.
TIGR and Virginia Tech Sign Memorandum for New Alliance
A new alliance between TIGR and Virginia Tech University is expected to enhance the Institute's computational and experimental capacity as well as enrich the university's basic research in the life sciences. The Memorandum of Understanding, announced Monday, anticipates joint research projects, shared use of related facilities, adjunct faculty appointments, and opportunities for students to participate in research.
TIGR's Fraser, Salzberg Honored As AAAS Fellows
TIGR President Claire M. Fraser and Senior Bioinformatics Director Steven L. Salzberg have been named as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of their contributions to genomics and bioinformatics.
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La Jolla Community Celebrates Art and Science at Venter Institute Event
On Friday, September 12, the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) hosted a reception at its La Jolla campus to celebrate the installation of “LIFE FORCE,” an original painting by San Diego-based artist and architect Fred Gemmell. This spectacular piece now hangs prominently in the entry of...
Understanding Complex Data through Better Visualization
Recently, researchers at JCVI reported on the Rhizoctonia solani mitochondrial genome which was the largest fungal mitochondrion to be sequenced to date. We showed that its unusually large size was probably due to the expansion of multiple genetic elements that populated the genome in somewhat...
JCVI Research Impact
JCVI ranks in the top 1% of research institutions worldwide for research impact based on an analysis of Elsevier and Thomson Reuters data. The ranking was done by looking at institutional publication reach as seen through the number of citations referencing them....
Trapping Microbes 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle
About 1% of all microbes are “culturable” in the lab. They are some of the most stubborn organisms requiring special and specific nutrients as well as optimal temperatures and conditions. So, how do we get the “unculturables” to be “culturable”? We make bacteria “traps”,...
Thule, Greenland Year Two
Sequence data from the previous year allowed us to determine the overall microbial population in each site and this year we decided to focus on the Rich Lake site which seem to have representation of nearly all microbes found in the other sites. So lucky for us we only had to work on one...
Scientist Spotlight: Meet Sarah Highlander
Sarah Highlander PhD is an esteemed scientist and professor who joined JCVI in La Jolla this year. She comes from a long line of academically successful Professors, including a great uncle who was a University Dean. As a young child, Sarah was influenced by her parents: her mother was...
Professional Development Opportunities this Summer
This summer we are offering two professional development workshops: GenomeSolver and Bioinformatics: Unlocking Life through Computation. Both explore bioinformatics, microbial diversity and the implementation in the undergradauate or high school classrooms. The GenomeSolver...
JCVI Hosts South African Scientists to Share Microbiome Research Techniques
Two scientists from the University of Cape Town, South Africa have joined Dr. Bill Nierman’s lab for the next month as part of NIH’s Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative, a training program designed to build out technical biological skills in the African research...
Building the World's First Net-Zero Energy Lab [video]
Building the World's First Net-Zero Energy Lab And see the construction in time-lapes.
Amazon Expedition
Yesterday, JCVI expedition scientist Jeff Hoffman embarked from Manaus on a sampling expedition of the Amazon River and its tributaries, which contains 1/5th of the Earth’s river flow. In collaboration with scientists Dr. Guilherme Oliviera and Dr. Sara Cuadros from the Centro de Excelencia...
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The race to stop mirror organisms
If created, these versions of the building blocks of life could lead to environmental and ecological disaster
J. Craig Venter Describes a Human Genomics Revolution Still In Progress
Despite profound impact on bio-medical research, progress in understanding has been slow
Scientist renowned for study of adolescent brains named president of J. Craig Venter Institute
Anders Dale says he will move roughly $10 million in NIH funding from UCSD to JCVI.
Mirror Bacteria Research Poses Significant Risks, Dozens of Scientists Warn
Synthetic biologists make artificial cells, but one particular kind isn’t worth the risk.
Can CRISPR help stop African Swine Fever?
Gene editing could create a successful vaccine to protect against the viral disease that has killed close to 2 million pigs globally since 2021.
Getting Under the Skin
Amid an insulin crisis, one project aims to engineer microscopic insulin pumps out of a skin bacterium.
Planet Microbe
There are more organisms in the sea, a vital producer of oxygen on Earth, than planets and stars in the universe.
The Next Climate Change Calamity?: We’re Ruining the Microbiome, According to Human-Genome-Pioneer Craig Venter
In a new book (coauthored with Venter), a Vanity Fair contributor presents the oceanic evidence that human activity is altering the fabric of life on a microscopic scale.
Lessons from the Minimal Cell
“Despite reducing the sequence space of possible trajectories, we conclude that streamlining does not constrain fitness evolution and diversification of populations over time. Genome minimization may even create opportunities for evolutionary exploitation of essential genes, which are commonly observed to evolve more slowly.”
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