2025 Hyper Recent •CC0 1.0 Universal

This work is dedicated to the public domain. No rights reserved.

Access Preprint From Server
July 18th, 2025
Version: 1
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
microbiology
biorxiv

Planetary microbiome structure and generalist-driven gene flow across disparate habitats

Kim, C. Y.Open in Google Scholar•Podlesny, D.Open in Google Scholar•Schiller, J.Open in Google Scholar•Khedkar, S.Open in Google Scholar•Fullam, A.Open in Google Scholar•Orakov, A.Open in Google Scholar•Schudoma, C.Open in Google Scholar•Robbani, S. M.Open in Google Scholar•Grekova, A.Open in Google Scholar•Kuhn, M.Open in Google Scholaret al.

Microbes are ubiquitous on Earth, forming microbiomes that sustain macroscopic life and biogeochemical cycles. Microbial dispersion, driven by natural processes and human activities, interconnects microbiomes across habitats, yet most comparative studies focused on specific ecosystems. To study planetary microbiome structure, function, and inter-habitat interactions, we systematically integrated 85,604 public metagenomes spanning diverse habitats worldwide. Using species-based unsupervised clustering and parameter modeling, we delineated 40 habitat clusters and quantified their ecological similarity. Our framework identified key drivers shaping microbiome structure, such as ocean temperature and host lifestyle. Regardless of biogeography, microbiomes were structured primarily by host-associated or environmental conditions, also reflected in genomic and functional traits inferred from 2,065,975 genomes. Generalists emerged as vehicles thriving and facilitating gene flow across ecologically disparate habitat types, illustrated by generalist-mediated horizontal transfer of an antibiotic resistance island across human gut and wastewater, further dispersing to other habitats, exemplifying human impact on the planetary microbiome.

Similar Papers

biorxiv
Fri Jul 18 2025
Examining the composition of gut microbiota in a South African population: a comparative study between type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and non-diabetic individuals
Background Literature has highlighted the gut microbiota\'s role in metabolic functions, suggesting a potential link between gut microbiota composition and T2DM. The purpose of the study was to identify microbial signatures unique to T2DM patients and non-diabetic individuals, to compare microbial profiles between the two groups and to investigate how gut microbiota may be related to inflammation ...
Pheeha, S. M.
•
NGOM, J. T.
•
Sharma, A.
•
Chale-Matsau, B.
...•
Nyasulu, P. S.
biorxiv
Fri Jul 18 2025
Prophage-marine diazotroph interplay shapes both biofilm structure and nitrogen release
Marine environments are frequently oligotrophic, characterized by low amount of bioassimilable Nitrogen sources. At the global scale, the microbial fixation of N2, or diazotrophy, represents the primary source of fixed nitrogen in pelagic marine ecosystems, playing a key role in supporting primary production and driving the export of organic matter to the deep ocean. However, given the high energe...
Mahoudeau, L.
•
Cretin, P.
•
Joublin-Delavat, A.
•
Rodrigues, S.
...•
Delavat, F.
biorxiv
Fri Jul 18 2025
Unique recognition, phagocytosis, and intracellular survival of Cryptococcus neoformans in a human immortalized microglia cell line
Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiological agent of cryptococcal meningitis (CM), is a globally distributed environmental yeast that mainly causes infections in immunocompromised individuals. Particularly in low-resource countries, the mortality rate of CM can reach 81% and accounts for 19% of HIV/AIDS-related deaths each year. In immunocompromised individuals, once inhaled, C. neoformans escapes fr...
Ross, R. L.
•
Arias-Parbul, K.
•
Douglass, Z. M.
•
Adams, K. L.
•
Santiago-Tirado, F. H.
biorxiv
Fri Jul 18 2025
Upregulation of the AcrAB2NodT efflux pump confers antibiotic resistance at the cost of collateral metal sensitivity
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics (AB) such as {beta}-lactams, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides often emerges through mutations that alter AB targets, reduce membrane permeability, or increase the activity of AB-modifying enzymes and efflux pumps. Yet the physiological costs associated with AB resistance remain poorly understood.\n\nIn Caulobacter vibrioides, a {Delta}tipR mutant that which...
Ote, M.
•
Lardinois, L.
•
Hendrickx, E.
•
Dieu, M.
...•
Matroule, J.-Y.
biorxiv
Fri Jul 18 2025
Role of Atg1 in morphologic changes of the pathogenic fungus Trichosporon asahii
Trichosporon asahii is a dimorphic fungus that causes severe invasive fungal infections, particularly in patients with neutropenia. Depending on nutrient availability, T. asahii exists in yeast, hyphae, or arthroconidia forms. Autophagy, a cellular degradation pathway that removes old or damaged organelles, is essential for the survival of many eukaryotic organisms under nutrient-limited condition...
Nakayama, M.
•
Matsumoto, Y.
•
Kurakado, S.
•
Sugita, T.
biorxiv
Thu Jul 17 2025
WITHDRAWN: Changes in endophytic microbial diversity and function in the root system affect the growth of continuously planted Casuarina equisetifolia
Continuous planting barrier is an important limiting factor for the growth of Casuarina equisetifolia (C. equisetifolia), an ecological and economic tree varieties, but its underlying microbial mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study revealed microbial-driven barriers by examining the impact of continuous planting on root endophyte communities in C. equisetifolia. The results showed th...
Hong, L.
•
Wang, Y.
•
Li, M.
•
Li, J.
...•
Wu, Z.
biorxiv
Thu Jul 17 2025
Beyond translation initiation: dual regulatory interactions with phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated LeishIF4E1
Translation initiation in eukaryotes begins with the assembly of the cap-binding eIF4F complex at the 5 ends of mRNAs, through eIF4E. Among the six orthologs of eIF4E in Leishmania, LeishIF4E1 is intriguing, as it does not bind any Leishmania eIF4G. It is expressed in both life-forms, maintaining efficient cap-binding activity for translation initiation, unlike other LeishIF4Es. We identified two ...
Pullaihagari, D.
•
Baron, N.
•
Purushostam, R.
•
Kamus-Elimeleh, D.
...•
Shapira, M.
biorxiv
Thu Jul 17 2025
Exposure to third generation cephalosporin induces L-form transition in Shigella sonnei, potentially acting as a bacterial reservoir for persistent infection
Shigellosis is a major global health threat with a significant Disability Adjusted Life years (DALY) burden, particularly in India, where rising multidrug-resistance (MDR) compromises therapies. Bacteria may survive antibiotics by transitioning into cell wall-deficient L-forms, which are intrinsically resistant to {beta}-lactams and can revert to a virulent state, potentially causing relapsing inf...
Das, S.
•
Mukherjee, A.
•
Halder, P.
•
Banerjee, S.
...•
Koley, H.
biorxiv
Thu Jul 17 2025
Applying 3D correlative structured illumination microscopy and X-ray tomography to characterise herpes simplex virus-1 morphogenesis
To date, the characterisation of HSV-1 mutants in the study of virus assembly has been limited to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) without the addition of correlative light microscopy to identify fluorescently labelled viral proteins. In addition, only a small number of mutants are typically used in each study. Herein, a comparative analysis of nine HSV-1 mutants lacking specific structural ...
Nahas, K. L.
•
Connor, V.
•
Wijesinghe, K. J.
•
Barrow, H. G.
...•
Crump, C. M.