Biosciences Area Senior Faculty Researcher Jay Keasling and his research team have modified yeast to make the adjuvant QS-21, an important additive to vaccines that stimulates the immune response, making vaccines more effective. This process, developed in collaboration with an international team of scientists, was recently published in the journal Nature. m-CAFEs Laboratory Research Manager Trent Northen and other members of the Northen lab, including Environmental Genomics and Systems … [Read more...]
Researchers Identify Key Genes Involved in Fungi-Fungi Parasitism
The Science Fungi in the Trichomaderma genus, which are commonly present in soils, are known to engage in mycoparasitism, or active antagonism of other fungi. The fungi targeted in these interactions are phytopathogenic (plant-harming) fungi, which cause significant economic losses in agriculture. Although there has been extensive research about the mechanisms involved in the mycoparasitic capability of Trichoderma species, there are still unsolved questions related to … [Read more...]
Two m-CAFEs Scientists Join Ranks of AAAS Fellows
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which was founded in 1848 and is the world’s largest general scientific society, has announced their 2023 Fellows. This lifetime honor follows a nomination and review process to recognize scientists, engineers, and innovators for their distinguished achievements toward the advancement or applications of science. The 2023 Fellows class—among them five scientists at Berkeley Lab—includes 502 scientists, engineers, and innovators … [Read more...]
Impact of Inoculation Practices on Microbiota Assembly and Community Stability in a Fabricated Ecosystem
Bacterial inoculation while transplanting coupled with a later harvesting time point yields a reproducible microbial community The Science m-CAFEs researchers used model plant Brachypodium distachyon, shown here in a quartz sand-filled fabricated ecosystem (EcoFAB) inside a Magenta box, to study soil-plant-microbe interactions. . Increasing pressure on agricultural systems and environmental degradation has created a need to examine new methods for developing sustainable agricultural … [Read more...]
CasPEDIA Database: a Functional Classification System for Class 2 CRISPR-Cas Enzymes
m-CAFEs researchers present new database for the collection, classification and utilization of CRISPR-Cas enzymes. The Science m-CAFEs researchers developed CasPEDIA, the Cas Protein Effector Database of Information and Assessment, a new database which provides summary information about the capabilities and limitations of Class 2 Cas technologies to facilitate tool selection and highlight opportunities for future biotechnological development. They also introduce CasID, a Cas enzyme … [Read more...]