Microbiome Center News | One Health Microbiome Center

César de la Fuente, pioneer in artificial intelligence and bioengineering, will speak at Penn State on Dec. 5. Credit: César de la Fuente. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 05, 2025

World leader in AI and antibiotic discovery to deliver lecture at Penn State

César de la Fuente, Presidential Associate Professor at University of Pennsylvania and pioneer in AI-assisted antibiotic development, will visit Penn State on Dec. 5.

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To see how microbial activity changes near and inside roots, the researchers chose crimson clover, or Trifolium incarnatum, as a test plant. It’s a legume commonly grown as a cover crop in the U.S. Northeast that forms root nodules with bacteria like the one shown here. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 05, 2025

Novel technique reveals insights into soil microbe alarm clock

New study yields clues about when dormant microscopic bacteria and fungi in soil ‘wake up’ and colonize roots, which influences plant growth and health.

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With a $450,000, three-year U.S. National Science Foundation grant and equivalent funding from the Binational Science Foundation in Israel, an international team of researchers co-led by Thomas Wood, biotechnology endowed chair and professor of chemical engineering at Penn State, will investigate the role E. coli plays in the gut and how it may affect intestinal inflammation. Credit: Poornima Tomy/Penn State . All Rights Reserved.

Oct 31, 2025

Q&A: Bacteria research could be a gut-punch to inflammatory bowel disease

In this Q&A, Wood spoke about the significance of gut bacteria in IBD and how Penn State’s advanced organ-on-chip technologies — which are engineered devices and systems of tissues grown inside microfluidic chips that mimic human physiology — could lead to new diagnostic tools and treatments.

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Sahil Pawar, a doctoral candidate in entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, studies how soil salinity, drought and climate change influence the interactions between crops and the pests that feed on them. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 31, 2025

Salty soil, scrappy bugs and shared ideas drive graduate student’s research

Sahil Pawar says that tackling the world’s agricultural challenges is not a task for one person — it requires a collective effort. That grounded view shapes the early-career entomologist’s research, which examines how environmental stressors, such as soil salinity, drought and climate change, influence the interactions between crops and the pests that feed on them.

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Entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences examined the potential for birds to feed on spotted lanternflies. Credit: Anne Johnson / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 27, 2025

Spotted lanternfly may use ‘toxic shield’ to fend off bird predators

Spotted lanternflies may season themselves to the distaste of potential bird predators, according to a new study led by entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

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Thomas Wood is investigating a previously overlooked bacterial defense system that can stop viruses in their tracks. Credit: Poornima Tomy/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 27, 2025

Old dog, new tricks: Prehistoric viruses can be used to defend bacterial cells

Bacteria infected with ‘fossilized’ viruses offer promising defense against antibiotic-resistant viruses, according to researchers.

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Oct 24, 2025

Oct. 24 kicks off 'Plants for the People and the Planet' innovation series

This free seminar series, open to the community at-large, will showcase cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives on how plants can shape a healthier, more sustainable future.

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From left: Joy Bergelson, Arturo Casadevall, and Martin Wiedmann will present as keynote speakers at the 2026 One Health Microbiome Symposium. Credit: Joy Bergelson, Arturo Casadevall, Martin Wiedmann. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 15, 2025

One Health Microbiome Center announces 2026 symposium, keynote speaker lineup

The One Health Microbiome Center (OHMC) in the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences will host the One Health Microbiome Symposium on May 13 and 14, 2026.

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Charlene Shupp Espenshade, executive director of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, prepares to sample microgreens cultivated at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences during the college’s recent Legislative Research Tour. She is joined by graduate students Auja Bywater and Rishi Ravichandran. Credit: Sean Duke / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 06, 2025

College of Ag Sciences research tour explores connection between food, health

Government and industry stakeholders got a literal taste of the future of agriculture by sampling hydroponically grown greens at one of several presentations during the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ annual Legislative Research Tour, held Sept. 25 at the University Park campus.

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Oct 06, 2025

Penn State and Ghanaian researchers to host symposium, launch seed grant

The Penn State & Ghana Symposium: The Power of Partnership will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Millennium Science Complex, University Park. The symposium will feature short faculty talks highlighting existing Penn State-Ghana partnerships and opportunities for new collaborations. The event is free and open to the Penn State community.

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