Mining fragmented data for antibiotics and cancer treatments

American Society for Microbiology

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Washington, D.C.—Researchers have developed a practical strategy for recovering biosynthetic information from fragmented metagenomic data. Through this work, the researchers identified and prioritized promising natural-product candidates with potential antibacterial or anticancer activity. The study was published in Microbiology Spectrum, an ASM journal.

Microorganisms produce many natural products that have become important medicines, including antibiotics and anticancer drugs. “The biosynthesis of these natural products is encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which are groups of neighboring genes that work together to produce a specific compound,” said corresponding study author Lei Zhang, Ph.D., a pharmaceutical engineering professor at Jining Medical University in China. “However, most microorganisms in the environment cannot yet be cultured in the laboratory, and BGCs recovered from metagenomic assemblies are often fragmented across contigs (a series of overlapping DNA sequences). This makes it difficult to reconstruct complete biosynthetic pathways and determine which clusters are most likely to produce medically useful compounds.”

To develop their new strategy for recovering biosynthetic information from fragmented metagenomic data, the researchers started with biosynthetic gene clusters whose products had already been experimentally characterized and used them as reference “maps.” They searched large metagenomic datasets for related pieces of biosynthetic information. When these pieces were fragmented, they used the known clusters as guides to help reconstruct the missing pathway and predict what kinds of molecules it might produce. They then chemically synthesized selected predicted compounds and tested their biological activity. “We connected computational mining of metagenomic data with experimental validation,” Zhang said.

The researchers found that fragmented metagenomic data can contain valuable biosynthetic information that would be missed if each fragment were analyzed separately. By using known biosynthetic gene clusters as guides, they were able to piece together candidate pathways and identify potential bioactive products.

“Importantly, we went beyond computational prediction. We chemically synthesized 6 candidate compounds and tested them across 7 cancer cell lines. The compounds showed different patterns of cytotoxic activity, with compounds D and E showing the most notable activity and clear differences among cancer cell lines,” Zhang said.

The main significance of this work is that it offers a route for turning incomplete or fragmented BGCs into testable natural-product hypotheses. Instead of treating partial BGCs as unusable, the approach uses experimentally characterized BGCs as guides for reconstruction and then focuses experimental resources on candidates with a stronger basis for further study.

At the same time, the study makes clear that computational reconstruction and product prediction are prioritization steps: chemical structures, biological activities and therapeutic value must still be established through appropriate experiments.

“Fragmented metagenomic data should not simply be treated as incomplete or unusable,” Zhang said. “Our study shows that, by using known biosynthetic pathways as guides, we can recover hidden biosynthetic information, prioritize promising natural-product candidates and move them from computational prediction toward experimental testing. This provides a practical way to explore the enormous chemical potential of microorganisms that we cannot yet cultivate in the laboratory.”

Zhang added that a central feature of the work is its integration of computational discovery and experimental validation. “The workflow identifies candidates for reconstruction, product prediction, chemical synthesis, and biological testing, as demonstrated by the 6 compounds evaluated across seven cancer cell lines,” Zhang said. “Further experiments are still needed to confirm their biological mechanisms, activity profiles and therapeutic potential, as well as whether predicted products are produced naturally by the corresponding microorganisms.”

 

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ASM is a global community shaping the future of the microbial sciences to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Established in 1899, ASM connects scientists across disciplines, sectors and borders to advance discovery, foster collaboration and drive innovation.

With more than 38,000 members and a global network that reaches millions, ASM accelerates scientific progress through publishing, convening, advocacy and professional development. From climate change and antimicrobial resistance to industrial, basic and applied microbiology, ASM empowers the microbial sciences community to create solutions that benefit society and build what’s next.

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Journal

Microbiology Spectrum

 

In Alaska, soil in permafrost regions is warming the fastest

Washington State University

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PULLMAN, Wash. — Soils are warming quickly and at considerable depth across Alaska, with temperatures rising fastest in the state’s permafrost region, a trend that could accelerate climate change and undermine the stability of roads, buildings and other infrastructure built on the continuously frozen ground.

That’s a central finding of new research from Washington State University that provides a comprehensive look at soil temperatures from 1997 to 2023 in a state where the effects of climate change are pronounced. The warming permafrost comes with particular concern, because when that ground thaws it releases carbon dioxide and methane, driving even faster warming.

Alaska’s air temperatures are rising at twice the pace of the Lower 48, a key sign of the “polar amplification” of climate change at the Arctic latitudes. The new research details how and where the ground is warming, compares that to air temperatures, and shows that snow cover plays a key role in regional differences.

“In the Lower 48 or further south you would expect that soil temperatures and air temperatures would change at the same rate,” said lead author Erin Oliver, a post-doctoral research associate for WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Science who is based in Alaska. “Those warmer air temperatures warm the soil. But in Alaska, over half the year, our soils are covered in snow. So how would that affect things?”

In short, her study found that soil warming is almost keeping pace with air warming, particularly in the central and maritime parts of the state. In high-latitude permafrost regions, soil warming is lagging behind air warming, but even so she saw “polar amplification” in soil temperatures too.

Over the 27 years of the study, air and soil temperatures increased across the state, but were most pronounced in the permafrost regions, where air temperatures rose at a rate of 1.15 degrees Celsius per decade and soil temperatures rose at 0.64 degrees Celsius per decade.

The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Climate, offers one of the most comprehensive studies of relationship between air and soil temperatures in Alaska. The collection of such data is challenging in the state due to its vast size and challenging geography.

“It’s hard to get around in Alaska,” Oliver said. “Most of the state is very remote, it’s very expensive to put in these weather stations, and they really only started putting them in the late 1990s. So comparatively, we don't have as much of a record as other places.”

For the study, the researchers synthesized air and soil temperature data from 43 weather stations across Alaska, and tracked soil temperatures at several different depths over 27 years. To evaluate the effects of snow cover, they divided the state into three regions: one with continuous permafrost; one with some areas of permafrost; and one without permafrost. In the latter two categories, soil temperatures rose at roughly half the rate of the permafrost regions.

That suggests that snow cover, which is deeper at lower latitudes compared to higher latitudes, during the winter slows the rate of warming, providing a buffer to changes in air temperature.

“A neat result was that soil warming rates weren’t slowing down deeper in the soil,” said Oliver’s co-author, Claire Phillips, a research soil scientist at WSU. “People tend to think that soil temperatures are more stable as you go deeper. The seasonal fluctuations do drop out, but the long-term warming trend was actually more obvious at depth.”

In the permafrost region, they found 100% of weather stations had a warming trend at 4 feet depth, while only 65% of them had warming at 2 inches, where temperatures swing more from year-to-year.

“When you go through the numbers and you find permafrost soils showing 2 to 3 degrees Celsius per decade warming at 4 foot depth in the winter months, that’s upsetting,” says Phillips. “But I also look at it as one of the ways this amazing planet is buffering us. The soil is storing a lot of heat that would otherwise all be held in the atmosphere.”

The findings can be used to help inform planning and policymaking in Alaska as the climate changes and brings about a range of different effects. 

“In the permafrost region most of the warming was in winter, and that will have obviously big effects on infrastructure,” Oliver said. “But in lower latitudes most of the warming was in the summertime, and could lead to an increase in our growing season. So knowing the seasonality of it can help Alaskans to adapt.”

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Journal

Frontiers in Climate

DOI

10.3389/fclim.2026.1887902

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Article Title

Significant soil warming across Alaska permafrost and non-permafrost regions from 1997 to 2023

 

Flock cameras put cities at a crossroads. New research offers a roadmap

UMass Amherst researcher says ‘public value mapping’ can help communities weigh security benefits against privacy and other concerns

University of Massachusetts Amherst

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As communities across the U.S. grapple with the rapid spread of Flock cameras and questions about who can access the data they collect, a new study from a University of Massachusetts Amherst public policy researcher reframes the debate to ask a more basic question: Does the technology serve the public?

The study, published in the journal Cities, examines facial recognition technology in Portland, Oregon and autonomous vehicles in Tempe, Arizona to show how communities can weigh the promised benefits of emerging technologies against risks to values such as privacy, equity, transparency and civil liberties. The researchers employ “public value mapping”—a way for governments and the people they serve to look at what a technology is designed to accomplish and weigh it against what else it may change.

The approach takes on added significance as Flock cameras—automated license plate readers used by law enforcement and communities—have become a flashpoint over privacy, surveillance and policing.

Study senior author Thaddeus Miller, professor of public policy at UMass Amherst, says the technologies they investigated in the research were emerging more slowly when the work began before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the pace has accelerated.

“These technologies, like facial recognition and Flock, were emerging in baby steps then, and the pace has only ramped up,” Miller observes.

That acceleration, he says, can put cities and towns in a difficult position. Municipalities face pressure from technology companies and law enforcement to adopt systems that promise improvements in public safety, efficiency or other goals, in many cases, without the staff or expertise to understand the trade-offs.

“Those local governments often do not have the capacity or sometimes the expertise to think through how emerging technologies might affect a whole set of values that the community may have,” Miller explains.

A city might adopt a surveillance system to fight crime, for example, without fully considering its implications for privacy, freedom of expression, racial equity or how information could be shared beyond the agency that collected it.

The Portland case illustrates those tensions. Researchers found that facial recognition cameras could offer public-safety benefits, but there was significant uncertainty about the extent of those benefits in an urban environment. At the same time, there were documented concerns about racial and gender bias, the accuracy of the technology and a lack of transparency about how data would be collected, managed and shared.

Ultimately, Portland’s response was to ban facial recognition technology in public spaces. The case demonstrates that technologies marketed as inevitable can be constrained when the community evaluates them through the lens of public values.

Miller cautions that public value mapping is not a scorecard that automatically tells a community whether to approve or reject a technology. Instead, it is intended to bring government officials and residents together to identify what they value, examine potential benefits and harms, and consider what policies could produce a better outcome.

In the Flock debate, that could mean asking questions before debating the pros and cons of the cameras themselves. For instance: What public safety problems exist? What privacy sacrifices are people willing to accept? Who controls the data? How long is it retained? Who can access it? And, do the answers align with the community’s stated values?

The study asserts that those conversations should take place across government silos and with the public before a controversy erupts.

Miller says the goal is not to reject innovation, but to approach it in a deliberate manner, where there’s time to ensure technological advancements do not come at the expense of values a community is trying to protect.

Technology, he says, is not destiny. Communities can have a say in how it is adopted, regulated and used.

“We shape technologies every day in all sorts of ways,” Miller adds. “The question is, can we do so with more intention?”

The paper was co-authored by Farah Najar Arevalo, of Arizona State University, and Devon McAslan, of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

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Journal

Cities

DOI

10.1016/j.cities.2026.107491

Article Title

Public value mapping in the smart city: Assessing emerging urban technologies

 

Sunlight and a catalyst in a trashcan lid get rid of garbage stink

The combination continuously degrades food waste smells, freshening up household trash

American Chemical Society

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image: 

Researcher Jinlong Wang stands beside a garbage bin fitted with a solar-powered insert on the lid that efficiently removes food waste smells compared to a garbage bin with a typical lid. 

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Credit: Pan Yan

Garbage left outside starts smelling unpleasant very quickly, especially in warm, humid climates that accelerate food decay. In ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, researchers report a solar-powered lid insert that fits onto standard wheeled trash bins and helps combat the stench. In tests with real food, the lid insert efficiently breaks down acetic acid, the main culprit released from rotting waste that’s responsible for its odors, and continues working for more than a month. 

“We wanted to address the odor at its source, inside the bin itself, instead of letting it escape into the street.” – Jinlong Wang

Household waste is often unwanted food that rapidly degrades in bins on neighborhood curbs, forming strong odors such as acetic acid (vinegar), an astringent-smelling compound often associated with stinky garbage. Placing filters with activated charcoal, also called activated carbon, under the lid can help keep the stink contained, but they don’t work well in hot and humid environments.  

Another option is to harness sunlight that hits outdoor garbage bins to remove odor-causing chemicals. “Our motivation was therefore very practical. We wanted to address the odor at its source, inside the bin itself, instead of letting it escape into the street,” says Jinlong Wang, a corresponding author of the study. An inexpensive catalyst like manganese oxide (MnO2) could help — when activated with sunlight, it both adsorbs volatile organic acids and breaks the chemical bonds of acetic acid. So, Wang and colleagues wanted to develop a MnO2-based catalyst and integrate it into a lid insert made from a transparent membrane that concentrates sunlight onto the catalyst. 

The team ionically bonded lithium to MnO2 as a sort-of electronic booster, creating a refined catalyst that is more effective at breaking down acetic acid than MnO2 alone or activated carbon in simulated sunlight conditions in the lab. The catalyst also performed well in humid conditions.  

For a real-world test, the team developed a transparent gas-permeable insert containing a lens that concentrated light onto a layer of the catalyst. The removable module fit onto the lid of a standard wheeled trash bin. The catalyst insert continuously and efficiently broke down acetic acid generated by decaying fruit, bread, and wine for more than 40 days in natural sunlight, demonstrating its long-term stability.  

“Conventional catalytic odor abatement relies on electrical heating to activate the catalyst, but we use light instead,” says Wang. The authors anticipate their results could someday provide a sustainable solution for odor control in waste management.  

The authors acknowledge funding from the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Wuhan Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, and the Central China Normal University. 

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world's largest scientific organizations and a global leader in advancing scientific knowledge. Founded in 1876, ACS' mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity. Guided by its vision of a world built on science, ACS brings together people, ideas, and resources to drive discovery and innovation, support the professional growth of scientists and students, and advance scientific discussion. Through its trusted publications, scientific meetings, community networks, education and career resources, and scientific information solutions, ACS helps scientists, educators, and students make a lasting impact on their communities and the world at large. Together, these efforts support ACS' commitment to improve all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. 

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org. 

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. 

A solar-powered insert in the right bin's lid breaks down food waste smells that get stink in a garbage bin with a typical lid (left image). 

Credit

Adapted from Environmental Science & Technology 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6c07573

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Journal

Environmental Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.6c07573

Article Title

Ionic–Covalent Bond-Mediated Electron-Rich Lattice Oxygen for Solar-Driven Acetic Acid Abatement

 

Blue Ops to bring maritime defense operations to FAU Harbor branch

Florida Atlantic University

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From left, Ryan Britton, FAU vice president for government relations and economic development; Barry Hinckley; president, Blue Ops; FAU President Adam Hasner; and Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

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Credit: Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University and Blue Ops, a maritime division of Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT), have established a strategic partnership that will bring the company’s uncrewed maritime systems operations to FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, creating a hub for research, development, testing, training and collaboration in ocean technology, autonomous systems and national defense.

“This is precisely the kind of strategic partnership that can amplify the strengths of both organizations,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “Florida Atlantic brings the world-class oceanographic resources of Harbor Branch, expertise in autonomous systems and national defense, and a talented pipeline of students and researchers. Blue Ops brings advanced maritime technologies and strong connections to the defense industry. Together, we can move research from the lab to real-world applications, provide students with meaningful opportunities and extend the impact of innovation developed at Florida Atlantic, creating lasting benefits for our region, state and nation.”

The partnership brings together complementary capabilities in a setting uniquely suited to maritime technology development. FAU Harbor Branch is a secure, 144-acre, deep-water port and provides access to the ocean, waterfront infrastructure, marine scientists and engineers, specialized equipment and decades of experience developing technologies for challenging ocean environments. Blue Ops will bring expertise in uncrewed surface vessels, maritime autonomy, mission systems and open architectures.

“Partnering with Florida Atlantic University gives Blue Ops an opportunity to advance our uncrewed surface vessels, develop and test new maritime technologies, and help build the skilled workforce needed as autonomous systems become more central to maritime operations,” said Barry Hinckley, president of Blue Ops. “Harbor Branch brings together engineers, scientists, students and industry in an environment where technologies can be tested in the real-world maritime conditions for which they are designed. By working alongside FAU researchers and supporting its educational mission, we can help prepare both the talent and technologies needed to strengthen America’s maritime capabilities.”

The Fort Pierce location will support Blue Ops’ research and development in ocean technology, autonomous systems and national defense, including engineering, testing and evaluation; land- and water-based demonstrations; personnel training; and equipment maintenance and support. The partnership also creates opportunities for joint research, graduate scholarships, paid internships, outreach, and shared use of specialized scientific equipment and support services.

The partnership aligns with FAU’s research emphasis on national defense and autonomous systems, one of four Areas of Research Emphasis in the university’s 2026-31 strategic plan. Through its Autonomous Systems Initiative, FAU brings together faculty across colleges and institutes to advance research, education and workforce development across air, ground, underground, surface and underwater environments.

FAU has decades of expertise in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, sensing and marine technologies, increasingly supporting national defense and security. At FAU Harbor Branch, Michael Twardowski, Ph.D., the Edwin A. Link Ocean Technology and Defense Endowed Professor and director of the Center for Marine Applied Technology and Engineering, has spent more than 30 years advancing optical sensing, underwater imaging and autonomous marine systems through research with the U.S. Office of Naval Research.  

“This partnership is a natural extension of what Harbor Branch has done for decades; bringing scientists, engineers and technology developers together to solve complex ocean challenges,” said Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., interim executive director of FAU Harbor Branch. “Having Blue Ops here connects industry with our researchers, facilities and students, accelerating innovation while providing valuable real-world experience and workforce development opportunities for the next generation of engineers and scientists.”

The partnership also reflects the important role of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) in helping to bring Blue Ops to the region. The BDB is the county’s economic development organization focused on attracting and retaining businesses.

“Palm Beach County is at the forefront of technology, and partnerships like this show how our region’s assets can come together to create new opportunities,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the BDB. “Florida Atlantic’s research expertise, talent pipeline and focus on national defense and autonomous systems make it a strong partner for technology companies. Bringing Blue Ops to Harbor Branch further connects research, industry and workforce development and strengthens the Palm Beaches as a hub for advanced technology.”

As Blue Ops establishes its presence at Harbor Branch, the partners will pursue joint research, engineering and testing, workforce development, internships, graduate opportunities and technology demonstrations focused on maritime autonomy, ocean technology and national defense.

- FAU -

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University is one of the nation’s fastest-rising public research universities, serving more than 32,000 students in South Florida. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, Florida Atlantic is also one of only 13 institutions nationwide to hold Carnegie Foundation designations for R1 research, opportunity and community engagement. Guided by its strategic plan, “2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins,” the university is focused on delivering career-ready education and experiential learning, driving scholarly inquiry that creates healthier, safer and more prosperous communities, strengthening institutional excellence, and elevating its impact across South Florida and beyond. Florida Atlantic continues to advance its position as Florida’s first quantum university, integrating research, education and industry partnerships around next-generation computing technologies. Through other signature strengths in neuroscience and healthy aging, environmental, ocean and coastal innovation, and national defense and autonomous systems, Florida Atlantic expands knowledge, fuels economic opportunity and fulfills its mission as South Florida’s hometown university.
 

About Red Cat:

Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a U.S. based provider of advanced all domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security. Through its integrated portfolio of trusted U.S. and allied hardware and software offerings, Red Cat supports military, government, and public safety operations across air, land, sea and space. Its systems span small unmanned aircraft systems, uncrewed surface vessels, wireless power transfer technology, and autonomous swarming software to enhance situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and mission safety. Learn more at www.redcat.red.