@article{parnell_vintila_tang_wagner_kleiner_2023, title={Evaluation of ready-to-use freezer stocks of a synthetic microbial community for maize root colonization}, volume={12}, ISSN={["2165-0497"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02401-23}, DOI={10.1128/spectrum.02401-23}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT
          
            Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are a valuable tool to study community assembly patterns, host–microbe interactions, and microbe–microbe interactions in a fully controllable setting. Constructing the SynCom inocula for plant–microbe experiments can be time-consuming and difficult because a large number of isolates with different medium requirements and growth rates are grown in parallel and mixed to appropriate titers. A potential workaround to assembling fresh SynCom inocula for every experiment could be to prepare and freeze SynComs on a large scale, creating ready-to-use inocula. The objective of this study was to compare the reproducibility, stability, and colonization ability of freshly prepared versus frozen SynCom inocula. We used a community of seven species known to colonize maize roots. The results from inoculation with the frozen SynCom were as consistent as those of standardized
            de novo
            construction of fresh SynCom. Our results indicate that creating frozen SynCom inocula for repeated use in experiments not only saves time but could also improve cross-experiment reproducibility. Although this approach was only validated with one SynCom, it demonstrates a principle that can be tested for improving approaches in constructing other SynComs.
          
          
            IMPORTANCE
            Synthetic communities (SynComs) are an invaluable tool to characterize and model plant–microbe interactions. Multimember SynComs approximate intricate real-world interactions between plants and their microbiome, but the complexity and time required for their construction increase enormously for each additional member added to the SynCom. Therefore, researchers who study a diversity of microbiomes using SynComs are looking for ways to simplify the use of SynComs. In this manuscript, we evaluate the feasibility of creating ready-to-use freezer stocks of a well-studied seven-member SynCom for maize roots. The frozen ready-to-use SynCom stocks work according to the principle of “just add buffer and apply to sterilized seeds or seedlings” and thus can save time applied in multiple days of laborious growing and combining of multiple microorganisms. We show that ready-to-use SynCom stocks provide comparable results to those of freshly constructed SynComs and thus allow for significant time savings when working with SynComs.
          }, journal={MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM}, author={Parnell, J. Jacob and Vintila, Simina and Tang, Clara and Wagner, Maggie R. and Kleiner, Manuel}, editor={Hockett, Kevin LorenEditor}, year={2023}, month={Dec} }
 @article{wagner_tang_salvato_clouse_bartlett_vintila_phillips_sermons_hoffmann_balint-kurti_et al._2021, title={Microbe-dependent heterosis in maize}, volume={118}, ISSN={0027-8424 1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2021965118}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.2021965118}, abstractNote={Significance
          Almost all grain crops grown on commercial farms are hybrid cultivars because these hybrid plants are reliably healthier, larger, and more productive than their inbred parent lines. The widespread and valuable phenomenon of hybrid superiority is called heterosis. Despite over a century of intensive research into heterosis, it is unclear how or why hybrid genomes give rise to superior phenotypes. Most hypotheses and research thus far have focused on genetic and physiological mechanisms of heterosis. In contrast, this article presents evidence for a microbe-driven mechanism of heterosis, whereby the activity of live soil microbes affects the expression of heterosis. This finding will open lines of research that could advance our understanding of heterosis.}, number={30}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Wagner, Maggie R. and Tang, Clara and Salvato, Fernanda and Clouse, Kayla M. and Bartlett, Alexandria and Vintila, Simina and Phillips, Laura and Sermons, Shannon and Hoffmann, Mark and Balint-Kurti, Peter J. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Jul} }
 @misc{pietrosemoli_tang_2020, title={Animal Welfare and Production Challenges Associated with Pasture Pig Systems: A Review}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2077-0472"]}, DOI={10.3390/agriculture10060223}, abstractNote={A review of published literature was conducted to identify pasture pig production system features that pose risks to animal welfare, and to develop recommendations aimed at improving the wellbeing of the animals managed in those systems. Pasture pig production systems present specific challenges to animal welfare that are inherent to the nature of these systems where producers have little room to make improvements. However, these systems present other challenges that could be reduced with a carefully designed system, by adopting appropriate management strategies and by avoiding management practices that are likely to negatively affect animal wellbeing. In pasture pig production systems, exposure to extreme temperatures, potential contact with wildlife and pathogens (especially parasites), vulnerability to predators, risk of malnutrition, pre-weaning piglet mortality, complexity of processes for monitoring and treating sick animals, and for cleaning and disinfection of facilities and equipment are among the main threats to animal welfare.}, number={6}, journal={AGRICULTURE-BASEL}, author={Pietrosemoli, Silvana and Tang, Clara}, year={2020}, month={Jun} }