News
Study: Combining info on genes, gut bacteria enhances early disease detection
Integrating genomic and microbiomic data significantly improves chronic disease-risk predictions over traditional methods. This research utilizes a multi-omic approach for deeper insights into disease mechanisms.
Advances in forensic science improve accuracy of time-of-death estimates
Researchers have identified a set of 20 microbes that specialize in decomposing human flesh, offering precise time-of-death estimates in forensic science, regardless of environmental conditions.
A revolutionary approach to deciphering evolution
A new method revolutionizes phylogenomic tree construction, combining divide-and-conquer strategies with high computing power to integrate and refine vast genetic data, enhancing evolutionary relationship accuracy.
Integrative Computational Tools for Systems Biology Research
Multi-institutional team led by Dr. Zhu is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to expand Python library scikit-bio for efficient multiomic data integration and complex community modeling.
Finding New Ways to Analyze the Microbiome
The microbiome has a prominent impact on human health, but with microbiomes each comprising trillions of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, and microbes differing from one person to another, much is left to learn.
A New Way For Probing Gut Microbiome
We introduce Operational Genomic Units (OGUs) for metagenomic data analysis. The approach allows finer differentiation of DNA sequences, improving upon older methods that rely solely on taxonomic classification. This advancement grants better understanding of microbiomes’ role in human health.
Study describes new method for probing microbiome diversity
New analytical technique enhances the resolution of metagenomic sequencing for microbiome analysis. This approach bypasses traditional taxonomy, focusing instead on direct genome alignment for sharper microbial identification and improved biological insights.
Gut microbe study finds a possible cause of ulcerative colitis
Dr. Zhu interviewed by KJZZ to discuss the study of ulcerative colitis gut microbiomes. Listen
Digitized stool samples reveal enzyme driving bowel disease
Through a comprehensive multi-omic study, researchers have identified a specific microbe, Bacteroides vulgatus, which produces proteases that contribute to ulcerative colitis, offering new potential drug targets for the disease.
Undaunted: ASU Science forges ahead, despite worldwide crisis
Dr. Zhu among new faculty members joining the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University.