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The results of this study further corroborate that the mode of delivery is a crucial factor that shapes the gut microbiota during the neonatal period, with effects that persist into infancy.
This study reports the assembly and seasonal dynamics of bacterial and archaeal microbiomes of the leaf surfaces and the associated soils of switchgrass and miscanthus.
This study reports that the archaeal chromosome is organized into two compartments with differential gene expression activities that are maintained by a novel Sulfolobus-encoded structural maintenance of chromosomes protein.
Microbiome engineering has many potential applications, ranging from agriculture to medicine. In this Review, Lawson, McMahon and colleagues guide us through the design–build–test–learn cycle that has been successful in many disciplines and explain how it applies to microbiome engineering.
Citrobacter rodentium, an extracellular mouse-specific enteric pathogen, provides a robust model for the study of physiological host–pathogen–microbiota interactions. In this Review, Frankel and colleagues highlight how the C. rodentium model has advanced our understanding of enteric infections and inflammatory bowel disease, in particular changes to host metabolism and inflammation.
In this Review, Kolodziejczyk, Zheng and Elinav describe the latest advances in understanding diet–microbiota interactions, the individuality of gut microbiota composition and how this knowledge could be harnessed for personalized nutrition strategies to improve human health.
A recent study finds that the re-seeding of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium persister cells into the gut lumen promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance plasmids.
Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is now accepted as an effective treatment for Clostridioides difficile infections. With the increasing number of FMT treatments and clinical trials for other indications there is an urgent need for standardized regulations to ensure patient safety and focused development of safer, rationally designed, microbiota-based medicines.
Microorganisms are known for their vigorous growth and enormous capacity to reproduce. Nevertheless, several microorganisms exhibit ageing, for example through asymmetrical cell division and persistence. In this Review, Moger-Reischer and Lennon consider the mechanisms and implications of microbial ageing.
This study reports a structure of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) polymerase complex, providing atomic-level insights into transcription and replication of the RSV genome.
Post-translational modifications of bacterial proteins have a role in various cellular processes such as protein synthesis and turnover, metabolism, the cell cycle, morphogenesis and virulence. In this Review, Macek and colleagues introduce the major types of protein post-translational modifications in bacteria and discuss their roles in various aspects of bacterial cell biology.
Microorganisms have a central place in the marine sulfur cycle through the production and consumption of organic matter. In this Review, Moran and Durham examine sulfur metabolites that are synthesized and catabolized by marine microorganisms in the pelagic ocean and explore how these metabolites function as ecological links between microorganisms.
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) establishes latent and persistent infections in humans, and is associated with several cancers. In this Review, Münz discusses the evidence for EBV persistence without B cell transformation and the role of early abortive lytic replication as well as non-coding RNAs in EBV-driven tumorigenesis.
The findings of this study suggest that commensal Neisseria species antagonize infection by pathogenic Neisseria species through their DNA, by a mechanism based on genetic competence and DNA methylation state.
Protozoa use various mechanisms to establish persistent infections. In this Review, Barrett and colleagues describe protozoan parasite ‘persister-like cells’, and they explore their possible role in persistent infections and drug treatment failure, and outline possible treatment options.
