Review Articles in 2016

Entry into the nucleus and integration into the host cell are key steps during HIV-1 infection. In this Review, Lusic and Siliciano discuss viral and host factors that influence HIV-1 integration and how it can be targeted therapeutically.

Cellulosomes are sophisticated multicomponent complexes that are used by bacteria to degrade cellulose from plant cell walls. In this review, Artzi, Bayer and Moraïs explore the structural and functional diversity of cellulosomes and their applications; for example, in microbial biofuel production.

In this Review, Tsirigotakiet al. discuss recent biochemical, structural and mechanistic insights that have been gained into the consecutive steps of the general secretory (Sec) pathway. They focus on the architecture and dynamics of SecYEG and its regulation by ribosomes and SecA, and present current models of the mechanisms and energetics of the Sec-pathway-dependent secretion process in bacteria.

In this Review, De Nizet al. discuss the contribution of key imaging tools to advances in our understanding of Plasmodiumspp. biology and host–pathogen interactions over the past decade. These advances, pertaining to parasite structure and motility, as well as the liver and blood stages, have led to paradigm shifts in our knowledge of malaria.

In this Review, Noble and colleagues discuss the characteristics of the classic cell types ofCandida albicans— yeast, hyphae, pseudohyphae and chlamydospores — as well as newly identified yeast-like morphotypes, including grey and gastrointestinally induced transition (GUT) cell types, and highlight emerging knowledge about their associations with different host niches and propensities towards virulence versus commensalism.

Protists are an important part of the marine food web. In this Review, Caronet al. summarize recent insights from transcriptomic studies of cultured and free-living protists and discuss how these findings highlight the functions and interactions of these single-celled eukaryotes in the global oceans.

Why have multi-partner endosymbioses evolved on several independent occasions in plant sap-feeding insects? In this Review, Douglas discusses the composition and functions of these endosymbioses, and considers the processes and adaptive forces that drive their evolution.

Fungal genomics studies have shown that ectomycorrhizal fungi have arisen in approximately 60 independent saprotrophic lineages. In this Review, Martin and colleagues describe the functional gains and losses that have occurred during the evolution of ectomycorrhizal symbioses.

Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, is extremely well adapted to its host. In this Review, Radolf and colleagues discuss how this pathogen has streamlined its cell envelope, metabolism and genome to thrive and cause disease in humans.

In this Review, Claassenset al. discuss recent advances in microbial autotrophic production platforms, in particular the genetic engineering of autotrophic systems in autotrophic microorganisms, the transplantation of partial or complete CO₂fixation pathways and autotrophic energy-harvesting systems into heterotrophs, and the large potential of hybrid systems as autotrophic production platforms. They also explore strategies for the design, quantitative analysis and modular experimental implementation of autotrophic cell factories.

Mycobacteria use ESX systems to secrete substrates across their cell envelopes. In this Review, Brosch and colleagues describe the roles of ESX systems in host–pathogen interactions and consider how studies of ESX systems might inform vaccine design and therapy development.

Magnetosomes are unique organelles that 'magnetize' bacteria. In this Review, Uebe and Schüler discuss our current understanding of the mechanisms of magnetosome biogenesis, and consider how recent genetic advances in this area may lead to the development of exciting biotechnological applications.

Microorganisms with electron transfer capabilities, such as metal-reducing microorganisms, use specialized systems to exchange electrons between minerals and cells. In this Review, Shiet al. summarize the underlying molecular mechanisms, such as cytochromes and nanowires, and biotechnological applications.

Treating infection withClostridium difficileand post-antibiotic disease can be difficult. In this Review, Abt, McKenney and Pamer show how insights into spore germination, virulence and interactions with the host and microbiota can help to combat this pathogen.

Quorum sensing is used to control the behaviour of bacterial communities. In this Review, Papenfort and Bassler highlight recent discoveries about quorum sensing in Gram-negative bacteria, such as novel autoinducers and signalling networks that promote communication that ranges from intra-species to inter-kingdom.

Numerous metabolic functions, social interactions and survival mechanisms are specific to, or more pronounced in, biofilms than in planktonic cells. In this Review, Flemming and colleagues highlight the central role of the self-produced matrix in establishing these 'emergent properties' of biofilms.

The dominant lifestyle of most bacteria involves little or no growth. In this Review, Newman and colleagues discuss the physiology of these little-studied growth states, including changes to metabolism, transcription and translation, and the maintenance of genome replication and integrity.

In this Review, Browning and Busby describe the advances that have been made in recent years in understanding the molecular details of how transcription initiation is regulated to fine tune gene expression, highlighting factors that relate both to the RNA polymerase and to the promoter.

Microbial biofilms exhibit vast complexity in terms of both resident species composition and phenotypic diversity. Here, Foster and colleagues discuss theoretical and experimental work that reveals how the spatial arrangement of genotypes within microbial communities influences the cooperative and competitive cell–cell interactions that define biofilm form and function.

In this Review, te Velthuis and Fodor detail the recently obtained high-resolution structures of the influenza virus RNA polymerase and the insights that have been gained into the mechanisms of viral transcription and replication. They also discuss how these structural data could help to identify novel antiviral targets.