●Focus: Antimicrobial strategies.Nature Reviews Microbiology September (2004)

●Persistent bacterial infections: the interface of the pathogen and host immune system. Monack, D. M., Mueller, A. & Falkow, S. Nature Reviews Microbiology September (2004)

●E3 ubiquitin ligases as T cell anergy factors. Mueller, D. L. Nature Immunology September (2004) This Review discusses the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the regulation of T-cell tolerance through the induction of clonal anergy.

●Focus: Pharmacogenetics.Nature Reviews Genetics and Nature Reviews Drug Discovery September (2004) The genetic make-up of an individual influences the way in which he or she responds to drug treatment. This joint Focus discusses the latest approaches to pharmacogenetics research, the regulatory frameworks that are evolving, and the ethical problems and solutions.

●The brightening future of HIV therapeutics. Greene, W. C. Nature Immunology September (2004) Research that has increased our understanding of the interaction between HIV and its host has also provided new targets for therapeutic intervention, as discussed in this Commentary.

●Paul Ehrlich: Magister Mundi. Drews, J. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery September (2004) Paul Ehrlich is well known to immunologists for his many contributions to the field. However, as reviewed in this Timeline article, which marks the 150th anniversary of his birth, he had a tremendous impact on many areas of medical science.

●Type 1 diabetes: focus on prevention. von Boehmer, H. Nature Medicine August (2004) This News and Views article discusses recent reports that describe two approaches with clinical potential to prevent destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas: blocking the co-stimulatory receptor NKG2D on activated CD8+ T cells, and expanding antigen-specific suppressor cells.

●The medals and the damage done. Giles, J. Nature 5 August (2004) In their quest for success, some athletes push their bodies too far and develop 'unexplained underperformance syndrome', which is characterized by extreme tiredness and an inability to clear minor infections, as well as other symptoms. Researchers now think that the cytokine interleukin-6 – the levels of which rise during exercise, thereby increasing the feeling of tiredness – might have a role in this syndrome.