Review Articles in 2017

Plasmodium falciparumexports several variant antigens to the surface of erythrocytes. In this Review, Wahlgren, Goel and Akhouri discuss the three best characterized of these protein families, PfEMP1, RIFIN and STEVOR, and highlight their role in the development of severe malaria.

Many bacteria can infect and persist inside their hosts for long periods of time. In this Review, Fisher, Gollan and Helaine discuss recent developments in our understanding of bacterial persisters and their potential implications for the treatment of persistent infections.

The microbiota influences the development of cancer and the effect of cancer therapies. In this Review, the authors summarize the interactions between the microbiota, the immune system and tumours and how manipulation of the microbiota can be used therapeutically.

Archaea are highly diverse microorganisms that inhabit various environments. This evolutionary flexibility and adaptability has been supported by abundant horizontal gene transfer. In this Review, Albers and colleagues discuss the mechanisms and consequences of archaeal DNA transfer.

Pili are crucial virulence factors in many Gram-negative pathogens; these surface structures enable bacteria to interact with, and attach to structures in, their environment and can also facilitate horizontal gene transfer. In this Review, Waksmanet al. examine recent advances in our structural understanding of various pilus systems in Gram-negative bacteria and discuss their functional implications.

Biotrophic fungal plant pathogens secrete protein effectors that support colonization of the host. Here, Kahmann and colleagues discuss new insights into the effector repertoire of smut fungi, the molecular mechanisms whereby effectors ofUstilago maydischange plant cell processes, how the respective genes are regulated and how effectors evolve.

The human gut is host to a dense microbial community that includes a large bacteriophage population. This Review summarizes bacteria and phage dynamics in health and disease, and considers how phages may be harnessed as novel therapeutics to improve disease outcomes.

In this Review, Spaan, van Strijp and Torres discuss the implications of the identification of the cellular receptors for theStaphylococcus aureusbi-component leukocidins, the mechanisms of action of the leukocidins, their diverse roles during pathogenesis and their potential as targets for therapeutic interventions.

In this Review, Puschnik and colleagues discuss the technical aspects of using CRISPR–Cas technology in genome-scale knockout screens to study virus–host interactions, and they compare these screens with alternative genetic screening technologies.

Oxidative damage can have a devastating effect on the structure and activity of proteins, leading to cell death. This Review discusses how bacteria repair oxidized proteins and highlights the importance of these repair systems in physiology and virulence.

Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are protein transport nanomachines that resemble molecular syringes and are found in numerous Gram-negative bacterial species. This Review summarizes our current understanding of the structure and function of these important protein secretion systems, incorporating new advances from cryo-electron microscopy and integrative imaging studies.

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem that threatens individual and societal well-being. In this Review, Crofts, Gasparrini and Dantas summarize how research has changed from the discovery of resistant bacteria to community-level resistome studies, and they propose future therapeutic and surveillance approaches.

Coral reefs are complex ecosystems that are populated by diverse microorganisms. In this Review, Vega Thurberet al. summarize the diversity of reef viruses that infect corals and their associated microbiota, and highlight their roles in coral disease and reef decline.

Circadian rhythms enable cells to anticipate cyclic changes in their environment. In this Review, Johnsonet al. explore timekeeping systems that range from prototypical circadian clocks to hourglass timers and their role in different bacteria, including cyanobacteria and members of the microbiota.

Trypanosomatid parasites can cause life-threatening diseases, such as human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. In this Review, Gilbert and colleagues discuss the drug discovery landscape and describe some of the challenges that are involved in the development of new drugs to treat these diseases.

The discovery of the giant amoebal virus mimivirus, in 2003, opened up a new area of virology. Extended studies, including those of mimiviruses, have since revealed that these viruses have genetic, proteomic and structural features that are more complex than those of conventional viruses.

In this Review, Chandrangsuet al. discuss recent insights into metalloregulatory systems that are used by bacteria and how they respond to metal limitation and intoxication, as well as how these systems influence host–pathogen interactions.

The respiratory tract spans from the nostrils to the lung alveoli and these distinct niches host a diverse microbiota. In this Review, Man, de Steenhuijsen Piters and Bogaert discuss the role of the respiratory microbiota in the maintenance of human health.

Understanding the ecology and function of dry-adapted communities is important for understanding and preventing desertification. In this Review, Lebre, De Maayer and Cowan discuss the adaptations that enable xerotolerant bacteria to survive extreme dry conditions and highlight insights from recent metagenomic and transcriptomic studies.

Pathogenic leptospires are the bacterial agents of leptospirosis, which is an emerging zoonotic disease that affects both animals and humans worldwide. In this Review, the recent advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, taxonomy, genomics and the molecular basis of virulence in leptospires, and of how these properties contribute to the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, are discussed.