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Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae on the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract is the prerequisite for transmission and tissue invasion. In this Review, Weiser, Ferreira and Paton summarize the mechanisms that allow pneumococci to transmit and progress from colonizer to pathogen.
Interactions among organisms are not limited to the exchange of electron donors. Most microorganisms are auxotrophs and thus rely on external nutrients for growth. In this Opinion article, Zengler and Zaramela postulate that auxotrophies and nutrient requirements among members of complex communities have profound implications for microbial interactions and thus the overall microbial network.
In this Progress article, Collins and colleagues discuss how CRISPR-based analyses in genetically intractable microorganisms, including mycobacteria, fungi and parasites, have enabled the discovery of novel gene functions, the investigation of genetic interaction networks and the identification of virulence factors.
Autophagy is crucial for innate and adaptive antiviral immunity; in turn, viruses evade and subvert autophagy to support their replication and pathogenesis. In this Review, Choi, Bowman and Jung discuss the molecular mechanisms that govern autophagy during host–virus interactions.
Bacterial microcompartments are self-assembling organelles that consist of an enzymatic core that is encapsulated by a selectively permeable protein shell. In this Review, Kerfeld and colleagues discuss recent insights into the structure, assembly, diversity and function of bacterial microcompartments.
Much of the molecular virology of rabies virus has been well characterized, and we are gaining a better understanding of how infection dynamics and immune status relate to transmission. In this Review, Schnell and colleagues explore rabies virus transmission, enzootic maintenance and epizootic spread, as well as molecular evolutionary dynamics, host adaptation and the origins of rabies virus.
Pseudomonas syringaeuses a multitude of virulence factors to infect plants. In this Review, Xin and colleagues highlight key virulence strategies — immune suppression and water soaking — that allow this bacterium to become a successful pathogen under the right environmental conditions.
The causative agents of tuberculosis are a group of closely related bacteria known as theMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC). In this Review, Gagneux discusses recent insights into the origin of the MTBC, its molecular evolution and population genetic characteristics, and the evolution of antibiotic resistance.
Hopanoid lipids are structurally and functionally related to sterols, which are important building blocks of membranes. In this Review, Newman, Silipo and colleagues explore the diversity of bacterial hopanoids and their roles in stress adaptation and plant symbiosis.
The host-adapted human pathogenNeisseria gonorrhoeaeis the causative agent of gonorrhoea. In this Review, Quillin and Seifert provide an overview of the bacterial factors that are important for the different stages of pathogenesis, including transmission, colonization and immune evasion, and discuss the problem of antibiotic resistance.
In this Review, Bartenschlager and colleagues discuss howFlaviviridaeviruses rewire cellular pathways and co-opt organelles. They compare strategies employed by flaviviruses with those employed by hepaciviruses and discuss the importance of these virus–host interactions in the context of viral replication and antiviral therapies.
Nitrogen-transforming microorganisms shape global biogeochemical nutrient cycles. In this Review, Kuypers, Marchant and Kartal explore the vast diversity of these microorganisms and their enzymes, highlighting novel pathways, and discuss how nitrogen-transforming microorganisms form complex nitrogen-cycling networks in different environments.
Advances in synthetic biology allow the generation of ever more sophisticated engineered bacteria. In this Review, Riglar and Silver showcase recent highlights in engineered bacterial therapeutics and diagnostics and discuss how best to develop them for clinical application.
Rhizobia can exist as both free-living soil microbiota and plant-associated endosymbionts, which form N2-fixing root nodules. In this Review, Poole, Ramachandran and Terpolilli explore the drastic lifestyle shift that underlies this transition and the associated plant–bacteria interactions.
Bacteria and archaea have intracellular cytoskeletons built from dynamic protein filaments. In this Review, Wagstaff and Löwe discuss how these linear protein polymers are used to organize other molecules in prokaryotic cells.
Haldar and colleagues discuss markers and mechanisms of resistance to artemisinins and artemisinin-based combination therapies. They describe the identification ofPlasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 as the primary and, to date, sole causative marker of artemisinin resistance in P. falciparumand explore two proposed resistance mechanisms. They emphasize continuing challenges to improve detection strategies and new drug development strategies.
Our skin is home to millions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that comprise the skin microbiota. In this Review, Byrd and colleagues discuss recent insights into skin microbial communities, including their composition in health and disease, dynamics between species and interactions with the immune system.
The interplay between nutrient intake, gut microbial metabolism and microorganism-driven engagement of host receptors contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. In this Review, Brown and Hazen discuss the gut microbial mechanisms that drive cardiovascular disease, with special emphasis on therapeutic interventions.
In this Opinion article, Byndloss and Bäumler propose that host control over the microbial ecosystem in the large bowel is critical for the composition and function of its resident microbial organ, while disruption of host control triggers microbial organ dysfunction. This concept provides a theoretical framework for linking the gut microbiota to non-communicable diseases.
