Reviews & Analysis

Charles Dorman discusses recent data that indicate that the nucleoid-associated protein H-NS might have a role in silencing the expression of horizontally transferred genes.

Traditonally, clinicians have looked to antifungal drugs to help combat the ever-increasing incidence of fungal diseases. In this article, Cutler, Deepe and Klein discuss the evidence to support their view that antifungal vaccines are now a viable alternative strategy for the prevention of various fungal diseases that should be actively pursued by researchers.

The tuberculoma or tubercle is the granuloma that is formed during tuberculosis infection. The role of the immune system in the formation of the granuloma is documented extensively, but this Review takes a different tack and examines the role ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin the biology of the granuloma and how this relates to disease transmission and progression.

Telomeres are specialized DNA–protein complexes that are required for protection and replication of chromosome ends. In this Opinion, George Cross and colleagues discuss the biology of telomere function in trypanosomes and propose an intriguing role for these structures in regulating antigenic variation.

Bacterial populations produce persisters, cells that neither grow nor die in the presence of bactericidal agents, and are tolerant to antibiotics. The tolerance of persisters to antibiotics is important in persistent infections, and is especially significant in the recalcitrance of biofilms to antibiotics during infection.

Prodiginines are a family of secondary metabolites produced by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that have anticancer and immunosuppressive activities. The biosynthesis of these tripyrrole red pigments is reviewed, together with a discussion of the exquisite regulation of the production of these molecules, and why bacteria might benefit from producing such complex products.

Understanding the factors that contribute to the evolution and maintenance of virulence is crucial for a full understanding of infectious disease biology. Focusing onStaphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, the authors argue that host-to-host transmission is a key factor in determining the level of bacterial virulence.

The field of landscape ecology links the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem. In this Opinion article, the authors argue that using the tools of landscape ecology would improve the accuracy of ecological studies of antibiotic resistance.

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause a huge burden of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. This article focuses on syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, reviewing the clinical manifestations and current diagnostic techniques for each disease, as well as discussing the need for improved rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) uses an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to directly recruit ribosomes to the viral mRNA translation-start site. Recent structural studies and biochemical data reveal how the HCV IRES interacts with the 40S ribosomal subunit and the cellular protein-synthesis machinery to direct efficient translation initiation.

Although we have a detailed knowledge of how many bacterial pathogens deliver virulence effectors into host cells, until recently, we had little corresponding knowledge for eukaryotic pathogens. This Review focuses on the malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparum and the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans, which have recently been shown to use equivalent host-targeting signals.

Safe and effective vaccines are available that could be used to eradicate measles, which is a primary cause of childhood vaccine-preventable deaths worldwide. This article reviews the pathogenesis of this deadly disease and the prospects for its elimination.

Group BStreptococcus(GBS) is a pathogen of worldwide significance, and although prophylactic measures have reduced the number of infections, development of a vaccine remains an important goal. Here, the authors review the incidence of GBS and how new technologies are being applied in the search for a globally effective vaccine.

Cultured archaeal viruses, which so far all have double-stranded DNA genomes, come in all shapes and sizes, with the range of virion morphotypes surpassing that found in the viruses of the Bacteria. The authors present a unifying view of this fascinating viral group.

The liver stage ofPlasmodium infection constitutes an appealing target for the development of vaccines or prophylatic drugs as this step in the life cycle is obligatory but occurs before the onset of pathology. This Review summarizes the current knowledge on this stage of the Plasmodiumlife cycle.