Current Issue

Review

Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation

Rudolf K. Thauer, Anne-Kristin Kaster, Henning Seedorf, Wolfgang Buckel & Reiner Hedderich

Methanogenic archaea with and without cytochromes have been identified. This Review focuses on differences in energy conservation during the reduction of CO₂ with H₂ to CH₄. In methanogens with cytochromes, the first and last steps are coupled chemiosmotically, and the authors propose that in methanogens without cytochromes, these steps are coupled by a cytoplasmic enzyme complex that mediates flavin-based electron bifurcation.

Current Issue

Focus

Sustainability

Nature Reviews Microbiology and The ISME Journal present a specially commissioned set of articles on microorganisms and sustainability that are available free to download for 3 months owing to the generous support of the US Department of Energy. These and other relevant articles from other Nature Publishing Group journals can be found in the accompanying Web Focus.

Current Issue

News and Analysis

Genome watch:

Genomic adaptation: a fungal perspective

Disease watch

In the news

Current Issue

Research Highlights

Viral pathogenesis:

Measles virus in one-way crossing

Parasitology:

Hidden treasure uncovered?

Advance Online publication

Review

Towards nanomicrobiology using atomic force microscopy

Yves F. Dufrêne

The nanoscale analysis of microbial cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM) is emerging as an exciting, rapidly evolving research field. Specifically, AFM allows us to address fundamental microbiological questions by observing membrane proteins and live cells at high resolution.

Animation

Microbiology in motion

Nature Reviews Microbiology Animation on Microbial Intracellular Pathogens

Nature Reviews Microbiology invites you to explore the microscopic world of microbial invaders and take an animated tour featuring the lifestyles of three disease-causing bacteria: Listeria monocytogenes, Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.