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Bacteria need to find the middle of the cell and prevent the formation of a division septum that bisects the chromosome. The nucleoid occlusion system, mediated by Noc inBacillus subtilis and SlmA in Escherichia coli, connects septum formation with chromosome segregation to optimize cell division.
Prions are infectious self-replicating proteins that can cause neurodegenerative disorders such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Here, Colby and Prusiner discuss recent advances in the generation of synthetic prion strains that may lead to new insights into the structure of prions and the mechanisms by which they originate and propagate.
Igneous oceanic crusts in the sub-sea floor form the largest aquifer system on earth and represent an under-studied microbial biosphere. In this Progress article, Edwards and colleagues describe our current understanding of microbial life in this environment and outline recent technological advances for studying the sub-sea floor.
