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A new study by Maraffini and colleagues shows that CRISPR–Cas systems capture phage DNA during genome injection, which protects cells from subsequent infection before the lytic cycle begins.
This study reports that BabA-mediated adherence to gastric epithelial cells is acid-sensitive and enables efficient adaptation to changes in gastric mucosal pH.
A detailed study ofE. colistrains that were isolated from the urine of women shows that bladder colonization does not require previously defined virulence factors but is linked to the differential regulation of core functions.
This month's Genome Watch explores howin vitro directed evolution can be used to identify the target of a drug for the treatment of Chagas disease, which is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi.
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.
Cyclic dinucleotides are highly versatile signalling molecules that control important biological processes in bacteria, including motility, virulence, biofilm formation and cell cycle progression. In this Review, Jenal and colleagues discuss the molecular principles of cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) synthesis and degradation, and the cellular functions that are exerted by c-di-GMP-binding effectors and their diverse targets.
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.
Macromolecular crowding affects the physicochemistry of the cytoplasm and, in turn, microbial physiology. We propose that cells maintain the overall concentration of macromolecules within a narrow range (a process that we refer to as 'homeocrowding') and discuss possible mechanisms for achieving this.
