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Individual cells in clonal microbial populations exhibit significant phenotypic heterogeneity, a phenomenon that provides a dynamic source of diversity and is thought to improve organismal fitness. Here, Simon Avery reviews our understanding of the processes that drive heterogeneity and their impact on biologically important cell phenotypes.
Nucleic-acid aptamers bind tightly to a diverse range of molecular targets, owing to the complex folding of RNA molecules. Here, recent developments in aptamer research are discussed, including the development of potential anti-viral aptamers against pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and influenza virus.
The emerging field of sociomicrobiology has been gaining impetus in recent years, but a limiting factor is the lack of effective communication of social evolution theory to microbiologists. Here, the authors provide a conceptual overview of social evolution theory, emphasizing the aspects most relevant to microorganisms.
Integrons are assembly platforms that incorporate exogenous open reading frames through site-specific recombination and convert them to functional genes by ensuring their correct expression. Here, Didier Mazel reviews the biology of integrons and superintegrons and their evolutionary history, and proposes a new model to account for the peculiarities of the integron recombination pathway.
Cowman and colleagues present their analysis of the repertoire of actin-binding proteins and actin-regulatory proteins in apicomplexan parasites. They integrate their observations with recent progress in understanding actin, actin-binding proteins and actin-regulatory proteins to propose a modified model of apicomplexan gliding motility, in which actin dynamics have a central role.
It is well known that multidrug-resistance efflux pumps can confer antibiotic resistance on bacteria. Now, it is becoming evident that certain classes of these pumps also increase bacterial pathogenicity. Laura Piddock proposes that, owing to this dual function, such efflux pumps have greater clinical relevance than has previously been thought.
