Table of contents
April 2007 Vol 5 No 4
In this issue
p241 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1655
Editorial: Declaring disclosure
p242 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1653
Research Highlights
Fungal pathogenesis: Glued for protection
p243 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1649
Virology: Inducing instability
p244 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1646
Microbial physiology: The power of light
p244 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1648
Immunogenetics: Lucky for some
p244 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1650
In brief
Techniques and applications | Cell biology | Microbial ecology
p245 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1651
Quorum sensing: Sequester and destroy
p246 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1647
Bacterial pathogenicity: Stress relief...
p246 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1652
HIV: Double trouble
p247 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1642
News and Analysis
Genome watch
A more convenient truth
p248 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1644
Disease watch
In the news
p251 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1654
Reviews
Host factors exploited by retroviruses
Stephen P. Goff
p253 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1541
Retroviruses, which encode fewer than ten genes, need to interact with cellular proteins for virtually all aspects of their replication cycle. In this Review, Stephen Goff describes how host factors and cellular pathways are exploited at each stage of the retrovirus lifecycle. Throughout, comparisons are drawn between HIV and other retroviruses.
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins: pleiotropic sensors and effectors of antimicrobial defences
Julien Royet & Roman Dziarski
p264 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1620
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are innate immune receptors that are highly conserved from insects to mammals. Recent studies have revealed that, despite this conservation, insect and mammalian PGRPs defend host cells against infection by different mechanisms. Julien Royet and Roman Dziarski review these contrasting modes of action.
When all's zed and done: the structure and function of RNase Z in prokaryotes
Yulia Redko, Inés Li de la Sierra-Gallay & Ciarán Condon
p278 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1622
RNase Z is the endoribonuclease responsible for the maturation of the 3'-end of transfer RNAs. Here, Condon and colleagues outline the recent important developments that have contributed to our understanding of this enzyme in prokaryotes.
A fatty-acid synthesis mechanism specialized for parasitism
Lee, SH, Jennifer L. Stephens & Paul T. Englund
p287 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1617
Rather than using a conventional type I or II fatty-acid synthase, Trypanosoma brucei synthesize most of their fatty acids by an unprecedented mechanism. Here, Paul Englund and colleagues describe this unusual metabolic system and how it contributes to the unique biology of these parasites.
Current insights into the biology and pathogenesis of Pneumocystis pneumonia
Charles F. Thomas, Jr & Andrew H. Limper
p298 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1621
Pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis is the most prevalent opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Here, Charles Thomas and Andrew Limper review the latest knowledge on the biology and pathogenesis of this opportunistic fungal pathogen.
Perspectives
Opinion
On the move: endosomes in fungal growth and pathogenicity
Gero Steinberg
p309 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1618
Focusing on the Ustilago maydis model system, Gero Steinberg discusses recent advances in our understanding of endosome motility in fungal hyphae, speculating on possible roles of endosome motility in cell polarization and retrograde signalling to the nucleus.
Opinion
Adaptations to energy stress dictate the ecology and evolution of the Archaea
David L. Valentine
p316 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1619
The environmental distribution of the Archaea is distinct from that of the Bacteria, but no single principle provides a satisfactory explanation for their ecological differences. David Valentine proposes a hypothesis to account for the success of the Archaea. He examines archaeal metabolism with respect to ecology and argues that the Archaea are better adapted than the Bacteria to chronic energy stress.