Table of contents
May 2007 Vol 5 No 5
In this issue
p325 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1668
Editorial: Sea change for metagenomics?
p326 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1674
Research Highlights
Environmental microbiology: Detecting variation
p327 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1663
Innate immunity: Immune adaptation in flies
p328 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1664
Bacterial evolution: Meet the ancestors
p328 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1667
In brief
Techniques & applications | Bacterial pathogenicity | Virology
p328 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1672
Immune evasion: First evidence of prokaryotic RNAi?
p329 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1671
Adaptive immunity: Tubular transport for Sp1
p330 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1665
Anti-infectives: A deceptive transition
p330 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1670
Bacterial physiology: Abracadabra! Replication shutdown
p331 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1666
News and Analysis
Genome watch
Specialist fungi, versatile genomes
p332 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1669
Disease watch
In the news
p334 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1673
Progress
Manipulation of host Kruppel-like factor (KLF) function by exotoxins from diverse bacterial pathogens
Eoin O'Grady, Heidi Mulcahy, Claire Adams, John P. Morrissey & Fergal O'Gara
p337 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1641
Pathogenic microorganisms have evolved numerous mechanisms that enable their exploitation of host cell function. This Progress article explores recent evidence suggesting how one group of diverse bacterial pathogens use a common strategy to manipulate the expression of the Kruppel-like factor (KLF) family of mammalian transcriptional regulators.
Reviews
DNA replication initiation: mechanisms and regulation in bacteria
Melissa L. Mott & James M. Berger
p343 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1640
Bacteria use a range of regulatory strategies to control replication initiation, many of which are tightly connected to the activities of the bacterial initiator DnaA. Here, Melissa Mott and James Berger review our current understanding of the mechanisms and regulation of bacterial DNA replication initiation, with a particular emphasis on DnaA.
The role of microorganisms in coral health, disease and evolution
Eugene Rosenberg, Omry Koren, Leah Reshef, Rotem Efrony & Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg
p355 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1635
Coral reefs are associated with large populations of eukaryotic algae, bacteria and archaea that are crucial to their biology and ultimate survival. Here, Eugene Rosenberg and colleagues review the role of microorganisms in coral health and disease, focusing on the impact of the environment on these processes.
The tad locus: postcards from the widespread colonization island
Mladen Tomich, Paul J. Planet & David H. Figurski
p363 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1636
The tad (tight adherence) genes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans specify the production of adhesive pili that function in biofilm formation, colonization and pathogenesis of this periodontal pathogen. The article reviews the evidence that the Tad secretion system represents a widespread new type of prokaryotic secretion system that has important functions in different bacterial pathogens.
Perspectives
Opinion
Can fungal biopesticides control malaria?
Matthew B. Thomas & Andrew F. Read
p377 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1638
Malaria is a global health problem, with a childhood death every 30 seconds from this devastating disease. Although there are effective antimalarial drugs, supply constraints and price limit their use. This Opinion article proposes that fungal biocontrol might provide a cheap, safe and green tool for the control of malaria.
Essay
The role of ecological theory in microbial ecology
James I. Prosser, Brendan J. M. Bohannan, Tom P. Curtis, Richard J. Ellis, Mary K. Firestone, Rob P. Freckleton, Jessica L. Green, Laura E. Green, Ken Killham, Jack J. Lennon, A. Mark Osborn, Martin Solan, Christopher J. van der Gast & J. Peter W. Young
p384 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1643
In recent years microbial ecology has experienced a renaissance. In this Essay, a group of leading microbial ecologists argue that the key to realizing the full potential of this renaissance lies in theory.
