Table of contents
November 2008 Vol 6 No 11
In this issue
p793 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2026
Editorial: Historical archive made free for all
p794 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2027
Research Highlights
Cell Polarity: Sticky poles | PDF (140 KB)
p795 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2022
Prions: Crossing borders | PDF (2,447 KB)
p796 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2018
Fungal Biology: Fungal shape-shifting | PDF (154 KB)
p796 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2024
Innate Immunity: Getting in TRIM to fight retroviruses | PDF (182 KB)
p797 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2017
In brief
Microbial ecology | Bioremediation | Fungal pathogenesis | PDF (131 KB)
p798 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2020
Infectious Disease: Finding the keys to the placental barrier | PDF (133 KB)
p798 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2025
Antimicrobials: Z-ring Achilles' heel for MRSA | PDF (170 KB)
p799 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2016
Bacterial Ecology: Dental double act | PDF (137 KB)
p799 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2023
News and Analysis
Genome watch
Sequence data swell for nematodes | PDF (278 KB)
p800 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2021
Disease watch
In the News | PDF (235 KB)
p802 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2028
Reviews
Hydrothermal vents and the origin of life
William Martin, John Baross, Deborah Kelley & Michael J. Russell
p805 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1991
Hydrothermal vent systems, which can support life in the absence of photosynthesis, are today inhabited by animals that form symbioses with lithoautotrophic microorganisms from which they obtain chemical energy. These hydrothermal systems might resemble the earliest microbial ecosystems on the Earth. Here, Martin, Baross, Kelley and Russell review how understanding these complex systems might inform our understanding of the origins of life itself.
Avoiding the void: cell-to-cell spread of human viruses
Quentin Sattentau
p815 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1972
Many viruses that are pathogenic for humans, including HIV-1, herpes simplex virus and measles, can disseminate by moving directly from cell to cell. Quentin Sattentau discusses the mechanisms of viral cell-to-cell spread and the implications for viral dissemination, immune evasion and pathogenesis.
The rise and fall of bacterial clones: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Christel Blomberg, Jessica Dagerhamn, Patrick Bättig & Staffan Normark
p827 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2011
Clonal types of pathogenic bacteria differ in their ability to colonize, spread and cause disease in hosts. The evolution of bacterial clones and factors that contribute to the clonal spread of bacteria are discussed in this article, together with the relevance of bacterial clones to the progression of disease.
Swimming with protists: perception, motility and flagellum assembly
Michael L. Ginger, Neil Portman & Paul G. McKean
p838 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2009
The motility that is afforded by flagella and cilia is widespread among unicellular eukaryotes. In this Review, Ginger and colleagues describe the structure of the flagellum, its metabolic activity, different synthesis pathways and flagellar functions that extend beyond motility.
Perspectives
Innovation
Recombineering mycobacteria and their phages
Julia C. van Kessel, Laura J. Marinelli & Graham F. Hatfull
p851 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2014
Genetic modification of mycobacteria is a difficult process. In this innovation, van Kessel and colleagues describe a new system of recombineering that facilitates the production of mutants in mycobacteria and mycobacteriophages.
Science and society
Post-genomic challenges for collaborative research in infectious diseases
Iruka N. Okeke & John Wain
p858 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1989
Collaborations of scientists from developed countries and developing countries have had great success, but often have trouble getting established. Here, Iruka Okeke and John Wain describe the benefits of collaborations, the hurdles faced in their initiation, ways to promote them and the programmes that are already in place to develop them.
Opinion
What really happens to dendritic cells during malaria?
Michelle N. Wykes & Michael F. Good
p864 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1988
The functions of dendritic cells during malaria have been the subject of intensive investigations, the results of which have been controversial. Here, Michelle Wykes and Michael Good propose that the species and strain of Plasmodium are some of the key factors that affect dendritic cell function.
