Table of contents
In this issue
p565 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1956
Editorial: A golden age for microbial ecology
p566 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1957
Research Highlights
Immune evasion: Cloaked against complement | PDF (2,753 KB)
p567 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1953
Immune evasion: A new role for rhomboid proteases | PDF (203 KB)
p568 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1954
In brief
Quorum sensing | Techniques and applications | PDF (91 KB)
p568 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1966
Biofilms: Clutch control | PDF (222 KB)
p569 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1962
Bacterial physiology: From start to finish for Streptomyces | PDF (381 KB)
p569 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1963
Immune regulation: Gut responses tamed by friendly bacteria | PDF (269 KB)
p570 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1950
Parasitology: Hidden treasure uncovered? | PDF (1,226 KB)
p570 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1959
Viral pathogenesis: Measles virus in one-way crossing | PDF (290 KB)
p571 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1961
News and Analysis
Genome watch
Genomic adaptation: a fungal perspective | PDF (473 KB)
p572 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1964
Disease watch
In the News | PDF (415 KB)
p574 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1965
Focus on: Sustainability
Reviews
Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation
Rudolf K. Thauer, Anne-Kristin Kaster, Henning Seedorf, Wolfgang Buckel & Reiner Hedderich
p579 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1931
Methanogenic archaea with and without cytochromes have been identified. This Review focuses on differences in energy conservation during the reduction of CO2 with H2 to CH4. In methanogens with cytochromes, the first and last steps are coupled chemiosmotically, and the authors propose that in methanogens without cytochromes, these steps are coupled by a cytoplasmic enzyme complex that mediates flavin-based electron bifurcation.
Article series: Systems Microbiology
Towards environmental systems biology of Shewanella
James K. Fredrickson, Margaret F. Romine, Alexander S. Beliaev, Jennifer M. Auchtung, Michael E. Driscoll, Timothy S. Gardner, Kenneth H. Nealson, Andrei L. Osterman, Grigoriy Pinchuk, Jennifer L. Reed, Dmitry A. Rodionov, Jorge L. M. Rodrigues, Daad A. Saffarini, Margrethe H. Serres, Alfred M. Spormann, Igor B. Zhulin & James M. Tiedje
p592 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1947
The shewanellae are masters of metabolism and can catabolize numerous carbon sources either aerobically or anaerobically using a range of electron acceptors. Ubiquitous among microbial communities from marine to soil environments, this genus is important in carbon cycling and bioremediation. Systems-biology approaches could shed new light on the ecophysiology of these bacteria.
Perspective
Opinion
Pre-genomic, genomic and post-genomic study of microbial communities involved in bioenergy
Bruce E. Rittmann, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown & Rolf U. Halden
p604 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1939
Microbial bioenergy could be used to generate large amounts of carbon-neutral alternatives to fossil fuels. This article discusses the contribution of genomic resources to the generation of bioenergy by bacteria and archaea.
Reviews
Carbon catabolite repression in bacteria: many ways to make the most out of nutrients
Boris Görke & Jörg Stülke
p613 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1932
Using the process of carbon catabolite repression (CCR), bacteria control gene expression and protein activity to preferentially metabolize the carbon sources that are most easily accessible and allow fastest growth. Recent findings have provided new insight into the mechanisms that different bacteria use to control CCR.
See also: Correspondence by Crasnier-Mednansky. | Author's reply by Görke and Stülke. | Correspondence by Atul Narang
Mechanisms of microbial traversal of the blood–brain barrier
Kwang Sik Kim
p625 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1952
Central nervous system infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Here, Kwang Sik Kim summarizes our current understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in traversal of the blood–brain barrier by selected meningitis-causing microorganisms.
Perspective
Opinion
Establishing bacterial communities by 'word of mouth': LuxS and autoinducer 2 in biofilm development
Kim Rachael Hardie & Karin Heurlier
p635 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1916
Autoinducer 2 (AI2) is the only quorum-sensing signal that is shared by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Because AI2 biosynthesis, specified by the luxS gene, is linked to S-adenosyl homocysteine recycling, determining whether luxS biofilm phenotypes are due to signalling or effects on bacterial metabolism is not straightforward, and is discussed here.
Correspondence
Correspondence: What makes a virus a virus?
Roland Wolkowicz & Moselio Schaechter
p643 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1858-c1
Correspondence: What makes a virus a virus: reply from Raoult and Forterre
Didier Raoult & Patrick Forterre
p643 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1858-c2
