In this issue
p251 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2126
Table of contents
Editorial: TerraGenome: a consortium for the sequencing of a soil metagenome
p252 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2119
See also: Correspondence by Brajesh K. Singh et.al | Correspondence by Philippe C. Baveye | Author's reply by Timothy M. Vogel et.al
Research Highlights
Innate immunity: Not-so-lucky 7 for West Nile virus | PDF (334 KB)
p253 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2124
Environmental Microbiology: Marine phosphate stress is PhoX-rated | PDF (329 KB)
p254 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2116
In brief
Techniques and applications | Fungal ecology | Bacterial pathogenesis | PDF (139 KB)
p254 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2121
Prions: Prions hijack the nanotube | PDF (132 KB)
p255 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2117
Plant Virology: Granule formation in early infection | PDF (225 KB)
p255 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2118
Bacterial transcription: Regulation by sigma factor mimicry | PDF (374 KB)
p256 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2120
Fungal Pathogenesis: Varying for virulence | PDF (314 KB)
p256 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2125
Functional Genomics: A malevolent matchmaker | PDF (138 KB)
p257 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2127
News and Analysis
Genome watch
Sequencing the species pan-genome | PDF (183 KB)
p258 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2123
Disease watch
In the News | PDF (313 KB)
p260 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2122
Reviews
Principles of c-di-GMP signalling in bacteria
Regine Hengge
p263 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2109
Bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) was recently identified as a second messenger in bacteria that regulates a wide range of phenotypes, including biofilm formation and motility. The discovery that the enzymes that make and break c-di-GMP are widespread in the bacterial world highlighted their central importance in bacterial physiology, but raised questions about the specificity of the signalling. Regine Hengge describes the mechanisms and evolutionary variations of c-di-GMP signalling.
Pathogenic neisseriae: surface modulation, pathogenesis and infection control
Mumtaz Virji
p274 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2097
Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae share extensive genetic and antigenic similarities but have distinct lifestyles and niche preferences. In this Review, Mumtaz Virji examines the mechanisms underlying niche establishment and the challenges posed by the rapidly modulated surface structures of these bacteria to vaccine development.
Application of 'next-generation' sequencing technologies to microbial genetics
Daniel MacLean, Jonathan D. G. Jones & David J. Studholme
p287 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2088
New sequencing methods have enabled the assembly of whole microbial genomes in a matter of days, greatly expanding the volume and scope of microbial sequencing efforts. This article reviews the current capabilities of the various high-throughput sequencing technologies and data analysis tools in the context of their application to microbial genomics.
Perspectives
Article series: Systems Microbiology
Opinion
The role of predictive modelling in rationally re-engineering biological systems
Tie Koide, Wyming Lee Pang & Nitin S. Baliga
p297 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2107
Synthetic biology will provide the potential to redesign, or even build from scratch, specialized organisms to carry out complex tasks. In this Opinion article, Nitin Baliga and colleagues argue that to achieve the integrated framework for such complex bioengineering, a convergence of the fields of synthetic biology and systems biology will be required.
Opinion
Ten reasons to exclude viruses from the tree of life
David Moreira & Purificación López-García
p306 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2108
Viruses are widespread and come in many shapes and sizes. They play an important part in the evolution of many species. But are they alive and should they be included as part of the tree of life? Moreira and López-García discuss ten reasons why they should be excluded.
See also: Correspondence by Nagendra R. Hegde et.al | Correspondence by Jesús Navas-Castillo | Correspondence by Jean-Michel Claverie & Hiroyuki Ogata | Correspondence by Ethan B. Ludmir & Lynn W. Enquist | Correspondence by Eugene V. Koonin et.al | Correspondence by Didier Raoult | Correspondence by Purificación López-García & David Moreira |
Opinion
Symbiotic use of pathogenic strategies: rhizobial protein secretion systems
William J. Deakin & William J. Broughton
p312 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2091
Rhizobia are a diverse group of soil bacteria that induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of legumes. In this Opinion article, a group of proteins that are secreted by rhizobia, some of which have homologues in bacterial pathogens, are used to support the hypothesis that some pathogenic pathways have been co-opted by rhizobia for symbiotic purposes.
