Bacterial pathogenesis: Taking iron from the fire | PDF (224 KB)

p479 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2172

Parasitology: PADding up for differentiation | PDF (152 KB)

p480 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2168

Antiviral immunity: TRIMming the response | PDF (182 KB)

p480 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2170

Phage biology: Uncorking the phage capsid | PDF (145 KB)

p480 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2180

Bacterial pathogenesis: Disruptive influence | PDF (140 KB)

p482 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2173

Bacterial physiology: Release the vesicles | PDF (103 KB)

p482 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2178

Prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup), proteasomes and pathogenesis

K. Heran Darwin

p485 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2148

Tagging eukaryotic proteins with ubiquitin can target them for proteasomal degradation. However, despite the presence of proteasomes in several bacterial and all archaeal species, prokaryotic homologues of ubiquitin were presumed to be absent. In this Progress article, Heran Darwin describes the characterization of a prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) that is covalently attached to proteins, resulting in their proteasome-mediated degradation.

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Common strategies for antigenic variation by bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens

Kirk W. Deitsch, Sheila A. Lukehart & James R. Stringer

p493 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2145

To evade immune responses in mammalian hosts, many pathogens use complex genetic systems to vary the surface antigens that are recognized by host defences. In this Review, Kirk Deitsch and colleagues highlight how bacterial, protozoan and fungal pathogens from distinct evolutionary lineages have evolved surprisingly similar mechanisms for antigenic variation.

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Epigenetic regulation in African trypanosomes: a new kid on the block

Luisa M. Figueiredo, George A. M. Cross & Christian J. Janzen

p504 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2149

The identification of post-translational histone modifications and chromatin-modifying enzymes in eukaryotic parasites has widened the field of research into epigenetic regulation. Figueiredo, Cross and Janzen compare the role of epigenetics in Trypanosoma brucei and humans and discuss how studies in such parasites might yield useful information about the evolution of epigenetic processes.

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The versatility and adaptation of bacteria from the genus Stenotrophomonas

Robert P. Ryan, Sebastien Monchy, Massimiliano Cardinale, Safiyh Taghavi, Lisa Crossman, Matthew B. Avison, Gabriele Berg, Daniel van der Lelie & J. Maxwell Dow

p514 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2163

Bacteria from the genus Stenotrophomonas are found in a wide range of different environments. Here, Ryan et al. compare the recently sequenced genomes of two different Stenotrophomonas species to highlight the possible genetic basis of adaptation to these different niches.

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Clostridium difficile infection: new developments in epidemiology and pathogenesis

Maja Rupnik, Mark H. Wilcox & Dale N. Gerding

p526 | doi:10.1038/nrmicro2164

Since 2001, the prevalence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection have increased substantially, and C. difficile is now considered to be one of the most important causes of health care-associated infections. Here, Rupnik, Wilcox and Gerding discuss the recent epidemiological changes in C. difficile infection and our current knowledge of C. difficile virulence factors.

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