Volume 8 Issue 2, February 2010

With more than 1,000 bacterial and archaeal genome sequences now available, we look at the progress that has been made over the past 15 years.

SV40 induces the formation of tubular invaginations in the host cell membrane in a manner that is dependent on the acyl-chain length of GM1 but independent of active host cell trafficking machinery.

HTLV-1 particles form biofilm-like structures that adhere to the surface of infected T cells and mediate rapid viral transmission.

The expression of EspT allows EPEC isolates to actively invade non-phagocytic host cells by the trigger mechanism.

Filarial antigens induce proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells and strengthen endothelial cell-to-cell interactions.

Bordetella bronchisepticauses BopN to increase IL-10 production and therefore suppress the inflammatory response.

The Cmr CRISPR–Cas system inPyrococcus furiosustargets RNA.

This month's Genome Watch discusses the recent application of new sequencing technologies to a long-term growth experiment inEscherichia coli.

Our monthly round up of infectious diseases news, which this month includes evidence for Darwinian evolution in prions and a mixed month for the HIV research community

The endothelium lining blood and lymphatic vessels is a major target for pathogenic bacteria. In this Review, Emmanuel Lemichez and colleagues describe how bacteria and bacterial toxins interact with endothelial cells and modify cellular pathways, thereby altering inflammatory responses and the barrier function of the endothelium.

The Shiga toxins are a family of exotoxins that are produced byShigella dysenteriae and enterohaemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli. In this Review, Johannes and Römer summarize the structural and cellular biology of Shiga toxins, describe the role of apoptosis during intoxication and discuss how Shiga toxins might be exploited as therapeutics.

The mammalian innate immune system recognizes invading pathogens and targets them with an arsenal of cellular defences. In this Review, Diacovich and Gorvel describe how pathogenic intracellular bacteria use a range of strategies to subvert innate immune responses.

For many years, the extreme environment of the Antarctic Dry Valleys was thought to play host to just a few viable microorganisms. However, as Cary and colleagues explain, recent work has led to the identification of a complex community structure that is able to survive in one of the coldest and driest places on Earth.

Although small-animal models have been very useful for the investigation of diseases, disease transmission is difficult to study in these models. Lanzas and colleagues describe how farm animals can be used to study transmission of diseases and how they allow for the design of transmission models.

The Select Agents and Toxins List was created by the US Government to limit the possession of and access to particular microorganisms and toxins. Casadevall and Relman argue that this list, and others like it, could have the paradoxical effect of increasing our vulnerability to biological attack and natural epidemics.