Here the authors review recent discoveries in the diversity, physiology and metabolism of short-chain gaseous alkane-oxidizing microorganisms, their climate implications and biotechnology potential.

In this Perspective, Deiner, Gibbons and colleagues describe the current strengths and limitations of microbial community-scale metabolic models in microbiome research.

Viral infection diverts metabolic flux from the urea and TCA cycles to the ASS1-driven AAS shunt for fumarate production. Accumulated fumarate boosts IFNβ production and enhances antiviral immunity by activating RLR signalling through MAVS succination.

Bacterial enzymes synthesize androgens that could promote cancer cell progression interfering with the efficacy of steroid-targeted prostate cancer therapies.

Bacterial enzymes synthesize androgens that could promote cancer cell progression interfering with the efficacy of steroid-targeted prostate cancer therapies.

Viral infection diverts metabolic flux from the urea and TCA cycles to the ASS1-driven AAS shunt for fumarate production. Accumulated fumarate boosts IFNβ production and enhances antiviral immunity by activating RLR signalling through MAVS succination.

‘Phollow’ is a live imaging-based fluorescence tagging approach that can track phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution.

Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in dairy cows leads to humoral immunity that protects them from infection through rechallenge via the intra-mammary route.

Host AAA-ATPase VCP/p97 binds and extracts ubiquitinated proteins from the bacterial cell membrane causing bacterial lysis and death to confer cell-autonomous protection against infection.

Toxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, safeguarding the parasite’s developmental program.

Use social media, talks, blogs and podcasts to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance and push for wider access to life-saving phage treatments, writes Sabrina Green.

Jeremy Barr discusses how he began studying bacteriophages, the historic use of the T-series phages and how they have shaped the field.

Mathematical models can distil complex systems into their key components, posit theories that spark experimental research and forecast future events. We discuss the power of models to address pressing issues related to microbiology and our editorial perspective on this fast-evolving discipline.

Combining antibiotics remains a promising approach to treat patients and to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance

It is increasingly clear that microplastic pollution can be detrimental to human, animal and environmental health. More research is needed to determine if and how our microbial partners are also negatively impacted, and what this means for host and ecosystem health.

Alison Criss discusses the features of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, its intricate interactions with innate immunity and how this challenges our understanding of what makes a pathogen pathogenic.