Volume 2 Issue 2, February 2017

Many species of Archaea, Bacteria and eukaryotes are polyploid in natural populations. The mixture of species with unknown but widely varying ploidy levels compromises marker-gene-based analyses of community structures, population dynamics and microbiomes.

An effector protein secreted by the intracellular human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis impairs antigen processing in targeted phagocytic cells, resulting in evasion from immune surveillance by a dedicated adaptive immune response.

Growth of Candida albicans on different host carbon sources reveals that the cell wall is a live organelle that can respond to alterations in the environment by masking a cell surface epitope to protect the fungal cell from the host immune response.

Rhythmic colonization of gut bacteria on mucosal surfaces is promoted by time-dependent feeding, and is now shown to drive circadian expression of host genes that are involved in functions such as drug detoxification in the liver.

Phylogenetic analysis defines the population and transmission structure of Listeria monocytogenes isolates and creates a global framework for epidemiological surveillance.Phylogenetic analysis defines the population and transmission structure of Listeria monocytogenes isolates and creates a global framework for epidemiological surveillance.

‘Candidatus Udaeobacter copiosus’ is found to be one of the most abundant microorganisms across >1,000 soil samples. Metabolic reconstruction of the small genome suggests it is an aerobic heterotroph with multiple auxotrophies.

A small-molecule inhibitor that blocks the ATPase activity of the cellular human transcription/export complex (hTREX) protein UAP56 prevents the formation of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) viral ribonucleoprotein particles (vRNPs)

Structural characterization of a cycloalternan metabolism pathway in Listeria monocytogenes required for host colonization and infection.

Toxin–antitoxin systems mediate virulence plasmid retention at environmental temperatures; deletion of these systems may have facilitated the evolution of Shigella sonnei as a person-to-person transmissible pathogen.

The cryo-EM structure of an HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody from an elite neutralizer reveals the fusion peptide of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) as a site of vulnerability that may be explored by future therapies.

Single-cell RNA-seq finds a pro-inflammatory M1 polarized immune response in macrophages infected with actively replicating Salmonella and an anti-inflammatory M2-like response in uninfected bystanders or cells with non-replicating bacteria.

The Aspergillus fumigatus surface protein CalA mediates pulmonary invasion by interacting with integrin α₅β₁ on the surface of epithelial and endothelial cells, inducing endocytosis and enhancing virulence.

Palindromic nucleotide sequences are not present at individual integration sites for the retroviruses HTLV-1 and HIV-1, but arise in the population average owing to a non-palindromic motif found in roughly equal proportions on the plus and minus strands.

A genomic comparison of 27 global isolates of Onchocerca volvulus, the agent of river blindness, elucidates its evolutionary history and reveals ancestry informative loci that can differentiate between forest, savanna and admixed isolates.

A minimal bacterial community has been defined that provides colonization resistance to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium once established in germ-free mice to a similar extent as a conventional microbial community.

Characterization of the genomes of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of river blindness, and its Wolbachia symbiont reveals potential therapeutic targets.

Dusp6-deficient mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity. Transfer of the faecal microbiota from Dusp6-deficient mice increases energy expenditure and reduces weight gain of recipient germ-free wild-type mice fed a high-fat diet.

Study of the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse system reveals that early life history impacts mouse gut microbiome composition and although dietary changes have only a moderate effect on the microbiome, it does shape the gut metabolome.

Staphylococcus aureus produces nitric oxide to regulate bacterial respiration and maintain membrane potential in microaerophilic conditions and during colonization.

Mice made susceptible to MERS-CoV, using CRISPR–Cas9 to alter the gene encoding the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 receptor, allow efficient viral replication in the lungs and display symptoms indicative of severe acute respiratory stress.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Esx-3 secretion substrate, EsxH, inhibits ESCRT function and blocks efficient antigen presentation to T cells during infection.

Antibiotics reduce the fraction of active ribosomes rather than slow translational elongation, a process also observed during E. coli adaptation to slow-growth conditions.

In response to lactate exposure, Candida albicans induces masking of β-glucan, a key PAMP, via a signalling pathway involving the Gpr1 receptor and Crz1 transcription factor.