Volume 2 Issue 9, September 2017

Proteomics analyses reveal how the long-term coexistence of the marine picocyanobacterium Synechococcus and the heterotroph Ruegeria pomeroyi, of the globally abundant marine Roseobacter group, is based on the mutual and beneficial recycling of inorganic and organic nitrogen compounds.

The 2013–2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak evidenced that the virus can persist in survivors long-term, leading to sequelae and risks of new transmission chains. Ebola virus has now been shown to behave similarly in rhesus macaques, enabling their use to study persistence and intervention strategies.

Structural analyses of the type IV coupling protein of the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system from Legionella pneumophila reveal how this platform recruits a plethora of substrates for translocation.

A Review Article on the mechanisms of translational fidelity and benefits of mistranslation.

This Perspective argues that Anna Karenina effects (that is, changes resulting in increased variation in community composition under stress) are a common and important response of animal microbiomes that have been under-reported.

The undulating surface of mycobacterial cells contains wave troughs inherited from the (grand)mother cell that, combined with chromosome positioning, determine the site where cell division takes place.

Metabolic labelling can be used to simultaneously tag peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide of live gut bacteria, and to label peptidoglycan in vivo, revealing host–bacteria interactions within the living mammalian host.

Long term co-culture of the phototroph Synechococcus and heterotrophic Roseobacter under in situ conditions reveals that nutrient cycling is important for maintaining mutualistic, stable interactions.

Structural analysis of the type VI secretion TssK baseplate protein shows structural similarities with phage receptor-binding protein.

This study reports the structure of hRSV NS1, identifying unique regions that modulate host gene expression and contribute to inhibition of the IFN-I pathway and of dendritic cell maturation, pointing to new avenues of hRSV attenuation.

Development of a broad-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor capable of combatting multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii.

Whether phage genetic mosaicism generates a spectrum of diversity or discrete populations is unclear. Two phage evolutionary modes are described here that differ in the extent of horizontal gene transfer depending on host, lifestyle and genetic constitution

A lack of models has hindered the study of Ebola virus (EBOV) persistence and sequelae, which are now shown to occur in rhesus monkeys. Progressive EBOV spread into eyes, brain and testes with CD68⁺ cells as the cryptic EBOV reservoir.

A structural analysis of the C-terminal extension of DotL and its binding partners DotN, IcmS, IcmW and LvgA elucidates how the type IV secretion system (T4SS) of Legionella pneumophila mediates the recruitment of T4SS effectors.

Cell straightening in Escherichia coli is consistent with a mechanical strain–sensing mode of growth.

A bisphasic model of growth is observed during Caulobacter crescentus elongation and division.

In situ analysis of natural Crocosphaera populations revealed diel cycling of transcript abundances for a range of metabolic pathways, indicating that these cyanobacteria are dominant nitrogen fixers and contributors to primary productivity.