In this Review, Brown et al. provide an overview of fungal pathobiology from the pathogen, host and clinical perspectives, focusing specifically on pathogens that can cause invasive life-threatening infections.

This Review explores recent insights into the evolutionary history, the environmental adaptation and the colonization and dissemination mechanisms of Enterococcus faecium, and highlight potential novel preventative and therapeutic approaches to its infections.

In this Review, Domenech de Cellès and Rohani explore the contemporary epidemiology of pertussis and discuss the controversies surrounding the mechanisms responsible for the re-emergence of pertussis, including the effectiveness and duration of natural immunity and vaccine-derived immunity, the ability of vaccines to prevent transmission and severe disease, and the impact of evolution on evading vaccine immunity.

In this study, Lu et al. identify the gut symbiont Tomasiella immunophila as a contributor to the degradation of murine secretory immunoglobulin A, with effects on mucosal immunity.

The recent re-emergence of Oropouche virus in Central and South America and the Caribbean poses a public health threat and highlights the need for improved surveillance and control measures.

An increasing number of countries in Africa are reporting cases of mpox, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.

Nature Reviews Microbiology attended the 19th biennial meeting of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Antibacterial drug resistance is a critical global health issue that affects countries across all economic levels, though it disproportionately affects populations in low- and middle-income countries. Infection and resistance rates vary considerably, necessitating tailored interventions to meet the specific demands of each area. This underscores the need for global solidarity and national accountability in effectively addressing antibacterial drug resistance.

Improving access to antibiotics will save lives and reduce the rise and spread of drug-resistant infections. Instead of traditional ‘last mile’ global health solutions, global leaders need to support efforts to develop suitable antibiotics and their rational use, ensuring that countries have the capacity to make them available.