Research Highlights

An antagonistic interaction between twoBartonella effector proteins is essential for Bartonellabloodstream infection in a reservoir host.

TheMycobacterium ulceranstoxin mycolactone induces the angiotensin signalling pathway to decrease the sensation of pain from the inflicted lesions.

A newly discoveredPlasmodium falciparum exoribonuclease silences the expression of vargene transcripts, which are involved in the pathogenesis of severe malaria.

Two studies solve the structure of the LptD–LptE complex and elucidate how LPS is transported across the bacterial outer membrane.

A new study shows that mammalian reovirus uses the protein receptor NgR1 for entry into neurons.

Torgboret al. propose a model to explain the involvement of Plasmodium falciparumin the development of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma.

ROP5, ROP17 and ROP18 function synergistically to target host immunity-related GTPases, which promotesToxoplasma gondiievasion of the mouse immune response.

A new study provides the first mechanistic insights into the negative regulation of plant jasmonic acid signalling by an ectomycorrhizal fungus,Laccaria bicolor.

This study identifies a newPseudomonas aeruginosatype VI secretion system effector that targets both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells — the phospholipase D effector PldB.

A new study shows that a bacterial pathogen uses a fight-and-flight response to coexist and synergize with a commensal bacteriumin vivo.

This study describes the use of a new microbial glycan microarray to characterize how host immune molecules bind to bacterial cell surface carbohydrates.

A new analysis shows that pathogenicYersiniaspecies do not share a common ancestor.

Phytoplasmaconvert their hosts into sterile 'zombie' plants, which facilitates vector-borne transmission and aids bacterial propagation.

Two studies show that HIV-1 Vpu protects infected cells from antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by antagonizing tetherin.

A new paper reveals the mechanism by which the secondary metabolite fumiquinazoline C is targeted to conidia inAspergillus fumigatus.

Activation of competence in response to antibiotics that induce replication stress occurs through an increase in copy number ofcomgenes near the replication origin.

A new study reveals thatListeria monocytogenesexploits efferocytosis to enable cell-to-cell spread.

Quinnet al. examine the core metabolic functions within the polymicrobial communities that are present in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Three new studies now reveal the crystal structure of the Marburg virus protein VP24 and provide insights into its role in pathogenesis.

The first complete structure of a bacterial T4SS, which shows that this apparatus has a unique architecture and mechanism of action.