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The textbook view of the viral life cycle depicts uniform, discrete steps. However, growing evidence shows considerable phenotypic and morphological heterogeneity during viral infection. In this Review, Lakdawala and colleagues highlight host and viral heterogeneity and its causes and consequences.
In this Review, Shi and colleagues summarize the exceptional amount of research that has characterized acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since this virus has swept around the globe. They discuss what we know so far about the emergence and virology of SARS-CoV-2 and the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19.
We know a lot about antibiotics and their targets; however, how antibiotics actually kill bacteria is not entirely clear and is up for debate. In this Perspective, Baquero and Levin reflect on this ultimate action of antibiotics and consider different mechanisms and modulating factors.
This month’s Under the Lens discusses recent advances in high-resolution imaging of bacterial membrane proteins within intact liposomes by electron cryomicroscopy.
Scientists around the world have risen to the challenges posed by COVID-19 by rapidly transforming their laboratories and refocusing their research efforts.
This study discovered that the maternal gut microbiota of mice modulates fetal neurodevelopment during homeostasis and the behaviour of offspring in adult life.
The gut microbiota contributes to host physiology through the production of a myriad of metabolites. In this Review, Bäckhed and colleagues discuss the major classes of microbial metabolites, highlight examples of how microbial metabolites affect host health and provide a potential framework for integration of discovery-based metabolite studies with mechanistic work.
Genome-scale models (GEMs) are mathematical representations of reconstructed networks that facilitate computation and prediction of phenotypes, and are useful tools for predicting the biological capabilities of microorganisms. In this Review, Fang, Lloyd and Palsson discuss the development and the emerging application of GEMs.
This paper found that cytoplasmic control of intranuclear polarity by human cytomegalovirus leads to segregation of viral DNA from heterochromatin, thus promoting virus replication.
A recent study investigated bacterial–fungal symbioses and found that fungal responses to bacteria differed depending on whether the relationship was mutualistic or antagonistic.
This study shows that alveolar macrophages patrol the lung to take up inhaled bacteria and that influenza virus infection can interfere with this function.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted unparalleled progress in the development of vaccines and therapeutics in many countries, but it has also highlighted the vulnerability of resource-limited countries in Africa. Margolin and colleagues review global efforts to develop SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, with a focus on the opportunities and challenges in Africa.
This study shows that Aspergillus fumigatus develops spatial hypoxic microenvironments during biofilm maturation that contribute to antifungal drug resistance.
Fungi originated in a freshwater environment and their evolution accompanied the rise of algae and land plants. In this Review, Berbee and colleagues examine the fossil and genomic record of ancient fungi and the inferences we can make about their lifestyle.
