Articles in 2019

This month’s Under the Lens discusses the application of light sheet fluorescence microscopy to observe the intestinal microbiota of live zebrafish, revealing unexpected host–microorganism interactions.

The number and diversity of known CRISPR–Cas systems have substantially increased in recent years. In this Review, Koonin and colleagues provide an updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR–Cas systems and cas genes, with an emphasis on major developments, and outline a complete scenario for the origins and evolution of CRISPR–Cas systems.

Two studies report that a nucleus-like structure protects jumbo phages against DNA-targeting immune pathways.

A recent study found that antimicrobial sensing coupled with cell membrane remodelling mediates antimicrobial resistance and virulence in Enterococcus faecalis.

This study investigated the ability of individual members of the bee gut microbiota to digest polysaccharides.

Two studies highlight that the growth of genome data and the development of new tools provide further opportunities for understanding the tree of life.

This study identifies a new family of T6SS-delivered ion-selective pore-forming toxins that is distinct from previously described T6SS effectors.

Two recent studies report new compounds that could be useful in combatting antibiotic resistance.

In the outer membrane, trimeric porins control the cellular uptake of small molecules, including nutrients and antibacterial agents. In this Review, Pagès and colleagues discuss advances in our understanding of the roles of general porins in small-molecule translocation in Enterobacteriaceae and consider the crucial contribution of porins in antibiotic resistance.

This study describes a novel fungus-related microbial eukaryote that infects marine diatoms.

This month’s Genome Watch article discusses the role of within-host adaptive evolution in bacterial pathogens for colonization and invasion of their human hosts.

Secreted siderophores help bacteria to take up iron from the environment. In this Review, Kramer, Özkaya and Kümmerli discuss the functions and implications that siderophores have for social interactions between bacterial cells and the resulting consequences for communities and hosts.

In this Viewpoint article, seven experts discuss the challenges that are contributing to the decline in antibiotic drug discovery and development, and the international and national initiatives aimed at incentivizing research and the development of new antibiotics to improve the economic feasibility of antibiotic development.

With rising rates of antibiotic resistance, it is essential that new antibiotics are developed. In this Review, Theuretzbacher et al. take stock of the preclinical antibiotic pipeline and discuss challenges and opportunities for the discovery and development of novel antibacterial therapies.

Two recent studies find that pioneering bacterial cells use chemotaxis as a navigation strategy to boost range expansion, but colonizing too quickly can leave the population susceptible to invasion by competitors.

Two recent studies report marine microbial diversity pole to pole, using data collected from the Tara Oceans expedition.

This study shows that surface-attached bacteria modulate flagellar rotation to promote persistence at the surface.

Further evidence that measles induce ‘immunological amnesia’ highlight the importance of the vaccination and the need to increase vaccination rates.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a distinctive cell envelope that contributes to its resistance against the human immune system and antibiotic therapy. In this Review, Dulberger, Rubin and Boutte discuss mycobacterial cell envelope dynamics and their relevance for infection and drug treatment.

DNA methylation affects DNA–protein interactions and has important cellular roles, including the control of reversible switching (phase variation) of gene expression. In this Review, Sánchez-Romero and Casadesús review epigenetic signalling by DNA methylation, focusing on its contribution to phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial populations.