Microbiology Articles

Review: Bacterial nucleoid-associated proteins, nucleoid structure and gene expression

Emerging models of the bacterial nucleoid show that nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) and transcription contribute in combination to the dynamic nature of nucleoid structure. NAPs and other DNA-binding proteins that display gene-silencing and anti-silencing activities are emerging as key antagonistic regulators of nucleoid structure. Furthermore, it

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp185-195

Review: The phasevarion: phase variation of type III DNA methyltransferases controls coordinated switching in multiple genes

In several host-adapted pathogens, phase variation has been found to occur in genes that encode methyltransferases associated with type III restriction?modification systems. It was recently shown that in the human pathogens Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis phase variation of a

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp196-206

Review: Viral shape-shifting: norovirus evasion of the human immune system

Noroviruses are the most common cause of food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide, and explosive outbreaks frequently occur in community settings, where the virus can immobilize large numbers of infected individuals for 24?48 hours, making the development of effective vaccines and antiviral therapies a priority. However, several challenges

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp231-241

Research Highlight: Archaea: Singled out from the crowd

A recent discovery shows that Archaea have a protein conjugation system similar to eukaryotic ubiquitylation.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp160-160

Research Highlight: Symbiosis: Breaking the rhizobial barrier

Experimental evolution of symbiotic behaviour in the root-infecting pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp157-157

Review: A complex journey: transmission of microbial symbionts

The perpetuation of symbioses through host generations relies on symbiont transmission. Horizontally transmitted symbionts are taken up from the environment anew by each host generation, and vertically transmitted symbionts are most often transferred through the female germ line. Mixed modes also exist. In this Review

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp218-230

Review: Host interactions of probiotic bacterial surface molecules: comparison with commensals and pathogens

How can probiotic bacteria transduce their health benefits to the host? Bacterial cell surface macromolecules are key factors in this beneficial microorganism?host crosstalk, as they can interact with host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of the gastrointestinal mucosa. In this Review, we highlight the documented signalling

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp171-184

Review: The population genetics of commensal Escherichia coli

The primary habitat of Escherichia coli is the vertebrate gut, where it is the predominant aerobic organism, living in symbiosis with its host. Despite the occurrence of recombination events, the population structure is predominantly clonal, allowing the delineation of major phylogenetic groups. The genetic

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp207-217

Research Highlight: Parasitology: Epigenetic regulation of VSG expression

Two papers in Eukaryotic Cell show that nucleosomes are depleted at active variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene expression sites.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp160-160

Research Highlight: Viral infection: miRNAs help KSHV lay low

MicroRNAs regulate KSHV latency through different mechanisms.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp158-159

Research Highlight: In Brief

Virology

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp158-158

Research Highlight: In Brief

Bacterial pathogenicity

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp159-159

Research Highlight: Industrial microbiology: Fuelling the renewable revolution

Escherichia coli can be rationally engineered to produce structurally tailored fatty acids and their derivatives from simple sugars and plant-derived biomass.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 8 #3, pp158-159



Extra navigation

ADVERTISEMENT