Nature Reviews Microbiology http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/current_issue/ Nature Publishing Group en © 2008 Nature Publishing Group Nature Reviews Microbiology 1740-1526 1740-1534 © 2008 Nature Publishing Group permissions@nature.com Nature Reviews Microbiology http://www.nature.com/includes/rj_globnavimages/nrmicro_logo.gif http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/ The curious case of the tumour virus: 50 years of Burkitt's lymphoma http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2015 Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) was first described 50 years ago, and the first human tumour virus Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in BL tumours soon after. Since then, the role of EBV in the development of BL has become more and more enigmatic. Only recently have The curious case of the tumour virus: 50 years of Burkitt's lymphoma

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 913 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2015

Authors: David A. Thorley-Lawson & Martin J. Allday

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) was first described 50 years ago, and the first human tumour virus Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in BL tumours soon after. Since then, the role of EBV in the development of BL has become more and more enigmatic. Only recently have

]]> The curious case of the tumour virus: 50 years of Burkitt's lymphoma David A. Thorley-Lawson Martin J. Allday doi:10.1038/nrmicro2015 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 913 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Review 913 924 Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2029 Cattle that excrete more Escherichia coli O157 than others are known as super-shedders. Super-shedding has important consequences for the epidemiology of E. coli O157 in cattle — its main reservoir — and for the risk of human infection, particularly owing to environmental exposure. Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 904 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2029

Authors: Margo Chase-Topping, David Gally, Chris Low, Louise Matthews & Mark Woolhouse

Cattle that excrete more Escherichia coli O157 than others are known as super-shedders. Super-shedding has important consequences for the epidemiology of E. coli O157 in cattle — its main reservoir — and for the risk of human infection, particularly owing to environmental exposure.

]]> Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157 Margo Chase-Topping David Gally Chris Low Louise Matthews Mark Woolhouse doi:10.1038/nrmicro2029 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 904 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Review 904 912 e-Science: relieving bottlenecks in large-scale genome analyses http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2031 The development of affordable, high-throughput sequencing technology has led to a flood of publicly available bacterial genome-sequence data. The availability of multiple genome sequences presents both an opportunity and a challenge for microbiologists, and new computational approaches are needed to extract the knowledge that is e-Science: relieving bottlenecks in large-scale genome analyses

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 948 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2031

Authors: Tracy Craddock, Colin R. Harwood, Jennifer Hallinan & Anil Wipat

The development of affordable, high-throughput sequencing technology has led to a flood of publicly available bacterial genome-sequence data. The availability of multiple genome sequences presents both an opportunity and a challenge for microbiologists, and new computational approaches are needed to extract the knowledge that is

]]> e-Science: relieving bottlenecks in large-scale genome analyses Tracy Craddock Colin R. Harwood Jennifer Hallinan Anil Wipat doi:10.1038/nrmicro2031 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 948 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Perspective 948 954 Virus evolution: how far does the double β-barrel viral lineage extend? http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2033 During the past few years one of the most astonishing findings in the field of virology has been the realization that viruses that infect hosts from all three domains of life are often structurally similar. The recent burst of structural information points to a need Virus evolution: how far does the double β-barrel viral lineage extend?

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 941 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2033

Authors: Mart Krupovič & Dennis H. Bamford

During the past few years one of the most astonishing findings in the field of virology has been the realization that viruses that infect hosts from all three domains of life are often structurally similar. The recent burst of structural information points to a need

]]> Virus evolution: how far does the double β-barrel viral lineage extend? Mart Krupovič Dennis H. Bamford doi:10.1038/nrmicro2033 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 941 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Perspective 941 948 Symbiosis: Squid sort the wheat from the chaff... http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2038 Crypts in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes are colonized by the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. According to a paper published in Environmental Microbiology, the maintenance of specificity in the exclusive symbiotic partnership between E. scolopes and Symbiosis: Squid sort the wheat from the chaff...

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 875 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2038

Author: Andrew Jermy

Crypts in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes are colonized by the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. According to a paper published in Environmental Microbiology, the maintenance of specificity in the exclusive symbiotic partnership between E. scolopes and

]]> Symbiosis: Squid sort the wheat from the chaff... Andrew Jermy doi:10.1038/nrmicro2038 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 875 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Research Highlight 875 875 Fungal biology: SEX and the parasitic fungi http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2039 Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular parasites of animals, which makes them difficult to culture in the laboratory. Originally thought to be an ancient lineage of eukaryotes owing to their lack of true mitochondria, they are now known to be related to fungi. Writing in Current Biology Fungal biology: SEX and the parasitic fungi

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 873 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2039

Author: Christopher Surridge

Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular parasites of animals, which makes them difficult to culture in the laboratory. Originally thought to be an ancient lineage of eukaryotes owing to their lack of true mitochondria, they are now known to be related to fungi. Writing in Current Biology

]]> Fungal biology: SEX and the parasitic fungi Christopher Surridge doi:10.1038/nrmicro2039 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 873 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Research Highlight 873 873 Viral immunity: Persistent viruses help opportunists http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2040 Persistent viral infections make the host more susceptible to opportunistic infections by decreasing the production of type I interferons (IFNs) by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) according to a study by Oldstone and colleagues.Viral infections induce a strong innate immune response that is orchestrated by Viral immunity: Persistent viruses help opportunists

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 876 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2040

Author: Rachel David

Persistent viral infections make the host more susceptible to opportunistic infections by decreasing the production of type I interferons (IFNs) by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) according to a study by Oldstone and colleagues.Viral infections induce a strong innate immune response that is orchestrated by

]]> Viral immunity: Persistent viruses help opportunists Rachel David doi:10.1038/nrmicro2040 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 876 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Research Highlight 876 877 Host response: Keeping the lid on herpes simplex virus http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2041 Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes a lifelong association with infected hosts, often causing severe disease when the host is immunocompromised. In a recent issue of Science, Knickelbein and colleagues report the identification of part of the mechanism that the host uses to keep Host response: Keeping the lid on herpes simplex virus

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 876 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2041

Author: Christiaan van Ooij

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes a lifelong association with infected hosts, often causing severe disease when the host is immunocompromised. In a recent issue of Science, Knickelbein and colleagues report the identification of part of the mechanism that the host uses to keep

]]> Host response: Keeping the lid on herpes simplex virus Christiaan van Ooij doi:10.1038/nrmicro2041 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 876 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Research Highlight 876 877 In Brief http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2042 Bacterial geneticsRegulated secretion of a protease activates intercellular signaling during fruiting body formation in M. xanthus.Rolbetzki, A.et al. Dev. Cell15, 627–634 (2008)Starved Myxococcus xanthus cells aggregate to form fruiting bodies In Brief

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 874 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2042

Bacterial geneticsRegulated secretion of a protease activates intercellular signaling during fruiting body formation in M. xanthus.Rolbetzki, A.et al. Dev. Cell15, 627–634 (2008)Starved Myxococcus xanthus cells aggregate to form fruiting bodies

]]> In Brief doi:10.1038/nrmicro2042 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 874 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Research Highlight 874 874 Plaudits for microbiologists in 2008 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2043 Prizes for scientific endeavour can inspire researchers and the public alike. Nature Reviews Microbiology investigates which microbiologists were winners in 2008. Plaudits for microbiologists in 2008

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 872 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2043

Prizes for scientific endeavour can inspire researchers and the public alike. Nature Reviews Microbiology investigates which microbiologists were winners in 2008.

]]> Plaudits for microbiologists in 2008 doi:10.1038/nrmicro2043 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 872 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 Editorial 872 872 Does my genome look big in this? http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2044 This month's Genome Watch discusses selected recent genome papers that have examined the mechanisms and implications of reductive genome evolution. Does my genome look big in this?

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 878 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2044

Authors: Alan Walker & Gemma Langridge

This month's Genome Watch discusses selected recent genome papers that have examined the mechanisms and implications of reductive genome evolution.

]]> Does my genome look big in this? Alan Walker Gemma Langridge doi:10.1038/nrmicro2044 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 878 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 News and Analysis 878 879 In the news http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2045 Tastes so goodA sweetened, cherry-flavoured, formulation of an anti-malarial is just as effective as a conventional bitter pill, raising hopes that children will be more likely to finish their courses of anti-malarials. Salim Abdulla from Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania, compared the efficiency of the In the news

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 880 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2045

Tastes so goodA sweetened, cherry-flavoured, formulation of an anti-malarial is just as effective as a conventional bitter pill, raising hopes that children will be more likely to finish their courses of anti-malarials. Salim Abdulla from Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania, compared the efficiency of the

]]> In the news doi:10.1038/nrmicro2045 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 880 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 News and Analysis 880 881 In this issue http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2046 A handful of individuals infected with pathogens are, in general, usually responsible for most of the infections in a population, according to analyses of outbreak data. These unusually infectious individuals might be 'super-shedders' that excrete higher numbers of bacteria (or viruses) than other infected individuals. In this issue

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 871 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2046

A handful of individuals infected with pathogens are, in general, usually responsible for most of the infections in a population, according to analyses of outbreak data. These unusually infectious individuals might be 'super-shedders' that excrete higher numbers of bacteria (or viruses) than other infected individuals.

]]> In this issue doi:10.1038/nrmicro2046 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 871 (2008) Nature Reviews Microbiology 6 12 In This Issue 871 871 From bench to bedside: stealth of enteroinvasive pathogens http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2012 Bacterial enteric infections are often associated with diarrhoea or vomiting, which are clinical presentations commonly referred to as gastroenteritis. However, some enteric pathogens, including typhoidal Salmonella serotypes, Brucella species and enteropathogenic Yersinia species are associated with a clinical syndrome that is characterized From bench to bedside: stealth of enteroinvasive pathogens

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 883 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2012

Authors: Renée M. Tsolis, Glenn M. Young, Jay V. Solnick & Andreas J. Bäumler

Bacterial enteric infections are often associated with diarrhoea or vomiting, which are clinical presentations commonly referred to as gastroenteritis. However, some enteric pathogens, including typhoidal Salmonella serotypes, Brucella species and enteropathogenic Yersinia species are associated with a clinical syndrome that is characterized

]]> From bench to bedside: stealth of enteroinvasive pathogens Renée M. Tsolis Glenn M. Young Jay V. Solnick Andreas J. Bäumler doi:10.1038/nrmicro2012 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 883 (2008) 2008-10-28 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-10-28 6 12 Review 883 892 An exit strategy for the tubercle bacillus? http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1821-c1 Most studies on the host–pathogen interactions that occur between the residing infecting agent and its niche cell focus on the pathogenic manipulation of host cell entrance and intracellular propagation, but the timely and in-depth review by Kevin Hybiske and Richard S. Stephens (Exit strategies of An exit strategy for the tubercle bacillus?

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro1821-c1

Authors: S. Hingley-Wilson & A. Lalvani

Most studies on the host–pathogen interactions that occur between the residing infecting agent and its niche cell focus on the pathogenic manipulation of host cell entrance and intracellular propagation, but the timely and in-depth review by Kevin Hybiske and Richard S. Stephens (Exit strategies of

]]> An exit strategy for the tubercle bacillus? S. Hingley-Wilson A. Lalvani doi:10.1038/nrmicro1821-c1 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008) 2008-10-28 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-10-28 6 12 Correspondence 954 954 Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon? http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1932-c1 In their review on carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in bacteria, Boris Görke and Jörg Stülke (Carbon catabolite repression in bacteria: many ways to make the most out of nutrients. Nature Rev. Microbiol.6, 613–624 (2008)) specifically analysed Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon?

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro1932-c1

Author: Martine Crasnier-Mednansky

In their review on carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in bacteria, Boris Görke and Jörg Stülke (Carbon catabolite repression in bacteria: many ways to make the most out of nutrients. Nature Rev. Microbiol.6, 613–624 (2008)) specifically analysed

]]> Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon? Martine Crasnier-Mednansky doi:10.1038/nrmicro1932-c1 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008) 2008-10-28 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-10-28 6 12 Correspondence 954 954 Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon? Reply from Görke and Stülke http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1932-c2 We are appreciative of the correspondence on our Review article (Carbon catabolite repression in bacteria: many ways to make the most out of nutrients. Nature Rev. Microbiol.6, 613–624 (2008)), by Crasnier-Mednansky (Is there any role for Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon? Reply from Görke and Stülke

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro1932-c2

Authors: Boris Görke & Jörg Stülke

We are appreciative of the correspondence on our Review article (Carbon catabolite repression in bacteria: many ways to make the most out of nutrients. Nature Rev. Microbiol.6, 613–624 (2008)), by Crasnier-Mednansky (Is there any role for

]]> Is there any role for cAMP–CRP in carbon catabolite repression of the Escherichia coli lac operon? Reply from Görke and Stülke Boris Görke Jörg Stülke doi:10.1038/nrmicro1932-c2 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 954 (2008) 2008-10-28 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-10-28 6 12 Correspondence 954 954 Techniques: Hunting WMDs in pathogen genomes http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2035 Bioinformatics algorithms are becoming increasingly successful for the functional annotation of genomes, but they cannot replace experimental approaches when searching for the highly specialized genes responsible for virulence in pathogens. Such approaches usually involve screening pathogens containing loss-of-function mutations, which can be both time-consuming and Techniques: Hunting WMDs in pathogen genomes

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 875 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2035

Author: Christopher Surridge

Bioinformatics algorithms are becoming increasingly successful for the functional annotation of genomes, but they cannot replace experimental approaches when searching for the highly specialized genes responsible for virulence in pathogens. Such approaches usually involve screening pathogens containing loss-of-function mutations, which can be both time-consuming and

]]> Techniques: Hunting WMDs in pathogen genomes Christopher Surridge doi:10.1038/nrmicro2035 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 875 (2008) 2008-11-03 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-11-03 6 12 Research Highlight 875 875 Bacterial physiology: New shears for SsrA http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2036 Stalled ribosomes are a problem for a cell: they deplete the pool of available ribosomes and lead to the formation of truncated proteins. Such ribosomes are rescued by SsrA (also called tmRNA), an RNA with properties of both tRNA and mRNA, which adds a small Bacterial physiology: New shears for SsrA

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 874 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2036

Author: Christiaan van Ooij

Stalled ribosomes are a problem for a cell: they deplete the pool of available ribosomes and lead to the formation of truncated proteins. Such ribosomes are rescued by SsrA (also called tmRNA), an RNA with properties of both tRNA and mRNA, which adds a small

]]> Bacterial physiology: New shears for SsrA Christiaan van Ooij doi:10.1038/nrmicro2036 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 874 (2008) 2008-11-03 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-11-03 6 12 Research Highlight 874 874 Bacterial secretion: Surfing the channel http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2037 Most bacterial proteins that are inserted into, or translocated across, the plasma membrane are targeted to the evolutionarily conserved SecY translocon complex. Three papers published in Nature now provide insight into how the cytoplasmic ATPase SecA moves polypeptides through the SecY channel.A single Bacterial secretion: Surfing the channel

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 877 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2037

Author: Andrew Jermy

Most bacterial proteins that are inserted into, or translocated across, the plasma membrane are targeted to the evolutionarily conserved SecY translocon complex. Three papers published in Nature now provide insight into how the cytoplasmic ATPase SecA moves polypeptides through the SecY channel.A single

]]> Bacterial secretion: Surfing the channel Andrew Jermy doi:10.1038/nrmicro2037 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 877 (2008) 2008-11-03 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-11-03 6 12 Research Highlight 877 877 The porin and the permeating antibiotic: a selective diffusion barrier in Gram-negative bacteria http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1994 Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for a large proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. These bacteria have a complex cell envelope that comprises an outer membrane and an inner membrane that delimit the periplasm. The outer membrane contains various protein channels, called porins, which are involved in The porin and the permeating antibiotic: a selective diffusion barrier in Gram-negative bacteria

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 893 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro1994

Authors: Jean-Marie Pagès, Chloë E. James & Mathias Winterhalter

Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for a large proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. These bacteria have a complex cell envelope that comprises an outer membrane and an inner membrane that delimit the periplasm. The outer membrane contains various protein channels, called porins, which are involved in

]]> The porin and the permeating antibiotic: a selective diffusion barrier in Gram-negative bacteria Jean-Marie Pagès Chloë E. James Mathias Winterhalter doi:10.1038/nrmicro1994 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 893 (2008) 2008-11-10 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-11-10 6 12 Review 893 903 The Big Bang of picorna-like virus evolution antedates the radiation of eukaryotic supergroups http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2030 The recent discovery of RNA viruses in diverse unicellular eukaryotes and developments in evolutionary genomics have provided the means for addressing the origin of eukaryotic RNA viruses. The phylogenetic analyses of RNA polymerases and helicases presented in this Analysis article reveal close evolutionary relationships between The Big Bang of picorna-like virus evolution antedates the radiation of eukaryotic supergroups

Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 925 (2008). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2030

Authors: Eugene V. Koonin, Yuri I. Wolf, Keizo Nagasaki & Valerian V. Dolja

The recent discovery of RNA viruses in diverse unicellular eukaryotes and developments in evolutionary genomics have provided the means for addressing the origin of eukaryotic RNA viruses. The phylogenetic analyses of RNA polymerases and helicases presented in this Analysis article reveal close evolutionary relationships between

]]> The Big Bang of picorna-like virus evolution antedates the radiation of eukaryotic supergroups Eugene V. Koonin Yuri I. Wolf Keizo Nagasaki Valerian V. Dolja doi:10.1038/nrmicro2030 Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 925 (2008) 2008-11-10 Nature Reviews Microbiology 2008-11-10 6 12 Analysis 925 939