Browse our latest Microbiology and Infectious Disease articles

To establish membrane contacts between its vacuole and the endoplasmic reticulum, the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis has evolved complex molecular strategies to mimic emerging regulatory processes that control contact-dependent organelle–organelle communication.

An improved 'plug-and-play' reversed FluoroSpot assay is described and validated that allows the simultaneous assessment of antibody cross-reactivity at the single-cell level against up to four variants of a polymorphic antigen of interest.

Genomic analysis of initial SARS-CoV-2 waves in Kenya revealed Mombasa City as a key gateway for variants entering Coastal Kenya with onward inter-county transmission highlighting significance of surveillance in major cities for early warning of lineages entering local populations.

Intervention of CHI3L1 using anti-CHI3L1 monoclonal antibody or chitinase inhibitor kasugamycin blocks epithelial infection of various SARS-CoV2 variants, suggesting that CHI3L1 is a universal and effective therapeutic target of COVID-19 infection, including recent omicron variants.

A large-scale analysis of Staphylococcus aureus within-host evolution based on a comprehensive catalogue of bacterial genetic variation reveals an excess of genome degradation signatures in infecting strains and new genetic loci of clinically relevant adaptation.

Distinct surfaces of an interbacterial competition cell wall toxin mediate interactions with different cellular binding partners, resulting in an inherent evolutionary trade-off across the toxin superfamily.

Metabolic pathways found to date in giant virus raise the question if these viral enzymes provide some level of autonomy to viruses or if they are used to expand the host metabolism.

Models of malaria and treatment dynamics were combined with emulator-based global sensitivity analysis to elucidate the interplay between drug, biology, and epidemiological factors on the evolution of resistance to malaria treatments, including artemisinin.

Glycans are remodeled by HIV and are determinants of CD4+ T cell susceptibility to HIV infection.

In primary schools, where vaccination coverage can be low, a repetitive testing strategy reduces SARS-CoV-2 infections while keeping classes and schools open, as such limiting infection transmissions and absenteeism.