Browse our latest Microbiology and Infectious Disease articles

Despite the virus' error prone polymerase, influenza virus antigenic evolution is rare, even in previously immune hosts, virus replication occurs before producing new antibodies.

Experiments with hybrid viruses are illuminating how SARS-CoV-2 can escape neutralizing antibodies.

Time-lapse imaging and the modular recreation of host physiology reveal that alveolar epithelial cells, potential permissive infection sites for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can restrict early bacterial growth via surfactant secretion.

Applying bioorthogonal chemistry to the zebrafish/Mycobacterium marinum model of tuberculosis reveals that the virulence lipid PDIM must spread into epithelial cells in order for mycobacteria to establish infection.

Inter-molecular cross-seeding between phenol-soluble modulins facilitates rapid and efficient self-assembly in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms revealing a complex molecular interplay between distinct phenol-soluble modulins orchestrating functional amyloid formation.

SARS-CoV-2 spike variants that resist neutralization by therapeutic antibodies or convalescent plasma can be generated in the laboratory and exist at low frequency in natural populations.

Genetic analysis identifies an enzyme of the malaria parasite that is required to seal its host red blood cell membrane upon invasion, a key requirement of this important intracellular pathogen.

A respiratory tissue-associated commensal Lactobacillus strain confers colonization resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae, when applied therapeutically in a post influenza virus super-infection model.

A phosphorylation circuitry balancing among kinase, transcription factor, transcription repressor, and phosphatase in response against host immunity during M. oryzae–rice interaction.

A bacterial CO₂ concentrating mechanism enables Escherichia coli to fix CO₂ from ambient air into biomass.