Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 09 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00974-3

In this Review, Costa and colleagues summarize the current knowledge of type IV secretion system functioning in Gram-negative bacteria, with a focus on their architectures and adaptations for specialized functions. They also explore the biogenesis pathways and spatial localization of type IV secretion systems.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 09 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00979-y

This Comment article highlights the progress that has been made over the past 40 years since the discovery of HIV, and discusses the commitment needed to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the ongoing challenges.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 06 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00982-3

This study shows how the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila exacerbates food allergy in fibre-deprived mice.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 04 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00972-5

In this Review, Meumann et al. discuss current knowledge on Burkholderia pseudomallei virulence and interaction with the host, and examine the epidemiology of melioidosis, offering insights into diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies for this disease.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 04 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00973-4

In this Review, White and Sears examine recent evidence showing the link between the gut microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC) and discuss the roles and mechanisms of specific microorganisms as well as of complex microbial communities in the pathogenesis of CRC.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 03 October 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00981-4

This Genome Watch highlights different tools and strategies used to enhance the quality of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) generated in microbiome studies.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 22 September 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00969-0

In this Review, McCallum and Tropini discuss physical and biological factors that affect microbiota biogeography and organization at different scales, starting with an overview of the whole gut at the macroscale and then zooming in to the scale of host and microbial interactions.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 September 2023; doi:10.1038/s41579-023-00938-7

In this Journal Club, Gonzalo Moratorio discusses a study using deep mutational scanning (DMS) to uncover how the influenza virus evades the host immune response, highlighting the potential of DMS in understanding the evolutionary arms race between pathogens and hosts.