Mostly Microbes and Infection - by David Ojcius

Paired oral–fecal microbiomes from 507 individuals revealed elevated mouth‑to‑gut bacterial transmission in gastrointestinal cancers. A mouth‑to‑feces index captured disease‑specific signatures and powered a classifier that outperformed fecal occult blood testing, enabling sensitive, non‑invasive detection across multiple cohorts.

Gut microbes convert dietary nitrate and non‑heme iron into dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) that circulate systemically and improve host metabolism. DNICs were detected in conventional but not germ‑free mice, and supplementation or synthetic DNICs boosted tissue levels and reduced cardiometabolic dysfunction. DNICs also lowered steatosis and normalized sGC‑mTORC1 signaling.

Structured RNA elements across the norovirus genome were mapped and functionally tested, revealing conserved motifs that regulate replication and translation. Disrupting key structures reduced viral fitness in cells and animals, enabling design of a stable attenuated virus that elicits protective immunity and supports RNA‑guided antiviral strategies.

A comprehensive proteomic analysis of Plasmodium falciparum chromatin identified 214 proteins associated with heterochromatin, euchromatin, and (peri)centromeric regions. Using three proximity-labeling methods, researchers uncovered new epigenetic factors, complexes involved in histone variant exchange and chromatin-RNA interactions, and evidence for a spindle assembly checkpoint previously thought absent.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly lethal zoonotic pathogen with significant pandemic potential due to its broad host range, cross-species transmission capacity, and ability to evade immune responses. This review examines NiV structure, pathogenesis, and the latest progress in vaccine development, highlighting promising candidates, key scientific challenges, knowledge gaps, and priorities for future prevention and control efforts.

Plant-microbe interactions are essential for sustainable agriculture, improving crop productivity, soil fertility, and resilience to stress. This review examines the role of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) as biofertilizers and microbial inoculants, their mechanisms of action, factors influencing their effectiveness, and emerging technologies that support environmentally friendly farming and enhanced food security.