Nature Reviews Microbiology

Bordetella hides in the cilia forest Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01297-9This study shows that FhaB is a critical colonization factor that enables Bordetella species to colonize a protected niche at the base of the cilia of epithelial cells.

New online! Bordetella hides in the cilia forest

Diversity, ecology, cell biology and evolution of the Asgard archaea Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01288-wThe Asgard archaea have become a cornerstone of archaeal research, particularly for studies aiming to unravel the origin and early evolution of eukaryotes. This Review outlines the current state of the research field focusing on these intriguing microorganisms and discusses future research directions aiming to resolve their diversity, ecology, cell biology and evolution.

New online! Diversity, ecology, cell biology and evolution of the Asgard archaea

Read our review about the "Diversity, ecology, cell biology and evolution of the Asgard archaea" in @natrevmicro.nature.com here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

By @kassipan.bsky.social @stephkoe.bsky.social @micropat.bsky.social & @gerbenz.bsky.social

ICYMI: New online! Iron acquisition by amino acids under flow

Probing the host cell exit strategy of Babesia divergens Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01292-0This study uncovers druggable kinases and proteases required for host cell egress of the apicomplexan parasite Babesia divergens.

ICYMI: New online! Probing the host cell exit strategy of Babesia divergens

Varicella zoster virus and the central nervous system Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01289-9Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection causes varicella and herpes zoster and, rarely, severe central nervous system (CNS) complications, including encephalitis. Ogunjimi et al. review the evidence linking herpes zoster with stroke and dementia, summarize innate and adaptive immune responses to VZV-related CNS disease, and debate the consequences of vaccination.

ICYMI: New online! Varicella zoster virus and the central nervous system

ICYMI: New online! Gut microbiome control of HIV immunodeficiency

How flaviviruses choose their mosquito Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01291-1This study identified the molecular mechanisms that contribute to species specificity and compatibility between mosquito vectors and flavivirus species.

ICYMI: New online! How flaviviruses choose their mosquito

New online! Iron acquisition by amino acids under flow

Probing the host cell exit strategy of Babesia divergens Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01292-0This study uncovers druggable kinases and proteases required for host cell egress of the apicomplexan parasite Babesia divergens.

New online! Probing the host cell exit strategy of Babesia divergens

Varicella zoster virus and the central nervous system Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01289-9Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection causes varicella and herpes zoster and, rarely, severe central nervous system (CNS) complications, including encephalitis. Ogunjimi et al. review the evidence linking herpes zoster with stroke and dementia, summarize innate and adaptive immune responses to VZV-related CNS disease, and debate the consequences of vaccination.

New online! Varicella zoster virus and the central nervous system

New online! Gut microbiome control of HIV immunodeficiency

How flaviviruses choose their mosquito Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01291-1This study identified the molecular mechanisms that contribute to species specificity and compatibility between mosquito vectors and flavivirus species.

New online! How flaviviruses choose their mosquito

Predicting phage–host specificity Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01287-xThis Genome Watch article explores how protein language models are transforming phage–host specificity prediction by capturing meaningful biological information from viral sequences, from individual proteins to entire genomes.

ICYMI: New online! Predicting phage–host specificity

Climate change and antimicrobial resistance Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 06 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01285-zIn this work, Kalanxhi and Laxminarayan review the evidence supporting the links between climate change and antimicrobial resistance, highlight opportunities for action and identify areas wherein further research is needed to understand the nature of these complex relationships.

ICYMI: New online! Climate change and antimicrobial resistance

The paradox of immune systems conservation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01284-0The widespread prokaryotic immune systems, in particular restriction–modification, CRISPR–Cas and defensive toxin–antitoxin systems, are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones, such as Argonautes and antiviral STAND NTPases, became central to eukaryotic innate immunity. In this Comment, we hypothesize that the cause of this paradox is the drastic reduction of horizontal gene transfer rate in eukaryotes.

ICYMI: New online! The paradox of immune systems conservation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Predicting phage–host specificity Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01287-xThis Genome Watch article explores how protein language models are transforming phage–host specificity prediction by capturing meaningful biological information from viral sequences, from individual proteins to entire genomes.

New online! Predicting phage–host specificity

Climate change and antimicrobial resistance Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 06 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01285-zIn this work, Kalanxhi and Laxminarayan review the evidence supporting the links between climate change and antimicrobial resistance, highlight opportunities for action and identify areas wherein further research is needed to understand the nature of these complex relationships.

New online! Climate change and antimicrobial resistance

The paradox of immune systems conservation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01284-0The widespread prokaryotic immune systems, in particular restriction–modification, CRISPR–Cas and defensive toxin–antitoxin systems, are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones, such as Argonautes and antiviral STAND NTPases, became central to eukaryotic innate immunity. In this Comment, we hypothesize that the cause of this paradox is the drastic reduction of horizontal gene transfer rate in eukaryotes.

New online! The paradox of immune systems conservation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Oral–gut bacterial transport drives chronic liver disease Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 27 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01283-1A study by Jin et al. shows that oral–gut translocation of prtC+ bacteria is implicated in the well-known link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and advanced liver disease in humans.

ICYMI: New online! Oral–gut bacterial transport drives chronic liver disease

Tree bark microbiota in climate-active gas cycling Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01281-3This study reports that the tree bark microbial community actively modulates fluxes of climate-active gases and volatile organic compounds, and may mediate global atmospheric gas cycling.

ICYMI: New online! Tree bark microbiota in climate-active gas cycling

ICYMI: New online! Phage–host dynamics in space

Flipping the drug resistance switch Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01280-4A recent study identifies a compound that sensitizes fungal pathogens to the antifungal drug caspofungin.

ICYMI: New online! Flipping the drug resistance switch

Panning for gold: incidentally sequenced DNA Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 21 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01279-xThis Genome Watch explores how large-scale reference genome initiatives offer an unparalleled opportunity to generate sequencing data from under-represented cobionts (organisms sequenced alongside target organisms), including intracellular parasites.

ICYMI: New online! Panning for gold: incidentally sequenced DNA

Oral–gut bacterial transport drives chronic liver disease Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 27 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01283-1A study by Jin et al. shows that oral–gut translocation of prtC+ bacteria is implicated in the well-known link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and advanced liver disease in humans.

New online! Oral–gut bacterial transport drives chronic liver disease

Tick-borne viruses: discovery, clinical aspects, influencing factors and control Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01277-zPathogenic tick-borne viruses (TBVs) are a global threat to public and veterinary health. In this Review, Cao and colleagues highlight the diversity of the tick virome, review human and animal TBV pathogens, outline clinical features of human TBV infections, describe factors impacting ticks and TBV spread, and discuss the need for integrated One Health control strategies.

ICYMI: New online! Tick-borne viruses: discovery, clinical aspects, influencing factors and control

New online! Phage–host dynamics in space

Tree bark microbiota in climate-active gas cycling Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01281-3This study reports that the tree bark microbial community actively modulates fluxes of climate-active gases and volatile organic compounds, and may mediate global atmospheric gas cycling.

New online! Tree bark microbiota in climate-active gas cycling

ICYMI: New online! Chemical whispers hidden in the plant and microbiota kingdoms

Flipping the drug resistance switch Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01280-4A recent study identifies a compound that sensitizes fungal pathogens to the antifungal drug caspofungin.

New online! Flipping the drug resistance switch