Microbe Matters

Fitsum Tadesse was infected with malaria as a young child in Ethiopia and faced challenges to access efficacious treatment during a time of widespread drug resistance. Today, as a scientist in Africa, the fight against Plasmodium falciparum is his prime research goal.

Jeremy Barr discusses how he began studying bacteriophages, the historic use of the T-series phages and how they have shaped the field.

Alison Criss discusses the features of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, its intricate interactions with innate immunity and how this challenges our understanding of what makes a pathogen pathogenic.

The Oropouche virus has long been overlooked, but following a recent global expansion the virologist Marta Giovanetti argues for a One Health strategy to address this emergent public health threat.

Multiple histories converge in Masaru Nobu’s story of culturing an archaeon closely related to us eukaryotes.

Madeleine van Oppen describes her research on the family Symbiodiniaceae, the microalgae that could be instrumental in safeguarding coral reefs against the effects of climate change.

Lauren Davey describes the importance of the gut commensal bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and her work in developing methods to explore its role in gut health.

Teresa O’Meara recounts her experience of approaching the emerging fungal pathogen, Candida auris, with an open mind, enabling her laboratory to uncover its unique biology.

Jody Deming recounts a career spent studying the cold-loving bacterial genus Colwellia.

Carolina Rosadas explains why we need more research investigating human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infections, and why more public visibility is needed for those affected.

Melita Gordon reflects on her experience of tackling invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella disease in Africa.

Philip Poole narrates his career story and his motivations for studying rhizobia, the agriculturally important bacterial plant symbiont responsible for fixing nitrogen.

Jennifer Claire Hoving draws a picture of her personal and scientific journey leading her to study of Emergomyces africanus, an emerging fungal pathogen in Africa.

Thumbi Ndung’u reminisces about how far we have come in our fight against HIV-1, a pandemic virus that causes AIDS, and where we still need to go.

Carl Nathan describes how learning from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, teaches us about the intricacies of bacteria–immune system interplay and its repercussions for non-infectious diseases, including cancer.

Liliane Mukaremera describes her scientific journey studying Cryptococcus neoformans, a major human fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections.

Liz Sockett recounts lessons learned by getting to know Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a single-celled predator that invades and kills Gram-negative bacteria from within.