Flagging flora: help from bacteriocins?

Flagging Th17 in Crohn's

Within turbulent regions of the heart, the spindly fingers of dendritic cells (DCs) probe pumping blood in search of antigens, Choi and colleagues demonstrate on page 497. Known for their role in both warding off and tolerating infection, these potent antigen presenters bring a new dimension to cardiovascular inflammation. Choi et al. spotted DCs congregating at the base of the aorta and around...

Flagging the Fatty Acid Ferryman

Fatty acids made in chloroplasts must be exported into the rest of the cell to be converted into commercially important plant oils. A new study identifies FAX1 as a protein that mediates this crucial transport step. Read the Research Article.

Flagging up a neglected killer

While this year has seen celebrations commemorating the centenary of Carlos Chagas' discovery of the parasite disease that bears his name, considered a landmark in Brazilian science, current research on the disease is seriously lacking. A recent study has found that less than 0.5 per cent of worldwide research and development into neglected diseases in 2007 was aimed at Chagas disease, accordin...

The Bacteriocins.

Bacteriocins from the rhizosphere microbiome – from an agriculture perspective

Bacteria produce and excrete a versatile and dynamic suit of compounds to defend against microbial competitors and mediate local population dynamics. These include a wide range of broad-spectrum non-ribosomally synthesized antibiotics, lytic enzymes, metabolic by-products, proteinaceous exotoxins, and ribosomally produced antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins). Most bacteria produce at least one...