To successfully tackle the current mpox public-health emergency, we must learn from past outbreaks to focus research questions and take collaborative action.

On 8–11 April 2024, a Keystone meeting on human immunodeficiency virus and emerging and re-emerging viruses convened in Hannover, Germany, aiming to unite researchers studying viruses of global concern, and gain a deep understanding of unique and shared viral disease mechanisms to facilitate pandemic preparedness.

Moving from academia to government was challenging, but learning to translate evidence-based results into policy decisions that impact society is hugely rewarding, writes Robin May.

This month’s issue of Nature Microbiology has a focus on microbial ecology, showcasing how these dynamics might be harnessed to better understand and safeguard life on Earth.

To mark World Microbiome Day, we reflect on recent developments in gut microbiome and diet research, including the complexities of this rapidly evolving field and future opportunities.

Biofilms are complex extracellular structures formed by microbes (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi and microalgae), usually as a response to stress induced by fluctuating factors in their environment1. However, microbes also naturally form biofilms to facilitate their interactions with other microbes, their environment and their hosts. Biofilms are generally composed of extracellular DNA, complex