Two recent studies in Cell Host & Microbe (Cury et al. and van den Berg et al.) uncover cross-kingdom links between antiphage and antiviral immune defenses. Through reciprocal computational and wet lab approaches, they each discover and experimentally validate proteins used for host immunity.

Chemotherapy is associated with the induction of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and gastrointestinal injuries. In this Cell Host & Microbe issue, Anderson et al. demonstrate that chemotherapy-induced epithelial cell apoptosis drives microbiota imbalance and transcriptional rewiring, which in turn delays intestinal recovery.

Breastfeeding provides infection protection for several pathogens but not for noroviruses. Mechanisms explaining this discrepancy have been unclear. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Peiper et al. demonstrate that while breastmilk protects mice from intestinal damage, it promotes neonatal murine norovirus infection due to maternal-derived bile acids.1

During opportunistic pathogenic episodes, Candida albicans employs classical strategies such as the yeast-to-hyphae transition and immunogenic masking. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Luo et al. unveil that the effector protein Cmi1 can be translocated into host cells and targets TBK1, thereby negatively regulating the host’s antifungal immune responses.

The molecular mechanism of plant disease tolerance is less studied compared to disease resistance. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Tang et al. r…

RNA G-quadruplexes are dynamically regulated during stress and infection. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Schult et al.1 demonstrate that an RNA G-quadruplex conserved across orthoflaviviruses binds hnRNPH1 to mitigate the host stress response, highlighting the potential of this dynamic proviral RNA structure as a pan-flaviviral target.

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) recently entered the cancer therapeutics field as a method to resensitize treatment-resistant melanoma patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Kim and colleagues extend its utility to other solid tumors, including esophageal and hepatocellular carcinomas.1

Due to its enormous incidence and mortality, sepsis is a huge health priority. In the latest issue of Cell, an innovative approach is provided that ad…

Despite debate, the concept of enterotype-like clusters remains valuable for exploring the human gut microbiome and associated environmental factors. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Wu et al. robustly identified an obesity-related enterotype-like cluster, Megamonas, and demonstrated its clinical relevance through cohort studies, mice, and cell experiments.

Alcohol-associated liver disease is a leading cause of chronic liver conditions, yet there are limited effective therapies. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Shen et al. demonstrate that soluble dietary fiber enhances intestinal Bacteroides acidifaciens, which ameliorates alcohol-associated liver injury in mice by activating hepatic ornithine aminotransferase.

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Huang et al. determine that an oncogenic bacterium contributes to colorectal cancer progression and resistance t…

Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) for inflammatory diseases or refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is less effective than for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. This commentary outlines strategies to use biomarkers of successful FMT to guide newer approaches to restore microbial homeostasis in individuals with dysbiosis-mediated inflammation.

Microbial fermentation and associated products provide insights into the gut microbiota-host relationship. Here, we propose using improved technologies that allow non-invasive, real-time measurements of intestinal gases as a metric for microbial fermentation. This approach has the potential to provide a basis for personalized interventions that improve host metabolic health.

Artificial intelligence (AI), a subdiscipline of computer science that develops machines or software that mimic characteristically human cognitive functions, is currently undergoing a revolution. In this commentary article, I will give my perspective on the evolution of the field and my thoughts on how AI may impact microbiome research in the next decade.

The gut microbiota has been recognized as an important determinant in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), with recent studies shining light on the molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the interactions between microbes and the CRC microenvironment. Despite the increasing wealth of associations being established in the field, proving causality remains challenging. Obstacles

This perspective explores the current understanding of the gut microbiota’s impact on cognitive function in apparently healthy humans and in individuals with metabolic disease. We discuss how alterations in gut microbiota can influence cognitive processes, focusing not only on bacterial composition but also on often overlooked components of the gut microbiota, such as bacteriophages and eukaryotes

Human skin is the host to various commensal microbes that constitute a substantial microbial community. The reciprocal communication between these microbial inhabitants and host cells upholds both the morphological and functional attributes of the skin layers, contributing indispensably to microenvironmental and tissue homeostasis. Thus, disruption of the skin barrier or imbalances in the microbial

The inhabitants of our intestines, collectively called the gut microbiome, comprise fungi, viruses, and bacterial strains. These microorganisms are involved in the fermentation of dietary compounds and the regulation of our adaptive and innate immune systems. Less known is the reciprocal interaction between the gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as their role in modifying therapies

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Sinha et al. describe their randomized trial assessing whether antibiotics given for maternal benefit prior to Cesarean disrupted the infants’ microbiomes. Despite pre-incision antibiotics reaching the neonate, there was no meaningful alteration to the infant microbiome—especially when compared with breastmilk feeding.

New therapies to treat multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are needed. Santos-Júnior et al. discover new antimicrobials by leveraging the history of warfare within microbial communities. This study in Cell highlights the immense power of combining large biological databases with emerging computational methods, creating a key resource (AMPSphere) to be used for treating superbugs.

Bacteria have evolved anti-viral defenses, but the mechanisms of sensing and stopping infection are still under investigation. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Mets, Kurata, Ernits et al. describe how direct sensing of a phage protein by a bacterial toxin-antitoxin-associated chaperone unleashes toxin activity to prevent infection.

Multiple host and microbial factors dictate whether Candida albicans can colonize the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Savage et al. demonstrate that restoration of intestinal epithelial hypoxia is sufficient to restore Candida albicans colonization resistance, even when other Candida inhibitory effectors remain depleted.

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Karakus et al. find that an influenza virus enters cells by exclusively binding to a protein instead of sugars.

The microbiota can impact antitumor immunity, but whether the microbiota regulates omental antitumor immunity remains elusive. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Meza-Perez et al. demonstrated that Proteobacteria consume arginine to increase Treg cell suppressive capacity and inhibit antitumor immune responses, promoting tumor growth in the omentum.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk of metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Wang et al. provide evidence that changes in the gut microbiome of mothers with GDM may lead to dysbiosis in their infants and altered development in a sex-dependent manner.