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Outstanding reviews from leading experts

Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi

Review of nonpathogenic bee–fungi symbioses, including common fungal associates and their effects on bee behavior, development, survival, and reproduction.

Danielle Rutkowski, Makena Weston, Rachel L Vannette

The microbiome of the sponge Aplysina caissara in two sites with different levels of anthropogenic impact

This study revealed that local anthropogenic impact altered the microbiome of the marine sponge Aplysina caissara. However, the microbiome was assembly by deterministic processes, independently of the local pollution, largely showing the pivotal rule of the sponge host.

Cristiane C P Hardoim, Pablo R Hardoim, Gisele Lôbo-Hajdu, Márcio R Custódio, Torsten Thomas

Nuclear genome organization in fungi: from gene folding to Rabl chromosome

Within the nucleus, fungal genomes are organized hierarchically, from the association of chromosomes to topological structures at individual genes, and this organization directly impacts genome function.

David E Torres, Andrew T Reckard, Andrew D Klocko, Michael F Seidl

In the study “Characterization of a soluble library of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 membrane proteome with emphasis on c-di-GMP turnover enzymes” in microLife, the authors investigated interactions between membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to better understand the physiology of this opportunistic pathogen, as Anna Scherhag explains for the #FEMSmicroBlog. #FascinatingMicrobes

Next generation host pathogen research

The yeast community journal 

Out Now: Lex Scheffers Memorial Issue on Yeast Physiology

Identification of a novel transport system in Borrelia burgdorferi that links the inner and outer membranes

Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Unlike typical Gram-negative organisms, however, B. burgdorferi lacks lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Using computational genome analyses and structural modeling, we identified a transport system containing six proteins in B. burgdorferi that are all orthologs to proteins found in the lipopolysaccharide transport (LPT) system that links the inner and outer membranes of Gram-negative organisms and is responsible for placing LPS on the surface of these organisms.

Hannah G Bowen, Melisha R Kenedy, David K Johnson, Alexander D MacKerell, Jr, Darrin R Akins

Using the AKAR3-EV biosensor to assess Sch9p- and PKA-signalling in budding yeast

Budding yeast uses the TORC1-Sch9p and cAMP-PKA signalling pathways to regulate adaptations to changing nutrient environments. Dynamic and single-cell measurements of the activity of these cascades will improve our understanding of the cellular adaptation of yeast. Here, we employed the AKAR3-EV biosensor developed for mammalian cells to measure the cellular phosphorylation status determined by Sch9p and PKA activity in budding yeast.

Dennis Botman, Sineka Kanagasabapathi, Philipp Savakis, Bas Teusink

Lex Scheffers Memorial Issue on Yeast Physiology

W. Alexander (Lex) Scheffers was the founding editor in chief of FEMS Yeast Research and a very significant contributor to the yeast community. We were saddened at his passing in 2021 and FEMS Yeast Research is pleased to dedicate this special issue to his memory and legacy.

The inclusion of articles on the physiology of yeasts from diverse genera – Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, Hanseniaspora, Lachancea, and Ogataea reflects both Lex’s broad interest and the current direction of the field. Without a doubt, the genetic diversity we see in yeasts is matched by diversity in metabolism and physiology. The study of different yeasts is crucial to understand biology and to develop these yeasts for applications to benefit society.