Marc-André Lachance et al. investigate sexual differentiation in haplontic yeasts of the genus Metschnikowia, examining whether mating type determines male or female roles during conjugation. Using fluorescent labeling to track early mating events, they demonstrate that biological sex is independent of mating type in three large-spored species. The findings clarify the distinction between mating type and sexual identity in ascomycetous yeasts.

Kumar et al. characterize an N-acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing system in Enterobacter asburiae AG129 and demonstrate how chemical signaling regulates Type VI secretion system expression, volatile compound production, motility, and rice root colonization. The findings illustrate how bacterial communication shapes host association and competitive behavior in the root endosphere.

Wiesmann et al.’s review synthesizes the conserved strategies bacteria use to colonize and persist within hosts, whether as pathogens, commensals, or mutualists. Drawing on taxa such as Pseudomonas, it highlights sensing, migration, immune evasion, and long-term adaptation as shared mechanisms of host association.

With so many tools now marketed to scientists, we asked two microbiologists, Antonella Colque and Nurdana Orynbek, to test a selection of AI tools built for scientific publishing and research. Antonella and Nurdana are both active researchers in the field and FEMS science communication experts, making them the ideal testers for this review. The goal? To see how well these tools perform in real research tasks, from searching papers and comparing experiments to identifying research gaps. Here is what worked for them, and what did not. 

In the latest episode of Microbes and Us, FEMS Microbes 2024 Article Award winner Emma Sheriff discusses the findings of her award-winning study on the molecular interplay between bacteriophages and Enterococcus faecalis.

Using proteomics, the work uncovers previously uncharacterized phage proteins and widespread changes in bacterial protein expression, revealing how virulence-associated pathways can also influence susceptibility to phage infection.

How microbial gases mediate interactions between microbes and their hosts is a rapidly growing area of research. This FEMS Microbes thematic issue welcomes submissions examining methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases across host-associated and environmental systems.

Deadline: 31 July 2026