Infection articles from across Nature Portfolio

B cells display a range of effector and memory phenotypes, antibody isotypes and affinities. We show that during malaria parasite infection, individual, activated clones commonly combine early, class-switch recombination, clonal expansion, effector fate bifurcation and somatic hypermutation to rapidly diversify in vivo.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection disrupts macrophage cholesterol homeostasis, impairing antigen presentation and macrophage–T cell crosstalk, which weakens bacterial control in necrotic granulomas. Carefully timed targeting of this response shows early promise as a host-directed therapy to improve control of tuberculosis.

Cao et al. report that whole β-glucan particles (WGP) enhance BCG-conditioned macrophage antigen handling and presentation. WGP plus BCG strengthens CD4⁺ memory-associated responses and improves bacterial control while reducing lung inflammation

Antibody-mediated immunity is essential to protect hosts from bacterial pathogens. Here, the authors show that Streptococcus agalactiae targets inhibitory LILRB3 receptor on neutrophils to supress antibody-driven defence.

PRKC Apoptosis WT1 Regulator (PAWR) has been linked to tumorigenesis. Here the authors establish a role for PAWR in the innate immune response to RNA viral infection suggesting it enhances the innate response via the PIM2-XBP1s-RIG-I signalling axis.

Here we review how Chlamydia trachomatis rewires host cellular pathways to evade immune responses, sustaining a silent epidemic and provide key insights into host–pathogen interactions

Authors present results from a prospective pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics study (PRACTECAL-PKPD), where they studied the relationship between patients’ exposure to anti-tuberculosis drugs, and their treatment outcomes. Antimicrobial exposures were within expected ranges but did not correlate with the speed of bacterial clearance nor treatment outcomes. Linezolid exposure was higher in anaemic and neutropenic patients, but no other exposure-toxicity relationships.

B cells display a range of effector and memory phenotypes, antibody isotypes and affinities. We show that during malaria parasite infection, individual, activated clones commonly combine early, class-switch recombination, clonal expansion, effector fate bifurcation and somatic hypermutation to rapidly diversify in vivo.

A study in Science uses intravital microscopy to analyse the septic process in real time in mouse lung, showing that immunothrombus formation is associated with early pathology and mortality but later protection from disease through bacterial trapping.

Advances in genetic engineering, immunological tools, single-cell transcriptomics and in vivo imaging have strengthened the usefulness of pigs in influenza research. Alongside standardized challenge models and optimized transmission studies, the pig model is poised to have an even greater role in the development of next-generation influenza vaccines and therapeutics.

Cases in central Africa are rising at an alarming pace, but lessons from past epidemics could help to contain the current spread of infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection disrupts macrophage cholesterol homeostasis, impairing antigen presentation and macrophage–T cell crosstalk, which weakens bacterial control in necrotic granulomas. Carefully timed targeting of this response shows early promise as a host-directed therapy to improve control of tuberculosis.

The outbreak is only the third caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics.