Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01281-3This study reports that the tree bark microbial community actively modulates fluxes of climate-active gases and volatile organic compounds, and may mediate global atmospheric gas cycling.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01282-2This study shows that microgravity modulates phage–host co-evolution and alters their mutational landscapes, facilitating adaptation to such a distinct environmental niche.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01280-4A recent study identifies a compound that sensitizes fungal pathogens to the antifungal drug caspofungin.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 21 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01279-xThis Genome Watch explores how large-scale reference genome initiatives offer an unparalleled opportunity to generate sequencing data from under-represented cobionts (organisms sequenced alongside target organisms), including intracellular parasites.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 27 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01283-1A study by Jin et al. shows that oral–gut translocation of prtC+ bacteria is implicated in the well-known link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and advanced liver disease in humans.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01277-zPathogenic tick-borne viruses (TBVs) are a global threat to public and veterinary health. In this Review, Cao and colleagues highlight the diversity of the tick virome, review human and animal TBV pathogens, outline clinical features of human TBV infections, describe factors impacting ticks and TBV spread, and discuss the need for integrated One Health control strategies.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01282-2This study shows that microgravity modulates phage–host co-evolution and alters their mutational landscapes, facilitating adaptation to such a distinct environmental niche.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01281-3This study reports that the tree bark microbial community actively modulates fluxes of climate-active gases and volatile organic compounds, and may mediate global atmospheric gas cycling.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01278-yIn this Journal Club, Mengcen Wang discusses papers that uncover chemical crosstalk between plants and their microbiota.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01280-4A recent study identifies a compound that sensitizes fungal pathogens to the antifungal drug caspofungin.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 21 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01279-xThis Genome Watch explores how large-scale reference genome initiatives offer an unparalleled opportunity to generate sequencing data from under-represented cobionts (organisms sequenced alongside target organisms), including intracellular parasites.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01271-xSwarte, Zhang and colleagues review the microbiome in solid-organ transplantation and allogeneic haematopoietic-stem-cell transplantation recipients, considering the effects of the intestinal environment, interactions between the microbiota and immunosuppressive drugs, and effects of dysbiosis on transplantation outcomes. The potential of microbiome-targeted interventions to improve transplantation outcomes is also discussed.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01277-zPathogenic tick-borne viruses (TBVs) are a global threat to public and veterinary health. In this Review, Cao and colleagues highlight the diversity of the tick virome, review human and animal TBV pathogens, outline clinical features of human TBV infections, describe factors impacting ticks and TBV spread, and discuss the need for integrated One Health control strategies.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01278-yIn this Journal Club, Mengcen Wang discusses papers that uncover chemical crosstalk between plants and their microbiota.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01271-xSwarte, Zhang and colleagues review the microbiome in solid-organ transplantation and allogeneic haematopoietic-stem-cell transplantation recipients, considering the effects of the intestinal environment, interactions between the microbiota and immunosuppressive drugs, and effects of dysbiosis on transplantation outcomes. The potential of microbiome-targeted interventions to improve transplantation outcomes is also discussed.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01268-6In this Review, Hajjar, Mars and Kashyap discuss the role of the microbiome in cancer development and progression and in treatment response. They also consider the potential of the microbiome as a therapeutic target and as a prognostic and predictive biomarker, and outline major knowledge gaps in the field.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01266-8In this Perspective, Garza et al. revisit the keystone concept and discuss its relevance for microbial keystone taxa and functions. For this, they explore the different mechanisms behind keystoneness, cover the strengths and weaknesses of current keystone prediction methods, present recent findings on keystone taxa and functions and explore the role of keystones in community control.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 05 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01268-6In this Review, Hajjar, Mars and Kashyap discuss the role of the microbiome in cancer development and progression and in treatment response. They also consider the potential of the microbiome as a therapeutic target and as a prognostic and predictive biomarker, and outline major knowledge gaps in the field.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01266-8In this Perspective, Garza et al. revisit the keystone concept and discuss its relevance for microbial keystone taxa and functions. For this, they explore the different mechanisms behind keystoneness, cover the strengths and weaknesses of current keystone prediction methods, present recent findings on keystone taxa and functions and explore the role of keystones in community control.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01273-9A study by Cazares et al. investigated recent plasmid evolution by sequencing plasmids from the Murray Collection (1917–1954) and comparing with modern genome sequences from public archives.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01276-6A study by Medina Ferrer and Nayak identifies an archaeal transcription factor in methanogenic archaea that functions as a one-component system, with a eukaryotic-like DNA-binding motif.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 16 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01272-wThis study reports the structure, specificity and genotoxic activity of colibactin.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01275-7A recent study investigated the effect of herpes zoster vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01274-8A recent study investigated the effects of chemical pollutants on human gut bacteria in vitro.

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 11 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01263-xUnderstanding the emergence, evolution and spread of viral pathogens is central to improving global health. This Focus issue highlights advances in our understanding of evolving viral pathogens and the surveillance and preparedness strategies that are needed to control them.