Nature Reviews Immunology, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41577-026-01279-1Intracellular bacteria in cancer cells promote the recruitment of neutrophils and their polarization towards an immunosuppressive phenotype via a cGAS-STING-dependent pathway.

da Silva et al. show that Enterococcus faecalis-derived lactic acid suppresses macrophage NF-κB activation via MCT-1 and GPR81 signaling. This lactic-acid-driven immunosuppression promotes bacterial p...

Nature Reviews Immunology, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41577-026-01279-1Intracellular bacteria in cancer cells promote the recruitment of neutrophils and their polarization towards an immunosuppressive phenotype via a cGAS-STING-dependent pathway.

Recombinant zoster vaccine had an acceptable safety profile in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who are immunosuppressed, and had no significant effect on short-term disease activity.

Tegoprubart, an investigational anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody, has shown positive Phase 1b results in kidney transplant recipients

Native vertebral osteomyelitis (NVO) is a life-threatening spinal infection with rising incidence and significant morbidity. Despite its growing burden, long-term data on clinical characteristics, management trends, and outcomes remain limited.MethodsWe conducted a 26-year multicenter retrospective cohort study of adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with NVO at Mayo Clinic sites between 1999–2024. Demographic, microbiologic, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed across five time periods. Predictors of treatment failure were assessed using a multivariable competing risk model.ResultsAmong 1,255 patients (median age 67; 66% male), lumbosacral involvement was most common (65%), and 21% had multilevel involvement. Pathogens were identified in 77%, most commonly S. aureus (49%; MSSA 37%, MRSA 13%). Over time from 1999–2004 to 2020–2024, Gram-negative bacilli increased from 6% to 14% (p=0.048).Comorbidities including chronic kidney disease (10% to 21%), active chemotherapy (6% to 11%), and immunosuppression (8% to 17%) increased significantly. Additionally, 1-year treatment failure declined (16% to 10%). In multivariable analysis, diabetes mellitus (sHR 1.92, 95% CI 1.18–3.13) and multilevel involvement (sHR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17–2.38) were associated with increased incidence of treatment failure, while concurrent infections (sHR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37–0.87) and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (sHR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.90) were associated with lower failure.ConclusionThis large multicenter cohort highlights increasing host complexity, shifting microbiology, and predictors of failure, emphasizing the importance of early risk stratification and tailored strategies, such as multidisciplinary evaluation and close follow-up of high-risk patients to improve outcomes.