Cell Host & Microbe

Cell Symposia

CS: Host-microbiome dynamics abstract deadline extended to Feb 6.
Share your research with leading scientists exploring the ecology of the human microbiome, its influence on host physiology & its complex interactions with the immune system.
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Time-specific bidirectional links between the maternal microbiome, milk composition, and infant gut microbiota Deng et al. show that infant gut microbiomes are linked to maternal gut and milk factors in a time-specific manner. Early gut profiles also predict later milk composition, suggesting potential bidirec...

Maternal-infant bidirectional communication

Infant gut microbiomes are linked to maternal gut & milk factors in time-specific manner. Early gut profiles predict later milk composition, suggesting potential bidirectional communication within the mother-infant dyad
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Bacteria’s babysitter role: Indole-driven immune truce in the womb Maternal immune tolerance of the fetus is critical to a successful pregnancy. In this month’s issue of Cell, Brown et al. showed that the maternal microbiota, specifically tryptophan derivatives produ...

Bacteria’s babysitter role: Indole-driven immune truce in the womb
Preview of @cp-cell.bsky.social work showing maternal microbiota, specifically tryptophan derivatives produced by commensals, promote maternal tolerance of the fetus to improve pregnancy outcomes.

www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

A CLOCK-targeting lncRNA induces trained immunity against tuberculosis Yu et al. discover that TRCR1, a tuberculosis resister-derived exosomal lncRNA, induces trained immunity via CLOCK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming. They show that mycobacterial protein MPT53 prompts...

lncRNA induces trained immunity against TB:

Exosomal lncRNA TRCR1 derived from Mtb resisters induces trained immunity via CLOCK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming. Mycobacterial MPT53 induces release of TRCR1+ exosomes. TRCR1 boosts immunity & BCG efficacy
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

METTL9 tests Candida’s mettle by limiting metal acquisition The gut mucosal immune system orchestrates diverse defense mechanisms against fungal pathogens. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Bao and Yang et al. demonstrate that intestinal epithelial cells s...

METTL9 tests Candida’s mettle by limiting metal acquisition

Highlight of new findings showing intestinal epithelial cells secrete anti-zincophore protein, METTL9, that limits fungal access to essential zinc, thereby diminishing colonization & growth
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

A gut-secreted histidine methyltransferase enforces cross-kingdom catalytic antifungal defense Bao et al. reveal that intestinal epithelial cells secrete METTL9, a histidine methyltransferase acting as a cross-kingdom antifungal effector. By methylating the fungal zincophore PRA1, METTL9 disrup...

METTL9, a cross-kingdom antifungal effector

Intestinal epithelial cells secrete histidine methyltransferase, METTL9, that methylates fungal zincophore PRA1, disrupting zinc acquisition & limiting Candida albicans colonization and dissemination
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Last chance to submit your abstract for
@CellSymposia
#CSMicrobiome2026! Bruges, Belgium | May 10–12, 2026 Join global leaders in microbiome and host interaction science.
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Viral theft of light: A cyanophage protein dismantles cyanobacterial photosynthesis to accelerate infection Auxiliary metabolic genes, acquired by cyanobacterial viruses (cyanophages) from their hosts, are thought to manipulate host metabolism during infection. A recent study by Nadel et al. performed in vi...

Viral theft of light

Preview of @Nature work revealing how cyanophages use a viral nblA gene to accelerate infection by degrading the photosynthetic machinery of marine cyanobacteria.
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Gut-derived succinic acid potentiates high-altitude-related spermatogenesis dysfunction Zhou et al. shows that high-altitude-induced microbial imbalance impairs sperm quality by establishing a state of testicular immune dysfunction. Specifically, C. symbiosum-derived succinic acid promot...

Microbes & spermatogenesis dysfunction

High-altitude-induced microbial imbalance impairs sperm quality. C. symbiosum-derived succinic acid promotes spermatogenic cell apoptosis via triggering macrophage polarization via GPR91/TRPV4/Ca²
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Molecular basis of 60 years of antigenic evolution of human influenza A(H3N2) virus neuraminidase Rosu et al. quantified and visualized the antigenic evolution of the N2 neuraminidase (NA) of human influenza A viruses from 1957 to 2020. The antigenic evolution of NA was found to be discordant with...

Molecular basis of 60 yrs of evolution of influenza A(H3N2) NA

Examination of antigenic evolution of N2 neuraminidase of human influenza A viruses from 1957-2020 revealed key substitutions. NA evolution was found to be discordant with that of hemagglutinin.
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The yin and yang of bacterial Asn in tumor biology In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Qiao et al. show that Bacteroides asparaginase reshapes anti-tumor immunity. When bacteria deplete asparagine, CD8⁺ T cells lose stemness and effector capacity, p...

Preview: Yin & yang of bacterial Asn in tumor biology

When Bacteroides asparaginase depletes Asn, CD8 T cells lose stemness & effector capacity, promoting tumor progression. Deleting asparaginase restores Asn to tumor, enhancing anti-tumor immunity
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota utilization of intestinal amino acids modulates cancer progression and anticancer immunity Qiao et al. identify gut microbes and amino acid-metabolizing genes that influence tumor burden. A Bacteroides asparaginase, bo-ansB, modulates host tumor responses to dietary asparagine (Asn) by depl...

Featured Article: Microbiota modulates cancer by degrading amino acids

Bacteroides asparaginase modulates host tumor responses to dietary asparagine by depleting Asn w/in TME. Reduced Asn impacts stemness of intratumoral CD8 T cells & tumor burden
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

New year, new issue, with “magnified” insights into microbiology!

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Rothia mucilaginosa membrane vesicles stabilize labile iron to alleviate UVB-induced ferroptosis Fan et al. demonstrate that membrane vesicles released by Rothia mucilaginosa upon UVB exposure alleviate UVB-induced keratinocyte ferroptosis. RMVs enter host lysosomes and deliver ferrochelatase, wh...

Bacteria protect from UVB irradiation
• Rothia mucilaginosa on lips inversely correlates w/actinic cheilitis.
• Rothia vesicles contain ferrochelatase, which stabilizes iron to alleviate UVB-induced ferroptosis.
• Rothia vesicles relieve actinic cheilitis in patients
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Microbiota utilization of intestinal amino acids modulates cancer progression and anticancer immunity Qiao et al. identify gut microbes and amino acid-metabolizing genes that influence tumor burden. A Bacteroides asparaginase, bo-ansB, modulates host tumor responses to dietary asparagine (Asn) by depl...

Microbiota utilization of intestinal amino acids modulates cancer

Bacteroides asparaginase, bo-ansB, modulates host tumor responses to dietary asparagine by depleting Asn w/in TME. Reduced Asn impacts stemness of intratumoral CD8 T cells & tumor burden
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Gut-derived succinic acid potentiates high-altitude-related spermatogenesis dysfunction Zhou et al. shows that high-altitude-induced microbial imbalance impairs sperm quality by establishing a state of testicular immune dysfunction. Specifically, C. symbiosum-derived succinic acid promot...

Microbes potentiate spermatogenesis dysfunction

High-altitude-induced microbial imbalance impairs sperm quality. C. symbiosum-derived succinic acid promotes spermatogenic cell apoptosis via triggering macrophage polarization via GPR91/TRPV4/Ca²
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

A CLOCK-targeting lncRNA induces trained immunity against tuberculosis Yu et al. discover that TRCR1, a tuberculosis resister-derived exosomal lncRNA, induces trained immunity via CLOCK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming. They show that mycobacterial protein MPT53 prompts...

lncRNA induces trained immunity against TB:

Exosomal lncRNA TRCR1 derived from Mtb resisters induces trained immunity via CLOCK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming. Mycobacterial MPT53 induces release of TRCR1+ exosomes. TRCR1 boosts immunity & BCG efficacy
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Functional immune responses induced by a capsid assembly modulator in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected humanized mice Fernandes et al. report that in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected humanized mice, a capsid assembly modulator depletes viremia and viral antigens while reducing hepatitis. Post-treatment interruption...

Steps to curing chronic HBV:

Capsid assembly modulator depletes viremia while reducing hepatitis in chronic HBV-infected humanized mice. Treatment interruption induces functional immune responses & viral control, prompting seroconversion & functional cure
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Functional immune responses induced by a capsid assembly modulator in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected humanized mice @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi... @institutpasteur.bsky.social

A gut-secreted histidine methyltransferase enforces cross-kingdom catalytic antifungal defense Bao et al. reveal that intestinal epithelial cells secrete METTL9, a histidine methyltransferase acting as a cross-kingdom antifungal effector. By methylating the fungal zincophore PRA1, METTL9 disrup...

METTL9, a cross-kingdom antifungal effector

Intestinal epithelial cells secrete histidine methyltransferase, METTL9, that methylates fungal zincophore PRA1, disrupting zinc acquisition & limiting Candida albicans colonization and dissemination
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Viral enzymes degrade to evade Across all domains of life, immune systems rely on nucleotide-based signaling molecules to activate defense responses. In a recent Cell Host & Microbe study, Doherty, Nomburg, and colleagues identify ...

Viral enzymes degrade to evade

Preview of work identifying & characterizing diverse families of viral two-histidine phosphodiesterase enzymes that degrade nucleotide-based signaling molecules, each with distinct substrate specificities.
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Divergent viral phosphodiesterases for immune signaling evasion Oligonucleotides play fundamental roles in immune system activation across the tree of life. Viral proteins, 2H phosphodiesterases (PDEs), evade immunity by degrading these signals. Doherty and Nombur...

Divergent viral phosphodiesterases for immune signaling evasion

Structure-based searches reveal exceptional diversity among viral 2H phosphodiesterases across the virome that evade immunity by degrading oligonucleotides
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Pseudomonas can make or break a happy phyllosphere microbiota In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Xu and colleagues investigate host pH modulation as a microbiome-mediated defense mechanism. Pseudomonas strains can protect wheat against the pathogenic fungus F...

Pseudomonas can make or break a happy phyllosphere microbiota

Preview of work showing Pseudomonas strains can protect wheat against F. graminearum by counteracting alkalinization of the host environment by the fungus
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Keystone Pseudomonas species in the wheat phyllosphere microbiome mitigate Fusarium head blight by altering host pH Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) pathogen induces wheat phyllosphere alkalinization, promoting the development of Fusarium head blight (FHB). Xu et al. show that host-acidifying Pseudomonas, sele...

Pseudomonas mitigate Fusarium head blight via pH

Host-acidifying Pseudomonas, selectively enriched in wheat phyllosphere during F. graminearum invasion, counteract pathogen-induced alkalinization through organic acid production, thereby suppressing FHB
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

I think this paper is among the most sophisticated I’ve been involved in producing 🥹

Today, we published our article below in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social with @lishideng.bsky.social @carllachat.bsky.social @meghanazad.bsky.social

authors.elsevier.com/a/1mHq46t8JE...

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A commensal bacterium secretes effector proteins to establish population heterogeneity in the gut Zagieboylo and colleagues demonstrate that the human commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron secretes two self-targeting proteins that induce heterogeneity within its own population. Differential expre...

Commensal effectors establish heterogeneity

B. thetaiotaomicron secretes self-targeting proteins that induce population heterogeneity.Differential expression of effectors & cognate protective factor allows single strain to diversify into sub-populations
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Environmental and maternal imprints on infant gut metabolic development Kvitne et al. show that maternal and environmental factors shape the developing infant gut microbiome and metabolome in Bangladesh, a low- and middle-income country. They report a rapid increase in ke...

Infant gut microbiome & metabolic development

Maternal & environmental factors shape gut microbiome & metabolome in Bangladeshi infants. Key signaling molecules, i.e.microbially derived bile acids & N-acyl lipids, increase w/ infant age.
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Segregating pneumonia into pneumotypes In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Sumner et al. utilize a multi-omics approach to delineate various “pneumotypes,” or distinct microbial states, in the lungs of patients with pneumonia. These pneu...

Segregating pneumonia into pneumotypes

Preview of work using multi-omics to delineate “pneumotypes,” or distinct microbial states, in lungs of pneumonia patients. Pneumotypes have potential predictive value for clinical outcomes & therapeutic success
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Transitions in lung microbiota landscape associate with distinct patterns of pneumonia progression Sumner et al. show that lung microbial ecosystem dynamics associate with clinical outcomes during severe pneumonia infection. Systematic bronchoscopy paired with integrative multiomics reveals that va...

Transitions in lung microbiota & pneumonia

Microbiota states are predictive of pneumonia subtypes & exhibit differential stability & therapy response. Disruptive forces, e.g. aspiration, associated w/changes in gene expression & microbial community
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Hologenomic insights into the molecular adaptation of deep-sea coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata Wei et al. reveal how deep-sea corals partner with symbionts in the extreme environment using the hologenome of Bathypathes pseudoalternata. A division of labor shows that the host provides a protecte...

Symbiont-coral partnerships

Hologenome of B. pseudoalternata reveals a division of labor between deep-sea coral & symbionts. Host provides habitat & manages immunity, while symbionts recycle waste, supply nutrients, resist viruses & produce antioxidants
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