TWiV 1335: TldR, bacterial hot rods and nullifying norovirus

Measles elimination in the United States faces significant challenges as endemic circulation returns, necessitating renewed focus on vaccination mandates to restore public health status. The scientific community mourns the loss of Fred Murphy, a pioneer in electron microscopy whose work defined the visual history of virology. Research into temperate phages reveals that these viruses can remodel bacterial flagella using RNA-guided TLDR proteins, enhancing host fitness and reducing detection by the mammalian innate immune system. Furthermore, investigations into murine norovirus demonstrate that IgA is both necessary and sufficient for preventing enteric infection, suggesting that future vaccine strategies must prioritize mucosal immune responses over systemic IgG alone. These findings underscore the complex co-evolution between pathogens, host microbiota, and the mammalian immune system, providing a framework for developing more effective therapeutic interventions against persistent viral threats.