May 15, 2026
05/14/2026
review
In Gram-negative bacteria, multi-subunit efflux pumps transport molecules across the inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane to the extracellular environment. These efflux pumps include the Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) superfamily, which utilize the membrane proton motive force to export a wide range of substrates against a concentration gradient.
Image credit: Detweiler & Alav
Current Issue April 2026
05/11/2026
research article
The single mitochondrion in the liver and asexual blood stages of malaria parasites multiplying in the human host supports parasite growth and multiplication. It adopts complex branched morphology in these stages, but mitochondrial biogenesis through the parasite life cycle is not well understood.
Image credit: Adhur et al
05/05/2026
research article
Orthoflaviviruses, including Dengue, West Nile and ZIKV, cause significant global disease yet lack broadly effective antiviral drugs. To address this unmet need, we used a cell-based high-content screening approach to discover a novel class of small molecules that inhibit a previously underexplored viral protein, NS2A.
Image credit: NIAID
04/03/2026
research article
Nipah virus is a deadly virus for which there are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for human use. In this study, the authors tested an experimental drug called 4′-fluorouridine (4′-FlU), which is taken orally and has shown promise against a variety of other viruses.
Image credit: Escaffre et al
03/30/2026
Research Article
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major cause of food-borne illnesses, and disease severity correlates with the production of Shiga toxins. While clinical symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome have been attributed to Stx, its contribution to bacterial fitness is not well understood.
Image credit: Odem et al
04/01/2026
Review
This review synthesizes emerging insights into the regulatory landscape of LuxR-type receptors, focusing on direct PPIs that expand the functional repertoire of LuxR-type receptors. The authors classify LuxR-interacting partners into negative regulators, dual or context-dependent regulators, and global regulators.
Image credit: Mallery & Paczkowski
03/13/2026
Pearls
Leishmaniases have traditionally been defined by a stable triad: transmission...
Image credit: Volf & Sadlova
03/11/2026
research article
Mastitis, a major dairy industry challenge, is often caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Previous research linked gut microbiota disruption to reduced microbial...
Image credit: Suvrajit
02/05/2026
Pearls
Plants encounter a myriad of microorganisms that can invade with detrimental or beneficial outcomes. Taking a membrane-centric point of view, the authors discuss the cellular events underlying microbe-induced...
Image credit: Jolivet et al
01/07/2026
research article
Human-to-human influenza virus transmission under controlled conditions could provide insights leading to...
Image credit: NIAID
Brittany Seibert, C. Joaquín Cáceres, and colleagues
Qi-Yue Yang, Yong-Le Yang, and colleagues
Frideborg Bradley and colleagues
Jodie A. Schiffer & Stephanie V. Stumbur and colleagues
B. Karina Montero and colleagues
We are pleased to announce that Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh joined us as second Editor-in-Chief at the beginning of 2025. With this addition, we are thrilled to once again have a dynamic dual leadership team guiding the journal.
We're excited about our revised and synchronized Editorial Board webpage—now enhanced with a brand-new search functionality!
Easily find and explore board members with our improved layout and seamless navigation.
We've been thrilled to welcome:
Helena Boshoff, Thomas Guillard, Thomas Hoenen, Francis Jiggins, Robert Kalejta, Tracey Lamb, Edward Mitre, and Alice Prince!
PLOS will always anchor our decisions in our values and our principles. And we will continue to speak up vocally for open, independent science.
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