FEMS

The internet is flooded with AI-generated content, including scientific content. Unfortunately, this can reduce the quality of scientific articles, introduce inaccuracies, and weaken their ability to educate. In this #FEMSmicroBlog, Sarah Wettstadt calls for Good AI Working Habits and discusses how AI fits into science communication to create engaging and high-quality content. #CulturePlate    Th…

Soil is often dismissed as mere “dirt”. Yet it is one of the most essential systems sustaining life on Earth. Beneath our feet exists a dynamic, living world that regulates water quality, cycles nutrients, stores carbon, and supports immense biodiversity. For this year’s Earth Day, Juan Luis Ramos and Kenneth Timmis explore soil from a […] The post #FEMSmicroBlog: Earth Day, the Soil Crisis, and …

Join us for a joint FEMS & Biolog webinar exploring how microbial communities function and respond to environmental stressors. The session opens with an introduction to Biolog’s Odin™/OmniLog© systems and Phenotypic MicroArray™ (PM) plates and EcoPlates™, powerful tools for high-throughput metabolic profiling. Two FEMS Journals authors will then showcase how Biolog technologies are applied their …

The pathogen Brucella causes Brucellosis, a neglected zoonotic disease with a considerable impact on global health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It spreads from animal hosts to humans and other mammals via close contact, where it creates a niche by manipulating host cell functions. The main tool for this process is the type 4 […] The post #FEMSmicroBlog: Rethinking effector tra…

Help shape what comes next for microbiology FEMS is inviting nominations for a President and two Trustees to join its Board for the term 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029. The FEMS Board is composed of the President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and five additional Board members. As the Federation enters a new strategic phase, this is an opportunity to shape its key priorities and help …

#FEMSmicroBlog: World Tuberculosis Day and our fight against one of the most dreadful diseases Tuberculosis has affected humans for thousands of years and remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. According to the WHO, approximately one quarter of the global population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In 2024, around 10.7 million new tuberculosis cases were re…

Water is essential to life on planet Earth as all organisms depend on it. Because of its dipole moment, water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, with a particular affinity for water-loving ionic and polar covalent compounds. However, because it still interacts with water-repelling compounds, it is at the core of many biochemical reactions; some of them crucial for life, like phot…

The European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) is pleased to announce the election of 95 new Fellows, recognising scientific excellence and long-standing contributions to microbiology. The newly elected Fellows represent a diverse range of expertise across microbiology and related disciplines, spanning institutions across Europe and beyond. Their work reflects the breadth and dynamism of the field, f…

Although greenhouse gases are present in the atmosphere in relatively small amounts, their increasing concentrations cause stronger heat trapping on Earth. The second most abundant greenhouse gas, methane, has a high heat-trapping capacity but a short lifespan in the atmosphere. Therefore, decreasing atmospheric methane levels would result in quicker decreases in warming. So-called “microbial met…

International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate achievements, but also to reflect on visibility: whose work is recognised, whose voices are heard, and how the microbiology community can continue to support equitable participation across the field. Women contribute to every area of microbiology, advancing research, driving innovation, shaping education, and translating microbial knowledge into …

FEMS is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Prof. Jeff Cole, former Editor-in-Chief of FEMS Microbiology Letters. As a brilliant scientist and a devoted advocate for rigorous microbiology research, Prof. Jeff Cole was committed to advancing the field and supporting the career growth of the next generation of scientists. He was deeply involved in the scientific community, serving as a mento…

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to public health. Each year, resistant bacterial infections kill hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and the numbers are rising. But where does this resistance come from, and how does it spread so quickly between bacteria, even across diverse environments? The article “Genomic Analysis of IncH Plasmids Reveals Their Role as Drivers of An…

Get ready to celebrate excellence in microbiology research as we proudly announce the winners of the FEMS Journals Article Awards from 2025. These awards recognize the outstanding contributions of researchers who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge in the field of microbiology. Join us as we showcase the remarkable achievements of these scientists. All authors who published in the FEMS Journa…

What do mold on your bread and the soil of a rice field have in common? Both can contain fungal pathogens capable of threatening humans, animals, and environmental health. Even though only a small group of fungi poses serious global risks, 19 fungal pathogens have made it onto WHO’s Fungal Priority Pathogen List, given their presence in many countries poorly documented. The article “Uncovering th…

Agricultural soils are some of the largest sinks of plastic pollution, as microplastics can persist for decades. At the same time, soils are exposed to pesticides and veterinary pharmaceuticals through routine agricultural practices. Although these stressors are typically evaluated independently, soils are exposed to complex mixtures and consequently, often experience their combined effects. The …

By causing infections, some bacterial pathogens alter the integrity of human cells more profoundly, influencing long-term health. For example, several bacteria harm the DNA of the cells they infect. The review “Host DNA damage and cellular fate in bacterial infections, with a focus on Staphylococcus aureus” in FEMS Microbiology Reviews outlines how diverse pathogens induce […] The post #FEMSmicro…

Bacteria often face rapidly changing and hostile environments. To cope, they rely on intricate stress-response networks. One of their survival strategies is nucleoid condensation—bacteria compacting their chromosomes to conserve resources. The study “The small bacterial membrane protein YohP induces nucleoid condensation in E. coli and inhibits oligomerization of antimicrobial peptides” published…

Healthy soils are the backbone of sustainable agriculture and climate action. Yet, coarse sandy soils, common in many regions, pose a challenge. They drain water and nutrients too quickly, leaving crops thirsty and reducing yields. Improving these soils is critical for food security and carbon sequestration. The study “Effect of biochar on extracellular enzyme activity […] The post #FEMSmicroBlog…

In 2025, the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) successfully delivered its reinvented and reimagined biannual Congress & Exhibition. FEMS MICRO Milan 2025 was innovative and experimental, and allowed the best parts of bringing together colleagues from across the world to take centre stage. In 2026, FEMS turns that energy to its journals portfolio: strengthening […] The post D…

Join us for the FEMS Microbiology Reviews Webinar on “Exploring the Molecular Aspects of Microbial Biology”, where together we will explore the genomic and molecular foundations driving microbial diversity, adaptation, and pathogenesis. This session showcases leading authors whose reviews span Pseudomonas taxonomy and evolution, fungal phenotypic heterogeneity, and the molecular epidemiology and …