Genome watch -: Strength in diversity

A diverse set of genomes is described in this month's column, all of which are involved at some level in interactions with a human host. These range from the eukaryotic intracellular pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum, through the prokaryotic opportunistic pathogens Bacillus cereus and Leptospira interrogans, to the gut commensal Lactobacillus johnsonii. The genomes of these organisms display a wide range of adaptive responses to the challenges of survival in the mammalian host and many other environmental niches.