Most journals hide their peer-reviewed articles behind an expensive paywall, making it virtually impossible for the average educated citizen to access their content. In the same liberating tradition as other PLOS journals, PLOS: Pathogens, publishes its groundbreaking articles in an open access format, so that anyone with an interest in the latest research on infectious agents can gain uninterrupted knowledge on the topic. Recent articles have included a reflection about the process by which prions (a particular kind of infectious protein) went from being a "scientific curiosity" to "public enemy number one" in the course of half a year; an opinion article in which one researcher presents a theory about how a better understanding of defensive microbes will lead to more advanced disease control; and a fascinating article on advances in RNA Polymerization. Articles range in depth, from opinion pieces that can be understood by anyone with a passing interest in pathogens, to research articles best understood by fellow pathogen scholars.