Membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been widely applied worldwide in full scale. Recent research and development trends of MBR technology has been shifted from process optimization and economic evaluation to installation of new process architecture to enrich functional strains like nitrifiers or providing assisted field for performance enhancement, to incorporation of affordable adsorbents or scouring agent for membrane fouling mitigation, and to applying MBR hybrid systems for achieving simultaneous removals of nutrients and other pollutants. This mini-review summarized the recent works, principally in 20142015, on the above aspects, and provided a discussion on the osmotic MBR based on forward osmosis on its use of high-osmotic-pressure draw solution and the pre-treatment needed, and the reverse solute leakage that affects the MBR efficiency. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.