Search

The gH-associated tropism and entry (GATE) complex consists of glycoprotein H, UL116 and UL141. This complex is abundant on human cytomegalovirus virions and enables entry into human endothelial cells.

Liu et al. developed a platform to identify transcription factors (TFs) that turn stem cells into desired cell types. They discovered six key TFs that produce microglia efficiently, enhancing cell differentiation methods.

In a post-hoc analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) features from patients with metastatic prostate cancer treated with [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu–PSMA-617 or cabazitaxel in the randomized phase 2 TheraP trial, low ctDNA levels at baseline were predictive of clinical benefit from [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu–PSMA-617, and PTEN or ATM alterations were identified as potential biomarkers of response.

An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Baleen whales migrate from high latitude feeding grounds to subtropical reproductive winter grounds, translocating limiting nutrients across ecosystems. This study estimates the latitudinal movement of nutrients from carcasses, placentas and urea for four species of baleen whales that exhibit annual migrations.

Toxicities limit combination of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and chemotherapy in patients with germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variant (gBRCAm) breast cancer. Here, the authors report a preclinical study followed by a randomised phase II/III clinical trial investigating the addition of a gap between chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) and PARPi (olaparib), in patients with early gBRCAm breast cancer.

Recent catastrophic weather events across the U.S.—and abroad—have brought the issue of electricity reliability and resilience to the forefront of energy and environmental policy discussions. This manuscript documents an approach to estimate the economic impacts of widespread, long duration (WLD) power interruptions.

High-resolution images from the Hubble Space Telescope show evidence of star cluster migration and merger in dwarf galaxies.

Phylogenomic analysis of 7,923 angiosperm species using a standardized set of 353 nuclear genes produced an angiosperm tree of life dated with 200 fossil calibrations, providing key insights into evolutionary relationships and diversification.

GIANT, a genetically informed brain atlas, integrates genetic heritability with neuroanatomy. It shows strong neuroanatomical validity and surpasses traditional atlases in discovery power for brain imaging genomics.

Coordination of benzene by a tungsten complex can minimize the formation of oligomeric aromatic products in Friedel-Crafts Arylation. Here the authors show that coordinating benzene to tungsten through two carbons (dihapto-coordination) enables a rarely observed double protonation of the bound benzene, allowing its subsequent coupling to a second arene without the need of a precious metal or Lewis acid catalyst.

Excitatory neurons in the carnivore and primate visual cortex display orientation selectivity arranged in a modular fashion before the onset of visual experience, but the developmental timeline for visual response selectivity of inhibitory neurons is unknown. Using in vivo calcium imaging in ferret visual cortex, the authors show that experience-dependent emergence of orientation selectivity develops in a modular fashion for inhibitory interneurons over the first week of visual experience.

This description of the Sphagnum (peat moss) genome includes a newly discovered sex chromosome. Interactions among sex, autosomes and environment show direct effects on Sphagnum growth which influences global carbon sequestration.

Isolated populations may empower genetic association studies of complex traits. Here, the authors identify a rare cardioprotective APOC3variant in a Greek population isolate and highlight the value of using population isolates to detect rare variants that confer disease risk.

Viral occlusion bodies are robust protein crystals that encapsulate virions of some insect viruses. Here, the authors determine the nudivirus occlusion body structure and describe common principles of occlusion body structure.

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an anti-inflammatory drug proposed as a treatment for COVID19. Here the results are reported from a randomised trial testing DMF treatment in 713 patients hospitalised with COVID-19. DMF was not associated with any improvement in day 5 outcomes.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

There’s an emerging body of evidence to show how biological sex impacts cancer incidence, treatment and underlying biology. Here, using a large pan-cancer dataset, the authors further highlight how sex differences shape the cancer genome.

Some cancer patients first present with metastases where the ___location of the primary is unidentified; these are difficult to treat. In this study, using machine learning, the authors develop a method to determine the tissue of origin of a cancer based on whole sequencing data.

The extrusion of large extracellular vesicles is an important mechanism that facilitates cell-to-cell communication and maintains homoeostasis. Here, Atkin-Smith et al. use intravital microscopy to directly visualize the formation of large extracellular vesicles in bone marrow.

Transancestral GWAS meta-analysis in 160,420 individuals identifies 139 loci associated with refractive error, including myopia. Newly identified genes implicate pathways involved in eye growth and light signaling cascades.

With the generation of large pan-cancer whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing projects, a question remains about how comparable these datasets are. Here, using The Cancer Genome Atlas samples analysed as part of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project, the authors explore the concordance of mutations called by whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing techniques.

The authors collate a meta-collection of ex situ living plant diversity held in 50 botanical collections worldwide, spanning a century of data and currently containing ~500,000 accessions. Their analyses examine the capacities and constraints within living plant collections, reveal the impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its consequences for material exchange and conservation, and call for the re-evaluation of strategic priorities.

Hematopoietic stem cell formation via the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition is initiated by a complex rewiring of the aortic endothelium. Here the authors identify Meis1 as an early driver of hemogenic specification of this arterial endothelium.

Understanding deregulation of biological pathways in cancer can provide insight into disease etiology and potential therapies. Here, as part of the PanCancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) consortium, the authors present pathway and network analysis of 2583 whole cancer genomes from 27 tumour types.

Analyses of 2,658 whole genomes across 38 types of cancer identify the contribution of non-coding point mutations and structural variants to driving cancer.