Publications
Results
- Showing results for:
- Reset all filters
Search results
-
Journal articleZhao A, Jüstel JPM, Jones MP, et al., 2026,
Circular and scalable leather alternatives from fungal fruiting bodies
, Cleaner Materials, Vol: 21Fungal leather alternatives, intended to imitate animal leather, are popular with fashion designers. Most fungal leather alternatives rely on ‘as-grown’ mycelium networks, which are time-intensive to grow and difficult to scale. We present a leather alternative designed for scalability, utilising mushroom residues and papermaking methods. Flexible chitin-glucan sheets were produced from Agaricus bisporus mushrooms with tensile strengths up to 20 MPa, values approaching those of synthetic and bovine leather (∼13 MPa and 10–31 MPa, respectively), and strains-to-failure of 16–18% (compared to 15–60% and 31–69%, respectively). Sheet aesthetics and mechanical properties were tailored through modified fungal pulp extraction, dyeing, and reinforcement with cellulose-based fibres to achieve tear strengths comparable to bovine leather (104–107 N/mm compared to 42–106 N/mm). Mushroom residue-based sheets demonstrated a solution aligned with the principles of circularity, converting underutilised by-products into wearable garments to reduce waste and resource use in the fashion and textile industries.
-
Journal articleSun M, Gao AX, Ye B, et al., 2026,
Advances in engineering and applications of synthetic phase-separated membraneless organelles in biotechnology
, Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, Vol: 13, Pages: 37-49, ISSN: 2405-805XMembraneless organelles (MLOs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) constitute crucial dynamic microenvironments within cells, capable of selectively concentrating specific molecules and regulating biochemical reactions. Based on the working mechanisms of natural MLOs, researchers have designed and constructed various synthetic MLOs. These MLOs have been applied in regulating enzyme activity, optimizing metabolic pathways, regulating gene expression, producing recombinant proteins, and developing functional biomaterials. Here, we systematically summarized the design strategies, characterization techniques, and client protein recruitment methods for synthetic MLOs, and categorically reviewed their application progress in the biotechnology field. We also discussed current challenges faced in the practical applications of synthetic MLOs and future research directions. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for the design and application of LLPS-driven synthetic MLOs, thereby promoting their innovative development in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
-
Journal articleZhang B, Murali GG, Quitéria TFH, et al., 2026,
Easy repair enabled by an interleaving ‘weak link’ strategy to localise damage in laminated fibre-reinforced polymer-matrix composites
, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol: 323, ISSN: 1359-8368An interleaving strategy for polymer matrix composite laminates is proposed to create a mechanical fuse allowing interlaminar damage to be localised in the interleaf, which can subsequently be repaired. To create the mechanical fuse, the laminates are interleaved with thermoplastic polymer films with suitable mechanical properties to act as a repairable weak link. Carbon fibre/epoxy laminates interleaved with polystyrene (PS) were investigated by three-point flexure and static indentation tests. In the three-point bending tests, shear–driven damage was observed in the interleaved region, and this damage was subsequently repaired by application of heat and pressure. After two damage-repair cycles, the stiffness was virtually fully recovered, and the shear strength restored to 88% of the pristine value. In the static indentation tests, the stiffness and damage onset force of the specimens recovered to 84% and 70% of the pristine values, respectively, after three damage-repair cycles.
-
Journal articleGao C, Meng X, Chen X, et al., 2026,
Surface immune signaling unlocks NLR activation through mRNA alternative splicing.
, Science, Vol: 393, Pages: 65-70Plants activate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to combat pathogens. However, how these systems coordinate immune activation while preventing autoimmunity remains poorly understood. In this study, we uncovered a regulatory mechanism in which surface immune signaling unlocks nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptor activation through mRNA splicing. We identified an N-terminal prodomain in the potato late blight resistance protein Rpi-vnt1.1 that inhibits resistosome formation, preventing potential autoactivation of this NLR. Upon pathogen perception, PTI signaling induced alternative splicing of Rpi-vnt1.1 mRNA, removing this inhibitory element. This primed Rpi-vnt1.1 for activation by the Phytophthora infestans effector AVRvnt1, enabling resistosome assembly and immune signaling. The widespread conservation of N-terminal extensions in coiled coil-type NLRs points to a common regulatory mechanism in preventing potential autoactivation while preserving pathogen sensitivity.
-
Journal articleYu Y, Lu R, Sun M-L, et al., 2026,
Single cell oil enriched in ricinoleic acid biosynthesis from glucose via metabolically rewired oleaginous yeast.
, Metab Eng, Vol: 96, Pages: 80-91Ricinoleic acid, an industrially high-value hydroxy fatty acid traditionally sourced from castor seed oil. However, plant-based production is plagued by challenges such as inherent toxicity, environmental risks, and unstable supply. Microbial biosynthesis provides a safer and more sustainable alternative, eliminating the need for land cultivation, shortens production cycles, and mitigates the toxicity risks associated with castor seed harvesting. Furthermore, microbial production of ricinoleic acid in the form of single cell oil (SCO) confers significant advantages over free fatty acid, including enhanced stability and reduced cytotoxicity. In this study, the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was metabolically rewired via a multi-pronged strategy: boosting the synthesis of oleoyl-CoA (the precursor of ricinoleic acid), mimicking plant acyl editing to refine phosphatidylcholine pool precursors, promoting the assembly of ricinoleic acid into storage triacylglycerols, and suppressing competing degradation pathways. Employing this integrated engineering approach, the final engineered strain YY-20 accumulated 729.4 mg/L of ricinoleic acid in shake flask cultures, accounting for 28.3% of total fatty acids. More notably, fed-batch fermentation in a bioreactor achieved a record-high ricinoleic acid titer of 6.0 g/L (comprising 26.1% of total fatty acids), accompanied by 22.8 g/L of SCO and a lipid content of 37.3% dry cell weight. These results demonstrate the efficacy of coordinated lipid pathway engineering in establishing Y. lipolytica as a robust microbial cell factory for hydroxy fatty acid production. The high SCO titer and efficient ricinoleic acid synthesis underscore the potential of this platform for the scalable industrial biomanufacturing of ricinoleic acid and other high-value unusual fatty acids.
-
Journal articleHull RC, Liu Y, Cao Z, et al., 2026,
Comorbid diabetes disease severity and microbial changes in patients with bronchiectasis: a combined analysis of data from the EMBARC, EMBARC-India, Australian, and BE-China registries.
, Lancet Respir Med, Vol: 14, Pages: 620-632BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis and diabetes commonly coexist and are associated with immune dysfunction and increased susceptibility to infection. Although diabetes is associated with worse prognosis in cystic fibrosis-related bronchiectasis, data are scarce for its impact on non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. This study aimed to characterise the impact of diabetes on clinical outcomes and microbial and inflammatory profiles in patients with bronchiectasis. METHODS: This analysis comprised data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC), Respiratory Research Network of India (EMBARC-India), Chinese Bronchiectasis Registry (BE-China), and Australian Bronchiectasis Registry (ABR); 30 263 patients with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis in 33 countries were included in the analysis: 16 963 from EMBARC (Jan 12, 2015, to April 12, 2022), 2361 from EMBARC-India plus additional Asian countries (June 1, 2015, to Sept 1, 2017), 10 324 from BE-China (Jan 10, 2020, to March 31, 2024), and 615 from the ABR (March 7, 2016, to Sept 11, 2018). Clinical data were compared between patients with and without diabetes. Long-term outcome data were available in EMBARC and EMBARC-India. Microbiome and inflammatory profiles were characterised in a sub-cohort of EMBARC patients by sputum 16S rRNA sequencing (n=433) and serum Olink (n=479). FINDINGS: 2487 (8·2%) of 30 263 patients with bronchiectasis had diabetes. Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than those without diabetes, including cardiovascular disorders (53·5% vs 21·8%, p<0·0001), asthma (27·5% vs 21·0%, p<0·0001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (34·3% vs 19·0%, p<0·0001). Patients with diabetes had more severe disease than those without diabetes, with higher Bronchiectasis Severity Index scores (8 [IQR 5-12] vs 7 [4-10], p<0·0001) and UK Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scores (p<0·0001) and
-
Journal articleGider Yaman G, Bozkurt O, Akgun E, et al., 2026,
Neonatal Intestinal Perforations Due to IL10RB Deficiency.
, Indian J Pediatr, Vol: 93 -
Journal articleGandhi SA, Liu GY, Fazio JC, et al., 2026,
Silicosis in the Artificial Stone Countertop Industry: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.
, Ann Am Thorac SocArtificial stone-associated silicosis (AS silicosis) has emerged over the past decade as a severe, rapidly progressive, and preventable occupational lung disease affecting workers who manufacture, fabricate, and install artificial stone countertops. Characterized by short latency, accelerated progression, and high morbidity and mortality, AS silicosis disproportionately affects young workers employed in precarious conditions. In response to the growing global burden of disease, this American Thoracic Society workshop was convened in 2025 to review the current state of knowledge regarding AS silicosis, synthesize the current evidence, and identify priorities for research, clinical care, public health surveillance, and prevention. Workshop participants reviewed data spanning exposure science, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, health equity, and policy responses. Evidence demonstrates that artificial stone (AS) dust is highly toxic, containing high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica, resin-derived volatile compounds, and trace metals, resulting in exposures that routinely exceed occupational exposure limits. Despite widespread implementation of wet methods, ventilation, and respiratory protection, hazardous exposures persist across diverse settings globally, highlighting fundamental limitations of existing control strategies. Clinically, AS silicosis is associated with high rates of progressive massive fibrosis, autoimmune disease, infection, respiratory failure, and increasing need for lung transplantation. Treatment options remain limited, underscoring the importance of early detection and exposure cessation. The workshop identified critical gaps in medical screening and public health surveillance worldwide, with inconsistent regulatory frameworks, low compliance, underreporting, and delayed diagnoses. Case detection is often dependent on symptomatic presentation rather than proactive screening, exacerbating disease severity and inequities in care.
-
Journal articleSenior P, Viegas P, Winterton J, et al., 2026,
Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis in Adults and comparison to Bronchiectasis
, ERJ Open Research, Pages: 00547-2026 -
Journal articlePollock J, Huang JTJ, Shuttleworth M, et al., 2026,
Clinical, molecular and microbial characterisation of the eosinophilic endotype of bronchiectasis: data from the EMBARC-BRIDGE study.
, Thorax, Vol: 81, Pages: 642-653OBJECTIVES: Eosinophilic bronchiectasis is defined by a blood eosinophil count (BEC) ≥300 cells/µL, but blood eosinophils imperfectly reflect airway eosinophilic inflammation. Here, we investigated the relationship between eosinophilic airway inflammation, blood eosinophils and clinical severity in bronchiectasis and explored the phenotype associated with eosinophilic bronchiectasis. METHODS: Sputum from 180 patients with stable CT-confirmed bronchiectasis was utilised to investigate airway levels of eosinophil proteins (eosinophil peroxidase (EPX), eosinophil derived-neurotoxin (EDN), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), major basic protein (MBP) and Galectin-10 (Gal-10)) using a novel stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay. To profile eosinophilic bronchiectasis, a nested analysis of patients with BEC <150 cells/µL (n=52) and ≥300 cells/µL (n=49) was conducted. RESULTS: Sputum concentrations of Gal-10, ECP and EDN were weakly but significantly associated with radiological severity, FEV1 and sputum culture positivity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Airway eosinophil protein concentrations did not associate with exacerbation frequency. Total eosinophil protein concentration moderately correlated with BECs (r=0.33 95% CI 0.14 to 0.49, p=0.0007). Nested analysis revealed increased sputum PCR-positivity for P. aeruginosa (26.7% vs 7.7%, p=0.033) and an increased frequency of patients showing signs of Aspergillus sensitisation (defined as Aspergillus-specific IgE titres >0.35 kUA/L, 24.5% vs 3.8%) in eosinophilic bronchiectasis. Sputum inflammatory biomarkers and clinical parameters did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: LC-MS/MS can detect eosinophilic inflammation within bronchiectasis sputum. Weak associations between elevated airway eosinophil proteins, bronchiectasis severity and P. aeruginosa infection were observed. Direct measurement of eosinophilic airway i
This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.