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Journal articleHedger G, Lyman E, Rouse SL, 2026,
Ligand-like lipid interactions with membrane proteins: simulations and machine learning
, Current Opinion in Structural Biology, Vol: 97, ISSN: 0959-440XMembrane lipids can bind to specific sites on membrane proteins in a ligand-like manner and modulate protein structure and function. Molecular dynamics simulations encompass a suite of approaches to identify, characterise, and explain the atomic-level mechanisms that underlie the functional effects of ligand-like lipids on membrane proteins. Simulations have shown good agreement with available structural data on lipid-protein interactions. Building on successes, simulations are now used to identify new interactions and mechanisms de novo for a given membrane protein. In this age of abundance, it is increasingly possible to analyse patterns across large groups of proteins and in ever more complex membrane environments. The dawn of machine learning approaches in lipid-protein cofolding holds considerable promise to synergistically capitalise on this availability of simulation data and uncover new facets of ligand-like lipid biology.
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Journal articleXu H, Wang H, Prentice IC, et al., 2026,
Global variation in the ratio of sapwood to leaf area explained by optimality principles
, New Phytologist, Vol: 250, Pages: 181-193, ISSN: 0028-646X• The sapwood area supporting a given leaf area (Huber value, vH) reflects the coupling between carbon uptake and water transport and loss at a whole-plant level. Geographic variation in vH presumably reflect plant strategic adaptations but the lack of a general explanation for such variation hinders its representation in vegetation models and assessment of how its impact on the global carbon and water cycles. • Here we develop a simple hydraulic trait model to predict optimal vH by matching stem water supply and leaf water loss, and test its performance against two extensive plant hydraulic datasets. • We show that our eco-evolutionary optimality-based model explains nearly 60% of global vH variation in response to light, vapour pressure deficit, temperature and sapwood conductivity. Enhanced hydraulic efficiency with warmer temperatures reduces the sapwood area required to support a given leaf area, whereas high irradiance (supporting increased photosynthetic capacity) and drier air increase it. • This study thus provides a route to modelling variation in functional traits through the coordination of carbon uptake and water transport processes.
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Journal articleHe S, Sanchez Garrido J, Beis K, et al., 2026,
TraN variants mediate conjugation species specificity of IncA/C, IncH and Acinetobacter baumannii plasmids
, Journal of Bacteriology, ISSN: 0021-9193IncA/C and IncH plasmids commonly carry antimicrobial resistance genes, notably blaNDM-1. Although these plasmids disseminate among Gram-negative pathogens via conjugation, the mechanisms underlying mating pair stabilisation (MPS) and conjugation species specificity remain poorly understood. In IncF plasmids, MPS is mediated by interactions between outer membrane proteins (OMP) encoded by the plasmids in the donor (TraN) and by the chromosome in the recipient. Using the Plascad database, we extracted 1,436 TraN sequences from 1517 plasmids: 62.5% (898/1,436), mainly in IncF plasmids, are 550–660aa (we renamed TraN short, TraNS); 15% (216/1,436), in IncA/C plasmids, are 880–950aa (TraN medium, TraNM); and 11% (160/1,436), in IncH plasmids, are 1,050–1,070aa (TraN long, TraNL). One TraN, found in six plasmids from Acinetobacter baumannii (891aa), was designated TraN V-shaped (TraNV). Like TraNS, TraNM and TraNL contain a base and one distal tip domain essential for conjugation, whereas TraNV has a base and two distinct tip domains forming a V-shaped structure. TraNM, TraNL and TraNV determine conjugation species specificity, with TraNL cooperating with OmpA. Tip swapping reverses conjugation specificity, revealing how TraNM and TraNL diversity influence plasmid host range and AMR dissemination. Our new data reveal the molecular basis of plasmid host specificity and broaden our understanding of how conjugation drives the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes among clinically relevant bacteria.
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Journal articleSanchez-Garrido J, 2026,
Commensals join the effector game
, Nature Immunology, ISSN: 1529-2908 -
Journal articleXu V, McInnes A, Wake M, et al., 2026,
Structural basis for Rep-mediated adeno-associated virus packaging
, Cell Reports, Vol: 45, ISSN: 2211-1247Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are parvoviruses utilized as gene therapy vectors. However, the AAV packaging mechanism is unresolved at the molecular level, creating a bottleneck for vector manufacturing, safety, and efficacy. Here, cryo-EM structures of the Rep helicase packaging motor in complex with the packaging marker DNA (ITR) and the Rep-AAV8 capsid complex are presented. Rep-ITR complexes reveal dynamic oligomeric states on the DNA, elucidating the strand separation mechanism coupled to its ATPase cycle. We observe Rep preferentially bound to empty capsids, with a binding interface likely conserved across the virus family. This complex also unveils a cryptic capsid ATP-binding site which, alongside Rep binding, triggers structural rearrangements priming the capsid for packaging. Collectively, these findings advance the understanding of Rep-mediated packaging, with significant implications for parvovirus virology and viral vector design.
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Journal articleAlonso A, Kirkegaard JB, Endres RG, 2026,
Reply to van Haastert: Local competition between Ras/actin-driven protrusions.
, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 123 -
Journal articleChen Y-F, Lin K-Y, Huang C-Y, et al., 2026,
Subcellular calcium dynamics and organelle perturbations in resistosome-mediated cell death.
, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 123Plant nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) proteins act as intracellular immune receptors that assemble into resistosomes to execute immune responses. However, the subcellular processes during cell death following resistosome activation remain unclear. Here, we visualized the changes in calcium signaling and organelle behavior after activation of the NRC4 (NLR required for cell death 4) resistosome. We found that NRC4 membrane enrichment coincided with calcium influx. This is followed by sequential mitochondria and plastid disruption, endoplasmic reticulum fragmentation, and cytoskeleton depolymerization. Subsequent loss of plasma membrane integrity, nuclear shrinkage, and vacuolar collapse mark the terminal stage of cell death. Our findings reveal a spatiotemporally resolved cascade of subcellular events downstream of resistosome activation, providing mechanistic insight into the execution phase of plant immune cell death.
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Journal articleEllis HR, Behrends V, Larrouy-Maumus G, et al., 2026,
Glutathione impacts Hfq condensation in nitrogen-starved Escherichia coli.
, J BacteriolNitrogen (N) is essential for bacterial growth, and adaptation to N starvation involves extensive reprogramming of metabolism and gene expression. A hallmark subcellular feature in long-term N-starved Escherichia coli cells is the presence of biomolecular condensates of the major bacterial RNA regulator Hfq. The Hfq condensates, which accumulate gradually during N starvation, contribute to adaptation by modulating RNA metabolism and central metabolic pathways. Metabolites play central roles in stress responses, often acting as modulators of protein function to support survival and recovery. Glutathione (GSH), a universal stress protectant, has broad roles in bacterial stress adaptation, yet its function during N starvation remains unexplored. Using a GSH-deficient mutant (ΔgshAB), we show that GSH is required for optimal survival and recovery from prolonged N starvation. We reveal that GSH regulates the temporal dynamics of Hfq condensation and dissipation during N starvation and recovery from N starvation, respectively, via an as-yet unknown mechanism. However, the contribution of GSH to survival during and recovery from N starvation and Hfq condensation dynamics seems to be unlinked. Overall, the results point to a role for GSH in the adaptive response to N starvation, potentially extending its canonical function as a stress protectant.IMPORTANCENitrogen is a vital nutrient for bacterial growth. When nitrogen becomes scarce, bacteria must quickly adapt to survive. Escherichia coli forms tiny structures called Hfq condensates, which help manage genetic information flow and metabolism. Small molecules called metabolites aid bacteria in coping with stress, and one such molecule, glutathione (GSH), protects cells under various stress conditions. GSH's role during nitrogen starvation is unknown. We used an E. coli mutant unable to produce GSH and found that these bacteria struggle to survive and recover from nitrogen starvation. We also discovered that GSH helps
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Journal articleBiswas P, Matange N, Samanta S, et al., 2026,
The metallophosphoesterase Rv0805 regulates carbon flux and cell envelope homeostasis during growth of mycobacteria in propionate.
, J Bacteriol, Vol: 208Mycobacterium tuberculosis relies on host-derived lipids, including cholesterol, for intracellular survival, generating propionyl-CoA-a metabolite that must be efficiently assimilated to prevent toxicity. The metallophosphoesterase Rv0805 is required for optimal growth on cholesterol, and an Rv0805 knockout strain exhibits impaired ability to colonize the murine lung. However, the mechanisms underlying the essential role of Rv0805 under host-relevant conditions remain unclear. The deletion of the rv0805 ortholog (bcg_0857) in Mycobacterium bovis BCG reveals that both its catalytic activity and membrane localization are essential for growth on propionate, a by-product of cholesterol metabolism. Loss of Rv0805 impaired propionate uptake, altered cell envelope lipid composition with an accumulation of methyl-branched lipids, and reduced carbon flux through the methylcitrate cycle, ultimately depleting key central carbon metabolites required for growth. Vitamin B12 supplementation activated the methylmalonyl pathway, restoring metabolic balance and rescuing growth. These findings demonstrate that Rv0805 links propionate metabolism with cell envelope integrity, identifying its activity and localization as metabolic vulnerabilities that could be exploited for tuberculosis therapy.IMPORTANCERv0805 links propionate metabolism with cell envelope homeostasis in mycobacteria, and its loss uncovers a metabolic vulnerability that could be exploited to restrict mycobacterial survival in lipid-rich host microenvironments.
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Journal articleSharma AA, Martinou AF, Cadar D, et al., 2026,
Integrated vector and arbovirus surveillance in Cyprus: first reports of Usutu virus and Culex pipiens bioform diversity highlight potential for zoonotic arbovirus transmission.
, Parasit VectorsBACKGROUND: Anthropogenic pressures, including urbanisation, globalisation and climate change, have facilitated an increased risk for emergence or re-emergence of mosquito-borne diseases into regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Cyprus is a major stop-over site for migratory birds and has previously experienced outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV). The island has native mosquito vector populations; however, it has also seen the recent establishment of invasive Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Given the dynamic climatic conditions and the shifting ecological and epidemiological landscapes in the region, the need for routine vector and pathogen surveillance has never been more critical. METHODS: Herein, we present the results from localised adult mosquito surveillance that were conducted in two cities of Cyprus between 2019 and 2022. Mosquito taxa were identified through morphological analysis, and molecular techniques were used to further characterise the Culex pipiens bioforms. Engorged mosquito midguts were analysed to determine host blood meals. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing was employed to screen mosquito pools for arboviruses. RESULTS: Our results provide the first report of Usutu virus in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes in Cyprus. Blood meal analysis identified multiple vertebrate hosts, including Cetti's warbler, a bird species previously reported to be seropositive for WNV on the island. Additionally, we report the presence of both Cx. pipiens pipiens and Cx. pipiens molestus, an ornithophilic and a mammophilic bioform, respectively, as well as their hybrids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced mosquito surveillance strategies where mosquito populations will be regularly screened for pathogens to mitigate emerging risks of arbovirus transmission in Cyprus.
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Journal articleGrimaldi A, Hobbs B, Stofella M, et al., 2026,
Amide Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange in Isotopically Mixed Water
, ACS Physical Chemistry Au, ISSN: 2694-2445 -
Journal articleMATANZA X, Leung PB, Torraca V, et al., 2026,
Genome-wide analysis exploring mechanisms used by Shigella sonnei to survive long-term nutrient starvation
, mSystems, ISSN: 2379-5077Shigella is a major cause of severe diarrhea, with Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei accounting for over 90% of infections. Progressive economic growth worldwide correlates with the replacement of S. flexneri by S. sonnei as the dominant cause of shigellosis. The basis of the epidemiological shift remains unclear, but it highlights the urgent need for further studies on the increasingly prevalent, but less well-studied, S. sonnei. Here, we investigated whether S. sonnei is better equipped to survive nutrient starvation, a crucial condition for persistence both outside the host and within the colonic lumen. S. sonnei exhibited greater survival under long-term nutrient starvation (LTNS) than S. flexneri, rapidly activating survival mechanisms. We interrogated the genome of S. sonnei using transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing (TraDIS), revealing that metabolic pathways (ATP, nucleotide, and amino acid synthesis) and envelope homeostasis systems (e.g., Tol-Pal complex, Bam complex, peptidoglycan recycling, and RpoE stress response) are conditionally essential for LTNS. TraDIS findings were validated by non-competitive and competitive survival of wild-type and deletion mutant strains. We compared the homology of conditionally essential genes between S. sonnei and S. flexneri to identify genes potentially involved in differential LTNS survival between the species. However, S. sonnei strains in which a single gene was replaced with the S. !exneri allele showed wild-type survival phenotypes. This suggests that the divergent survival of these two species may be more complex than a monogenic difference. Together, these data define the molecular adaptations of starvation resistance in S. sonnei and provide insights into its epidemiological dominance in high-income countries.
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OtherGao M, Sandoval D, Prentice IC, 2026,
Separating stomatal and non-stomatal responses of gross primary productivity to soil moisture
<jats:p>Soil moisture is a major constraint on terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP). In this study, we propose and test two hypotheses to explain how soil moisture limits carbon uptake: 1) plants reduce stomatal conductance around midday to conserve water, leading to a temporary decline in internal CO₂ concentration and photosynthesis; and 2) water stress causes a more general reduction in photosynthetic capacity, expressed as a decrease in the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis (φ₀), thereby lowering GPP throughout the day. Here, we combine Eco-Evolutionary Optimality (EEO) Theory with eddy covariance observations to separate and quantify stomatal and non-stomatal responses of GPP to soil moisture. Our results show that both midday stomatal closure and photosynthetic capacity suppression coexist, supporting both hypotheses, with their relative importance strongly modulated by soil moisture. Across most sites, the magnitude of midday GPP depression weakens with increasing soil moisture, indicating that stomatal responses are more sensitive under low soil moisture conditions. In addition, photosynthetic capacity increases with soil moisture, contributing to an overall enhancement of daily GPP. By explicitly separating stomatal and non-stomatal pathways through which soil moisture affects carbon uptake, this study provides a mechanistic explanation for the more conservative water use strategies observed in plants from dry climates and improves the representation of diurnal GPP dynamics in water-limited ecosystems.</jats:p>
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Journal articleCator L, 2026,
A tiger is not always a satyr: role of male mating behaviour in interspecific mating interactions between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
, Parasites and Vectors, ISSN: 1756-3305Background: Interspecific mating between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which act as vectors of a wide range of arboviruses, is predicted to have an important influence on their future distributions and disease control efforts. While interspecific insemination has been documented in a range of laboratory and field studies, rates vary between populations. It has been suggested that the outcome of mating interactions is driven by evolved variation in both the male ability to mate interspecific females and ability of females to resist interspecific males. However, there has been relatively little dissection of the behaviours that underlie interspecific insemination rates. Methods: We compared insemination rates between sympatric, allopatric, and lab-adapted strains of Ae. aegypti (Colombia, Arizona, and Liverpool, respectively) and allopatric and sympatric strains of Ae. albopictus (Montpellier and Colombia, respectively). We then used both live observations and high-speed videography to compare intraspecific and interspecific mating interactions. Results: We found very low rates of interspecific mating across all strains used. Both behavioural observations and high-speed videography suggested that female resistance behaviours were not responsible for low interspecific mating. Interestingly, we documented male Ae. albopictus consistently aborting interspecific mating attempts. Conclusions: This study provides additional evidence for strong pre-copulatory species barriers between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus species and adds male avoidance as a possible mechanism to maintain these barriers. Considering female resistance, the ability of males to overcome that resistance, and male avoidance of interspecific matings together will be important for informing understanding of how we expect interspecific mating rates to vary across populations and respond to selective pressures such as mass-release strategies.
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Journal articleAdams G, Tissot FS, Liu C, et al., 2026,
Practical AI-based cell extraction and spatial statistics for large 3D bone marrow tissue images.
, Cell Rep MethodsAlthough the molecular regulation of hematopoiesis is well characterized, the spatial organization of hematopoietic cells within bone marrow (BM) remains unclear. Advances in microscopy have produced increasingly detailed images of murine BM, yet accurate and scalable methods to extract and analyze these complex datasets are limited. We present PACESS, a computational workflow for BM analysis that combines convolutional neural networks for 2D cell detection and classification with an automated method to extrapolate into 3D, spatial statistical analyses to define tissue regions based on local cell-type densities, and logistic regression to assess whether the relative abundances of cell types reflect reciprocal dependencies. Using PACESS, we investigate the spatial organization of T cells, megakaryocytes, and leukemic cells, revealing that distinct leukemic clusters generate diverse, previously unrecognized neighborhoods within the same BM cavity. PACESS, thus, provides a powerful tool to dissect BM architecture.
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OtherHarrison SP, Cain S, Ding R, et al., 2026,
An eco-evolutionary approach to modelling wildfire regimes
<jats:p>Wildfires are ubiquitous and an integral part of the Earth System, vital for maintaining the biodiversity and functioning of many ecosystems. Wildfire-induced changes in vegetation and landscape properties also have important feedbacks to climate through modulating water- and energy-exchanges and the carbon cycle. The current state-of-the-art global models used to predict how wildfires might behave in a changing climate capture some aspects of wildfire behaviour, but are poor at simulating fire seasonality, interannual variability and extreme fires, in large part because they do not adequately capture the vegetation-wildfire interactions regulating fire occurrence. Eco-evolutionary optimality approaches are increasingly being used to provide simple but robust models of vegetation functioning, and here we extend this approach to modelling wildfires.Fuel availability and fuel dryness are consistently shown to be the primary drivers of wildfire occurrence, intensity and burnt area. Differences in the timing of fuel build up and drying determine the optimal time for wildfire occurrence and give rise to pyroclimates with distinct wildfire regimes. The phase difference in the seasonal time course and magnitude of gross primary production (GPP) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is used to provide a measure of the “propensity to burn”, which in turn can be translated into a probability for fire occurrence. An EEO-based model of the seasonal cycle of GPP is then used to derive litter fall and hence the inputs to dead fuel loads along with an empirically based formulation of decomposition to determine changes in the actual dead fuel load through time. We use an EEO-based model of biomass production efficiency to derive tree and grass cover, where the grass cover and dead fuel load together will determine the incidence of ground fires and tree cover the incidence of crown fires. We show that this simple model produces realistic simulations of spatial
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OtherSandoval D, Orme D, Prentice IC, 2026,
Right answers for the wrong Reasons? Testing water use efficiency responses in terrestrial biosphere models
<jats:p>Water-use efficiency (WUE) quantifies the ratio of CO₂ assimilation to transpiration, reflecting the trade-off between carbon gain and water loss. It therefore provides key information about ecosystems’ strategies for dealing with drought, as well as their responses and feedbacks to climate. From an optimality perspective, a robust theory to predict WUE is fundamental for exploring potential adaptations, shifts in vegetation communities, or migration, especially under future scenarios.Global estimates of WUE, generated by terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), typically evaluate the accuracy of their predictions using observed fluxes. However, these evaluations often overlook whether the simulated sensitivity of fluxes to environmental drivers matches observed sensitivities, possibly covering flaws in the underlying theory, allowing models to produce “right answers for the wrong reasons”.Here, we assess the sensitivity of WUE simulated by the TRENDY models to environmental variables and compare them against sensitivities inferred from δ¹³C isotopes and state-of-the-art remotely sensed datasets derived from machine learning. We found qualitative disagreements (opposite signs) in the sensitivity coefficients of WUE to environmental variables, highlighting gaps in the current theoretical understanding of ecosystem functioning.</jats:p>
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Journal articleDuncan JA, Jerse AE, Martinón-Torres F, et al., 2026,
Perspective on the pathogenic Neisseria: milestones, challenges, and future directions.
, NPJ VaccinesThe 24th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference (IPNC) marked a shift toward a balanced forum addressing both meningococcal and gonococcal disease. This drove discussion on how multivalent meningococcal vaccines are enabling the WHO roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, while highlighting growing evidence that effective gonococcal vaccines are achievable. Major challenges remain, including antimicrobial resistance, limited genomic surveillance and incomplete understanding of pathogenesis and immune evasion. These reflections shaped this perspective piece.
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Journal articleLee S, Chesters D, Vogler AP, 2026,
Organelle genomes as universal standard for phylogenetics: a sociotechnical perspective.
, Trends Ecol EvolAssembling a densely sampled tree-of-life from genomic data requires the integration of disparate studies in phylogenetics, genomics, and ecology. Currently, we lack agreement on a standard genetic marker acting as a universal ortholog across all taxa and hierarchical levels. The universality and structural simplicity of organellar genomes, and the relative ease of their acquisition and phylogenetic analysis compared to whole-genome sequences, suggest they should play a greater role as a universal data standard. Standardization requires wide community acceptance, exemplified by the sociotechnical factors leading to its general adoption. Similar processes could promote organellar genomes as the next-generation standard in phylogenetics, with just minor adjustments to data generation and accessibility, to act as the anchoring framework for the current hugely diverse genomic data structure.
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Journal articleSavolainen V, Roberts B, Collins T, et al., 2026,
Rethinking intensification: biodiversity-inclusive management sustains coconut yields
, Plants, People, Planet, ISSN: 2572-2611 -
Journal articleMajumdar A, Moulick D, Dey A, et al., 2026,
Micro-Scale Microbial Dynamics at the Soil–Water Interface: Biofilm Architecture, Non-Linear Response, and Emerging Methodological Frontiers
, Water, Vol: 18, Pages: 658-658<jats:p>The soil–water interface (SWI) represents a critical biogeochemical hotspot where steep physicochemical gradients across millimetre-to micrometre-scales create diverse ecological niches controlling nutrient cycling, carbon stabilisation, and contaminant transformation. This review synthesises emerging understanding of micro-scale microbial dynamics, biofilm architecture, and functional processes shaping SWI ecosystems. We examine redox stratification driving microbial community assembly, biofilm-mediated nutrient trapping and soil aggregate stabilisation, and dynamic drivers including hydrological fluctuations, viral lysis, and differential transport at gas–water versus solid–water interfaces. Advanced methodologies, microsensor profiling, cryo-sectioning, spatially resolved metatranscriptomics, and non-destructive imaging, now enable unprecedented resolution of SWI microhabitat chemistry and microbial organisation. Horizontal gene transfer within interface biofilms accelerates adaptive responses to environmental stressors. Integration of micro-scale observations into ecosystem-level models remains challenging but essential for predicting soil carbon sequestration, contaminant fate, and microbial resilience under climate change. Strategic SWI management through biofilm engineering and controlled redox manipulation offers novel pathways for sustainable agriculture and bioremediation, though it requires careful balance of multiple ecosystem functions.</jats:p>
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Journal articleBubeck D, Noone DP, 2026,
Advances in cryo-EM that have shaped mechanistic models of membrane attack complex assembly and regulation
, IUCrJ, ISSN: 2052-2525The complement system is a blood-based immune network that plays a crucial role in fighting infection and maintaining immune homeostasis. The membrane attack complex (MAC) is a pore assembled from complement proteins that creates holes in cells when the immune system is activated. Over the last 10 years, advances in cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have enabled key molecular insights into how MAC assembles, remodels membranes, and is regulated. These new tools revealed the inherent flexibility of complement complexes. By adapting computational approaches that disentangle diverse conformations, these studies have provided detailed mechanisms for MAC activity that could underpin novel complement-targeted therapeutics. Now accelerated by AI-driven image analysis and advances in structural cell biology, the next revolution in cryo-EM o ers new opportunities to understand the cellular consequences of immune activation.
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Journal articleBenton J, Cruañas Paniker C, Wain B, et al., 2026,
Reflections on bio-based PET and plastic waste management: a responsible research and innovation approach
, Nature Communications, Vol: 17, ISSN: 2041-1723Plastics drive twin crises: persistent pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Bio-based approaches using enzymes and microorganisms to depolymerise plastics and valorise monomers show promise but raise societal, ethical and regulatory questions central to Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). In this Perspective, we reflect on RRI implications of bio-based plastic degradation, informed by stakeholder discussions across the plastics value chain and public engagement. We identify broad support alongside concerns about scalability, interaction with existing recycling, governance and containment of genetically modified organisms, management of additives and contaminants, and the roles of regulation and economic incentives in enabling adoption.
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Journal articleCharalambous M, Hui L, Fox M, et al., 2026,
Investigating choice of and perceived efficacy of learning strategies used by STEM students
, Education Sciences, Vol: 16, ISSN: 2227-7102The use of appropriate learning strategies that accommodate working memory capacity is crucial for successful long-term learning. To our knowledge, there is little evidence in the literature showing which learning strategies STEM students use and their perceivedeffectiveness of these strategies. This paper addresses this gap by applying a mixed methods design to gain insight into STEM students’ learning behaviour in terms of the use and perceived effectiveness of available learning strategies. Specifically, we collected quantitative scoping survey data, complemented by qualitative focus group data to gain a rich, holistic understanding of students’ perceptions and rationales for using learning strategies. Students rated content blocking and problem-solving attempts as more effective than interleaving and using worked examples, respectively. Students differentiated their use of different learning strategies, using more worked examples than problem-solving attempts and more rereading than retrieval practice. Additionally, the extent to which they used a strategy was positively correlated with their knowledge about its effectiveness. Our data also show that the use of both highly and moderately effective learning strategies positively predicted grades. The focus group findings highlighted the complexity of learning behaviour in that students used a variety of learning strategies, depending on their learning habits, the nature of their courses, their motivation and interests. Students evaluated the effectiveness of a strategy based on whether it improved their grades and by the combination of perceived and actual effort required to use it. Overall, STEM students have limited knowledge of learning strategies and ultimately need support to engage with their learning in an efficient and productive way.
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Journal articleWang B, Kitney RI, Joly N, et al., 2026,
Publisher Correction: Engineering modular and orthogonal genetic logic gates for robust digital-like synthetic biology.
, Nat Commun, Vol: 17 -
Journal articleMolpeceres-García FJ, García-Miró A, Mateos-García E, et al., 2026,
Pseudomonas putida JM37 as a novel bacterial chassis for ethylene glycol upcycling
, Bioresource Technology, Vol: 443, ISSN: 0960-8524Ethylene glycol (EG), one of the main monomers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is an attractive target for microbial upcycling. Despite this interest, there is a limited number of described organisms that can efficiently metabolise EG. Here, we report the metabolic and biotechnological potential of Pseudomonas putida JM37 as a novel bacterial chassis for EG valorization. We show that JM37 efficiently grows on EG as the sole carbon and energy source, outperforming other Pseudomonas strains. Genome sequencing and directed mutagenesis revealed that genetic redundancies in the glyoxylate assimilation pathways underlie its robust EG metabolism. Beyond biomass generation, we demonstrated the biotechnological potential of JM37. This strain was able to accumulate medium-chain polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs), dominated by C10 monomers, directly from EG. Moreover, JM37 successfully expressed heterologous biosynthetic pathways, including a violacein biosynthetic operon and a PET-hydrolase which has been secreted actively into the extracellular medium. Together, our results support the use of P. putida JM37 as a versatile synthetic biology chassis for sustainable EG upcycling and as a promising platform for circular bioproduction.
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Journal articleRyan SJ, Huxley PJ, Lippi CA, et al., 2026,
MIReVTD, a Minimum Information Standard for Reporting Vector Trait Data.
, GigascienceVector-borne diseases pose a persistent and increasing challenge to human, animal, and agricultural systems globally. Mathematical modeling frameworks incorporating vector trait responses are powerful tools for assessing risk and predicting vector-borne disease impacts. Developing these frameworks and the reliability of their predictions hinge on the availability of experimentally derived vector trait data for model parameterization and inference of the biological mechanisms underpinning transmission. Trait experiments have generated data for many known and potential vector species, but the terminology used across studies is inconsistent, and accompanying publications may share data with insufficient detail for reuse or synthesis. The lack of data standardization can lead to information loss and prohibit analytical comprehensiveness. Here, we present MIReVTD, a Minimum Information standard for Reporting Vector Trait Data. Our reporting checklist balances completeness and labor intensity to make these important experimental data easier to find and reuse, without onerous effort for scientists generating the data. To illustrate the standard, we provide an example reproducing results from an Aedes aegypti mosquito study.
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Journal articleChao KW, Wong L, Oqua AI, et al., 2026,
Human class B1 GPCR modulation by plasma membrane lipids
, Communications Biology, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2399-3642The class B1 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subfamily is a class of receptors known for their regulatory roles in metabolism and neuronal activity and as important drug targets. Lipids play key functional roles in modulation of GPCR signalling, yet our understanding of the molecular level detail of specific lipid interactions with class B1 GPCRs remains limited. Here we present coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the active and inactive states of 15 human class B1 family members and use aiida-gromacs to capture full provenance for the set-up of simulations in complex plasma membranes. Receptors exhibit state-dependent lipid interactions with the regulatory sterol cholesterol and phospholipid phosphatidylinositiol-3,4-bisphosphate (PIP2) at defined locations on the receptor surface. Global analysis of trends across the subfamily reveals conserved patterns of lipid interaction dynamics. The glycosphingolipid GM3 exerts a modulatory influence on the dynamics of class B1 extracellular domains in both simulations and in vitro time-resolved FRET assays.
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Journal articleAmofa JO, George J, Okumu NA, et al., 2026,
BioStruct-Africa's scalable framework for AlphaFold-enabled research training and sustainable workforce development in Africa.
, Commun Biol, Vol: 9Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming structural biology and accelerating access to protein structures, yet many Africa-based scientists still lack infrastructure, training opportunities, and sustained mentorship to fully benefit. Here, we describe BioStruct-Africa’s community-driven framework integrating AlphaFold, experimental structural biology, and computational drug design to train 1000 scientists over the next decade.
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Journal articleStadinski BD, Mills EA, Humphries PA, et al., 2026,
Author Correction: Age-dependent Zap70 expression in thymocytes regulates selection of the neonatal regulatory T cell repertoire.
, Nat Immunol
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