Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
Development and validation of a genetically encoded system in which gene expression is regulated remotely and noninvasively by either low-frequency radio waves or a static magnetic field.
Georgiou and colleagues describe a single-cell, emulsion-based approach for the high-throughput determination of the paired antibody variable heavy and light chain (VH-VL) repertoire encoded by the more than 2 × 106 B cells in human peripheral blood samples.
Tichauer et al. describe a dual-tracer approach to quantify cancer cell receptor concentrations, in this case epidermal growth factor receptor, in lymph nodes, that can also correct for nonspecific uptake.
The next generation of genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer involving a new inducible dual-recombinase system that combines Flp-FRT and Cre-loxP.
External blood-cleansing device for rapidly removing microorganisms and endotoxins from blood without first needing to identify the source of the infection.
Proteomic-imaging analysis of caveolae shows active transvascular pumping of antibodies across the endothelial cell barrier and into solid tumors against a concentration gradient.
Bioluminescence-based reporter system for monitoring nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in live cells, which identifies a group of cardiac glycosides as potent inhibitors of NMD and intracellular calcium as a key regulator of NMD.
Feldman and colleagues describe a plasmonic gold chip for distinguishing type 1 from type 2 diabetes using ultralow volumes of serum and with comparable sensitivity to the current gold standard, radioimmunoassays.
High-throughput screening platform for the testing of small bioactive molecules that promote oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination: a new path to the discovery of potential drugs for multiple sclerosis.
Tim Berendsen and colleagues describe an approach for long-term liver preservation based on cryopreservation, supercooling and machine perfusion where rat livers preserved for 4 d remain viable following transplantation.
Repetitive dynamic two-photon imaging of retinoid cycle fluorophores and subcellular details of their location within the retinal pigment epithelium in intact eyes of live mice.
Multidrug and radiation resistance, as well as nonspecific toxic effects of some drugs, currently limit some cancer therapies. Ekaterina Lukianova-Hleb and colleagues address this with the development of an intracellular drug release system using plasmonic nanobubbles for the on-demand release of the encapsulated payload from nanocarriers, achieving high target cell specificity and intracellular concentration and enhanced therapeutic efficacy of both drugs and X-rays. Validation is shown in aggressive and multidrug resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using encapsulated doxorubicin and paclitaxel.
Using an adapted competitive peptide phage display platform, Hong Qin and colleagues identify new candidate peptides specifically binding myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), with which they generate peptide-Fc fusion proteins (peptibodies). The peptibodies deplete intra-umoral MDSCs in several mouse tumor models, in addition to those in blood and spleen, with limited off-target activity and superiority over standard depletion methods. Validation of this approach for cell type–specific surface marker discovery identified S100A9 as a target on the surface of MDSCs.
Modeling and documenting malignant progression in vitro without the need for in vivo transplantation represents a clear step forward for cancer investigation. Using an air-liquid interface methodology, Xingnan Li and colleagues show they can robustly model a range of gastrointestinal malignancies from pancreas, stomach and colon in primary epithelial/mesenchymal organoid culture. This setup is able to generate detailed histologic endpoints for oncogenic transformation in vitro and demonstrate in vivo tumorigenicity when the organoids are transplanted.
Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has emerged as a transformative technology for biological discovery, but technical difficulties have so far prevented its widespread clinical use. Here, Eliezer Van Allen and colleagues are able to perform production-scale WES on small amounts of clinically acquired formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. Using a newly created WES clinical interpretation algorithm, they apply the complete clinical WES framework prospectively to patients and demonstrate how it can be used to directly affect patient care.
Michael Breckwoldt and colleagues have developed a new approach to follow the mitochondrial redox potential of neurons with high spatio-temporal resolution. This multiparametric in vivo imaging approach is based on the transgenic expression of a biosensor for glutathione redox potential in neuronal mitochondria, with utility demonstrated in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injury. It should prove useful for studying mitochondrial pathology in neurological disease models.