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| Open AccessNeutralization, effector function and immune imprinting of Omicron variants
Convergent mutations in hot spots of the spike proteins of currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants increase the binding affinity for the host receptor and promote more efficient fusion with host cell membranes.
- Amin Addetia
- , Luca Piccoli
- & David Veesler
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Article
| Open AccessHigh-resolution landscape of an antibiotic binding site
A collection of RNA polymerase mutants spanning all possible substitutions of the rifampicin binding site is generated and characterized, increasing our understanding of antibiotic mechanisms and bacterial physiology.
- Kevin B. Yang
- , Maria Cameranesi
- & Evgeny Nudler
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Where I Work |
Diving deep into hot springs to find Earth’s subsurface microbes
Geomicrobiologist Karen Lloyd explores the roles of microorganisms that dwell in the planet’s most remote regions.
- Virginia Gewin
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News Explainer |
Why a highly mutated coronavirus variant has scientists on alert
Research is under way to determine whether the mutation-laden lineage BA.2.86 has the potential for global spread — or whether it is nothing to worry about.
- Ewen Callaway
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Outlook |
In search of a vaccine for leishmaniasis
Researchers hope that immunization will provide much needed protection against the neglected parasitic disease in conflict zones.
- Anthony King
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Article
| Open AccessA viral ADP-ribosyltransferase attaches RNA chains to host proteins
Bacteriophage T4 uses an enzyme known as ADP-ribosyltransferase ModB to modify the translational apparatus of bacteria it infects, not only by ADP-ribosylating proteins, but also by attaching entire RNA chains in a process known as RNAylation.
- Maik Wolfram-Schauerte
- , Nadiia Pozhydaieva
- & Katharina Höfer
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Article |
Mapping the T cell repertoire to a complex gut bacterial community
Germ-free mice were colonized with complex defined communities to show T cell recognition of commensals is focused on widely conserved, highly expressed cell-surface antigens, opening the door to new therapeutic strategies.
- Kazuki Nagashima
- , Aishan Zhao
- & Michael A. Fischbach
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Article
| Open AccessPersistent equatorial Pacific iron limitation under ENSO forcing
An assessment of variations in phytoplankton nutrient limitation in the tropical Pacific over the past two decades finds that phytoplankton iron limitation is more stable in response to ENSO dynamics than models predict.
- Thomas J. Browning
- , Mak A. Saito
- & Alessandro Tagliabue
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News |
Key alert system for disease outbreaks is in crisis — can it be saved?
ProMED staff members look for rescue options, after going on strike and calling for new leadership and financing.
- Max Kozlov
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Research Briefing |
Insights into different populations’ immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection
Analysis of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 at single-cell resolution reveals marked differences across human populations that are caused by previous infections and genetic variation. Natural selection and past reproduction with Neanderthals contributed to these differing immune responses and disparities in COVID-19 risk.
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Article
| Open AccessTRIM5α restricts poxviruses and is antagonized by CypA and the viral protein C6
The well-characterized HIV restriction factor TRIM5α also restricts orthopoxviruses and is countered by the viral protein C6 and the proviral activity of CypA, which in turn is antagonized by CsA and derivatives alisporivir and NIM811.
- Yiqi Zhao
- , Yongxu Lu
- & Geoffrey L. Smith
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Research Highlight |
A single antibody tackles two childhood viruses
Two pathogens that cause potentially serious respiratory infections in children are suppressed by a single protein.
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News & Views |
Turning cooperative bacteria into probiotics for human health
Understanding how our gut bacteria combine forces to co-exist and produce beneficial molecules will be crucial for developing next-generation probiotics. Key progress towards achieving this goal has been made.
- Yolanda Sanz
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Matters Arising |
Revisiting the intrinsic mycobiome in pancreatic cancer
- Ashley A. Fletcher
- , Matthew S. Kelly
- & Peter J. Allen
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Article
| Open AccessSynergy and oxygen adaptation for development of next-generation probiotics
The anaerobic gut bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was isolated and adapted for oxygen tolerance to develop a next-generation probiotic for the treatment of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Muhammad Tanweer Khan
- , Chinmay Dwibedi
- & Fredrik Bäckhed
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News |
NIH launches trials for long COVID treatments: what scientists think
World’s largest study of long COVID will evaluate potential therapies for brain fog, sleep disruption and more.
- Max Kozlov
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News |
Threatened Mexican oasis loses its main researcher and protector — will it survive?
Valeria Souza has long fought the drainage of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, where ancient microbes offer clues to the origins of life.
- Myriam Vidal Valero
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News |
AI search of Neanderthal proteins resurrects ‘extinct’ antibiotics
Scientists identify protein snippets made by extinct hominins.
- Saima Sidik
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Spotlight |
Meet the scientists planning for disasters
Five researchers share what they’ve learnt from studying how to reduce risks and better prepare for natural hazards.
- Nikki Forrester
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Research Briefing |
Structure sheds light on a lipid-transport machine in mycobacteria
To cause tuberculosis, the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis must obtain nutrients from host cells. This is facilitated at least in part by protein complexes known as transporters. The structure of one such transporter reveals how its constituent subunits assemble into a large complex that enables lipids to be transported into the bacterium.
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Nature Podcast |
AI-enhanced night-vision lets users see in the dark
Night-vision technology gets a boost from machine learning, and the mysterious link between COVID-19 and type-1 diabetes.
- Nick Petrić Howe
- & Shamini Bundell
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Article |
Structure of an endogenous mycobacterial MCE lipid transporter
Proteins of the Mycobacterium smegmatis Mce1 system assemble to form an elongated ABC transporter complex that is long enough to span the impermeable mycobacterial cell envelope.
- James Chen
- , Alice Fruhauf
- & Damian C. Ekiert
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Article |
Oligomerization-mediated activation of a short prokaryotic Argonaute
Cryo-electron microscopy structures and biochemical analyses provide insight into how short prokaryotic Argonaute proteins are assembled and activated, and reveal that oligomerization has a key role in driving catalytic activity.
- Zhangfei Shen
- , Xiao-Yuan Yang
- & Tian-Min Fu
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Article
| Open AccessSmall protein modules dictate prophage fates during polylysogeny
Prophage lysogeny-to-lysis transitions are controlled by regulatory modules consisting of transcription factors and partner small proteins that are activated through DNA-damage-independent pathways, including by quorum sensing, and these modules determine inter-prophage competition outcomes.
- Justin E. Silpe
- , Olivia P. Duddy
- & Bonnie L. Bassler
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Obituary |
Harald zur Hausen, virologist who linked viruses to cancer (1936–2023)
Nobel laureate who laid the foundations for vaccines to prevent cervical cancer.
- Michael Baumann
- & Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
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News |
As COVID-19 cases rose, so did diabetes — no one knows why
The spike in childhood type 1 diabetes opened new avenues for researchers to explore the cause of the disease.
- Clare Watson
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Research Highlight |
A lethal fungal infection gets a hand from the body’s own defences
Bloodstream infections by a common fungus are less deadly in mice engineered to have lower levels of a protein secreted by immune cells.
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Research Briefing |
A genetic basis for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
A common genetic variant of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, a family of genes involved in the immune response, is associated with an absence of symptoms during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous exposure to cold viruses seems to confer this immunity.
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News |
Had COVID but no symptoms? You might have this genetic mutation
A common variant in an immune-system gene is linked with a much higher chance of dodging symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Max Kozlov
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Article
| Open AccessA common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
The human leukocyte antigen allele HLA-B*15:01 is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to pre-existing T cell immunity.
- Danillo G. Augusto
- , Lawton D. Murdolo
- & Jill A. Hollenbach
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Research Highlight |
Rapid COVID tests miss 90% of asymptomatic cases
But if the tests work much better when taken three times over the course of several days.
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News |
US congressional hearing produces heat but no light on COVID-origins debate
A showdown over an influential early publication has done little to prepare the country for the next pandemic, observers say.
- Max Kozlov
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Technology Feature |
Germs, genes and soil: tales of pathogens past
Armed with DNA sequencers and powerful computational tools, archaeogeneticists are turning their attention towards ancient microbes to give bacteria their due in human history.
- Amber Dance
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Article
| Open AccessPLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1), a protein induced by IFNγ, acts as a defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses by inhibiting the fusion of the virus with host-cell membranes.
- Dijin Xu
- , Weiqian Jiang
- & John D. MacMicking
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Article |
Retrotransposons hijack alt-EJ for DNA replication and eccDNA biogenesis
Retrotransposons hijack the alternative end-joining DNA repair process of the host for a circularization step to synthesize their second-strand DNA.
- Fu Yang
- , Weijia Su
- & ZZ Zhao Zhang
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News |
Gene linked to long COVID found in analysis of thousands of patients
The first genome-wide search for long-COVID risk factors could pave the way for larger studies.
- Heidi Ledford
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Research Highlight |
COVID variants exploited air travel for swift spread
Nations with large volumes of outgoing air traffic accounted for a high proportion of variant exports.
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Article |
Hepatitis C virus RNA is 5′-capped with flavin adenine dinucleotide
Hepatitis C virus utilizes flavin adenine dinucleotide as a non-canonical initiating nucleotide for the viral RNA polymerase, resulting in 5′ capping of viral RNA, which provides protection against the host innate immune response.
- Anna V. Sherwood
- , Lizandro R. Rivera-Rangel
- & Jeppe Vinther
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Article
| Open AccessEvolution of a minimal cell
An engineered minimal cell evolves to escape the negative consequences of genome streamlining.
- R. Z. Moger-Reischer
- , J. I. Glass
- & J. T. Lennon
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News & Views |
Viruses trick bystander cells into lowering their defences
The microenvironment of virus-infected cells and uninfected adjacent cells influences infection. Human cytomegalovirus dampens the immune response of neighbouring uninfected cells, but distant cells can mount an antiviral defence.
- Timothy M. White
- & Felicia D. Goodrum
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Comment |
COVID-19 digital contact tracing worked — heed the lessons for future pandemics
For all the controversy over decentralized contact-tracing apps, data show that these privacy-preserving tools saved thousands of lives during the pandemic. National and international authorities must invest in the technology now.
- Marcel Salathé
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Technology Feature |
Foldseek gives AlphaFold protein database a rapid search tool
The structural search program makes finding proteins with similar 3D shapes easy.
- Matthew Hutson
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News |
New COVID jabs are coming — who should get them?
Countries rolling out updated vaccines weigh up whether to restrict them to high-risk individuals.
- Max Kozlov
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Article |
BTN3A3 evasion promotes the zoonotic potential of influenza A viruses
A protein that evolved in primates, BTN3A3, is expressed in human airways and shows antiviral activity against avian IAVs but not against human IAVs.
- Rute Maria Pinto
- , Siddharth Bakshi
- & Massimo Palmarini
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Outlook |
The next frontier for malaria vaccination
Hot on the heels of the first approved vaccine for malaria, researchers are racing to develop even better shots that tackle the parasite at every stage of its life cycle.
- Cassandra Willyard
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Outlook |
Malaria: highlights from research
A mosquito hibernation mystery solved, parasites grown in dishes for the first time, and other studies and trials.
- Laura Vargas-Parada
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Outlook |
In search of a vaccine for Plasmodium vivax malaria
Vaccinologist Arturo Reyes-Sandoval explains how researchers are edging closer to a much-needed vaccine.
- Laura Vargas-Parada
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News & Views |
A human protein that holds bird flu viruses at bay
Avian influenza A viruses that can cross the species barrier could cause the next pandemic. Mutations in the viral genome have now been found that can overcome a newly discovered antiviral protein, BTN3A3, in human cells.
- Laura Graf
- & Peter Staeheli
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Article |
Gut microbial fatty acid isomerization modulates intraepithelial T cells
A diet–microorganism pathway involving conjugated linoleic acid, interleukin-18, intraepithelial lymphocytes and the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4γ modulates the host mucosal immune system.
- Xinyang Song
- , Haohao Zhang
- & Dennis L. Kasper
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