Featured
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Article
| Open AccessEye movements track prioritized auditory features in selective attention to natural speech
Anatomical overlap of respective brain regions suggests a joint network for attention and eye movements. Here, the authors show that gaze aligns with the acoustics of attended natural speech and differentiates between a target and a distractor in a cocktail party scenario.
- Quirin Gehmacher
- , Juliane Schubert
- & Nathan Weisz
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Article
| Open AccessThe impact of exercise on gene regulation in association with complex trait genetics
It is known that exercise influences many human traits, but not which tissues and genes are most important. This study connects transcriptome data collected across 15 tissues during exercise training in rats as part of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium with human data to identify traits with similar tissue specific gene expression signatures to exercise.
- Nikolai G. Vetr
- , Nicole R. Gay
- & Stephen B. Montgomery
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Article
| Open AccessLarge-language models facilitate discovery of the molecular signatures regulating sleep and activity
The knowledge in the large language model (LLM), generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) 3.5, is elicited to facilitate the discovery of MRE11 in regulating sleep in the presence of conspecifics by a multi-object video tracking system.
- Di Peng
- , Liubin Zheng
- & Luoying Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessStructural mechanism of voltage-gated sodium channel slow inactivation
Inactivation is an intrinsic property of NaV channel, but the mechanism for slow inactivation is not fully understood. Here, authors show a NaVEh structure in a potential slow-inactivated state, elucidating structural basis for slow inactivation.
- Huiwen Chen
- , Zhanyi Xia
- & Daohua Jiang
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Article
| Open AccessCerebrospinal fluid reference proteins increase accuracy and interpretability of biomarkers for brain diseases
CSF biomarker concentrations may be influenced by non-disease related interindividual variability. Here, the authors show that reference proteins can capture this variability and enhance the accuracy of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers.
- Linda Karlsson
- , Jacob Vogel
- & Oskar Hansson
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Article
| Open AccessDevelopment of Aptamer-DNAzyme based metal-nucleic acid frameworks for gastric cancer therapy
The development of metal-nucleic acid nanocomposites for therapeutic is limited by poor stability and synthesis efficiency. Here, the authors develop a multi-fragmented aptamer DNAzyme metal-nucleic acid frameworks (MNFs) under milder conditions and demonstrate its preclinical efficacy in gastric cancer.
- Jiaqi Yan
- , Rajendra Bhadane
- & Hongbo Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessGlis2 is an early effector of polycystin signaling and a target for therapy in polycystic kidney disease
Cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is driven by unknown molecular signals that require the presence of intact primary cilia in the absence of the PKD gene products. Here, the authors show that the transcription factor Glis2 is a key effector of this cilia dependent cyst growth pathway and a potential target for therapy in ADPKD
- Chao Zhang
- , Michael Rehman
- & Stefan Somlo
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Article
| Open AccessGalectin-3 impairs calcium transients and β-cell function
Galectin-3, mainly produced and secreted by macrophages, is elevated in diabetes. Here, the authors show that galectin-3 directly interacts with voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 1 (CACNG1) and blocks calcium transients and subsequent insulin secretion.
- Qian Jiang
- , Qijin Zhao
- & Pingping Li
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Article
| Open AccessMetaboAnalystR 4.0: a unified LC-MS workflow for global metabolomics
Several bottlenecks exist in metabolomics data analysis. Here, the authors present MetaboAnalystR 4.0 as a unified workflow for LC-MS untargeted metabolomics. It highlights significant improvements in LC-MS2 spectral processing and functional analysis, providing an end-to-end computational pipeline.
- Zhiqiang Pang
- , Lei Xu
- & Jianguo Xia
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Article
| Open AccessModelling the transmission dynamics of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in a live bird market
H9N2 avian influenza is a virus with zoonotic potential that is common in poultry in live bird markets in Asia. In this study, the authors use mathematical modelling to characterise transmission of H9N2 in live bird markets in Bangladesh and assess the effectiveness of potential interventions to reduce its circulation.
- Francesco Pinotti
- , Lisa Kohnle
- & Guillaume Fournié
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Article
| Open AccessConcomitant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening for elimination of HPV and cervical cancer
Here the authors report baseline results of a population-based trial testing concomitant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and HPV-based screening of young women in Sweden and, using a transmission model, suggest that this approach may reduce high-risk HPV infections.
- Laila Sara Arroyo Mühr
- , Andrea Gini
- & Joakim Dillner
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Comment
| Open AccessA role for nNOS in mediating stress and female sexual behavior in mice
Developmental stress can detrimentally affect adult female reproductive behavior, influencing sexual receptivity and fertility. Recent work has demonstrated neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS)-promoted NO release in the ventromedial hypothalamus as a nexus between pre-pubertal stress and adult sexual behavior in mice.
- Konstantina Chachlaki
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Article
| Open AccessIdentifying tumor type and cell type-specific gene expression alterations in pediatric central nervous system tumors
The molecular features of paediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumours are not fully understood, posing a challenge for targeted therapies. Here, the authors characterise paediatric CNS tumours using single-nucleus RNA-seq; they identify cell type populations associated with specific tumour types and with response to therapy.
- Min Kyung Lee
- , Nasim Azizgolshani
- & Brock C. Christensen
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Article
| Open AccessAssociations in cell type-specific hydroxymethylation and transcriptional alterations of pediatric central nervous system tumors
Cell type-specific epigenomic alterations and heterogeneity in paediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumours remain underexplored. Here, the authors integrate bulk DNA cytosine modification data with bulk and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to explore cell type-specific epigenomic alterations and gene regulation in paediatric CNS tumours.
- Min Kyung Lee
- , Nasim Azizgolshani
- & Brock C. Christensen
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Article
| Open AccessAirway epithelial CD47 plays a critical role in inducing influenza virus-mediated bacterial super-infection
During the influenza pandemic, a large number of deaths resulted from secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by common upper respiratory tract bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. Here, Moon et al, find that the interaction between airway epithelial CD47 and the pathogenic bacterial FnBP is critical in causing bacterial superinfection.
- Sungmin Moon
- , Seunghan Han
- & Ji-Hwan Ryu
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessOn the statistical foundation of a recent single molecule FRET benchmark
- Ayush Saurabh
- , Lance W. Q. Xu
- & Steve Pressé
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: On the statistical foundation of a recent single molecule FRET benchmark
- Markus Götz
- , Anders Barth
- & Sonja Schmid
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Article
| Open AccessUnraveling the mechanisms of PAMless DNA interrogation by SpRY-Cas9
CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful tool, but the strict requirement for an “NGG” protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sequence limits the number of editable genes. Here the authors combine enzyme kinetics, cryo-EM, and single-molecule imaging to determine how SpRY interrogates DNA and recognises target sites for cleavage.
- Grace N. Hibshman
- , Jack P. K. Bravo
- & David W. Taylor
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Article
| Open AccessThe gene “degrees of kevin bacon” (dokb) regulates a social network behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster
The structure of a social network is thought to be heritable in many animals, including humans. Here, Rooke and colleagues identify a gene, which they name “degrees of kevin bacon (dokb)”, that is expressed in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster and regulates the structure of social networks.
- Rebecca Rooke
- , Joshua J. Krupp
- & Joel D. Levine
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Article
| Open AccessMitochondrial genome transfer drives metabolic reprogramming in adjacent colonic epithelial cells promoting TGFβ1-mediated tumor progression
The interaction between colon cancer cells and colonic epithelial cells (CECs) is critical yet not well-known. Here, the authors show that tumor extracellular vesicles mediate mitochondrial DNA transfer to CECs, initiating mitochondrial activation and RelA-induced TGFβ1 expression, leading to tumor progression.
- Bingjie Guan
- , Youdong Liu
- & Dongwang Yan
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Article
| Open AccessOptochemical control of slow-wave sleep in the nucleus accumbens of male mice by a photoactivatable allosteric modulator of adenosine A2A receptors
The nucleus accumbens integrates sleep and motivation in mice. Here, the authors show sleep induction by increasing the activity of extracellular adenosine from astrocytes and neurons at A2A receptors with a photoactivatable allosteric modulator.
- Koustav Roy
- , Xuzhao Zhou
- & Michael Lazarus
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Article
| Open AccessStress during pubertal development affects female sociosexual behavior in mice
Evidence suggests that stress during development might lead to sexual dysfunction. Here, authors show that pubertal stress disrupted female sexual behavior by reducing activation of nitric oxide synthase-expressing neurons in response to male cues.
- Yassine Bentefour
- & Julie Bakker
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Article
| Open AccessA case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in retroviral gene therapy for ADA-SCID
Leukaemia development has been reported as an associated risk of haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSPC-GT) using retroviral vectors in different diseases. Here, the authors show a case of T-cell acute lymphoid leukaemia in a patient with Adenosine Deaminase-deficient Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID) treated with retroviral gene therapy.
- Daniela Cesana
- , Maria Pia Cicalese
- & Alessandro Aiuti
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Article
| Open AccessDopamine signaling enriched striatal gene set predicts striatal dopamine synthesis and physiological activity in vivo
Here, the authors report that schizophrenia risk variants mapping to a striatal dopamine-related gene set are associated with increased striatal dopamine synthesis capacity and increased striatal activity during reward anticipation in humans.
- Leonardo Sportelli
- , Daniel P. Eisenberg
- & Giulio Pergola
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Article
| Open AccessEvolution of triclosan resistance modulates bacterial permissiveness to multidrug resistance plasmids and phages
In this work, Yang et al. provide evidence of triclosan exposure resulting in increased evolvability of K. pneumoniae in experimental evolution studies. They utilize sequencing and transcriptomics to explore the chromosomally and horizontally acquired antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
- Qiu E. Yang
- , Xiaodan Ma
- & Timothy R. Walsh
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Article
| Open AccessGenomic deletion of Bcl6 differentially affects conventional dendritic cell subsets and compromises Tfh/Tfr/Th17 cell responses
Conventional dendritic cells are playing a pivotal role at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity, but they are a heterogenous group regarding function and regulation. Here, the authors show that although Bcl6-deficiency does not regulate general DC subset identity, Bcl6 expression is required for a specific subset of type 2 DCs in mice, resulting in impaired T helper cell responses and further clarifying molecular players driving DC subset heterogeneity.
- Hongkui Xiao
- , Isabel Ulmert
- & Katharina Lahl
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Article
| Open AccessPositive selection in the genomes of two Papua New Guinean populations at distinct altitude levels
This study explores selection signals of Papua New Guinean highlanders and lowlanders using 128 new whole genome sequences. It highlights two genetic variants associated with blood traits that also influence the heart rate of these populations.
- Mathilde André
- , Nicolas Brucato
- & François-Xavier Ricaut
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Article
| Open AccessProtein mimetic 2D FAST rescues alpha synuclein aggregation mediated early and post disease Parkinson’s phenotypes
The aggregation of the neuronal protein α-Synuclein is associated with the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Here the authors report a two-dimensional Fragment Assisted Structure-based technique to find antagonists of α-Synuclein aggregation and show its promise for identifying lead therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease.
- Nicholas H. Stillman
- , Johnson A. Joseph
- & Sunil Kumar
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Article
| Open AccessPrimary prophylaxis with mTOR inhibitor enhances T cell effector function and prevents heart transplant rejection during talimogene laherparepvec therapy of squamous cell carcinoma
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is more frequent and more aggressive in the organ transplanted and represent a therapeutic challenge due to the ongoing transplantrelated immune suppression. Here, the authors present a case report of a patient whose T cell responses were successfully strengthened via primary prophylactic therapy with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition and intra-lesion injection of the oncolytic herpesvirus T-VEC.
- Victor Joo
- , Karim Abdelhamid
- & Michel Obeid
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Perspective
| Open AccessEngineering is evolution: a perspective on design processes to engineer biology
Evolutionary and rational design approaches are commonly used to engineer biological systems but are typically seen at odds with each other. In this perspective the authors argue for the concept of an evolutionary design spectrum to help unify and compare these design methodologies to support more effective biological engineering.
- Simeon D. Castle
- , Michiel Stock
- & Thomas E. Gorochowski
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Article
| Open AccessVC-resist glioblastoma cell state: vessel co-option as a key driver of chemoradiation resistance
In patient with glioblastoma, a major cause of resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the high degree to intratumoral heterogeneity and cell plasticity. Here, the authors demonstrate that chemoradiation induces the reprograming of glioblastoma cells into an invasive and vessel co-opting state, termed VC-Resist, capable of promoting resistance to therapy.
- Cathy Pichol-Thievend
- , Oceane Anezo
- & Giorgio Seano
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Article
| Open AccessAtypical heat shock transcription factor HSF5 is critical for male meiotic prophase under non-stress conditions
The regulation of meiotic prophase progression varies between males and females. This study reveals the involvement of an atypical heat shock transcription factor HSF5 in gene expression during male meiotic prophase and highlights the involved gene regulatory mechanism.
- Saori Yoshimura
- , Ryuki Shimada
- & Kei-ichiro Ishiguro
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Article
| Open AccessSerial founder effects slow range expansion in an invasive social insect
Invasive populations often have low genetic diversity because they originated from a small number of founding individuals. This study shows that in an invasive honey bee, one consequence of low genetic diversity is a reduced rate of population expansion due to serial founder effects at range edges.
- Thomas Hagan
- , Guiling Ding
- & Rosalyn Gloag
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Article
| Open AccessCD8+ T-cell responses towards conserved influenza B virus epitopes across anatomical sites and age
Influenza B viruses are linked to significant morbidity and mortality, and yet their immunobiology is comparatively poorly understood. Here Menon et al identify influenza B virus-specific CD8+ T cell epitopes and characterise these in adults, children and the elderly.
- Tejas Menon
- , Patricia T. Illing
- & Katherine Kedzierska
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Article
| Open AccessAntigen presentation plays positive roles in the regenerative response to cardiac injury in zebrafish
An adequate immune response is necessary to promote heart regeneration. Here, the authors identified a link between antigen presentation, immune cells, and endocardial cells during the regenerative response to cardiac injury in the adult zebrafish.
- João Cardeira-da-Silva
- , Qianchen Wang
- & Didier Y. R. Stainier
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovering a mitochondrion-localized BAHD acyltransferase involved in calystegine biosynthesis and engineering the production of 3β-tigloyloxytropane
A mitochondrion-localised BAHD acyltransferase (3β-tigloyloxytropane synthase, TS) from Atropa belladonna is responsible for the formation of 3β-tigloyloxytropane, the key intermediate in calystegine biosynthesis.
- Junlan Zeng
- , Xiaoqiang Liu
- & Zhihua Liao
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Article
| Open AccessSkin graft with dermis and appendages generated in vivo by cell competition
Skin substitutes generated by tissue engineering have limited properties. Here, authors established niche encroachment method. Cell competition enabled skin organogenesis from allogeneic and xenogeneic stem cells on p63 knockout embryos, resulting in a complete skin graft on dermis with hair.
- Hisato Nagano
- , Naoaki Mizuno
- & Hiromitsu Nakauchi
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Article
| Open AccessIdentifying therapeutic targets for cancer among 2074 circulating proteins and risk of nine cancers
Circulating proteins are a potential source of cancer biomarkers. Here, the authors assessed 2,074 circulating proteins and used Mendelian randomisation to compare with the risk of 9 common cancer types across multiple GWAS cohorts and identified key considerations with respect to the potential for adverse effects of altering cancer-risk proteins that inform their utility in cancer prevention.
- Karl Smith-Byrne
- , Åsa Hedman
- & Anders Mälarstig
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Article
| Open AccessAlternative splicing controls teneurin-3 compact dimer formation for neuronal recognition
This study reveals how two splice inserts alter the conformation and dimeric arrangement of the teneurin-3 extracellular region. These insights elucidate the role of teneurin isoforms in neuronal recognition and circuit wiring.
- Christos Gogou
- , J. Wouter Beugelink
- & Dimphna H. Meijer
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Article
| Open AccessHIV transmission dynamics and population-wide drug resistance in rural South Africa
There is limited data on drug resistance in South African communities strongly affected by HIV. In this study, the authors observed low levels of resistance to newer drugs but widespread resistance to older HIV medications in a South African community. Resistance to rilpivirine was detected even in untreated individuals.
- Steven A. Kemp
- , Kimia Kamelian
- & Ravindra K. Gupta
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Article
| Open AccessStress-shape misalignment in confluent cell layers
When studying nematic ordering of cells in a monolayer, it is commonly assumed that the principal stress and cell shape axes are tightly coupled. Here, the authors measure cell shape and cell-generated contractile stresses and show that cells in monolayers form correlated, dynamic domains in which the stresses are systematically misaligned with the cell bodies.
- Mehrana R. Nejad
- , Liam J. Ruske
- & Julia M. Yeomans
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Article
| Open AccessA secondary mechanism of action for triazole antifungals in Aspergillus fumigatus mediated by hmg1
Triazole antifungals are widely used and exert their action by inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis. Here, Rybak et al show that these drugs both inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis and induce accumulation of pathway intermediates that directly induce inhibition of sterol synthesis.
- Jeffrey M. Rybak
- , Jinhong Xie
- & Jarrod R. Fortwendel
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Article
| Open AccessDynamic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations in a lung transplantation patient with persistent COVID-19
In this study, the authors report the case of a patient who underwent lung transplantation and subsequently developed COVID-19 that resulted in persistent infection. Following antiviral treatment, SARS-CoV-2 (BA.5) showed dynamic genetic diversity with remdesivir resistant mutations leading to enhanced fusogenicity.
- Hidetoshi Igari
- , Seiichiro Sakao
- & Eiji Ido
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Article
| Open AccessDistinguishing individual photobodies using Oligopaints reveals thermo-sensitive and -insensitive phytochrome B condensation at distinct subnuclear locations
Photobodies form via the condensation of the light and temperature sensor phytochrome B. Here, the authors label photobodies using nuclear landmarks to demonstrate the nonrandom thermos-sensitive and -insensitive seeding of distinct photobodies.
- Juan Du
- , Keunhwa Kim
- & Meng Chen
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Article
| Open AccessMitochondrial complex I deficiency stratifies idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease can be stratified according to the severity of neuronal respiratory complex I deficiency. The emerging disease subtypes show distinct molecular and clinical profiles.
- Irene H. Flønes
- , Lilah Toker
- & Charalampos Tzoulis
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Article
| Open AccessNew Late Pleistocene age for the Homo sapiens skeleton from Liujiang southern China
Here the authors provide new radiocarbon, U-series, and OSL dates for Homo sapiens fossils from Tongtianyan cave, southern China, placing them at 33-23 thousand years ago and indicating widespread presence of Homo sapiens across eastern Asia in the Late Pleistocene.
- Junyi Ge
- , Song Xing
- & Qingfeng Shao
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Article
| Open AccessSubstrate binding plasticity revealed by Cryo-EM structures of SLC26A2
SLC26A2 transports crucial ions and mutations in it cause diverse diseases. Here, authors present cryo-EM structures of SLC26A2 with substrates, revealing details of its homodimer assembly, dynamic substrate binding, and effects of mutations.
- Wenxin Hu
- , Alex Song
- & Hongjin Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessSulfur oxidation and reduction are coupled to nitrogen fixation in the roots of the salt marsh foundation plant Spartina alterniflora
The mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions in coastal ecosystems are little explored. Here, the authors use multi-omics and biogeochemical measurements to investigate the saltmarsh cordgrass root microbiome and its role in coupling nitrogen fixation and sulfur cycling.
- J. L. Rolando
- , M. Kolton
- & J. E. Kostka
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Article
| Open AccessSnail-inspired robotic swarms: a hybrid connector drives collective adaptation in unstructured outdoor environments
The authors introduce a 3D terrestrial robotic swarm equipped with a snail-inspired two-mode connection system for self-reconfigurability and mobility in unstructured environments.
- Da Zhao
- , Haobo Luo
- & Tin Lun Lam
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