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Trio binning assembles both haplotypes of a genome by combining long-read sequence data with short-read data from both parents.

Pangenomes have a number of advantages over linear reference assemblies. Here the authors use bovine haplotype-resolved assemblies to show that structural variant-based pangenomes are consistent regardless of sequence platform, assembler, or coverage, suggesting that rigid protocols may not be required.

Volcanic activity led to ocean acidification at the onset of Oceanic Anoxic Event 2, which then persisted for 600,000 years due to biogeochemical feedbacks, according to marine osmium isotope and carbonate sedimentation records offshore from southwest Australia.

T cell responses can be generated to either pathogen infection or from priming with a vaccine. Here the authors compare T cell generation, phenotype and single cell transcriptome of participants vaccinated with a mpox vaccine or infected with the virus showing that the virus induced T cells showed more effective function and phenotype.

A genome-wide study by the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative identifies an association between the FOXP4 locus and long COVID, implicating altered lung function in its pathophysiology.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) activates latent TGF-β in the extracellular matrix. Here the authors show that inappropriate activation of latent TGF-β in murine, bovine and human lung by monocyte-produced TSP-1 causes pulmonary hypertension, and that interference with the activation process prevents disease development.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Over half the world’s rivers dry periodically, yet little is known about the biological communities in dry riverbeds. This study examines biodiversity across 84 non-perennial rivers in 19 countries using DNA metabarcoding. It finds that nutrient availability, climate and biotic interactions influence the biodiversity of these dry environments.

The Omicron variant evades vaccine-induced neutralization but also fails to form syncytia, shows reduced replication in human lung cells and preferentially uses a TMPRSS2-independent cell entry pathway, which may contribute to enhanced replication in cells of the upper airway. Altered fusion and cell entry characteristics are linked to distinct regions of the Omicron spike protein.

The BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network has constructed a multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex in a landmark effort towards understanding brain cell-type diversity, neural circuit organization and brain function.

Two doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 boost antibody responses and functions in phase 1/2 trial participants.

Crystal structures of BAK core domain dimers suggest a mechanism by which lipids contribute to the oligomerization of BAK, which is essential for BAK-mediated permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane.

RIPK3-mediated phosphorylation of the mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) pseudokinase is thought to be the trigger for MLKL activation during necroptotic signaling. Here the authors provide evidence that the transition of human MLKL from a monomeric state to a tetramer is essential for necroptosis signalling.

Mosquitoes are nearly eradicated in three suburbs of California using accurately sorted sterile male mosquitoes.

Genome-wide and multitrait analyses identify novel loci associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and relevant left ventricular traits. Gene-level burden analyses show that rare truncating SVIL variants are associated with high risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

COVID-19 can be associated with neurological complications. Here the authors show that markers of brain injury, but not immune markers, are elevated in the blood of patients with COVID-19 both early and months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in those with brain dysfunction or neurological diagnoses.

Emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 raise concerns about vaccine efficiency. Here, the authors present a post-hoc analysis for the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine trial in Brazil and provide efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 caused by the Zeta (P.2) and other variants.

Variation in antibody levels elicited by the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCov-19 is linked to specific major histocompatibility complex class II alleles, providing insight into the breadth of immune response among vaccinated individuals.

Defined levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific binding and neutralizing antibodies elicited by the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are identified as correlates of protection against symptomatic infection.

Openshaw and colleagues find myeloid inflammation and complement activation signatures in patients with long COVID who were previously hospitalized.

Over one hundred loci have been identified to be associated with the familial risk of prostate cancer but the functional effects are poorly understood. Here the authors use single-nucleotide variant and epigentic data to show an underlying genetic architecture marked by histone modification.

A single dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine elicits antibodies and cytokine-producing T cells that might help control or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Typhoid toxin is not essential for the pathogenesis of typhoid fever in healthy humans challenged with Salmonella Typhi.

Tissue fixation with formaldehyde and a water-soluble carbodiimide crosslinker (EDC) leads to retention of extracellular vesicles within tissues and allows for reliable extracellular vesicle imaging for semiquantitative imaging applications.

Computationally parallel ‘change-of-mind’ tasks in mice, rats and humans are analysed and demonstrate that sensitivity to sunk costs during re-evaluation depends on the awareness of time spent and remaining.

Adaptive platform trials, which can study multiple therapeutic interventions in a disease in a perpetual manner, offer the potential to improve the efficiency of drug development. This article reviews common features and issues that arise with such trials, and puts forward recommendations to promote best practices in their design, conduct, oversight and reporting.