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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infects humans and causes chronic arthritic diseases, yet information on CHIKV immune epitopes is still lacking. Here the authors stimulate peripheral blood cells from CHIKV patients with a peptide pool covering the full CHIKV proteome to define CD4 + T cell epitopes as well as to map cross-reactivity with closely related alphaviruses.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

The benefits and risks of nature to human health have been studied, however, robust empirical research on forest biodiversity and health outcomes is still lacking. Here the authors use a unique dataset from 164 European forest stands to explore the associations between forest types and well-being.

Romero-Becerra et al. report that stress kinases p38γ and p38δ are activated in ventricles of old mice and in arrhythmogenic conditions, and they demonstrate that p38γ/δ -driven phosphorylation of RyR2 and SAP97 is a trigger for ventricular fibrillation.

A study of dependencies associated with cancer-causing mutations has identified a small molecule that binds to SHOC2 and inhibits RAS signalling in cells carrying NRAS Q61 mutations, a common oncogenic driver in melanoma.

Genotype and exome sequencing of 150,000 participants and whole-genome sequencing of 9,950 selected individuals recruited into the Mexico City Prospective Study constitute a valuable, publicly available resource of non-European sequencing data.

Machine learning algorithms can increase the effectiveness of mental health interventions, but biased systems might exacerbate current disparities in case identification and treatment. In this Perspective, Timmons et al. propose a model that integrates artificial intelligence methods with co-creation techniques to reduce bias and increase inclusion in mental healthcare.

The efficacy of T-cell-based cancer immunotherapies can be compromised by T cell exhaustion. Here the authors develop a human ex vivo exhaustion model and, based on a CRISPR-Cas9 screen, identify SNX9 as a regulator of T cell exhaustion, showing that SNX9 knockout is associated with improved T cell function and anti-tumor activity in preclinical cancer models.

Aging is associated with increased levels of inflammation and metabolic changes. Here authors compare B cells from young and elderly donors and see immunometabolic changes and assess the impact of increased lactate production on the immune responses at different ages.

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.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias identifies new loci and enables generation of a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A yeast platform for de novo biosynthesis of medicinal plant compounds has now been reported. The platform was used to explore the biocatalytic potential of refactored plant pathways and resulted in the production of 19 halogenated derivatives with therapeutic potential.

Virus-induced senescence is a central pathogenic feature in COVID-19, and senolytics, which promote apoptosis of senescent cells, can reduce disease severity in hamsters,mice, as well as humans infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Tumor-secreted midkine modulates immune tolerance in the melanoma tumor microenvironment and determines resistance to immune checkpoint blockade.

Activation of hypothalamic AgRP neurons promotes intake of the non-caloric sweetener saccharin in calorie-restricted mice, revealing their role in driving reward-driven consummatory behavior under energy deficit conditions.

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) modulate inflammatory and allergic responses, but their function in cancer immunity is still unclear. Here the authors show that, in acute promyelocytic leukaemia, tumour-activated ILC2s secrete IL-13 to induce myeloid-derived suppressor cells and support tumour growth.

Chronic pain is sustained by alterations in gene transcription. Here, the authors show that increased expression of Organic Anionic Transporter 1 in the spinal cord is epigenetically controlled and key to hypersensitivity in pathological pain.

Human pluripotent cells (hPSCs) in standard culture are similar to mouse epiblast cells, but heterogeneity within hPSC cultures complicates comparisons. Here the authors show that a subpopulation of hPSCs enriched for self-renewal capacity have distinct cell cycle, metabolic, DNA methylation, and ATAC-seq profiles.

Using lidar over an area of 85,000 km², Inomata et al. identified 478 early ceremonial complexes in southern Mexico. These discoveries offer new information for understanding the origins of Mayan civilization and its relation with the Olmecs.

Roger Milne and colleagues conduct a genome-wide association study for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer combined with BRCA1 mutation carriers in a large cohort. They identify ten new risk variants and find high genetic correlation between breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers and risk of ER-negative breast cancer in the general population.

A randomized trial in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 showed no benefit and potentially increased harm associated with the use of convalescent plasma, with subgroup analyses suggesting that the antibody profile in donor plasma is critical in determining clinical outcomes.

Technological advances have enabled the analysis of whole genomes, leading to the identification of causal factors that present new opportunities to prevent cancer. The authors of this Review discuss relevant findings in cancer genetics and genomics from the perspective of global cancer prevention and present a conceptual framework for the translation of such findings into clinical practice and evidence-based policies.

Ablation of the large tumour suppressor kinases 1 and 2 promotes a luminal breast cell phenotype through stabilization of oestrogen receptor-α, thereby changing human breast cell fate.

Genetically engineered ‘lymphoreporter’ mouse strains are used to track melanoma dissemination in vivo, identifying midkine as a tumour-secreted factor that acts at a distance, preparing pre-metastatic niches and serving as an indicator of poor prognosis in patients.

Gomez-Lopez et al. profile the plasma proteome of pregnant and non-pregnant COVID-19 patients and controls. Shared and pregnancy-specific proteomic changes are identified in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, with the proteome accurately identifying COVID-19 patients, even when asymptomatic.