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Oceanic nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. Examination of nutrient concentrations in the North and South Atlantic Ocean suggests that nitrogen fixation is controlled by the supply of dissolved iron.

Slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation from 2004 to 2012 led to a decrease in its relative contribution to North Atlantic carbon accumulation, while the supply from air–sea fluxes increased, according to an analysis of ocean mooring circulation observations.

The role of IgG glycosylation in the immune response has been studied, but less is known about IgM glycosylation. Here the authors characterize glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2 spike specific IgM and show that it correlates with COVID-19 severity and affects complement deposition.

Recombinant T-cells receptors can redirect naïve T cells but often have low or uneven expression. Here, the authors model mutations in TCR constant domains to increase T cell receptor expression, assembly, and stability and generate bispecific molecules.

Malnutrition during pregnancy has lasting effects on maternal and offspring health. Its adverse impacts are modified by the maternal microbiome and attenuated by gestational treatment with select microbial metabolites.

Predicting highly enantioselective ligands for a given asymmetric catalytic reaction is very challenging, but could greatly reduce the need for high-throughput, trial-and-error experimentation. Here, the authors report a freely available, automated tool to identify appropriate chiral ligands for given substrates in asymmetric catalysis.

An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

High pathogenicity avian influenza virus has a wide host range and has been detected across a large geographic area. Here, the authors present evidence of spread to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, with signs of clinical infection and positive virus detection in birds and elephant seals.

Here, the authors combine isolation and sequencing of bacteria from both mothers and infants and to show that several microbial strains are commonly transferred, including from the genus Bifidobacterium, with factors that influencing transfer including delivery mode and exposure to antibiotics in labour.

The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes secretes a short peptide (LCP) that mediates intercellular communication and controls bacterial virulence. Here, the authors show that LCP homologues act as bacterial intercellular signals and regulate gene expression also in other bacteria.

There is an unmet medical need for the detection and treatment of early adenomas to prevent their progression to malignant disease. Here the authors show that orally administered E. coli Nissle 1917 can selectively colonize adenomas in mouse models and in patients as a detection tool, as well as deliver immunotherapeutics for colorectal neoplasia treatment.

The translation of upstream open reading frames in skin tumour models protects some cancer-related mRNAs from global reductions in protein synthesis during the early stages of tumour initiation, suggesting that unconventional translation has a crucial role in tumorigenesis.

Most studies of the genetics of the metabolome have been done in individuals of European descent. Here, the authors integrate genomics and metabolomics in Black individuals, highlighting the value of whole genome sequencing in diverse populations and linking circulating metabolites to human disease.

Mutations in gene pmrB are found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. Here, Bricio-Moreno et al. show in a mouse model of respiratory infection that the mutations enhance bacterial adherence to epithelial cells and resistance to lysozyme, but also increase antibiotic susceptibility.

The operational simplicity of modifying the surfaces of thiol-capped gold nanoparticles has been a hallmark of their success in materials chemistry, despite having limited control over the surface composition. Now, S_NAr chemistry on activated perfluoroaromatics has been shown to mimic this simplicity and allow for the synthesis of atomically precise nanomolecules.

Mutations in profilin 1 (PFN1), which modulates actin dynamics, are associated with ALS. Here the authors show that expression of ALS-PFN1 is sufficient to induce deficits in human microglia-like cells, including impaired phagocytosis and lipid metabolism, and that gain-of-function interactions between ALS-PFN1 and PI3P may underlie these deficits.

Germination of an ancient seed from the Judean desert, confirmed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis as belonging to an unknown Commiphora sp., contained abundant bioactive compounds, suggesting identification with a resin-producing tree mentioned in Biblical sources.

While vaccines protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection are approved, currently, there are no drugs suitable for high-risk exposure use against SARS-CoV-2. Here, Rosenke et al. provide evidence that orally delivered MK-4482, a nucleoside analog, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in the Syrian hamster model.

Using a global synthesis of size spectra data from pelagic food webs, this study finds that size structure is not driven by temperature as often suggested, but by the nutrient status of the system. This means that modest phytoplankton declines projected for key fishing grounds at mid-latitudes will amplify into substantial reductions in the supportable biomass of fish.

In mitosis, genome integrity is maintained by DNA polymerase theta-dependent repair of DNA double-strand breaks, which is regulated by Polo-like kinase 1 activity.

Ruffieux, Hess and colleagues analyze longitudinal phenotyping of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 to show that covariation of innate immune cell numbers, kynurenine metabolites and lipid metabolites influence the restoration of homeostasis, the risk of death and that of long COVID.

Seeds, flour and food products derived from two near-identical pea genotypes (BC1/19RR and BC1/19rr) were utilized in a series of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies to explore the contribution of starch structure, food matrix and intestinal environment to postprandial glycaemia.

Metabolic activity of specific human gut microorganisms contributes to liver steatosis in obese women.

Small molecules that arise from the maternal gut microbiome in pregnant dams promote fetal thalamocortical axonogenesis in their offspring.

An extensive RNA binding protein atlas (RBPome) for primary T cells would be a useful resource. Here the authors use two different methods to characterise the mouse and human T cell RBPome and show regulation of Roquin-1/2 dependent and independent pathways.

Inhibition of the autophagy–lysosome system upregulates surface expression of MHC class I proteins and enhances antigen presentation, and evokes a potent anti-tumour immune response that is mediated by CD8⁺ T cells.

PrimPol is a multifunctional replicative enzyme that can bypass DNA damage, as well as reprime replication restart. Here, the authors have elucidated how PrimPol is recruited to stalled replication forks via specific interactions with RPA, which stimulates its primase activity.

African Americans have much higher colon cancer rates than rural South Africans, which is associated with dietary and metabolic differences. Here, O’Keefe et al.show that switching quantities of fat and fibre leads to reciprocal changes in gut microbiota, metabolites and cancer biomarkers.

A single intracerebroventricular injection of FGF1 leads to a remarkable remission of diabetes in various rodent models. Here, Alonge et al. show that FGF1-induced diabetes remission in rats requires remodelling of perineuronal nets that enmesh glucoregulatory neurons in the arcuate nucleus.

Acromyrmex ants cultivate fungus gardens that can be parasitized by Escovopsis sp., leading to colony collapse. Here, Heine et al. identify two secondary metabolites produced by Escovopsis that accumulate in Acromyrmex tissue, reduce behavioural defenses and suppress symbiotic Pseudonocardia bacteria.

Platypuses are monotremes and combine aspects of both reptilian and mammalian behaviour. An international consortium reports the genome sequence and analysis of Ornithorhynchus anatinus and as expected, parts of the genome look more like mammals, whereas other parts more like reptiles or even chickens.

Penney et al. conduct microbial and metabolic profiling in people with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes, undergoing two types of bariatric surgery. Integrative analysis identifies multi-omic signatures associated with response to surgery, body mass index, and glycaemic control.

Nicholson et al. describe a system for identifying molecular species derived from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolic phenotyping studies, with detailed information on sample preparation, data acquisition and modeling. They recommend eight modular workflows to be followed in sequential order.

Bacteria respond to stresses using two-component systems consisting of sensor kinases (SKs) and response regulators. Here, Francis et al. reveal three specific interaction mechanisms between a pair of SKs that are important for regulation of virulence in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.