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Chemokine receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in immune responses and characterized by ligand promiscuity Here, the authors characterize signaling through chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7, with insights into intrinsic-bias encoded in the CXCR4-CXCR7 system.

Here, the authors perform large trans-ancestry fine-mapping analyses identifying large numbers of association signals and putative target genes for colorectal cancer risk, advancing our understanding of the genetic and biological basis of this cancer.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins and the largest class of drug targets in the human genome. Here, Baidya et al. show that a synthetic antibody can be used to modulate GPCR trafficking and signaling in live cells.

While Ras is a promising target for cancer therapy, development of inhibitors targeting Ras signaling has proven challenging. Here, the authors report the discovery of Rasarfin, a small molecule from a phenotypic screen on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) endocytosis that acts as a dual Ras and ARF6 inhibitor.

Analysis of snRNA genes in individuals with rare disorders identifies de novo and recurrent variants in RNU5B-1 and RNU5A-1, in addition to previously unreported cases with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in RNU4-2.

A multi-ancestry genome-wide association study meta-analysis, combined with transcriptome- and methylome-wide association analyses, identifies risk loci associated with colorectal cancer. Credible effector genes and their target tissues are also highlighted, showing that over a third probably act outside the colonic mucosa.

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of allotetraploid Coffea arabica and representatives of its diploid progenitors, Coffea eugenioides and Coffea canephora, provide insights into Arabica’s diversification history.

SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron has been suggested to cause less severe disease. This prospective study shows that the clinical phenotype in patients infected with Omicron differs from patients infected with Delta but no association between Delta and Omicron including sublineages and mortality was observed.

Retinal ganglion cell subtypes are traditionally thought to encode a single visual feature across the visual field to form a feature map. Here the authors show that fast OFF ganglion cells in fact respond to two visual features, either object position or speed, depending on the stimulus location.

Fine-mapping of causal variants and integration of epigenetic and chromatin conformation data identify likely target genes for 150 breast cancer risk regions.

Microbes and viruses inhabit the subseafloor crust beneath hydrothermal vents. Here the authors show that vent endemic animals such as giant tubeworms also live in vent subseafloor cavities, implicating subseafloor dispersal of vent larvae and the need to protect seafloor and subseafloor vent habitats.

Visceral adiposity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and infection of adipose tissue by SARS-CoV-2 has been reported. Here the authors confirm that human adipose tissue is a possible site for SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the degree of adipose tissue infection and the way adipocytes respond to the virus depend on the adipose tissue depot and the viral strain.

Assembly of large, repeat-rich eukaryotic genomes remains challenging. Here, the authors use BioNano Genomics DLS optical mapping and single-molecule nanopore sequencing to generate a chromosome-scale assembly of a new Sorghum bicolor accession and identify variation compared to the publicly available S. bicolor genome.

La Scala Vent Field, near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, comprises diffuse vents and vigorous black smokers and hosts large beds of stalked barnacles and bacterial mats at vent peripheries, according to ship-borne multi-beam echo sounding and remotely operated vehicle surveys.

Analysis of 1,988 cases of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterizes 23 subtypes defined by genomic features and shows that two of the subtypes have frequent PAX5 alterations.

Using the Tara Oceans dataset, this study describes global patterns of diatom diversity, abundance and adaptation. The authors identify 25 distinct communities, with the Arctic as a hotspot, and highlight diatom transcriptional features. These insights aid understanding of the ecological roles of diatoms and their responses to global change.

Werbowetski-Ogilvie, Taylor and colleagues report a noncanonical role for OTX2 in regulating alternative splicing and controlling a stem cell and pro-tumorigenic splicing program in group 3 medulloblastoma.

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare syndrome. Casanova and colleagues characterize MSMD in two kindreds and find macrophage-tropic mutations in genes encoding the respiratory burst machinery predispose these kindreds to mycobacterial diseases.

To predict how society and political systems might actually respond to warming, upgrade integrated assessment models.

Here, the authors present results of the ZiBRA-2 project (https://www.zibra2project.org) which is an arbovirus surveillance project, across the Midwest of Brazil using a mobile genomics laboratory, combined with a genomic surveillance training program that targeted post-graduate students, laboratory technicians, and health practitioners in universities and laboratories.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and genetic susceptibility to the disease is poorly understood. Here, the authors combine data from Japanese, African American and European samples and identify a common variant in VTI1Athat increases CRC risk across all populations.

It is not fully understood why some patients respond or do not respond to antidepressant treatment. Here the authors show that in the blood of individuals with depression, GPR56 expression increases in responders to antidepressant treatment, but not in non-responders.

Genome-wide association analyses based on whole-genome sequencing and imputation identify 40 new risk variants for colorectal cancer, including a strongly protective low-frequency variant at CHD1 and loci implicating signaling and immune function in disease etiology.

A diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries provides health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end.

Researchers demonstrate a laser-plasma accelerator-driven free-electron laser in a seeded configuration, where control over the radiation wavelength and longitudinal coherence are achieved.

Understanding ultrafast demagnetisation is key to manipulating magnetic structures on fast timescales, yet laser sources limit the attainable spatial resolution. Here, a soft X-ray high harmonic source enables a high temporal and spatial resolution study of domain demagnetisation in [Co/Pt]₃₀multilayer films.

Previous studies have shown that both rare pathogenic mutations and common genetic variants contribute to the familial risk of developing colorectal cancer. Here, the authors carry out a two-stage genome-wide association study and identify six new loci associated with colorectal cancer.

Richard Houlston and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for colorectal cancer. They report three loci newly associated with colorectal cancer, bringing the total number of common susceptibility loci to 20.

Breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers varies depending on other genetic factors. Here, the authors perform a case-only genome-wide association study and highlight novel loci associated with breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers.

In this Review, Compant et al. explore the functions, mechanisms, assembly and interactions of plant microbiomes, highlighting current applications and their limitations. They also discuss how recent advances could lead to new or improved applications and identify research gaps crucial for harnessing microbiome functions in sustainable plant production.

Wei Zheng and colleagues report the results of a large-scale genome-wide association study of colorectal cancer in East Asians. They identify six new susceptibility loci, including variants near TCF7L2 and TGFB1.

An artificial niche prolongs the quiescence of muscle stem cells in vitro.

SITE-Seq probes Cas9 cleavage sites in vitro and returns a comprehensive list of off-target sites at different Cas9–sgRNA concentrations.

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.

Derrien et al. analyze three patients relapsing on talquetamab, a bispecific antibody against CD3 and GPRC5D, and show that acquired resistance is mediated by genetic inactivation or by long-range epigenetic silencing of GPRCD5.