Search

A single-cell multiomic immune cell atlas from 235 Japanese, including patients with COVID-19 and healthy individuals, linked with host genetics including germline and somatic mutation, plasma proteomics and metagenomics data reveals that immune cells are dynamically regulated in a cell state-dependent manner.

Genetic mechanisms influencing COVID-19 susceptibility are not well understood. Here, the authors analyzed whole blood RNA-seq data of 465 Japanese individuals with COVID-19, highlighting thousands of fine-mapped variants affecting expression and splicing of genes, as well as the presence of COVID-19 severity-interaction eQTLs.

A genome-wide association study highlights a variant in DOCK2, which is common in East Asian populations but rare in Europeans, as a host genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19.

Analysis of the blood DNA virome in patients with COVID-19 and autoimmune disease associates endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and high anellovirus load with increased disease risk, most notably for systemic lupus erythematosus. eHHV-6 carriers show a distinct immune response.

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.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 73 Japanese patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 75 healthy controls were analyzed using single-cell transcriptomics. Combining these data with genotyping data highlights the interplay between host genetics and the immune response in modulating disease severity.

Metastable cubic ice has been identified in several conditions relevant to geo and astrochemistry, but was always characterized by stacking disorder. Here the authors synthesize a hydrogen hydrate and degas hydrogen, obtaining pure non-defected cubic ice, observed by X-ray and neutron diffraction.

Matsuura et al. develop an artificial intelligence-based image recognition model that assesses polyploidy in liver cancer using routine pathology slides. The model identifies polyploid tumors associated with poor prognosis more effectively than genomic-based methods.

Here the authors demonstrate the use of time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography to capture intermediates in a chemical reaction in synthetic CO-releasing Mn-carbonyl complex fixed in lysozyme protein crystals, providing useful insights for the design of artificial metalloenzyme reactions.

Here, the authors develop a PMO-based heteroduplex oligonucleotide technology that enhances PMO delivery to tissues and normalizes motor/cardiac function and CNS symptoms in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Cardiac fibrosis is a hallmark of heart failure. Here the authors use single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and genetic manipulations, to show that Htra3 regulates cardiac fibrosis by keeping fibroblasts quiescent and by degrading TGF-beta.

The authors demonstrate that high-pressure treatment of IPA endows the material with enhanced hydrogen bonding, which brightens the white-light emission by regulating the ratio of singlet and triplet exciton populations.

Using gene silencing to regulate lymphocyte function is a promising therapeutic approach for autommunity, inflammation and cancer. Here the authors use a heteroduplex oligonucleotide for improved potency, efficacy and longer retention times.

The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the resolution of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis remain incompletely understood. Here the authors report a single cell-based analysis that identified CD8 + tissue-resident memory T cells, which contribute to resolution of liver fibrosis potentially via elimination of hepatic stellate cells through Fas-mediated cytotoxicity.

Genes in the rodent brain are knocked down by DNA/RNA heteroduplexes injected intravenously.

Flexible electronics promise the opportunity to monitor biological activity via implanted devices. Here, the authors develop a biocompatible conductive carbon nanotube/gel composite and couple it with an ultrathin flexible amplifier, enabling in vivomeasurement of epicardial electrocardiogram signals.

The Earth’s core has lower density than pure iron and many studies have looked into which light elements may be present. The authors here carry outin situhigh pressure and temperature neutron experiments indicating that hydrogen may have been the first light element to dissolve into the iron core.

Endoderm enhancer MACS1 of Sonic Hedgehog is conserved in animals with lungs. Here, the authors show that mouse without MACS1 has defective laryngeal development, and use phylogenetic analyses to show association of evolutionary lung-gas bladder transition with change of the enhancer.

Chiea Chuen Khor, Tin Aung and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association study of primary angle closure glaucoma. They identify five new susceptibility loci and provide insights into disease pathogenesis.

Platinum nanoparticles stabilized by linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI) were prepared by the liquid-phase reduction of chloroplatinic(IV) acid with sodium borohydride. The averaged radii of particles were 3.26 and 1.76 nm when the molecular weights of LPEI were 25 000 and 2150, respectively. These nanoparticles were well dispersed in water in the range of pH 1–6. Branched polyethyleneimine also provided nanoparticles that dispersed in water in the range of pH 0–8. Linear poly(ethyleneimine-co-N-methylethyleneimine) gave nanoparticles that dispersed in water in the range of pH −1 to 15.

Novel nickel–molybdenum–platinum ternary alloy nanoparticles (NiMoPtNPs) stabilized by oleylamine were prepared by a hot-soap method. The following ligand-exchange reaction of oleylamine with 50% N-methylated linear poly(ethyleneimine-co-N-methylethyleneimine) (poly(EI-co-NMEI)) provided poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs. The average radii of poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs were 1.9–2.5 nm and were decreased as compared with oleylamine-protected NiMoPtNPs. Poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs were dispersed in methanol, ethanol and water in the range of pH −1 to 14. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometric analysis showed that poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs are a ternary metal alloy.