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Plant and animal tissues have evolved to contain hierarchical networks of pores that maximize mass transfer and exchange. Here the authors fabricate bio-inspired materials with multi-scale macro–meso–micropores and show their enhanced performances as photocatalysts, gas sensors and Li-ion battery electrodes.

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).

The CMS experiment at CERN reports one of the highest-precision measurements of the W boson mass, finding it in line with standard model predictions and at odds with recent anomalous measurements.

During embryonic development, it is vital to maintain rapid genome duplication. Here, the authors shed light on the mechanism by revealing that SSRP1 stimulates replication origin assembly on somatic nuclei in Xenopus laevis egg extract by promoting histone H1 eviction from somatic chromatin.

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.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are used by clinicians and policymakers to synthesize medical evidence, but they can amplify falsified or poor-quality clinical trial data. In this era of contested evidence, new approaches are needed.

Whether mucinous ovarian carcinoma (MOC) arises from cells at the ovary or from metastases from other primary sites is an unanswered question. Here, Cheasley et al perform a genetic analysis of the disease, showing that MOC arises at the ovary.

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) are the most common cancers in young men. Here, the authors analyse the genomic landscape of TGCT using data from the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project, revealing divergent evolutionary trajectories and the prevalence of human leukocyte antigen loss.

Vaccination is effective in protecting from COVID-19. Here the authors report immune responses and breakthrough infections in twice-vaccinated patients receiving anti-TNF treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, and find dampened vaccine responses that implicate the need of adapted vaccination schedules for these patients.

PD-L2 can bind the immune checkpoint PD-1. However, its potential as a therapeutic target for immune checkpoint blockade in cancer has not been extensively explored. Here, the authors demonstrate that αPD-L2 is effective in aged, but not young, melanoma murine models.

The CMS Collaboration reports the measurement of the spin, parity, and charge conjugation properties of all-charm tetraquarks, exotic fleeting particles formed in proton–proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider.

A study of the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in England between September 2020 and June 2021 finds that interventions capable of containing previous variants were insufficient to stop the more transmissible Alpha and Delta variants.

Discussion at a recent conference emphasizes the importance of harmonizing standards throughout the bioinf ormatics community.

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.

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

Cortical microtubules of Toxoplasma gondii are exceptionally stable, but it isn’t known how they are anchored along membranes. Here, Harding et al. show that GAPM proteins localize to the inner membrane complex and are essential for maintaining the structural stability of parasites.

Tumour evolution and heterogeneity in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains poorly characterised. Here, the authors investigate the genomic landscape of HGSOC and reveal two distinct evolutionary trajectories associated with clinical outcomes.

The quark structure of the f₀(980) hadron is still unknown after 50 years of its discovery. Here, the CMS Collaboration reports a measurement of the elliptic flow of the f₀(980) state in proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 8.16 TeV, providing strong evidence that the state is an ordinary meson.

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an anti-inflammatory drug proposed as a treatment for COVID19. Here the results are reported from a randomised trial testing DMF treatment in 713 patients hospitalised with COVID-19. DMF was not associated with any improvement in day 5 outcomes.

An investigation using various methods reports an association between adeno-associated virus 2 and paediatric hepatitis of unknown aetiology.

Healthspan and healthy aging are areas of research with potential socioeconomic impact. Here, the authors present the Medical Genome Reference Bank (MGRB) which consist of over 4,000 individuals aged 70 years and older without a history of the major age-related diseases and report on results from whole-genome sequencing and association analyses.

Retinol, a form of vitamin A, plays an essential role in many biological processes throughout the human lifespan. Here the authors identify genetic variants that influence the level of circulating retinol and use this information to better understand how retinol impacts human health.

IL-1β is important for control of bacterial infections, but when deregulated can lead to excessive inflammation. The authors show that the adaptor protein CARD9 suppresses levels of IL-1β and is downregulated during S. Typhimuriuminfection, thus facilitating an inflammatory response

The genetic basis of atopic dermatitis is not fully understood. Here, the authors find 91 genetic loci associated with atopic dermatitis in a GWAS of >1million individuals, which highlight the importance of systemic immune regulation.

Our biological understanding of TGCTs has been improved using sequencing, and molecular profiles associated with the genomic evolution and development of cisplatin resistance have been identified. The genomics of variants underpinning TGCT predisposition is being delineated. Studies of circulating microRNAs have demonstrated their potential for noninvasive diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Analysing camera-trap data of 163 mammal species before and after the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns, the authors show that responses to human activity are dependent on the degree to which the landscape is modified by humans, with carnivores being especially sensitive.

A case–control study investigating the causes of recent cases of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in 32 children identifies an association between adeno-associated virus infection and host genetics in disease susceptibility.

Genomic and phenomic screens of 827 wheat landraces from the A. E. Watkins collection provide insight into the wheat population genetic background, unlocking many agronomic traits and revealing haplotypes that could potentially be used to improve modern wheat cultivars.

The molecular classification of endometroid ovarian carcinomas (EnOC) has not been established, preventing the development of stratified therapeutic approaches. Here the authors characterise the molecular landscape of EnOC by whole exome sequencing, identifying clinically distinct disease subtypes.