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Here the authors use mRNA display to discover peptide inhibitors of BamA, an essential factor that catalyzes the membrane insertion of bacterial outer membrane proteins. They show that three peptides are antibacterial and inhibit BamA activity by a unique mechanism.

Kelly, Corbett and O’Connell use neurally informed modelling to establish that humans account for time constraints and prior probability in their perceptual decisions by adjusting multiple distinct components of a build-to-threshold process.

The International Brain Laboratory presents a brain-wide electrophysiological map obtained from pooling data from 12 laboratories that performed the same standardized perceptual decision-making task in mice.

Measuring rhythm priors in 39 participant groups from 15 countries, the authors find that properties of rhythm representations are common across cultures, while variation from place to place related to local musical traditions exists.

The role of the tumour microenvironment in the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic melanoma remains poorly understood. Here, single cell profiling of metastatic melanoma samples identifies associations of the mature dendritic enriched in immunoregulatory molecules subtype with immunotherapy response.

Vast volumes of textile waste are generated by consumers in wealthy cities. Without the knowledge, infrastructure or resources to manage the intensifying material flows of post-consumer textiles locally, textile waste is overwhelmingly exported to the Global South. Vladimirova et al. analyze local ecosystems of actors managing post-consumer textiles in nine Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development cities to understand the power dynamics and systemic lock-ins that are hindering more circular and sufficient use of textile resources and propose policies for municipalities to address this problem.

Some Salmonella isolates produce an enigmatic, transient antigen known as T1. Here, Kelly et al. show that T1 is a complex linear glycan linked to lipid A–core, like a typical O antigen, and is expressed in a phase-variable manner regulated by recombinational inversion of a promoter upstream of the T1 genetic locus.

In this study using an adult-onset mouse model of Alzheimer’s pathology, we uncovered a neuron-type-specific mechanism responsible for region-specific circuit dysfunction. Short-term expression of human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) led to hyperexcitability in the entorhinal cortex, but not in isocortex, due to a distinct vulnerability of PV interneurons in the entorhinal region.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder, the causes of which remain incompletely understood. Here the authors report the discovery of gene regulatory mechanisms that help to explain genetic associations with PCOS in the GATA4, FSHB and DENND1A loci.

Self-organized criticality can occur in cellular systems, but its origins remain unclear. Now it is shown that cytoskeletal criticality is influenced by the F-actin architecture and myosin active stress.

Octupole deformation in nuclei is important to understand nuclear structure and electric dipole moments of heavy atoms. Here the authors measure energies of excited quantum states in radon isotopes and find that these isotopes do not provide favourable conditions in the search for CP-violation.

A subset of pediatric gliomas harbour alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-family proteins. Here, the authors characterise the genomic landscape of 11,635 gliomas across ages and use isogenic model systems to explore the underlying biology of FGFR1-altered gliomas and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.

In a quantum simulation of a (2+1)D lattice gauge theory using a superconducting quantum processor, the dynamics of strings reveal the transition from deconfined to confined excitations as the effective electric field is increased.

Mass cytometry can be used to scale up multiplexed serology testing, as shown for the simultaneous detection of antibody levels against multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins in hundreds of serum samples.

Experimentally validated kinetic simulations uncover transient enhancement of GPCR ternary complex formation by allokairic effectors.

Authors perform an analysis of the patient data and risk factors to evaluate unfavorable outcomes and adverse events in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis treated with a 4-month rifapentine based regimen. Low rifapentine exposure was the most clinically significant risk factor for treatment failure and tuberculosis relapse.

Zuhra and Petrosino et al. report evidence that cyanide acts as a regulatory gasotransmitter in mammalian cells, where it is shown to affect cellular bioenergetics, most likely via protein S-cyanylation.

Safely opening university campuses has been a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the authors describe a program of public health measures employed at a university in the United States which, combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions, allowed the university to stay open in fall 2020 with limited evidence of transmission.

scRNA-Seq has enabled the study of dynamic systems such as response to a drug at the individual cell and gene levels. Here the authors introduce a framework to interpret differences at the trajectory, cell populations, and individual gene levels.

Uncertainty associated with solution-based electron-transfer studies of DNA–metal-complex systems has now been overcome by combining X-ray and time-resolved infrared data obtained for ruthenium polypyridyl–DNA crystals. Using these methods both the geometry of the reaction site and the kinetics of the reversible photo-induced one-electron oxidation of guanine have been determined.

The Thwaites Glacier grounding zone has experienced sustained pulses of rapid retreat over the past two centuries, according to sea floor observations obtained by an autonomous underwater vehicle.

Confining plasma and managing disruptions in tokamak devices is a challenge. Here the authors demonstrate a method predicting and possibly preventing disruptions and macroscopic instabilities in tokamak plasma using data from JET.

Buchanan, Rupprecht, Kaelberer and colleagues show that the preference for sugar over sweetener in mice depends on gut neuropod cells. Akin to other sensor cells, neuropod cells swiftly communicate the precise identity of stimuli to drive food choices.

Boulgakoff et al. show that during cardiac regeneration, ventricular trabeculae participate in the repair of the contractile myocardium resulting in an excessive production of immature Purkinje fibers forming a hyperplastic PF network and altered ventricular conduction.

The authors showcase a video-rate hyperspectral imager based on a single-pixel photodetector that can achieve high-throughput hyperspectral video recording at a low bandwidth. Specifically, they propose a joint spatial-spectral encoding scheme which can encode the scene into highly compressed single-pixel measurements and obtain temporal correlation at the same time.

The chemistry of group 13 metals (M) is dominated by +1 and +3 oxidation states, so MX₂ species are typically metal–metal-bonded dimers, M(II)₂X₄ or mixed-valence species M(I)M(III)X₄. Now, monomeric M(II)(boryl)₂ radicals have been prepared for gallium, indium and thallium. The compounds — structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography — are stable up to 130 °C and exhibit dominant metal-centred radical character.

Genome-wide association meta-analyses of leisure, work and home-time physical activity (PA) from European, African and Latin American ancestries provide insights into the biology of PA and its relationship to health and diseases.

Microbes structure biogeochemical cycles and food webs in the marine environment. Here, the authors sample coral reef-associated microbes across a 24-hour period, showing clear day–night patterns of microbial populations and thus calling for more studies to consider temporal variation in microbiomes at this scale.

Whole genome sequencing is emerging as a first-line test for rare genetic diseases. In this study, authors maximise diagnoses by supplementing existing semiautomated analyses with clinically driven reevaluation of genomic data by a specialist multidisciplinary team.

Massive tabular icebergs broke off of the UK during the last ice age. The widespread break-up of the ice shelves which produced these giant icebergs can be traced to around 18,000 years ago, and likely enhanced rates of ice retreat across the North Sea.

Real-time joint motion feedback during exercise interventions can enhance hand and wrist rehabilitation. Here, the authors introduce electrogoniometry systems that accurately monitor target joint angles in fingers and wrists in real-time for use in medical and physical activity settings.

The authors find that deletion from Schwann cells of an E3 ubiquitin ligase component called Fbxw7 leads to a phenotype reminiscent of myelination in the central nervous system where a single oligodendrocyte ensheaths multiple axons.

Defective insulin secretion is observed early in the development of diabetes. Here the authors report that β cell-specific deficiency of the insulin prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) leads not only to hyperglycemia, but also to hyperphagic obesity in mice.

Comprehensive integration of gene expression with epigenetic features is needed to understand the transition of kidney cells from health to injury. Here, the authors integrate dual single nucleus RNA expression and chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, and histone modifications to decipher the chromatin landscape of the kidney in reference and adaptive injury cell states, identifying a transcription factor network of ELF3, KLF6, and KLF10 which regulates adaptive repair and maladaptive failed repair.

When needed, we can speed up our decisions at the expense of accuracy. Here, the authors employ a novel human electrophysiology paradigm to show that hastened decisions are implemented through multiple, fundamentally distinct neural process adjustments across the sensorimotor hierarchy.

Altered mechanosensation by application of capsaicin to the skin is thought to be spinally mediated. Here, the authors use Ca2+ imaging in spinal neurons and develop a cell profiling approach to identify populations involved in central sensitization.

During embryogenesis, the cytoplasmic protein Myomarker (MYMK) mediates muscle fibre formation by fusion of myoblasts. Here, the authors identify autosomal recessive mutations in MYMK that cause Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome in humans, and model the disease variants in zebrafish.

The likelihood of severe COVID-19 increases with age upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and even milder disease manifestations might differ among age groups. Here authors show, by immune transcriptome analysis of samples from the upper respiratory tract and peripheral blood of participants from different age groups, that interferon responses are more typical for the young, while activation of myeloid, inflammatory, and coagulation pathways is exclusive to adults.

Streamlined data-driven drug discovery remains challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. Here, the authors present ZairaChem, an AI/ML tool that streamlines QSAR/QSPR modelling, implemented for the first time at the H3D Centre in South Africa.

Kelch-domain KLHDCX E3 ligases bind substrate C-terminal glycines. This study reveals substrate selectivity by E3s with similar structures; C-degrons are perceived by a “C-terminus anchor motif”, whose display on different Kelch propeller blades along with distal interactions establish specificity.

Portable robots may assist subjects with disabilities. However, upper limb movements are hard to fine-tune. Here, the authors design a personalized AI intention detection model to decode user’s motion intention from IMU and compression sensors.

C-terminally encoded peptide (CEP) and cytokinin (CK) hormones modulate plant root architecture in response to environmental cues. The results show that CEP and CK pathways utilise CEPD glutaredoxins in separate organs to curb primary root growth.

An integrated data and sample repository for clinical, cellular and multi-omics research from diverse spaceflight missions known as Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) is presented.

Studies on the essentiality of Ku in human cells reveal that Ku interacts with diverse double-stranded RNA molecules, including antisense Alu, and enables tolerance of Alu sequence expansion in primates.