Search

Retinal prostheses aim to restore sight by stimulating residual retinal cells. Here, the authors develop a photoacoustic stimulation technology using a PDMS and carbon-based flexible film that activates retinal cells with near-infrared laser pulses, ex vivo and in vivo.

The number of ligand binding sites in the dopamine transporter is enigmatic due to conflicting data from structures and molecular pharmacology. Here, force spectra reveal the position and dynamics of a previously invisible transient site.

Early life experience contributes to behaviour in later life. Here the authors show in rats, that the infant brain, during a critical period, forms lasting memories of the spatial context of experiences; in adulthood, these memories involving medial prefrontal cortex improve spatial abilities in similar contexts.

A region on chromosome 19p13 is associated with the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer. Here, the authors genotyped SNPs in this region in thousands of breast and ovarian cancer patients and identified SNPs associated with three genes, which were analysed with functional studies.

During colonization of host tissues and biomaterials, staphylococci are exposed to extreme mechanical forces. Here authors use force-clamp spectroscopy and show that the dock, lock and latch interaction between staphylococcal surface protein SpsD and fibrinogen is extremely strong, and exhibits an unusual catch-slip transition.

SOCS1 is a potent suppressor of JAK-STAT signalling responses to IFNγ and γ-chain cytokines and thereby limits inflammation. Here the authors identify and characterize heterozygous SOCS1 mutations in 10 patients from 5 unrelated families with autoimmune diseases.

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.

A cross-ancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci, reveals putative causal genes, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as potential drug targets, and provides cross-ancestry integrative risk prediction.

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.

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

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.

Endothelial damage is a major component of acute lung injury pathogenesis. Here the authors show that in a mouse model of acute lung injury, glucocorticoids induce sphingosine kinase 1 production in macrophages, promoting endothelial barrier function and ameliorating the disease.

Atomic force microscopy-based force spectroscopy can probe the strength and dynamics of cell adhesion to understand how physical forces influence cellular function, physiology and disease. Here, Dufrêne and colleagues discuss the ability of this technology to work as an ultra-sensitive force sensor to study the adhesion and elasticity of complex biological systems including viruses, bacteria, yeasts and mammalian cells.

Hippocampal activity during a period of sleep after memory encoding is crucial for forming long-term memories in rats, even for types of memory considered not to be hippocampus-dependent.

The authors report on a temperate Earth-sized planet orbiting the cool M6 dwarf LP 791-18 with a radius of 1.03 ± 0.04 R_⊕ and an equilibrium temperature of 300–400 K, with the permanent night side plausibly allowing for water condensation.

Stig Bojesen, Georgia Chenevix-Trench, Alison Dunning and colleagues report common variants at the TERT-CLPTM1L locus associated with mean telomere length measured in whole blood. They also identify associations at this locus to breast or ovarian cancer susceptibility and report functional studies in breast and ovarian cancer tissue and cell lines.

Paul Pharoah and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association study of ovarian cancer. They identify new susceptibility loci for different epithelial ovarian cancer histotypes and use integrated analyses of genes and regulatory features at each locus to predict candidate susceptibility genes, including OBFC1.

Replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) requires a host RNA molecule, miR-122, whose transient inhibition is being explored as an antiviral therapy. Here, the authors study the interaction between miR-122 and HCV, and identify mutations in HCV strains that affect susceptibility to miR-122 inhibition.

Linking epigenetic marks to clinical outcomes promises insight into the underlying processes. Here, the authors introduce a statistical approach to estimate associations between a phenotype and all epigenetic probes jointly, and to estimate the proportion of variation captured by epigenetic effects.

A horizon scan was used to explore possible impacts of robotics and automated systems on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Positive effects are likely. Iterative regulatory processes and continued dialogue could help avoid environmental damages and increases in inequality.

Inhibition of the fatty acid oxidation metabolic pathway through inactivation of Cpt1b enhances cardiomyocyte survival and proliferation and allows heart regeneration in adult mice.

Through force spectroscopy studies on living bacteria, Viljoen et al. characterise the binding of S. aureus to host von Willebrand factor (vWF). They propose that S. aureus vWF-binding protein triggers an ultra-strong interaction between the adhesin clumping factor A and vWF.

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.

Genome-wide analysis identifies 32 loci associated with breast cancer susceptibility, accounting for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status and tumor grade.

Previous work has identified several genes where mutations lead to breast cancer, but other genetic and environmental factors must still be accounted for. A large study of genetic association with breast cancer points to four novel genes and many more genetic markers that should be pursued for their link to cancer susceptibility.

The astronomical event GW170817, detected in gravitational and electromagnetic waves, is used to determine the expansion rate of the Universe, which is consistent with and independent of existing measurements.

A group convened and led by the Virus Evolution Working Group of the World Health Organization reports on its deliberations and announces a naming scheme that will enable clear communication about SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest and concern.