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Meta-analyses of 22 traits and analyses of 133 traits from UK Biobank find widespread evidence of mate similarity, particularly for social attitudes, education and substance use traits.

Spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging has been limited by wavelength-dependent fluence variations and tissue motion. Here, the authors achieve real-time fluence and motion correction in vivo by using a wavelength-tunable laser, sequential scan of a narrow beam and partial image reconstruction for each pulse.

The efficiency with which melts disaggregate and entrain macrocrysts from crystal mushes varies on inter-eruption timescales at ocean-island volcanoes, according to a study combining thin-section scale chemical mapping, in situ geochemistry, and modelling.

The degree to which species diversity is bounded by limited niche space is under debate. Here, Larcombe and colleagues show that bounded and unbounded processes contribute more-or-less equally to conifer diversification, and that it may be niche dimensionality that facilitates these opposing forces.

CD163 is a receptor used by macrophages to capture and detoxify serum haptoglobin-haemoglobin. Here, the authors show that CD163 adopts a multimeric base that presents three arms that combine to form a versatile, calcium-regulated ligand-binding site.

Certain RIFINs from Plasmodium falciparum can bind to both inhibitory (KIR2DL1) and activating (KIR2DS1) immune receptors on natural killer cells, demonstrating the potential role of activating killer immunoglobulin-like receptors in targeting pathogens and controlling malaria infection.

The major ion chemistry of a North American river shows decreased lateral carbon transport due to exacerbated secondary carbonate formation and CO₂ evasion, according to analyses conducted during a 195-day drought.

The DNA-binding domains of transcription factors have been well characterized, but whether their intrinsically disordered regions control cell fate is unclear. Here, the authors show the functional and mechanistic importance of an intrinsically disordered region of TCF-1 in T cell development.

Reticulocyte-binding protein homologue 5 (PfRH5) of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite, is known to be necessary for red blood cell invasion, making PfRH5 a promising vaccine candidate; here the X-ray crystallographic structure of PfRH5 in complex with basigin and with inhibitory antibodies is determined.

African trypanosome infections can persist for years, but immune evasion mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, Macleod et al. identify a trypanosome receptor for mammalian factor H, a negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, that increases parasite transmission to tsetse flies.

The HpARI2 protein from the gastrointestinal nematode H. polygyrus binds to the human immune signalling molecule IL-33. Here, the authors perform a structural study showing how HpARI2 binds to IL33, blocking it from binding to its receptor, ST2.

Plasmodium vivax is one of the major causes of human malaria. To replicate, it must get inside human blood cells, in a processing requiring binding of the parasite PvDBP protein to the human DARC receptor. This study reveals how PvDBP binds to DARC and will guide future vaccine design.

The drivers of coexistence between species with different growth rates are of interest in both ecology and applied microbial science. The authors show, via modelling, that species interactions moderated by consumption or degradation of chemicals can allow coexistence.

Pfs48/45, a surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum, is a promising anti-malarial vaccine candidate whose structure is not entirely resolved. Here, the authors present the structure of the full-length molecule, and characterise the binding and activity of transmission blocking antibodies.

Antibodies can have synergistic effects, but mechanisms are not well understood. Here, Ragotte et al. identify three antibodies that bind neighbouring epitopes on CyRPA, a malaria vaccine candidate, and show that lateral interactions between the antibodies slow dissociation and inhibit parasite growth synergistically.

α-Synuclein and tau can form multiple amyloid structures or strains that are associated with different neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a strain–toxicity relationship. Now, it has been shown that O-GlcNAc modification of α-synuclein results in the formation of an amyloid strain that is largely nonpathogenic in vivo, supporting structure-dependent toxicity and another protective role for O-GlcNAc.

The structure of a RIFIN–LILRB1 complex reveals that a subset of RIFINs of Plasmodium falciparum mimics the binding mode of the natural ligand of human LILRB1 and suppress the function of natural killer cells in humans.

Trypanosomes evade the immune response through antigenic variation of a surface coat containing variant surface glycoproteins (VSG). They also express invariant surface glycoproteins (ISGs), which are less well understood. Here, Macleod et al. show that ISG65 of T. brucei is a receptor for complement component 3. They provide the crystal structure of T. brucei ISG65 in complex with complement C3d and show evidence that ISG65 is involved in reducing trypanosome susceptibility to C3-mediated clearance in vivo.

The structure of a neutralizing human monoclonal antibody isolated from an individual immunized in a Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein vaccine clinical trial, in complex with its target, elucidates the mechanism by which parasite invasion of immature red blood cells is inhibited.

The high-resolution crystal structure of the SHOC2–MRAS–PP1C complex provides insights into the complex assembly, RAF dephosphorylation, MRAS selectivity versus canonical RAS isoforms, and the impact of Noonan syndrome mutations on complex formation.

Coupling the use of artificial chromosomes with metabolomics enables the high-throughput linkage of fungal natural products with their biosynthetic gene clusters. This method was used here to identify a novel polyketide–nonribosomal peptide scaffold.

Naomi Wray and colleagues report an analysis of genome-wide association data sets from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium for five psychiatric disorders. They find that common variation explains 17–29% of the variance in liability and provide further support for a shared genetic etiology for these related psychiatric disorders.

The post-translational modification O-GlcNAc on amyloid-forming proteins can inhibit their aggregation. Now, it has been shown that O-GlcNAc modification of small heat shock proteins HSP27, αA- and αB-crystallin can increase their anti-amyloid activity and block the amyloid formation of both α-synuclein and Aβ(1–42). A mechanism for this protective effect based on decreased physical interactions is also proposed.

Trees come in all shapes and size, but what drives this incredible variation in tree form remains poorly understood. Using a global dataset, the authors show that a combination of climate, competition, disturbance and evolutionary history shape the crown architecture of the world’s trees and thereby constrain the 3D structure of woody ecosystems.

Structural studies show how the PfRCR complex of Plasmodium falciparum forms a bridge between erythrocyte and parasite membranes, and how PfCyRPA-binding antibodies neutralize invasion through a steric mechanism, opening the way to new approaches in rational vaccine design.

Aaron Gitler, Robert Farese Jr. and colleagues identify the RNA lariat debranching enzyme Dbr1 as a potent suppressor of TDP-43 toxicity in yeast. They further show that Dbr1 knockdown reduces TDP-43 toxicity in mammalian cells, identifying this enzyme as a possible therapeutic target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other diseases marked by TDP-43 accumulation.

Little is known about the brain’s computations that enable the recognition of faces. Here, the authors use unsupervised deep learning to show that the brain disentangles faces into semantically meaningful factors, like age or the presence of a smile, at the single neuron level.

Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein lysine deacylases that act as metabolic regulators and are linked to aging-related diseases. Here the authors present the Sirt4 crystal structure and show that the enzyme has dehydroxymethylglutarylation activity and is regulated by NADH.

Genome-wide analysis of the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi from Rondônia State, Brazil, explores genetic diversity, insecticide resistance, and signatures of natural selection in this mosquito species.

This paper describes molecular subtypes of cervical cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma clusters defined by HPV status and molecular features, and distinct molecular pathways that are activated in cervical carcinomas caused by different somatic alterations and HPV types.

If erythrocyte invasion is blocked during the blood stage of infection by Plasmodium parasites, malaria can be prevented. In this Review, structural insights on erythrocyte invasion by the merozoite form of Plasmodium are discussed in the context of rational design of a blood-stage malaria vaccine.

Microglial states are dynamically regulated during development and disease. Here, the authors show that these changes are mediated by cell autonomous TGF-β signaling in microglia, which is developmentally regulated by ITGB8 in radial glia.

RH5, which is part of the trimeric RCR-complex essential for invasion, is a vaccine candidate for malaria. Here, Williams et al. show that monoclonal antibodies targeting each of the three proteins in the RCR-complex can work together to more effectively block the invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum and design a combination vaccine candidate.

Bone mineral density and lean skeletal mass are heritable traits. Here, Medina-Gomez and colleagues perform bivariate GWAS analyses of total body lean mass and bone mass density in children, and show genetic loci with pleiotropic effects on both traits.

Targeting of the CD36 scavenger receptor by the malaria parasite effector PfEMP1 prevents splenic clearance of infected erythrocytes. Here, the authors propose that diverse PfEMP1 achieve this by binding to a conserved phenylalanine residue in CD36 that is also required for lipoprotein binding.

Pfs48/45 is a promising component for a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine. Here, the authors develop a system to produce full-length Pfs48/45 for immunisation, characterise a panel of monoclonal antibodies and determine the structure of a potent transmission-blocking epitope.

Camelina sativa is an oilseed crop with important industrial applications. Here, the authors sequence the C. sativagenome to investigate the genome organization and evolution of this species, and to provide a valuable tool for genetic engineering and potential crop improvement.

The folding of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is catalyzed by the βbarrel assembly machinery (BAM). Here, structural and functional analyses of BAM stabilized in distinct conformations elucidate the roles of lateral gate opening and interactions of BAM with the lipid bilayer in OMP assembly.

Groundwater discharge is a mechanism that transports chemicals from inland systems to the ocean, but it has been considered of secondary influence compared to rivers. Here the authors assess the global significance of groundwater discharge, finding that it has a unique and important contribution to ocean chemistry and Earth-system models.

The ability to maintain blood stem cells (HSCs) in vitro would allow us to provide better therapies for blood diseases. Here, the authors report that polymer-organised extracellular proteins, coupled to soft environments mimicking bone marrow stiffness, allow stromal cells to maintain HSCs in vitro.

This article highlights two cases of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on dialysis after rejection of kidney–pancreas transplants. One patient did not have the transplanted organ removed and eventually exsanguinated, while the second patient, whose rejected pancreas was removed, survived complications and did well. The cases illustrate that arterio-enteric bleeding should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with rejected pancreatic transplants.

The structure of a transferrin receptor from the parasite Trypanosoma brucei in complex with human transferrin helps to understand how the parasite can use surface exposed receptors to acquire nutrients during infection while avoiding host immune detection.

The authors here present geodetic and seismic data for a complete eruptive cycle (2005-2018) for Sierra Negra volcano, Galapagos Island. The data shows the largest pre-eruptive inflation (6.5 m) and rates of seismicity ever observed before a basaltic eruption and provides a rare illustration of caldera resurgence mechanisms.

Skin organoids generated in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells form complex, multilayered skin tissue with hair follicles, sebaceous glands and neural circuitry, and integrate with endogenous skin when grafted onto immunocompromised mice.

A selective, small-molecule inhibitor of NLRP3 suppresses activation of the inflammasome in vitro and in vivo and attenuates inflammatory disease.

Meta-analysis shows people’s views on climate change have only a small impact on their tendencies to act in climate-friendly ways. These views are affected more by ideology and political orientation than education, sex and experience of extreme weather.

Structural genomics and binding studies show that a cyclic peptide produced by Streptomyces griseus, griselimycin, exhibits high binding selectivity for diverse DNA polymerase binding sites of various infectious Gram-negative bacteria.