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RNA-based viruses can be engineered to express artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs). Here, the authors identify a candidate amiRNA that confers a replicative advantage to oncolytic viruses, enhancing their anticancer potency, and show that intercellular transfer of extracellular vesicles carrying the amiRNA promotes bystander killing of uninfected cancer cells.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is an ultra-rare genetic disorder with progressive heterotopic ossification. Yang et al develop different gene therapy approaches and show their efficacy in mouse models and in human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Here, a combination of forward genetics and genome-wide association analyses has been used to show that variation at a single genetic locus in Arabidopsis thaliana underlies phenotypic variation in vegetative growth as well as resistance to infection. The strong enhancement of resistance mediated by one of the alleles at this locus explains the allele's persistence in natural populations throughout the world, even though it drastically reduces the production of new leaves.

Here, Prakasam and colleagues show that polyQ-expanded androgen receptor toxicity can be attenuated using artificial miRNAs targeting Lsd1 and Prmt6, two AR-co-activators overexpressed in an androgen-dependent manner specifically in skeletal muscle, thus ameliorating spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy phenotypes in flies and mice.

Embedding non-porous MXene film into metal thin films can achieve unprecedented shielding performance, which can be used to protect electronic components and equipment from electromagnetic noise.

The mediators of bone-fat axis remain largely unknown. Here, the authors show SHN3 gene-deficiency in bone can protect mouse models from weight gain driven by diet-induced obesity through secreting a bone-derived cytokine, C-fragment of SLIT2, which could stimulate adipocyte browning.

Increasing dietary carbohydrate-to-fat ratio in a randomized controlled feeding study altered circulating small molecules (metabolites), including ones associated with diabetes risk, underscoring important metabolic effects of dietary composition.

In updated results from a phase 1 trial of GD2-specific CAR-NKT cells in patients with neuroblastoma, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed across multiple dose levels; the maximum tolerated dose was not reached; and there was evidence of anti-tumor activity.

Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study reveal declines in chronic respiratory disease mortality between 1990 and 2023—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—but the burdens on people affected remain substantial.

An integrated optical parametric amplifier on thin-film lithium niobate achieves more than 17 dB gain with less than 200 mW input power.

The detection of microorganism-associated ligands by plant cells activates a signalling cascade in which the kinase BIK1 is monoubiquinated, released from the FLS2–BAK1 complex, and internalized by endocytosis.

Global Burden of Disease estimates show that between 1990 and 2023, the prevalence and burden of drug use disorders, inclusive of amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine and opioid use, have been increasing in high-income countries, particularly in the USA.

A soft robotic probe enables continuous in utero monitoring of fetal physiological parameters, including heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, temperature and electrocardiogram data, during open or fetoscopic surgery to provide real-time information on fetal condition and distress.

Repeat expansions can induce gene silencing exemplified by growth defects in plants to genetic diseases in humans. This paper shows key roles for post-translational modifiers, histone readers and the polycomb repressive complex in this gene silencing.

A metagenomic survey of babies attending the first year of nursery detected extensive baby-to-baby microbial strain transmission, pointing to social interactions in infancy as crucial drivers of infant microbiome development.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

This study identifies a molecular mechanism promoting fruit shape variation. Local meristem identity is maintained through autoregulatory activation of the STM gene to allow post-fertilization changes in fruit morphology.

Geospatial estimates of the prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age across 82 low-income and middle-income countries reveals considerable heterogeneity and inequality at national and subnational levels, with few countries on track to meet the WHO Global Nutrition Targets by 2030.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, pathogen-secreted proteases trigger a previously unknown defence response involving heterotrimeric G-protein complexes upstream of a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.

The authors report an integrated triply-resonant superconducting electro-optic transducer combining a 107 GHz NbTiN resonator with a thin-film lithium niobate optical racetrack at telecom wavelengths. Achieving η_OE ≈ 0.82 × 10⁻⁶ and g₀/2π ≈ 0.7 kHz, this work analyzes mm-wave resonator design challenges and proposes strategies for improved quantum transduction.

Improved vaccines and antivirals are needed for many enveloped viruses. Here, the authors identify sulfur-based small molecules that disrupt viral membrane properties, inhibiting fusion and entry, and safely inactivate influenza virus. The resulting inactivated influenza vaccine is protective in mice.

A high-resolution, global atlas of mortality of children under five years of age between 2000 and 2017 highlights subnational geographical inequalities in the distribution, rates and absolute counts of child deaths by age.

Krisai et al. compare brain structure and cognitive function in elderly patients with and without atrial fibrillation using brain MRI and cognitive testing. They find that atrial fibrillation is associated with more brain lesions and lower cognitive function, but the cognitive impairment occurs primarily through direct effects of the arrhythmia rather than through brain damage.

The cell-free biogenesis of the protein translation machinery is essential for the creation of a self-regenerating synthetic cell. Here the authors synthesise all 30 E. coli translation proteins in a cell-free system and demonstrate functionality.

Scanning tunnelling microscopy is used to image pristine electrostatically defined quantum Hall edge states in graphene with high spatial resolution and demonstrate their interaction-driven restructuring.

Releasing only males remains a major hurdle for mosquito genetic control. Here, authors develop a mosquito strain using CRISPR and a synthetic sex chromosome, producing dark males and yellow females that develop slower and lay desiccation-sensitive eggs, enabling easy separation and safe releases.

Phytochrome photoreceptors mediate degradation of PIF transcription factors in the nucleus in response to light. Here Niet al. identify a family of nuclear protein kinases that interact with photoactivated phytochrome B and facilitate phytochrome-induced phosphorylation and degradation of PIF3.

Fine-scale geospatial mapping of overweight and wasting (two components of the double burden of malnutrition) in 105 LMICs shows that overweight has increased from 5.2% in 2000 to 6.0% in children under 5 in 2017. Although overall wasting decreased over the same period, most countries are not on track to meet the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025.

Integrated multi-omics analysis uncovers the role of the vascular disease-associated gene PHACTR1 in regulating mitochondrial dynamics, iron metabolism, and cell cycle.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy offers great promise for liquid analysis but suffers from complex data interpretation. Here, the authors present a physics-based and AI-assisted model linking ion-specific properties to enable reliable ion detection and quantification.

This study shows that non-invasive ultrasound to the human nucleus accumbens can modulate deep brain activity and enhance reward-guided learning, offering a potential alternative to invasive neuromodulation therapies.

This study reveals how the intrinsically disordered protein POSH undergoes stepwise folding upon binding to the GTPase Rac1. Each folding step is dependent on the successful completion of the previous one, revealing a hierarchical folding mechanism.

Systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study reported that, despite global improvements from 1990 to 2021, dietary iron deficiency-associated disease burden remains high in women, children and residents in low socio-demographic index countries.

A proteotoxic stress response specific to exhausted T cells, governed by AKT signaling and accompanied by increased protein translation, represents a mechanistic vulnerability and a new therapeutic target to improve cancer immunotherapies.

Although progress in the coverage of routine measles vaccination in children in low- and middle-income countries was made during 2000–2019, many countries remain far from the goal of 80% coverage in all districts by 2019.

Here, the authors present archaeological excavations from two sites paired with life-size rock engravings from 12,800 to 11,400 years ago in the Nefud desert of northern Arabia. These engravings, depicting camels, ibex and more, combined with stone tools from associated archaeological deposits and sediment analyses of playa deposits, provide evidence of human populations exploiting seasonal waterbodies.