Search

T cells contribute to protection and pathogenesis in tuberculosis. Here the authors sequence T cell receptor repertoires in human skin biopsies from the site of the tuberculin skin test and show enrichment of clonotypes reactive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a computational pipeline metaclonotypist to identify distinct TCRs predicted to share peptide-MHC reactivity across participants, as an approach to explore T cell correlates of tuberculosis disease-risk stratification and vaccine efficacy.

This study shows that promoter and enhancer functions are often linked within the same DNA sequences. Using a dual-reporter assay, the authors reveal shared sequence features and co-dependent activities supporting a unified model of gene regulation.

Prenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure can lead to a spectrum of developmental issues, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here the authors show that prenatal ZIKV exposure in macaques disrupts neurodevelopment, causing prolonged maternal attachment and visual deficits at 3 months that normalize by 12 months, independent of sensory function.

Beta-glucan is an inducer of trained immunity, an epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of the innate immune cells conferring immunological memory. Here the authors show that glucan-induced trained immunity enhances response to a cancer vaccine platform in colorectal cancer models, by inducing epigenetic and metabolic rewiring of macrophages that promotes an NK-cDC1 axis boosting anti-tumor immunity.

Energy gaps can be induced by spatial modulation of the electronic potential. Here, the authors demonstrate a large and robust energy gap in a free-standing carbon nanotube utilizing a 15-gate keyboard that spatially modulates the local potential.

Non-invasive strategies to detect and track activated myeloid cells will facilitate disease diagnosis and monitoring in patients affected by neuroinflammatory disorders. Here, the authors present 18F-FMD, a dendrimer-based PET tracer that detects and monitors activated myeloid cells at different stages (presymptomatic and symptomatic) of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice and in response to disease-modifying therapies.

It is currently unknown how uniform is signalling at the first synapse of vision in vivo. Here, the authors show neighbouring PR1 (red) cones differ in contrast sensitivity and timing due to locally stochastic horizontal-cell feedback, thereby extending total dynamic range.

The factors contributing to the onset of Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous stage of the highly lethal esophageal cancer, remain elusive. Here, the authors identify inherited mutations in the VSIG10L gene as a key etiologic determinant affecting esophageal biology and facilitating the development of Barrett’s esophagus.

After two years of mass azithromycin distribution to preschool age children in rural Niger, in this study, authors present evidence that selection of antibiotic resistance genes was not spread from treated villages to nearby untreated villages.

This study applies machine learning to fMRI data to map developmental variations in functional connectivity, uncovering heterogeneity across individuals and cortical regions that predicts neurocognitive maturation in youth.

Off-the-shelf, on-demand allogeneic CAR-T cells could represent a therapeutic alternative to autologous products for cancer therapy. Here the authors report the preclinical characterization of off-the-shelf CRISPR-Cas9– edited IL-13Rα2-specific allogeneic universal CAR-T cells and the results of a first-in-human phase I trial in patients with high-grade glioma.

Elite and viremic controllers of HIV can spontaneously regulate viral replication, but some lose this ability over time. In this longitudinal cohort study, 31% of viremic and 3% of elite HIV controllers lost viral control over 17 years. Specific T-cell– related proteins distinguish controller types and predict loss years in advance.

The contribution of ether lipid species in cancer cell fate has not been fully understood yet. Here the authors show that malignant cancer cells employ ether lipids to modulate membrane biophysical properties, enhancing iron endocytosis and ferroptosis susceptibility.

How white matter develops along the length of major tracts in humans remains unknown. Here, the authors identify fundamental patterns of human white matter development along distinct axes that reflect brain organization.

The mechanisms underlying increased cardiometabolic risk from cancer treatment in childhood cancer survivors remain to be explored. Here, epigenome-wide analysis in childhood cancer survivors identified DNA methylation sites that mediate treatment-related cardiometabolic risks and are associated with inflammatory and metabolic pathways.

Chemical recycling of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) typically requires high temperatures. Here, the authors report the UV-initiated depolymerisation of PMMA at low temperatures, in non-chlorinated solvents, such as benzonitrile.

Nitrogen and phosphorus in Greenland ice are present in measurable amounts and exceed algal needs, suggesting these nutrients do not limit glacier ice algae growth during the melt season.

Mangrove ecosystems are facing severe climate threats. However, this study shows that strategically expanding protected areas to include the most climate-resilient sites can safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services for the future, and this can be achieved with only a modest increase in protected area.

Revealing the structural features governing ergodicity breaking is critical to understanding glass formation. Here, the authors synthesise a family of hybrid metal halide glasses, and show that the molecular shape and polarity determine rotational disorder, enabling diverse glass-forming abilities.

The cancer cell membrane replicates the characteristic molecular profile of its parental cells. Here, authors construct a homotypic membrane-powered biomimetic interface for subtype-specific analysis of breast cancer extracellular vesicles.

This paper reports the excess mortality estimated during the evolving consecutive waves of COVID-19 in countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring Network (EuroMOMO) in 2020-2023 and how they compare to recent influenza seasons.

Photocatalytic water splitting using a single particulate photocatalyst is a cost-efficient approach for sustainable hydrogen production. Here, the authors report a nanoscale Ba_xSr_1-xTaO₂N solid-solution photocatalyst exhibits an apparent quantum efficiency of 13.5% for H₂ evolution at 420 nm.

The PCRCR complex of Plasmodium spp. binds basigin on the erythrocyte surface. While Rh5 of the complex is restricted to P. falciparum, PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr orthologs are present across the genus, for which the authors report common features.

For the celebration of our tenth anniversary, Nature Microbiology asks the former editors to reflect on their time at the journal.

Large-effect variants in autism remain elusive. Here, the authors use long-read sequencing to assemble phased genomes for 189 individuals, identifying pathogenic variants in TBL1XR1, MECP2, and SYNGAP1, plus nine candidate structural variants missed by short-read methods.

Smc5/6 association with DNA junctions can support genomic functions. Here, the authors show that Smc5/6 junction polarity preferences, targeting, and dwell times are determined by its structural modules as well as the RPA and PCNA genomic factors.

Diatoms are critical for carbon fixation and have strong biotechnology potential. Here, the authors optimized DNA and protein delivery methods for the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, also showing that DNA pieces can be stitched together directly in algal cells.

In young, estrogen-deprived female mice, the authors show that daily low-intensity vibration protected bone, muscle and fat metabolism. This treatment also enhanced bisphosphonate outcomes, strengthening the skeleton to counter adverse effects of cancer therapy on musculoskeletal tissue.

Given rising diabetes prevalence globally, access to diabetes treatments is gaining urgency. Here, the authors show patterns of glucose-lowering medication use for diabetes across 62 low- and middle-income countries.

In this work, the authors reveal that three non-ribosomal peptides targeting a common protein quality system differentially alter the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteome, providing new insight into the molecular mechanisms behind their antimycobacterial activity.

BiG-SCAPE and BiG-SLiCE are computational tools that enable exploring the diversity of metabolic gene clusters across microbial genomes. Here, the authors present major updates to these tools, providing essential infrastructure for studying the diversity of microbial metabolism.

The BAM protein complex catalyzes the integration of newly made proteins into the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Here, Nilaweera et al. provide evidence that outer-membrane lipids also play an important role in this process.

Down syndrome (DS) increases gene dosage that disrupts neurodevelopment and cognition. Using human-derived isogenic neurons, this study reveals altered network activity, synaptic dysfunction, and ion channel defects underlying DS neural impairment.

Several recent publications have attempted to detect novel unannotated microproteins using mass spectrometry proteomics. Here, the authors reassess these claimed microprotein detections, finding that many are poorly supported, while a subset represents likely genuine discoveries of novel proteins.

The deactivation of CO₂ reduction electrocatalyst in microbial media remains a key barrier for hybrid bio-electrochemical systems. Here, the authors present a bioadaptive nickel single atom catalyst that resists organic poisoning to enable high-rate CO-mediated isopropanol production from CO₂.

It remains unknown why only some sickle cell disease (SCD) patients develop lung thrombosis. Here, the authors show that an extracellular vesicle-dependent mechanism prevents lung thrombosis in SCD and how a CD39 polymorphism impairs this protection to promote lung thrombosis in subset of patients.

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies link tissue morphology with gene expression, but remain expensive to use; furthermore, models that predict ST data from histopathology images possess considerable limitations. Here, the authors develop STimage, a deep learning probabilistic framework for ST prediction from histopathology images while prioritising robustness and interpretability.

Targeting neurons that regulate energy balance may offer new approaches for obesity treatment. Here, authors show that chemogenetic and pharmacological manipulation of GABAergic neurons in the DRN/vlPAG increases adaptive thermogenesis and reduces weight gain in mice fed a highfat diet.

The relative contribution of lipid catabolism on fasting-induced longevity was unknown. Authors showed lifespan extension from fasting depend on silencing lipid catabolism upon nutrient replenishment through phosphorylation of NHR-49 by KIN-19.

A hidden quality-control system to filter out defective sperm during development is exploited by selfish genes to eliminate competing chromosomes.

Viral ribonucleoprotein–viral protein networks form pre-replication centres that nucleate viral factories and drive respiratory syncytial virus replication.

EGFR inhibitors are standard of care in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but resistance often develops. Here the authors report that the evolution of EGFR inhibitor resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLC results in a sensitivity to the compound, MCB-613, and investigate the underlying mechanism of action.

Nitazenes are potent synthetic opioids that are difficult to detect. Here, authors computationally redesign a plant receptor to create sensitive sensors capable of detecting diverse nitazenes and their metabolites in biological samples.

“This randomized controlled trial in adults with central obesity found that high-intensity interval training, performed once or thrice weekly, reduced body fat mass compared with control, highlighting the benefits of “weekend warrior” interventions.”

Muscularis macrophages, housekeepers of enteric nervous system integrity and intestinal homeostasis, modulate α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson’s disease, and understanding the accompanying mechanisms could pave the way for early-stage biomarkers.

This study shows that CrSBr hosts Frenkel-like and Wannier-Mott-like excitons whose distinct spatial character explains their contrasting sensitivity to magnetic order and lattice vibrations, challenging the standard dichotomy in describing excitons.

Projected impacts of climate change on malaria burden in Africa by 2050 highlight the urgent need for climate-resilient malaria control strategies and robust emergency response systems to safeguard progress towards malaria eradication.

The authors study epitaxial thin films of the pyrochlore-sublattice compound LiTi2O4 by RIXS and ARPES. They observe cooperation between strong electron correlations and strong electron-phonon coupling, giving rise to a mobile polaronic ground state in which charge motion and lattice distortions are coupled.

Nanomechanical measurements of molecular thin films are non-trivial due to ease of perturbation of the molecular surface. The authors present a direct, experimental demonstration of the tunability in the nanomechanical properties for a family of molecular semiconductors with systematic alkyl sidechain substitution.

T-cell–mediated rejection (TCMR) remains a major cause of kidney transplant failure with incompletely understood mechanisms. Here the authors use single-nucleus RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and immunofluorescence to show that injured kidney epithelial cell states associate with poor transplant outcomes after T-cell–mediated rejection.