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Lev R, Bar-Am O, Saar G, Guardiola O, Minchiotti G, Peled E, Seliktar D. Development of a local controlled release system for therapeutic proteins in the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries and diseases. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:470. [PMID: 38956034 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06645-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The present study aims to develop and characterize a controlled-release delivery system for protein therapeutics in skeletal muscle regeneration following an acute injury. The therapeutic protein, a membrane-GPI anchored protein called Cripto, was immobilized in an injectable hydrogel delivery vehicle for local administration and sustained release. The hydrogel was made of poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen (PEG-Fibrinogen, PF), in the form of injectable microspheres. The PF microspheres exhibited a spherical morphology with an average diameter of approximately 100 micrometers, and the Cripto protein was uniformly entrapped within them. The release rate of Cripto from the PF microspheres was controlled by tuning the crosslinking density of the hydrogel, which was varied by changing the concentration of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) crosslinker. In vitro experiments confirmed a sustained-release profile of Cripto from the PF microspheres for up to 27 days. The released Cripto was biologically active and promoted the in vitro proliferation of mouse myoblasts. The therapeutic effect of PF-mediated delivery of Cripto in vivo was tested in a cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury model in mice. The Cripto caused an increase in the in vivo expression of the myogenic markers Pax7, the differentiation makers eMHC and Desmin, higher numbers of centro-nucleated myofibers and greater areas of regenerated muscle tissue. Collectively, these results establish the PF microspheres as a potential delivery system for the localized, sustained release of therapeutic proteins toward the accelerated repair of damaged muscle tissue following acute injuries.
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2
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Zvirblyte J, Nainys J, Juzenas S, Goda K, Kubiliute R, Dasevicius D, Kincius M, Ulys A, Jarmalaite S, Mazutis L. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of clear cell renal cell carcinoma reveals a tumor-associated endothelial tip cell phenotype. Commun Biol 2024; 7:780. [PMID: 38942917 PMCID: PMC11213875 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06478-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent form of renal cancer, accounting for over 75% of cases. The asymptomatic nature of the disease contributes to late-stage diagnoses and poor survival. Highly vascularized and immune infiltrated microenvironment are prominent features of ccRCC, yet the interplay between vasculature and immune cells, disease progression and response to therapy remains poorly understood. Using droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing we profile 50,236 transcriptomes from paired tumor and healthy adjacent kidney tissues. Our analysis reveals significant heterogeneity and inter-patient variability of the tumor microenvironment. Notably, we discover a previously uncharacterized vasculature subpopulation associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The cell-cell communication analysis reveals multiple modes of immunosuppressive interactions within the tumor microenvironment, including clinically relevant interactions between tumor vasculature and stromal cells with immune cells. The upregulation of the genes involved in these interactions is associated with worse survival in the TCGA KIRC cohort. Our findings demonstrate the role of tumor vasculature and stromal cell populations in shaping the ccRCC microenvironment and uncover a subpopulation of cells within the tumor vasculature that is associated with an angiogenic phenotype.
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3
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Budd J, Baker K, Karoune E, Coppock H, Patel S, Payne R, Tendero Cañadas A, Titcomb A, Hurley D, Egglestone S, Butler L, Mellor J, Nicholson G, Kiskin I, Koutra V, Jersakova R, McKendry RA, Diggle P, Richardson S, Schuller BW, Gilmour S, Pigoli D, Roberts S, Packham J, Thornley T, Holmes C. A large-scale and PCR-referenced vocal audio dataset for COVID-19. Sci Data 2024; 11:700. [PMID: 38937483 PMCID: PMC11211414 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03492-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The UK COVID-19 Vocal Audio Dataset is designed for the training and evaluation of machine learning models that classify SARS-CoV-2 infection status or associated respiratory symptoms using vocal audio. The UK Health Security Agency recruited voluntary participants through the national Test and Trace programme and the REACT-1 survey in England from March 2021 to March 2022, during dominant transmission of the Alpha and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants and some Omicron variant sublineages. Audio recordings of volitional coughs, exhalations, and speech were collected in the 'Speak up and help beat coronavirus' digital survey alongside demographic, symptom and self-reported respiratory condition data. Digital survey submissions were linked to SARS-CoV-2 test results. The UK COVID-19 Vocal Audio Dataset represents the largest collection of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-referenced audio recordings to date. PCR results were linked to 70,565 of 72,999 participants and 24,105 of 25,706 positive cases. Respiratory symptoms were reported by 45.6% of participants. This dataset has additional potential uses for bioacoustics research, with 11.3% participants self-reporting asthma, and 27.2% with linked influenza PCR test results.
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Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Claes N, Wang D, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Nandi P, Jenkinson K, De Meyer R, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. Direct visualization of ligands on gold nanoparticles in a liquid environment. Nat Chem 2024:10.1038/s41557-024-01574-1. [PMID: 38937593 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The interactions between gold nanoparticles, their surface ligands and the solvent critically influence the properties of these nanoparticles. Although spectroscopic and scattering techniques have been used to investigate their ensemble structure, a comprehensive understanding of these processes at the nanoscale remains challenging. Electron microscopy makes it possible to characterize the local structure and composition but is limited by insufficient contrast, electron beam sensitivity and the requirement for ultrahigh-vacuum conditions, which prevent the investigation of dynamic aspects. Here we show that, by exploiting high-quality graphene liquid cells, we can overcome these limitations and investigate the structure of the ligand shell around gold nanoparticles and at the ligand-gold interface in a liquid environment. Using this graphene liquid cell, we visualize the anisotropy, composition and dynamics of ligand distribution on gold nanorod surfaces. Our results indicate a micellar model for surfactant organization. This work provides a reliable and direct visualization of ligand distribution around colloidal nanoparticles.
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Martínez Gascueña A, Wu H, Wang R, Owen CD, Hernando PJ, Monaco S, Penner M, Xing K, Le Gall G, Gardner R, Ndeh D, Urbanowicz PA, Spencer DIR, Walsh M, Angulo J, Juge N. Exploring the sequence-function space of microbial fucosidases. Commun Chem 2024; 7:137. [PMID: 38890439 PMCID: PMC11189522 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01212-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial α-L-fucosidases catalyse the hydrolysis of terminal α-L-fucosidic linkages and can perform transglycosylation reactions. Based on sequence identity, α-L-fucosidases are classified in glycoside hydrolases (GHs) families of the carbohydrate-active enzyme database. Here we explored the sequence-function space of GH29 fucosidases. Based on sequence similarity network (SSN) analyses, 15 GH29 α-L-fucosidases were selected for functional characterisation. HPAEC-PAD and LC-FD-MS/MS analyses revealed substrate and linkage specificities for α1,2, α1,3, α1,4 and α1,6 linked fucosylated oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates, consistent with their SSN clustering. The structural basis for the substrate specificity of GH29 fucosidase from Bifidobacterium asteroides towards α1,6 linkages and FA2G2 N-glycan was determined by X-ray crystallography and STD NMR. The capacity of GH29 fucosidases to carry out transfucosylation reactions with GlcNAc and 3FN as acceptors was evaluated by TLC combined with ESI-MS and NMR. These experimental data supported the use of SSN to further explore the GH29 sequence-function space through machine-learning models. Our lightweight protein language models could accurately allocate test sequences in their respective SSN clusters and assign 34,258 non-redundant GH29 sequences into SSN clusters. It is expected that the combination of these computational approaches will be used in the future for the identification of novel GHs with desired specificities.
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Diomedi S, Vaccari FE, Gamberini M, De Vitis M, Filippini M, Fattori P. Neurophysiological recordings from parietal areas of macaque brain during an instructed-delay reaching task. Sci Data 2024; 11:624. [PMID: 38871737 PMCID: PMC11176338 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03479-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Facilitating data sharing in scientific research, especially in the domain of animal studies, holds immense value, particularly in mitigating distress and enhancing the efficiency of data collection. This study unveils a meticulously curated collection of neural activity data extracted from six electrophysiological datasets recorded from three parietal areas (V6A, PEc, PE) of two Macaca fascicularis during an instructed-delay foveated reaching task. This valuable resource is now accessible to the public, featuring spike timestamps, behavioural event timings and supplementary metadata, all presented alongside a comprehensive description of the encompassing structure. To enhance accessibility, data are stored as HDF5 files, a convenient format due to its flexible structure and the capability to attach diverse information to each hierarchical sub-level. To guarantee ready-to-use datasets, we also provide some MATLAB and Python code examples, enabling users to quickly familiarize themselves with the data structure.
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Yalçin Z, Lam SY, Peuscher MH, van der Torre J, Zhu S, Iyengar PV, Salas-Lloret D, de Krijger I, Moatti N, van der Lugt R, Falcone M, Cerutti A, Bleijerveld OB, Hoekman L, González-Prieto R, Jacobs JJL. UBE2D3 facilitates NHEJ by orchestrating ATM signalling through multi-level control of RNF168. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5032. [PMID: 38866770 PMCID: PMC11169547 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of genome integrity requires tight control of DNA damage response (DDR) signalling and repair, with phosphorylation and ubiquitination representing key elements. How these events are coordinated to achieve productive DNA repair remains elusive. Here we identify the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2D3 as a regulator of ATM kinase-induced DDR that promotes non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) at telomeres. UBE2D3 contributes to DDR-induced chromatin ubiquitination and recruitment of the NHEJ-promoting factor 53BP1, both mediated by RNF168 upon ATM activation. Additionally, UBE2D3 promotes NHEJ by limiting RNF168 accumulation and facilitating ATM-mediated phosphorylation of KAP1-S824. Mechanistically, defective KAP1-S824 phosphorylation and telomeric NHEJ upon UBE2D3-deficiency are linked to RNF168 hyperaccumulation and aberrant PP2A phosphatase activity. Together, our results identify UBE2D3 as a multi-level regulator of NHEJ that orchestrates ATM and RNF168 activities. Moreover, they reveal a negative regulatory circuit in the DDR that is constrained by UBE2D3 and consists of RNF168- and phosphatase-mediated restriction of KAP1 phosphorylation.
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Deguchi T, Ries J. Simple and robust 3D MINFLUX excitation with a variable phase plate. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:134. [PMID: 38849346 PMCID: PMC11161593 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01487-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
MINFLUX has achieved extraordinary resolution in superresolution imaging and single fluorophore tracking. It is based on localizing single fluorophores by rapid probing with a patterned beam that features a local intensity minimum. Current implementations, however, are complex and expensive and are limited in speed and robustness. Here, we show that a combination of an electro-optical modulator with a segmented birefringent element such as a spatial light modulator produces a variable phase plate for which the phase can be scanned on the MHz timescale. Bisected or top-hat phase patterns generate high-contrast compact excitation point-spread functions for MINFLUX localization in the x, y, and z-direction, respectively, which can be scanned across a fluorophore within a microsecond, switched within 60 microseconds and alternated among different excitation wavelengths. We discuss how to compensate for non-optimal performance of the components and present a robust 3D and multi-color MINFLUX excitation module, which we envision as an integral component of a high-performance and cost-effective open-source MINFLUX.
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Luppi AI, Gellersen HM, Liu ZQ, Peattie ARD, Manktelow AE, Adapa R, Owen AM, Naci L, Menon DK, Dimitriadis SI, Stamatakis EA. Systematic evaluation of fMRI data-processing pipelines for consistent functional connectomics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4745. [PMID: 38834553 PMCID: PMC11150439 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48781-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional interactions between brain regions can be viewed as a network, enabling neuroscientists to investigate brain function through network science. Here, we systematically evaluate 768 data-processing pipelines for network reconstruction from resting-state functional MRI, evaluating the effect of brain parcellation, connectivity definition, and global signal regression. Our criteria seek pipelines that minimise motion confounds and spurious test-retest discrepancies of network topology, while being sensitive to both inter-subject differences and experimental effects of interest. We reveal vast and systematic variability across pipelines' suitability for functional connectomics. Inappropriate choice of data-processing pipeline can produce results that are not only misleading, but systematically so, with the majority of pipelines failing at least one criterion. However, a set of optimal pipelines consistently satisfy all criteria across different datasets, spanning minutes, weeks, and months. We provide a full breakdown of each pipeline's performance across criteria and datasets, to inform future best practices in functional connectomics.
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Lizana J, Miranda ND, Sparrow SN, Watson PAG, Zachau Walker M, Wallom DCH, McCulloch MD. Ensemble of global climate simulations for temperature in historical, 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C scenarios from HadAM4. Sci Data 2024; 11:578. [PMID: 38834583 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03400-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Large ensembles of global temperature are provided for three climate scenarios: historical (2006-16), 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C above pre-industrial levels. Each scenario has 700 members (70 simulations per year for ten years) of 6-hourly mean temperatures at a resolution of 0.833° ´ 0.556° (longitude ´ latitude) over the land surface. The data was generated using the climateprediction.net (CPDN) climate simulation environment, to run HadAM4 Atmosphere-only General Circulation Model (AGCM) from the UK Met Office Hadley Centre. Biases in simulated temperature were identified and corrected using quantile mapping with reference temperature data from ERA5. The data is stored within the UK Natural and Environmental Research Council Centre for Environmental Data Analysis repository as NetCDF V4 files.
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Guichard M, Holla S, Wernerová D, Grossmann G, Minina EA. RoPod, a customizable toolkit for non-invasive root imaging, reveals cell type-specific dynamics of plant autophagy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12664. [PMID: 38830985 PMCID: PMC11148066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63226-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Arabidopsis root is a classic model system in plant cell and molecular biology. The sensitivity of plant roots to local environmental perturbation challenges data reproducibility and incentivizes further optimization of imaging and phenotyping tools. Here we present RoPod, an easy-to-use toolkit for low-stress live time-lapse imaging of Arabidopsis roots. RoPod comprises a dedicated protocol for plant cultivation and a customizable 3D-printed vessel with integrated microscopy-grade glass that serves simultaneously as a growth and imaging chamber. RoPod reduces impact of sample handling, preserves live samples for prolonged imaging sessions, and facilitates application of treatments during image acquisition. We describe a protocol for RoPods fabrication and provide illustrative application pipelines for monitoring root hair growth and autophagic activity. Furthermore, we showcase how the use of RoPods advanced our understanding of plant autophagy, a major catabolic pathway and a key player in plant fitness. Specifically, we obtained fine time resolution for autophagy response to commonly used chemical modulators of the pathway and revealed previously overlooked cell type-specific changes in the autophagy response. These results will aid a deeper understanding of the physiological role of autophagy and provide valuable guidelines for choosing sampling time during end-point assays currently employed in plant autophagy research.
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Schlimgen RR, Peterson FC, Heukers R, Smit MJ, McCorvy JD, Volkman BF. Structural basis for selectivity and antagonism in extracellular GPCR-nanobodies. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4611. [PMID: 38816420 PMCID: PMC11139983 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49000-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are pivotal therapeutic targets, but their complex structure poses challenges for effective drug design. Nanobodies, or single-domain antibodies, have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to target GPCRs, offering advantages over traditional small molecules and antibodies. However, an incomplete understanding of the structural features enabling GPCR-nanobody interactions has limited their development. In this study, we investigate VUN701, a nanobody antagonist targeting the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3). We determine that an extended CDR3 loop is required for ACKR3 binding. Uncommon in most nanobodies, an extended CDR3 is prevalent in GPCR-targeting nanobodies. Combining experimental and computational approaches, we map an inhibitory ACKR3-VUN701 interface and define a distinct conformational mechanism for GPCR inactivation. Our results provide insights into class A GPCR-nanobody selectivity and suggest a strategy for the development of these new therapeutic tools.
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Grau-Bové X, Subirana L, Meister L, Soubigou A, Neto A, Elek A, Naranjo S, Fornas O, Gomez-Skarmeta JL, Tena JJ, Irimia M, Bertrand S, Sebé-Pedrós A, Escriva H. An amphioxus neurula stage cell atlas supports a complex scenario for the emergence of vertebrate head mesoderm. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4550. [PMID: 38811547 PMCID: PMC11136973 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48774-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new structures can often be linked to the evolution of novel cell types that follows the rewiring of developmental gene regulatory subnetworks. Vertebrates are characterized by a complex body plan compared to the other chordate clades and the question remains of whether and how the emergence of vertebrate morphological innovations can be related to the appearance of new embryonic cell populations. We previously proposed, by studying mesoderm development in the cephalochordate amphioxus, a scenario for the evolution of the vertebrate head mesoderm. To further test this scenario at the cell population level, we used scRNA-seq to construct a cell atlas of the amphioxus neurula, stage at which the main mesodermal compartments are specified. Our data allowed us to validate the presence of a prechordal-plate like territory in amphioxus. Additionally, the transcriptomic profile of somite cell populations supports the homology between specific territories of amphioxus somites and vertebrate cranial/pharyngeal and lateral plate mesoderm. Finally, our work provides evidence that the appearance of the specific mesodermal structures of the vertebrate head was associated to both segregation of pre-existing cell populations, and co-option of new genes for the control of myogenesis.
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Magaletti S, Mayer L, Le XP, Debuisschert T. Magnetic sensitivity enhancement via polarimetric excitation and detection of an ensemble of NV centers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11793. [PMID: 38782955 PMCID: PMC11116463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60199-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center (NV) presents remarkable spin-dependent optical properties that make it an interesting tool for magnetic field sensing. In this paper we exploit the polarization properties of the NV center absorption and emission processes to improve the magnetic sensitivity of an ensemble of NV centers. By simply equipping the experimental set-up of a half-wave plate in the excitation path and a polarizer in the detection path we demonstrate an improvement larger than a factor of two on the NV center magnetic sensitivity.
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Kang BJ, Rohwer EJ, Rohrbach D, Zyaee E, Akbarimoosavi M, Ollmann Z, Sorohhov G, Borgoo A, Cascella M, Cannizzo A, Decurtins S, Stanley RJ, Liu SX, Feurer T. Time-resolved THz Stark spectroscopy of molecules in solution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4212. [PMID: 38760343 PMCID: PMC11101612 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48164-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
For decades, it was considered all but impossible to perform Stark spectroscopy on molecules in a liquid solution, because their concomitant orientation to the applied electric field results in overwhelming background signals. A way out was to immobilize the solute molecules by freezing the solvent. While mitigating solute orientation, freezing removes the possibility to study molecules in liquid environments at ambient conditions. Here we demonstrate time-resolved THz Stark spectroscopy, utilizing intense single-cycle terahertz pulses as electric field source. At THz frequencies, solute molecules have no time to orient their dipole moments. Hence, dynamic Stark spectroscopy on the time scales of molecular vibrations or rotations in both non-polar and polar solvents at arbitrary temperatures is now possible. We verify THz Stark spectroscopy for two judiciously selected molecular systems and compare the results to conventional Stark spectroscopy and first principle calculations.
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Kono S, Pan J, Chegnizadeh M, Wang X, Youssefi A, Scigliuzzo M, Kippenberg TJ. Mechanically induced correlated errors on superconducting qubits with relaxation times exceeding 0.4 ms. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3950. [PMID: 38729959 PMCID: PMC11087564 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48230-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Superconducting qubits are among the most advanced candidates for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing. Despite recent significant advancements in the qubit lifetimes, the origin of the loss mechanism for state-of-the-art qubits is still subject to investigation. Furthermore, the successful implementation of quantum error correction requires negligible correlated errors between qubits. Here, we realize long-lived superconducting transmon qubits that exhibit fluctuating lifetimes, averaging 0.2 ms and exceeding 0.4 ms - corresponding to quality factors above 5 million and 10 million, respectively. We then investigate their dominant error mechanism. By introducing novel time-resolved error measurements that are synchronized with the operation of the pulse tube cooler in a dilution refrigerator, we find that mechanical vibrations from the pulse tube induce nonequilibrium dynamics in highly coherent qubits, leading to their correlated bit-flip errors. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of the qubit error mechanisms but also provide valuable insights into potential error-mitigation strategies for achieving fault tolerance by decoupling superconducting qubits from their mechanical environments.
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Eldridge DJ, Ding J, Dorrough J, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Sala O, Gross N, Le Bagousse-Pinguet Y, Mallen-Cooper M, Saiz H, Asensio S, Ochoa V, Gozalo B, Guirado E, García-Gómez M, Valencia E, Martínez-Valderrama J, Plaza C, Abedi M, Ahmadian N, Ahumada RJ, Alcántara JM, Amghar F, Azevedo L, Ben Salem F, Berdugo M, Blaum N, Boldgiv B, Bowker M, Bran D, Bu C, Canessa R, Castillo-Monroy AP, Castro I, Castro-Quezada P, Cesarz S, Chibani R, Conceição AA, Darrouzet-Nardi A, Davila YC, Deák B, Díaz-Martínez P, Donoso DA, Dougill AD, Durán J, Eisenhauer N, Ejtehadi H, Espinosa CI, Fajardo A, Farzam M, Foronda A, Franzese J, Fraser LH, Gaitán J, Geissler K, Gonzalez SL, Gusman-Montalvan E, Hernández RM, Hölzel N, Hughes FM, Jadan O, Jentsch A, Ju M, Kaseke KF, Köbel M, Lehmann A, Liancourt P, Linstädter A, Louw MA, Ma Q, Mabaso M, Maggs-Kölling G, Makhalanyane TP, Issa OM, Marais E, McClaran M, Mendoza B, Mokoka V, Mora JP, Moreno G, Munson S, Nunes A, Oliva G, Oñatibia GR, Osborne B, Peter G, Pierre M, Pueyo Y, Emiliano Quiroga R, Reed S, Rey A, Rey P, Gómez VMR, Rolo V, Rillig MC, le Roux PC, Ruppert JC, Salah A, Sebei PJ, Sharkhuu A, Stavi I, Stephens C, Teixido AL, Thomas AD, Tielbörger K, Robles ST, Travers S, Valkó O, van den Brink L, Velbert F, von Heßberg A, Wamiti W, Wang D, Wang L, Wardle GM, Yahdjian L, Zaady E, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Maestre FT. Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:760-770. [PMID: 38609675 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01670-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in drylands, remain virtually unknown. Here we evaluated the relative importance of grazing pressure and herbivore type, climate and plant functional traits on 24 soil physical and chemical attributes that represent proxies of key ecosystem services related to decomposition, soil fertility, and soil and water conservation. To do this, we conducted a standardized global survey of 288 plots at 88 sites in 25 countries worldwide. We show that aridity and plant traits are the major factors associated with the magnitude of plant effects on fertile islands in grazed drylands worldwide. Grazing pressure had little influence on the capacity of plants to support fertile islands. Taller and wider shrubs and grasses supported stronger island effects. Stable and functional soils tended to be linked to species-rich sites with taller plants. Together, our findings dispel the notion that grazing pressure or herbivore type are linked to the formation or intensification of fertile islands in drylands. Rather, our study suggests that changes in aridity, and processes that alter island identity and therefore plant traits, will have marked effects on how perennial plants support and maintain the functioning of drylands in a more arid and grazed world.
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Thiel H, Jehle L, Chapman RJ, Frick S, Conradi H, Kleinert M, Suchomel H, Kamp M, Höfling S, Schneider C, Keil N, Weihs G. Time-bin entanglement at telecom wavelengths from a hybrid photonic integrated circuit. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9990. [PMID: 38693329 PMCID: PMC11063055 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60758-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Mass-deployable implementations for quantum communication require compact, reliable, and low-cost hardware solutions for photon generation, control and analysis. We present a fiber-pigtailed hybrid photonic circuit comprising nonlinear waveguides for photon-pair generation and a polymer interposer reaching 68 dB of pump suppression and photon separation based on a polarizing beam splitter with > 25 dB polarization extinction ratio. The optical stability of the hybrid assembly enhances the quality of the entanglement, and the efficient background suppression and photon routing further reduce accidental coincidences. We thus achieve a96 - 8 + 3 % concurrence and a96 - 5 + 2 % fidelity to a Bell state. The generated telecom-wavelength, time-bin entangled photon pairs are ideally suited for distributing Bell pairs over fiber networks with low dispersion.
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Kisakol B, Matveeva A, Salvucci M, Kel A, McDonough E, Ginty F, Longley DB, Prehn JHM. Identification of unique rectal cancer-specific subtypes. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1809-1818. [PMID: 38532103 PMCID: PMC11130168 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02656-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing colorectal cancer subtyping methods were generated without much consideration of potential differences in expression profiles between colon and rectal tissues. Moreover, locally advanced rectal cancers at resection often have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy which likely has a significant impact on gene expression. METHODS We collected mRNA expression profiles for rectal and colon cancer samples (n = 2121). We observed that (i) Consensus Molecular Subtyping (CMS) had a different prognosis in treatment-naïve rectal vs. colon cancers, and (ii) that neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy exposure produced a strong shift in CMS subtypes in rectal cancers. We therefore clustered 182 untreated rectal cancers to find rectal cancer-specific subtypes (RSSs). RESULTS We identified three robust subtypes. We observed that RSS1 had better, and RSS2 had worse disease-free survival. RSS1 showed high expression of MYC target genes and low activity of angiogenesis genes. RSS2 exhibited low regulatory T cell abundance, strong EMT and angiogenesis signalling, and high activation of TGF-β, NF-κB, and TNF-α signalling. RSS3 was characterised by the deactivation of EGFR, MAPK and WNT pathways. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that RSS subtyping allows for more accurate prognosis predictions in rectal cancers than CMS subtyping and provides new insight into targetable disease pathways within these subtypes.
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Belicova L, Van Hul N, Andersson ER. Understanding liver repair through space and time. Nat Genet 2024; 56:740-742. [PMID: 38730127 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
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Chan AYL, Gao L, Hsieh MHC, Kjerpeseth LJ, Avelar R, Banaschewski T, Chan AHY, Coghill D, Cohen JM, Gissler M, Harrison J, Ip P, Karlstad Ø, Lau WCY, Leinonen MK, Leung WC, Liao TC, Reutfors J, Shao SC, Simonoff E, Tan KCB, Taxis K, Tomlin A, Cesta CE, Lai ECC, Zoega H, Man KKC, Wong ICK. Maternal diabetes and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring in a multinational cohort of 3.6 million mother-child pairs. Nat Med 2024; 30:1416-1423. [PMID: 38589601 PMCID: PMC11108779 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02917-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies report an association between maternal diabetes mellitus (MDM) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), often overlooking unmeasured confounders such as shared genetics and environmental factors. We therefore conducted a multinational cohort study with linked mother-child pairs data in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Taiwan, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to evaluate associations between different MDM (any MDM, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM)) and ADHD using Cox proportional hazards regression. We included over 3.6 million mother-child pairs between 2001 and 2014 with follow-up until 2020. Children who were born to mothers with any type of diabetes during pregnancy had a higher risk of ADHD than unexposed children (pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.24). Higher risks of ADHD were also observed for both GDM (pooled HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04-1.17) and PGDM (pooled HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.25-1.55). However, siblings with discordant exposure to GDM in pregnancy had similar risks of ADHD (pooled HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.94-1.17), suggesting potential confounding by unmeasured, shared familial factors. Our findings indicate that there is a small-to-moderate association between MDM and ADHD, whereas the association between GDM and ADHD is unlikely to be causal. This finding contrast with previous studies, which reported substantially higher risk estimates, and underscores the need to reevaluate the precise roles of hyperglycemia and genetic factors in the relationship between MDM and ADHD.
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Santin YG, Sogues A, Bourigault Y, Remaut HK, Laloux G. Lifecycle of a predatory bacterium vampirizing its prey through the cell envelope and S-layer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3590. [PMID: 38678033 PMCID: PMC11055950 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Predatory bacteria feed upon other bacteria in various environments. Bdellovibrio exovorus is an obligate epibiotic predator that attaches on the prey cell surface, where it grows and proliferates. Although the mechanisms allowing feeding through the prey cell envelope are unknown, it has been proposed that the prey's proteinaceous S-layer may act as a defensive structure against predation. Here, we use time-lapse and cryo-electron microscopy to image the lifecycle of B. exovorus feeding on Caulobacter crescentus. We show that B. exovorus proliferates by non-binary division, primarily generating three daughter cells. Moreover, the predator feeds on C. crescentus regardless of the presence of an S-layer, challenging its assumed protective role against predators. Finally, we show that apparently secure junctions are established between prey and predator outer membranes.
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Hori M, Steinauer A, Tetter S, Hälg J, Manz EM, Hilvert D. Stimulus-responsive assembly of nonviral nucleocapsids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3576. [PMID: 38678040 PMCID: PMC11055949 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47808-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Controlled assembly of a protein shell around a viral genome is a key step in the life cycle of many viruses. Here we report a strategy for regulating the co-assembly of nonviral proteins and nucleic acids into highly ordered nucleocapsids in vitro. By fusing maltose binding protein to the subunits of NC-4, an engineered protein cage that encapsulates its own encoding mRNA, we successfully blocked spontaneous capsid assembly, allowing isolation of the individual monomers in soluble form. To initiate RNA-templated nucleocapsid formation, the steric block can be simply removed by selective proteolysis. Analyses by transmission and cryo-electron microscopy confirmed that the resulting assemblies are structurally identical to their RNA-containing counterparts produced in vivo. Enzymatically triggered cage formation broadens the range of RNA molecules that can be encapsulated by NC-4, provides unique opportunities to study the co-assembly of capsid and cargo, and could be useful for studying other nonviral and viral assemblies.
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Folkestad SD, Paul AC, Paul Née Matveeva R, Coriani S, Odelius M, Iannuzzi M, Koch H. Understanding X-ray absorption in liquid water using triple excitations in multilevel coupled cluster theory. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3551. [PMID: 38670938 PMCID: PMC11053016 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47690-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
X-ray absorption (XA) spectroscopy is an essential experimental tool to investigate the local structure of liquid water. Interpretation of the experiment poses a significant challenge and requires a quantitative theoretical description. High-quality theoretical XA spectra require reliable molecular dynamics simulations and accurate electronic structure calculations. Here, we present the first successful application of coupled cluster theory to model the XA spectrum of liquid water. We overcome the computational limitations on system size by employing a multilevel coupled cluster framework for large molecular systems. Excellent agreement with the experimental spectrum is achieved by including triple excitations in the wave function and using molecular structures from state-of-the-art path-integral molecular dynamics. We demonstrate that an accurate description of the electronic structure within the first solvation shell is sufficient to successfully model the XA spectrum of liquid water within the multilevel framework. Furthermore, we present a rigorous charge transfer analysis of the XA spectrum, which is reliable due to the accuracy and robustness of the electronic structure methodology. This analysis aligns with previous studies regarding the character of the prominent features of the XA spectrum of liquid water.
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Arthofer P, Panhölzl F, Delafont V, Hay A, Reipert S, Cyran N, Wienkoop S, Willemsen A, Sifaoui I, Arberas-Jiménez I, Schulz F, Lorenzo-Morales J, Horn M. A giant virus infecting the amoeboflagellate Naegleria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3307. [PMID: 38658525 PMCID: PMC11043551 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47308-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Giant viruses (Nucleocytoviricota) are significant lethality agents of various eukaryotic hosts. Although metagenomics indicates their ubiquitous distribution, available giant virus isolates are restricted to a very small number of protist and algal hosts. Here we report on the first viral isolate that replicates in the amoeboflagellate Naegleria. This genus comprises the notorious human pathogen Naegleria fowleri, the causative agent of the rare but fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. We have elucidated the structure and infection cycle of this giant virus, Catovirus naegleriensis (a.k.a. Naegleriavirus, NiV), and show its unique adaptations to its Naegleria host using fluorescence in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, genomics, and proteomics. Naegleriavirus is only the fourth isolate of the highly diverse subfamily Klosneuvirinae, and like its relatives the NiV genome contains a large number of translation genes, but lacks transfer RNAs (tRNAs). NiV has acquired genes from its Naegleria host, which code for heat shock proteins and apoptosis inhibiting factors, presumably for host interactions. Notably, NiV infection was lethal to all Naegleria species tested, including the human pathogen N. fowleri. This study expands our experimental framework for investigating giant viruses and may help to better understand the basic biology of the human pathogen N. fowleri.
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