This study shows that the AMA1-RON complex is essential for Plasmodium sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary glands and mammalian hepatocytes, supporting its role in parasite transmission.

bioRxiv · Jan 4, 2022Microbiology

Trans-cellular tunnels induced by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans facilitate invasion through successive epithelial cells without host damage

J. Lachat, A. Pascault, D. Thibaut, R. Le Borgne, J.-M. Verbavatz, A. Weiner

This study shows Candida albicans invades epithelial cells through trans-cellular tunnels, either causing or avoiding host damage, using live-cell imaging and electron microscopy.

bioRxiv · Sep 9, 2021Microbiology

Microstructured hydrogels to guide self-assembly and function of lung alveolospheres

C. Loebel, A. Weiner, J. Katzen, M. Morley, V. Bala, F. Cardenas-Diaz, M. Davidson, K. Shiraishi, M. Basil, M. Ochs, M. Beers, E. Morrisey, A. E. Vaughan, J. Burdick

This paper introduces a hydrogel-based method to culture lung alveolospheres without Matrigel, reducing heterogeneity while maintaining cell fate.

bioRxiv · Aug 30, 2021Bioengineering

Red Blood Cells Function as DNA Sensors

M. Lam, S. Murphy, D. Kokkinaki, A. Venosa, S. Sherrill-Mix, C. Casu, S. Rivella, A. Weiner, J. Park, S. Shin, A. E. Vaughan, B. H. Hahn, A. R. Odom John, N. J. Meyer, C. A. Hunter, , N. S. Mangalmurti

The paper shows red blood cells detect and bind DNA, triggering immune responses during infections.

bioRxiv · Feb 11, 2021 · PreprintImmunology

IgG is differentially and selectively transferred across the placenta in HIV-infected women

D. R. Martinez, Y. Fong, S. H. Li, F. Yang, M. Jennewein, A. Weiner, E. Harrell, J. Mangold, R. Goswami, G. Seage, G. Alter, M. Ackerman, X. Peng, G. Fouda, S. Permar

This study identifies factors affecting placental IgG transfer efficiency in HIV-infected women, showing that maternal disease progression and Fc region characteristics influence selective transfer of antigen-specific IgG.

bioRxiv · Nov 30, 2018 · PreprintMicrobiology