B. Thakur

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineage spike structures, conformations, antigenicity, and receptor recognition

The paper determines cryo-EM structures of SARS-CoV-2 XBB lineage spike proteins, revealing structural changes that enhance immune evasion and receptor binding.

Context-dependent acetylation of the virulence regulator PhoP accounts for carbon-source specific mycobacterial growth inhibition under acidic conditions

The paper shows that PhoP acetylation, influenced by acidic conditions and carbon sources, affects mycobacterial growth and virulence.

Vaccine induction of CD4-mimicking broadly neutralizing antibody precursors in macaques

This study shows that vaccinating macaques with a CD4bs-targeting immunogen elicits neutralizing bnAb precursors with structural features of CD4-mimicking antibodies.

Structure-based stabilization of SOSIP Env enhances recombinant ectodomain durability and yield

This paper introduces a proline-stabilization strategy (2P) to enhance the durability and yield of recombinant HIV-1 Env trimers without altering their antigenic or conformational properties.

UVC-based air disinfection system for rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 present in the air

This study demonstrates that UVC-based air disinfection systems can rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols by damaging its nucleic acids and altering its Spike protein conformation.

Enhancing high-temperature degradation of polyethylene terephthalate through a synergistic division of enzyme labour between a solid-degrading thermostable cutinase and a reaction intermediate-degrading thermostable carboxylesterase

This paper demonstrates that combining a solid-degrading cutinase with a solution-degrading carboxylesterase enables complete degradation of PET hydrolysis products into TPA at 60°C, even with residual solid PET.

N-terminal extensions strengthen hydrophobic inter-subunit interactions between HU's C-terminal domains to frustrate heterodimer formation

The paper shows that N-terminal extensions in HU proteins reduce heterodimer formation by stabilizing hydrophobic interactions in the C-terminal domains.

Mechanism of bacterial adhesion and embedment in a DNA biofilm matrix:Evidence that binding of outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to HU is key

The paper identifies HU's role in bacterial adhesion to DNA in biofilms by binding LPS to HU's DNA-binding sites, facilitating bacterium-bacterium and bacterium-DNA interactions.