J. Chen

Basis of narrow-spectrum activity of fidaxomicin on gut pathogen Clostridioides difficile

This study identifies the molecular basis of fidaxomicin's narrow-spectrum activity against Clostridioides difficile by analyzing its interaction with RNA polymerase.

ASGR1 is a candidate receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that promotes infection of liver cells

The paper identifies ASGR1 as a potential receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that facilitates liver cell infection and suggests soluble ASGR1 as a therapeutic target.

Teasing apart the joint effect of demography and natural selection in the birth of a contact zone

The paper uses genomic data to show that natural selection and demographic history jointly shaped the genetic structure and contact zones in Norway spruce during post-glacial recolonization.

A comparative study of cellular diversity between the Xenopus pronephric and mouse metanephric nephron

This study compares cellular diversity between Xenopus pronephric and mouse metanephric nephrons using single-cell RNA sequencing to identify conserved and divergent cell types and expression profiles.

HMGN5 escorts oncogenic STAT3 signaling by regulating chromatin landscape in tumorigenesis of breast cancer

This study identifies HMGN5 as a novel epigenetic target in breast cancer by showing it promotes tumorigenesis through STAT3-mediated chromatin regulation and suggests siRNA-based therapy.

Maternal cytokine response after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy

This study examines if SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy leads to lasting changes in maternal cytokine levels, finding no significant differences between infected and uninfected groups.

Histone neutralization in a rat model of acute lung injury induced by double-hit lipopolysaccharide

This study shows that histone neutralization with STC3141 reduces circulating histones, improves oxygenation, and decreases lung edema in a rat model of LPS-induced ALI, similar to dexamethasone.

Reduced infectivity but increased immune escape of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron

This study assesses the infectivity and immune evasion of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant using pseudotyped viruses and neutralizing assays against convalescent sera and vaccinated individuals.

Blood-brain Barrier Crossing using Magnetic Stimulated Nanoparticles

This paper develops a PBPK model to predict the biodistribution of magnetic nanoparticles under SMF and shows improved brain bioavailability with SMF and insulin conjugation.

Escherichia coli BarA-UvrY regulates the pks island and kills Staphylococci via the genotoxin colibactin

This study shows E. coli kills S. aureus via colibactin and identifies BarA-UvrY as a novel regulator of the pks island involved in this process.

Potential inhibitors for blocking the interaction of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its host cell receptor ACE2

This paper identifies TS-984 as a potent inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 interaction through a high-throughput screening platform and in vitro validation.

De novo apical domain formation inside the Drosophila adult midgut epithelium

The paper describes how enteroblasts in Drosophila midgut form an apical domain by creating an apical membrane initiation site and integrating into the epithelium.

CXCL8/CXCR2 signaling mediates bone marrow fibrosis and represents a therapeutic target in myelofibrosis

This study identifies CXCL8/CXCR2 signaling as a driver of bone marrow fibrosis in myelofibrosis and shows its therapeutic potential through genetic and pharmacologic inhibition.

Colonic Oxygen Microbubbles Augment Systemic Oxygenation and CO2 Removal in a Porcine Smoke Inhalation Model of Severe Hypoxia

Colonic oxygen microbubbles improve systemic oxygenation and reduce CO2 levels in pigs with smoke inhalation-induced severe hypoxia.

Cryo-EM structure of an amyloid fibril formed by full-length human SOD1 reveals its pathological conformational conversion

The paper determines the cryo-EM structure of human SOD1 amyloid fibrils, revealing conformational changes associated with ALS pathology.

Imaging-Guided Bioreactor for De-Epithelialization and Long-Term Cultivation of Ex Vivo Rat Trachea

This paper introduces an imaging-guided bioreactor for de-epithelialization and long-term cultivation of ex vivo rat trachea, enabling real-time monitoring and cell replacement for bioengineered tissue applications.

Age-elevated prostaglandin E2 enhances mortality to influenza infection

This study shows that elevated PGE2 in aged lungs impairs alveolar macrophages, leading to increased mortality from influenza infection.

Dual role of strigolactone receptor signaling partner in inhibiting substrate hydrolysis

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to show that the CTH of D3 stabilizes inactive conformations of D14 and blocks SL binding, inhibiting strigolactone signaling.

Inferring kinetic rate constants from single-molecule FRET trajectories - a blind benchmark of kinetic analysis tools

This study benchmarks eleven tools for inferring kinetic rate constants from smFRET trajectories using simulated and experimental data with varying challenges.

Glyphosate and its formulations Roundup Bioflow and RangerPro alter bacterial and fungal community composition in the rat caecum microbiome

This study shows that glyphosate and its formulations Roundup Bioflow and RangerPro alter bacterial and fungal communities in rat caecum microbiomes, with formulations causing more pronounced changes than glyphosate alone.

A live attenuated influenza virus-vectored intranasal COVID-19 vaccine provides rapid, prolonged, and broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study develops an intranasal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 using an influenza virus vector and shows it provides rapid, prolonged, and broad protection against multiple variants in hamsters.

Ensemble cryo-electron microscopy reveals conformational states of the nsp13 helicase in the SARS-CoV-2 helicase replication-transcription complex

This study uses cryo-EM and simulations to identify four conformational states of the nsp13 helicase in the SARS-CoV-2 RTC, revealing an allosteric mechanism for switching between RNA synthesis and backtracking.

A trimeric NTD and RBD SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine induced protective immunity in CAG-hACE2 transgenic mice and rhesus macaques

ReCOV, a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine, induced neutralizing antibodies and complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice and rhesus macaques.

Wound-like tumor periphery in human breast cancer predicts a convergent drug nonresponse

The paper identifies a wound-like tumor periphery in breast cancer as a uniparameter marker predicting multidrug nonresponse and poor prognosis across molecular subtypes.

Targeting the Annexin A1-FPR2/ALX pathway for host-directed therapy in dengue disease

This study identifies reduced Annexin A1 levels in dengue patients and mice, showing that AnxA1 agonists reduce disease severity by modulating mast cell degranulation.

Ratiometric 4Pi single molecule localization with optimal resolution and color assignment

This paper introduces a ratiometric multi-color imaging strategy for 4Pi-SMLM that achieves optimal 3D resolution and color separation with minimal loss of localization precision.

An iTSC-derived placental model of SARS-CoV-2 infection unveils ACE2-dependent susceptibility in syncytiotrophoblasts

This study develops an in vitro model of SARS-CoV-2 infection in placental cells using iTSCs, showing that syncytiotrophoblasts are infected and that ACE2 inhibition prevents infection and restores function.

Diversity, function and evolution of marine microbe genomes

The paper reviews marine microbiome studies, analyzes 17.59 Tb of sequencing data, and constructs genome and gene catalogues to explore marine prokaryotic diversity and function.

Lactate Increases Stemness of CD8+ T Cells to Augment Anti-Tumor Immunity

This study shows lactate enhances CD8+ T cell stemness and improves anti-tumor immunity by increasing Tcf7 expression through histone acetylation.

Early evolution of beetles regulated by the end-Permian deforestation

This study examines beetle evolution through the end-Permian mass extinction, showing xylophagous beetles declined due to forest collapse and later rebounded with forest recovery.