K. Nakamura

Effect of phage variation on Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) production and the virulence of Stx-producing Escherichia coli

This study examines how variations in Stx2 phages affect Stx2 production and virulence in O145:H28 STEC strains, revealing differences in production levels based on phage type and repressor type.

Thermostability and binding properties of single-chained Fv fragments derived from therapeutic antibodies

This study evaluates the thermostability and binding properties of scFv fragments from FDA-approved antibodies, showing that stable scFvs maintain antigen binding.

Representation of Protein Dynamics Disentangled by Time-structure-based Prior

The paper introduces two methods with a time-structure-based prior to disentangle protein dynamics from MD simulations, improving the representation of conformational transitions.

Effective mechanical potential of cell-cell interaction in tissues harboring cavity and in cell sheet toward morphogenesis

The paper evaluates an image-based method for inferring cell-cell interaction potentials in tissues with cavities and cell sheets, showing it can reproduce morphological structures.

PDZD8-FKBP8 tethering complex at ER-mitochondria contact sites regulates mitochondrial complexity

This study identifies FKBP8 as the tethering partner of PDZD8 at ER-mitochondria contact sites, showing their interdependence in regulating mitochondrial morphology.

Effective mechanical potential of cell-cell interaction explains three-dimensional morphologies during early embryogenesis

The paper develops a method to infer mechanical forces of cell-cell interactions and shows that quantitative differences in effective pairwise potentials explain morphological differences in early embryos.

NEMO reshapes the protein aggregate interface and promotes aggrephagy by co-condensation with p62

This study identifies a NF-κB-independent role of NEMO in proteostasis by promoting aggrephagy through co-condensation with p62.

Anxious about rejection, avoidant of neglect: Infant marmosets tune their attachment based on individual caregiver's parenting style

The paper shows marmoset infants adjust their attachment behaviors based on caregivers' parenting styles, mirroring human attachment dynamics.

Oncogenic drivers dictate immune control of acute myeloid leukemia.

This study shows that specific AML oncogenes influence immune responses and escape mechanisms, with NrasG12D promoting anti-leukemia immunity that can be counteracted by Myc.

Age-associated sleep-wake patterns are altered with Prdm13 signaling in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and dietary restriction in mice

This study shows that Prdm13 signaling in the dorsomedial hypothalamus affects age-related sleep-wake changes in mice, and dietary restriction can mitigate these effects.

Use of the particle agglutination/particle agglutination-inhibition test for antigenic analysis of SARS-CoV-2

This study develops a PA/PAI test to rapidly assess SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity using hACE2-bound latex beads, showing it can detect antigenic differences between variants.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 spike G446S potentiates HLA-A*24:02-restricted T cell immunity

Prostaglandin EP3 receptor-expressing preoptic neurons bidirectionally control body temperature via tonic GABAergic signaling

The paper identifies POAEP3R neurons as bidirectional regulators of body temperature through GABAergic signaling, showing both hypothermic and hyperthermic effects.

In vivo CRISPRi screen reveals the differential requirement for mitochondrial respiratory chain function between in vivo and in vitro tumor growth

The paper uses CRISPRi to show that mitochondrial respiratory chain genes are critical for in vivo tumor growth but not for metastasis in lung cancer xenografts.

Pharmacologic Therapy for Engraftment Arrhythmia Induced by Transplantation of Human Cardiomyocytes

This study shows that amiodarone and ivabradine together prevent cardiac death and reduce arrhythmia burden in a porcine model of engraftment arrhythmia after human cardiomyocyte transplantation.

An interactive deep learning-based approach reveals mitochondrial cristae topologies

The paper introduces a deep learning platform to analyze mitochondrial ultrastructure, revealing tubular cristae and a new role for OPA1 in cristae morphology.

Mediodorsal thalamus is critical for updating during extra-dimensional shifts but not reversals in the attentional set-shifting task

This study shows that the mediodorsal thalamus is critical for rapid within-trial updates during extra-dimensional shifts but not reversals in the attentional set-shifting task in rats.

Metabolic flexibility via mitochondrial BCAA carrier SLC25A44 is required for optimal fever

This study identifies SLC25A44 as a mitochondrial BCAA carrier essential for metabolic flexibility and optimal fever response through enhanced mitochondrial BCAA oxidation and thermogenesis.

Prophages integrating into prophages: a mechanism to accumulate type III secretion effector genes and duplicate Shiga toxin-encoding prophages in Escherichia coli

The paper identifies a mechanism where prophages integrate into other prophages in Escherichia coli, leading to the duplication of Shiga toxin-encoding prophages and the accumulation of type III secretion effector genes.

Extracellular DJ-1 induces sterile inflammation in the ischemic brain

This paper shows that extracellular DJ-1 triggers inflammation in ischemic brains by activating TLR2 and TLR4, and that blocking DJ-1 reduces inflammation and neuronal damage.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of human iPSC-derived cardiac cells predicts novel cytopathic features in hearts of COVID-19 patients

This study infects human iPSC-derived cardiac cells with SARS-CoV-2 and identifies novel cytopathic features in COVID-19 patient hearts, including myofibrillar fragmentation and DNA loss in cardiomyocytes.

Resolving the data asynchronicity in high-speed atomic force microscopy measurement via the Kalman Smoother

This paper develops a Kalman smoother method to resolve data asynchronicity in HS-AFM movies, improving the accuracy of structural dynamics capture.

Integrating genotypes and phenotypes improves long-term forecasts of seasonal influenza A/H3N2 evolution

This study develops a forecasting framework for influenza A/H3N2 evolution by integrating phenotypic antigenic drift data with sequence-based fitness estimates, showing improved long-term predictions.

Two-way migration of Lychnis wilfordii caused by the circular landform of Japan-Korea-northeast China-Russian Far East region and its suggestion for conservation in northeast Asia

This study investigates the genetic structure and migration routes of Lychnis wilfordii across northeast Asia, suggesting conservation strategies based on its evolutionary history.

MAPK-induced miR-29 targets MAFG and suppresses melanoma development

This study shows that MAPK-induced miR-29 suppresses melanoma by targeting MAFG, and its inactivation accelerates tumor development.

Handling and Packaging of Medical Bags at the Acute Disaster Site Under High Temperature Conditions

This study evaluates how medical bags retain temperature in high heat disaster environments, finding that closed and semi-opened bags with insulation and coolant maintain lower internal temperatures than opened bags.

Serpentine mountain uplift in northern Japan triggered the divergence of a narrow endemic from a widespread (sub)arctic Asia-Alaska species complex of Lagotis (Plantaginaceae)

The paper investigates the divergence of two narrow endemic Lagotis species in northern Japan from a widespread (sub)arctic Asia-Alaska species complex, linking it to mountain uplift and ecological factors.

Merger of Betula tatewakiana (Betulaceae) from northern Japan to northeast Asian B. ovalifolia based on ploidy level

The paper resolves a taxonomic dispute by showing Betula tatewakiana is tetraploid and morphologically identical to B. ovalifolia, leading to their merger.

Deglycosylation of isoflavone C-glucoside puerarin by combination of two recombinant bacterial enzymes and 3-oxo-glucose.

This study identifies and characterizes two bacterial enzymes, DgpA and DgpB-C complex, that work together with 3-oxo-glucose to degrade the C-glucoside puerarin through a β-elimination mechanism.

A versatile ES cell-based melanoma mouse modeling platform

This paper develops an ESC-based melanoma mouse model platform to rapidly generate genetically engineered mice for melanoma research using multiple genetic strategies.