R. Stewart

Macrophages undergo functionally significant reprogramming of nucleotide metabolism upon classical activation

This study identifies significant reprogramming of nucleotide metabolism in classically activated macrophages, revealing key regulatory mechanisms and functional consequences.

A novel patient-derived cellular platform for validating microglia-targeted therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease

This study develops a patient-derived cellular platform to test microglia-targeted therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease, finding that 3D models better distinguish drug responses between healthy and patient donors.

Neurovirulence of the Australian outbreak Japanese Encephalitis virus genotype 4 is lower compared to genotypes 2 and 3 in mice and human cortical brain organoids

This study compares the neurovirulence of JEV genotype 4 (JEVNSW/22) with genotypes 2 and 3 in mice and human brain organoids, finding JEVNSW/22 less neurovirulent and more sensitive to type I interferon.

The impacts of contemporary logging after 250 years of deforestation and degradation on forest-dependent threatened species

This study quantifies historical and contemporary impacts of deforestation and logging on forest-dependent threatened species in New South Wales, showing significant habitat loss and degradation.

Increased neurovirulence of omicron BA.5 and XBB variants over BA.1 in K18-hACE2 mice and human brain organoids

This study shows that omicron BA.5 and XBB variants are more neurovirulent than BA.1 in mice and human brain organoids, leading to increased brain infection and mortality.

A report card methodology to showcase progress towards threatened species recovery

This paper introduces a report card methodology to assess progress in threatened species recovery in Australia, revealing poor performance across key indicators.

Computational design of peptides to target Nav1.7 channel with high potency and selectivity for the treatment of pain

The paper designs potent and selective peptide inhibitors of human NaV1.7 channels using Rosetta, with two peptides showing sub-nanomolar IC50 and high selectivity over other sodium channels.

Automated identification of chicken distress vocalisations using deep learning models

This paper develops a lightweight deep learning model to automatically identify chicken distress calls, achieving high accuracy with reduced computational requirements.

Optical measurement of voltage sensing by endogenous ion channel

The paper introduces an imaging method to measure conformational changes of endogenous Kv2 voltage sensors in live tissue using a fluorophore-conjugated toxin and statistical modeling.

Rapid changes in chromatin structure during dedifferentiation of primary hepatocytes in vitro

This study identifies three phases of hepatocyte dedifferentiation in culture through RNA-seq and ATAC-seq, revealing rapid chromatin changes and fetal gene activation.

Rapid kinetics of lipid second messengers controlled by a cGMP signalling network coordinates apical complex functions in Toxoplasma tachyzoites

The paper investigates the rapid lipid second messenger dynamics in Toxoplasma tachyzoites, showing how cGMP signaling regulates membrane lipid turnover and coordinates invasion and egress.

Primary visual cortex excitability is not atypical in acquired synaesthesia

This study investigates whether acquired synaesthesia involves atypical primary visual cortex excitability by comparing phosphene thresholds in a synaesthete to controls.

Integrin α6β4 is downregulated in mutant IDH1 oligodendrogliomas, promotes glioma growth, and associates with a worse outcome in glioma patients

This study shows integrin α6β4 is downregulated in IDH1 mutant oligodendrogliomas, promotes glioma growth, and is linked to worse patient outcomes.