Z. Cai

Coral hosts actively accumulate inorganic carbon for Symbiodiniaceae to maintain symbiotic relationships

This study shows corals actively accumulate dissolved inorganic carbon for their algal symbionts, supporting symbiosis, and reveals pathways involved in this process.

Engineering PEG10 assembled endogenous virus-like particles with genetically encoded neoantigen peptides for cancer vaccination

This paper develops ePAC, a cancer vaccine using PEG10-based virus-like particles to deliver neoantigens and adjuvants, showing efficacy in preclinical models.

Intestinal commensal bacteria promote Bactrocera dorsalis larval development through vitamin B6 synthesis pathway

This study identifies vitamin B6 synthesis by intestinal bacteria as critical for promoting Bactrocera dorsalis larval growth under poor diet conditions.

Unicellular cyanobacteria rely on sodium energetics to fix N2

This study shows that unicellular cyanobacteria rely on sodium energetics for N2 fixation, which may explain their low abundance in coastal waters due to insufficient NaCl levels.

A polydiolcitrate-MoS2 composite for 3D printing Radio-opaque, Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds

This paper develops a polydiolcitrate-MoS2 composite for 3D printing bioresorbable vascular scaffolds that are X-ray visible and suitable for non-invasive monitoring.

Bet hedging in a unicellular microalga

The paper demonstrates bet hedging in the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis through reversible phenotypic diversification into mobile and non-mobile subunits, enhancing population persistence under environmental stress.

XBB.1.5 Spike Protein COVID-19 Vaccine Induces Broadly Neutralizing and Cellular Immune Responses Against EG.5.1 and Emerging XBB Variants

This study shows that a monovalent XBB.1.5 spike protein vaccine induces broader neutralizing antibodies and stronger cellular immunity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants compared to bivalent vaccines.

Cooperative progression of colitis and leukemia modulated by clonal hematopoiesis via PTX3/IL-1β; pro-inflammatory signaling

This study shows that clonal hematopoiesis driven by TET2 mutations interacts with inflammatory signals like PTX3/IL-1β to promote colitis and leukemia through a gut-bone marrow axis.

Expansion Strategy-Driven Micron-Level Resolution Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Lipids in Mouse Brain Tissue

This paper introduces a method to enhance spatial resolution in lipid mass spectrometry imaging of mouse brain tissue by using a swellable polyelectrolyte gel, achieving subcellular-level visualization.

Mechanically stimulated osteocytes maintain tumor dormancy in bone metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer by releasing small extracellular vesicles

This study shows that mechanically stimulated osteocytes release extracellular vesicles containing microRNAs that inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation and bone metastasis progression.

Multiscale imaging of corneal endothelium damage and effects of Rho Kinase inhibitor application in mouse models of acute ocular hypertension

The paper uses multiscale imaging to study corneal endothelium damage in mouse models, finding that Rho Kinase inhibitors reduce fully-distorted tight junctions under acute ocular hypertension.

Endothelial cell-derived lactate triggers mesenchymal stem cell histone lactylation to attenuate osteoporosis

This study shows that endothelial cell lactate promotes BMSC histone lactylation, enhancing osteogenesis and reducing osteoporosis, with exercise increasing lactate to alleviate the condition.

Interior pH Sensing Residue of Human Voltage-Gated Proton Channel Hv1 is Histidine 168

This paper uses CpHMD simulations to identify H168 as an interior pH sensor in hHv1, supporting previous electrophysiological findings.

Rapid generation of CD19 CAR-T Cells by minicircle DNA enables anti-tumor activity and prevents fatal CAR-B leukemia

This study develops a method using minicircle DNA to rapidly generate CD19 CAR-T cells that are effective and safe, avoiding genomic integration risks.

Chiral Derivatization-enabled Discrimination and Visualization of Proteinogenic Amino Acids by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

This paper develops a method using chiral derivatization and TIMS-MS to separate and visualize 19 pairs of chiral amino acids in complex biological samples.

SARS-CoV-2 S protein antagonizes type I interferon downstream signal pathway through interacting and attenuating phosphorylation of STAT1/STAT2

This study identifies how SARS-CoV-2 S protein inhibits type I interferon signaling by interacting with and reducing phosphorylation of STAT1/STAT2, preventing ISGF3 complex formation and ISG expression.

R-BIND 2.0: An Updated Database of Bioactive RNA-Targeting Small Molecules and Associated RNA Secondary Structures

R-BIND 2.0 updates the database of RNA-targeting small molecules by refining curation, analyzing RNA structures, and introducing a search algorithm for structure-based ligand discovery.

BDSF is a degradation-prone quorum-sensing signal detected by the histidine kinase RpfC of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

This study identifies BDSF as a degradation-prone quorum-sensing signal in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, detected by RpfC, with lower physiological activity than DSF due to RpfB-mediated degradation.

Construction of a potent pan-vaccine based on the evolutionary tendency of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

This study constructs a pan-vaccine (S6) based on the evolutionary patterns of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to combat diverse variants, showing broader neutralization than existing vaccines.

Novel compound inhibitors of HIV-1NL4-3 Vpu

This study identifies two compounds that inhibit HIV-1NL4-3 Vpu activity but are strain-specific.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Pseudoviruses: A Useful tool to study virus entry and address emerging neutralization escape phenotypes

This paper develops a BSL2 pseudovirus neutralization assay to assess SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralization, showing it is reproducible and effective for evaluating vaccine efficacy against emerging variants.

Intranasal administration of a monoclonal neutralizing antibody protects mice against SARS-CoV-2 infection

This paper describes a monoclonal antibody, DZIF-10c, that effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and its variants when administered intranasally to mice, offering potential for topical treatment.

PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL-DERIVED CARDIOVASCULAR PROGENITORS DIFFFERENTIATED ON LAMININ 221 REGENERATE AND IMPROVE FUNCTION OF INFARCTED SWINE HEARTS

This paper differentiates pluripotent stem cells into cardiovascular progenitors on laminin 221 and shows improved heart function in infarcted pigs.

Nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosaregulates alginate biosynthesis and Type VI secretion system during adaptive and convergent evolution for coinfection in critically ill COVID-19 patients

This study investigates how Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts and evolves during coinfection with COVID-19, showing it overexpresses alginate and reduces Type VI secretion system to enhance biofilm formation and suppress virulence.

Lkb1 is a master regulator of VSMC fate and function in mice

This study shows that Lkb1 is essential for maintaining vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) identity and function in mice, as its deletion leads to vascular abnormalities and aneurysm formation.

Expression analysis of photosynthesis-related genes in albino Artocarpus heterophyllus seedlings leaves

The paper investigates photosynthesis-related gene expression in albino Artocarpus heterophyllus seedlings, finding down-regulated genes in pigment synthesis and photosynthesis pathways.

Persistent bacterial coinfection of a COVID-19 patient caused by a genetically adapted Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic colonizer

The paper describes a genetically adapted Pseudomonas aeruginosa small colony variant causing persistent bacterial coinfection in a COVID-19 patient, showing enhanced biofilm formation and quorum sensing.

In vivo CRISPR screening identifies Fli1 as a transcriptional safeguard that restrains effector CD8 T cell differentiation during infection and cancer

The paper identifies Fli1 as a transcriptional regulator that limits effector CD8 T cell differentiation during infection and cancer, showing its deletion enhances TEFF responses and immunity.

Small Molecule Targeting IRES Domain Inhibits Enterovirus 71 Replication via an Allosteric Mechanism that Stabilizes a Ternary Complex

The paper identifies a small molecule that inhibits EV71 replication by stabilizing a ternary complex with RNA and AUF1 protein via an allosteric mechanism.

Hierarchical dinucleotide distribution in genome along evolution and its effect on chromatin packing

The paper quantifies species-specific CpG distribution patterns across genomic scales and shows their correlation with chromatin structure in mammals and avians.