The paper argues that low diversity in pathogen proteins does not necessarily indicate evolutionary constraint and introduces a tool to explore diversity and divergence in Plasmodium falciparum proteins.

bioRxiv · Oct 20, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

Cis-regulatory evolution of Wnt-family genes contributes to a morphological difference between silkworm species.

Kenta Tomihara, Ana Pinharanda, Young Mi Kwon, Andrew M. Taverner, Laura S. Kors, Matthew L. Aardema, Julia C. Holder, Lin Poyraz, Takashi Kiuchi, Peter Andolfatto

This study identifies cis-regulatory changes in Wnt1 and Wnt6 as contributors to the caudal horn size difference between Bombyx mori and B. mandarina.

PLoS Biology · Mar 10, 2026Peer-reviewedEvolutionary Biology

A genome-wide arrayed CRISPR screen identifies PLSCR1 as an intrinsic barrier to SARS-CoV-2 entry that recent virus variants have evolved to resist

Jérémie Le Pen, Gabrielle Paniccia, Volker Kinast, Marcela Moncada‐Vélez, Alison W. Ashbrook, Michael Bauer, H.-Heinrich Hoffmann, Ana Pinharanda, Inna Ricardo-Lax, Ansgar F. Stenzel, Edwin A. Rosado-Olivieri, Kenneth H. Dinnon, William C. Doyle, Catherine A. Freije, Seon-Hui Hong, , Charles M. Rice

The paper identifies PLSCR1 as a host factor restricting SARS-CoV-2 entry, which recent variants have evolved to bypass, through a CRISPR screen and integration of genetic studies.

PLoS Biology · Sep 24, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology