Gene EditingPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 4, 2026
An RPA-CRISPR-Cas12a-Based Fluorescence and Lateral Flow Assay for the Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum
Zhang¹ F et al. (+11)
Research Square
Abstract Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is an opportunistic pathogen causing non-gonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Current diagnostic methods, such as culture, serology, and PCR, are limited by slow turnaround, modest sensitivity, or dependence on specialized equipment. Here, we report for the first time a dual-readout detection platform for UU that integrates…
AI & Protein DesignSep 4, 2026
ABAG-Rank: Improving Model Selection of AlphaFold Antibody-Antigen Complexes by Learning to Rank.
Tadiello M et al. (+3)
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)
MotivationAlphaFold has transformed structural biology with an unprecedented accuracy in modelling protein structures and their interactions with biomolecules, with AlphaFold3 (AF3) achieving state-of-the-art performance. However, AF3 and other methods often struggle to accurately predict the structure of protein complexes that lack strong co-evolutionary information, such as antibody-antigen (Ab-Ag) complexes. One…
NeurotechnologyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 4, 2026
A canonical excitatory–inhibitory motif embedded in the connectome underlies rhythmic locomotion in Drosophila larvae
Seki T et al. (+3)
bioRxiv
Rhythmic locomotion is generated by central pattern generators, yet how defined neural circuits generate rhythmic motor waves remains unclear. Theoretical models, including Wilson–Cowan-type excitatory–inhibitory networks, have long proposed that reciprocal interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations can generate oscillatory activity and travelling waves, but whether such motifs are…
Cell & Gene TherapySep 3, 2026
Syncytium-forming HSV-1 in cancer gene therapy: From molecular mechanisms to clinical translation.
Zhao X et al. (+7)
Virulence
Gene therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, yet challenges in efficient gene delivery remain a major barrier. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), as an oncolytic virus, has garnered attention for its potential in cancer therapy due to its replicative capacity, large genomic payload, and relatively low toxicity. Notably, syncytium-forming HSV-1 (SF-HSV-1) not only exhibits enhanced and…
Cell & Gene TherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
A Lymphomimetic Synthetic Immune Niche, Consisting of CCL21 and ICAM1, Accelerates the Expansion of Potent CAR T-cells
Brezinger-Dayan K et al. (+4)
bioRxiv
Background: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment of hematologic malignancies, yet, its broader clinical application often faces major challenges, including slow expansion rates, variable transduction efficiency, exhaustion, and functional heterogeneity. Recent studies have demonstrated that a Synthetic Immune Niche (SIN) composed of immobilized CCL21 and ICAM1 promotes the…
Cell & Gene TherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Adeno-Associated Virus Mediated Expression of Bcl-xL Attenuates Apoptosis in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Little N et al. (+3)
bioRxiv
Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is characterized by progressive corneal endothelial cell loss and the formation of corneal guttae. Currently, there is a global shortage of donor corneas and new strategies are needed to reduce the need for corneal transplantation. While adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have the capacity to deliver anti-apoptotic genes to human corneal endothelial cells (CECs), this has not…
Cell & Gene TherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Microbial valerate is associated with CAR T dysbiosis and its supplementation enhances CAR T function in B-cell lymphoma
Rehman L et al. (+27)
bioRxiv
Anaerobe-depleting antibiotic exposure is associated with inferior progression-free survival after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in large B-cell lymphoma, yet the cellular mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to the CAR T-cell product and whether this imprint is reversible have remained undefined. In two independent CAR-T candidate cohorts, low stool valerate at the time of CAR-T eligibility identified a…
Cell & Gene TherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Novel SRRM2-Targeted CAR-T cells in a Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patient with Extramedullary Diseases: a case report
Wang Z et al. (+13)
Research Square
Abstract Background : Multiple myeloma (MM) is a difficult-to-treat blood cancer, especially in relapsed/refractory cases with extramedullary disease. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has shown promise but has limitations, such as severe side effects. Case presentation : This study describes a patient with relapsed/refractory MM and extramedullary disease…
AI & Protein DesignPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Comprehensive Evaluation of Protein Language Model Embeddings for Drug-Target Affinity Prediction
Marijan M, Tanasijevic I
bioRxiv
Accurate identification of drug-target interactions is consequential for novel drug discovery and development. Deep learning methods for drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction have shown great promise in accelerating drug discovery and reducing development costs. Although graph neural networks have improved drug representation learning for DTA prediction tasks, many models still struggle to effectively and…
AI & Protein DesignPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Retrieval of binding sites across the AlphaFold human proteome using protein language model representations
Mohan K, Bhargava Y
bioRxiv
Protein language models (PLMs) provide powerful representations of protein sequence, but their utility for proteome-scale binding-site retrieval remains unclear. Here, we present PocketScope, a training-free framework that represents cavity-lining residues using frozen ESM-C 600M embeddings and retrieves related binding sites through exhaustive late-interaction MaxSim, without pooling or approximate nearest-neighbor…
AI & Protein DesignPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Towards Sparse Causal Features for Zero-shot Mutation Effect Prediction in a Protein Language Model
Mohanty S, Phutela M, Green AG
bioRxiv
Protein language models (pLMs) such as ESM-2 achieve strong zero-shot mutation-effect prediction, yet the internal computations supporting these predictions remain poorly understood. We introduce a sparse feature circuit framework that combines sparse autoencoders, integrated-gradients attribution, and activation patching to identify the latent features that causally mediate zero-shot mutation effect prediction in…
Single-Cell & OmicsPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Integrative single cell analysis of CD8+ T-cells across early and advanced oral cancers reveals signatures of anti-tumour activity
Li CH et al. (+12)
bioRxiv
Tumour-targeting CD8⁺ T cells drive responses to every major form of cancer immunotherapy. Identifying them, however, remains an unsolved problem in solid tumours. The antigens they recognize are rarely defined and almost never shared between patients. We profiled 51,459 CD8+ T cells by paired single-cell RNA and T-cell receptor sequencing across 28 samples from 17 HPV-negative oral cancers spanning primary tumours…
Single-Cell & OmicsPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Single-cell multi-omics maps clonal IEL expansion and epithelial remodelling in refractory coeliac disease
Li M et al. (+26)
bioRxiv
Background: Refractory coeliac disease type 1 (RCD1) lacks defining molecular markers, and the immune and epithelial mechanisms sustaining intestinal injury remain poorly understood. Objective To define the clonal immune and epithelial states that distinguish RCD1 from active coeliac disease (ACD) and determine their spatial organisation in the duodenal mucosa. Design We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing…
Single-Cell & OmicsPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Ageas enables time-agnostic cell fate inference from single-cell and spatial multi-omics data
Jiang J, Kong A, Yu G
bioRxiv
Understanding cell fate decisions is fundamental to developmental biology and disease research. However, experimental lineage tracing requires genetic manipulation, which is impractical in many systems, particularly in humans. Computational approaches often rely on time-resolved measurements, which single-cell and spatial omics studies rarely provide. Here, we present Ageas, a time-agnostic transfer learning…
Single-Cell & OmicsPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Kintsugi maps nucleus-poor RNA compartments in subcellular spatial transcriptomics
Yang C, Zhang X, Chen J
bioRxiv
Subcellular spatial transcriptomics resolves RNA where tissue structures extend beyond nuclei, but current aggregation strategies either impose fixed areal units or use segmented cells as anchors. This leaves process-rich and extracellular compartments difficult to measure directly. Here we report Kintsugi, a deterministic tessellation method that partitions sparse count matrices by captured-UMI density and assigns…
ImmunotherapySep 3, 2026
Unveiling the immune microenvironment in sinonasal intestinal type adenocarcinoma: new arguments for immunotherapy.
Lépine C et al. (+9)
Oncoimmunology
Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) is a rare malignancy strongly associated with occupational exposure to wood dust that shares morphological and molecular similarities with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Standard treatments offer limited benefit for advanced or recurrent disease. It is therefore necessary to develop other strategies, such as immunotherapies, which require a better understanding of the…
ImmunotherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
No Overall Survival Benefit with Adding Chemotherapy to Immunotherapy in PD-L1 TPS ≥ 50% NSCLC: An Agent-Stratified Reassessment
Han F et al. (+4)
medRxiv
IMPORTANCE: A recent meta-analysis showed that chemoimmunotherapy was associated with improved overall survival (OS) compared with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether this benefit reflects chemotherapy effect or ICI heterogeneity remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To reassess the…
ImmunotherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Patient-Derived Glioma Models Preserve Tumor Heterogeneity and Identify Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase1 (SCD1) as a Candidate Biomarker for Precision Immunotherapy
Gutova M et al. (+17)
bioRxiv
Background: Pediatric and adult brain tumors, including glioblastoma, astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma, remain associated with poor prognosis despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Therapeutic resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and treatment-related toxicity highlight the need for clinically relevant models that enable precision medicine and immunotherapy development. Methods: Freshly…
ImmunotherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Personalized mRNA Neoantigen Vaccines Reach Phase III: A Critical Commentary on the INTerpath-001 Melanoma Trial
Ahmad A, Naseer A, Malik IS
Qeios
Merck and Moderna have announced that intismeran autogene (V940 / mRNA-4157), a personalized mRNA neoantigen therapy given alongside the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab, met its primary and key secondary endpoints in the phase III INTerpath-001 trial in patients with completely resected, high-risk melanoma [1][2]. This is the first positive phase III readout anywhere for an individualized neoantigen therapy and for…
NeurotechnologySep 3, 2026
Spatially resolved synaptic connectome mapping with FISH-decodable CASS barcodes.
Zhu YJ, Wang YQ, Xu HT
Cell reports methods
Mapping neuronal connectivity is essential for understanding the structure and function of neural circuits. While high-throughput, cost-effective methods using barcoded rabies viruses provide valuable cellular-level insights, they are limited by the spatial resolution of barcode sequencing. To provide a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)-compatible alternative for spatial barcode readout, we developed the CASS…
mRNA & VaccinesSep 3, 2026
A dimeric mRNA vaccine based on key-mutant and KP.3 RBDs induces broad-spectrum immunity and protects mice against JN.1 and XDV challenges.
Xu J et al. (+14)
Molecular biomedicine
The continued antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants has progressively eroded vaccine-elicited protective immunity, driving demand for next-generation candidates that confer broad-spectrum protection against phylogenetically divergent strains. Here we report the design and preclinical evaluation of SV, an mRNA vaccine encoding a heterodimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this construct, a…
MicrobiomeSep 3, 2026
Gut microbiota and metabolic alterations in participants with flatulence identify <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> as a key microbial target for clinical intervention.
Chen R et al. (+14)
Gut microbes
Flatulence is closely associated with gut dysbiosis, yet the characteristic microbial signatures, metabolic alterations, and actionable intervention targets remain unclear. This limited mechanistic understanding has hindered the development of precise microbiota-based strategies for managing flatulence. Here, we found that participants with flatulence exhibited marked shifts in gut microbial functions and fecal…
MicrobiomePreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Persistence of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales in the Gut Microbiome of Healthy Newborns
Shuai W et al. (+7)
medRxiv
The global prevalence of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) colonization is increasing. However, it is unclear whether ESBL-E persist and if that is associated with an altered gut microbial ecology especially in early life where the developing microbiome may not provide the same colonization resistance as in adults. In this study, we collected longitudinal infant gut microbiome samples…
MicrobiomePreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Foliar pathogen and drought impose reproducible but community-dependent influence on the root microbiome
Francomano E et al. (+4)
bioRxiv
Plant microbiomes are assembled from environmental pools that differ substantially in composition, yet whether their responses to stress follow general rules or depend on the resident community remains unclear. We tested the generality of root microbiome responses to stress by growing three tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes in 20 independently sourced microbial communities under controlled abiotic and biotic…
MicrobiomePreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Rebuilding microbiome diversity theory on the closed simplex
Zhang Y, Zhu Z
bioRxiv
Ecological diversity theory links diversity within local communities to diversity of higher-level ensembles, but this scale structure is largely absent from microbiome analysis. Alpha diversity is usually treated as a within-sample summary, whereas "beta diversity" often denotes pairwise dissimilarity and gamma diversity is rarely explicit. We restore the local-regional architecture for environmental…
MicrobiomePreprint · not peer reviewedSep 3, 2026
Chronic ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Vapor Self-Administration Modulates Gut Microbiota and the Immune and Endocannabinoid Systems in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats
Rosado-Franco JJ et al. (+4)
bioRxiv
Vaping of cannabis and its primary components, including ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has increased during the last decade, especially among adolescents and adults. While the behavioral consequences of THC, including anxiety, depression, and associated impacts on reward-related signaling, are well documented, evaluation of additional pathways that have implications for neuronal function remains relatively…
ImmunotherapyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 2, 2026
Identification of CRF-related molecular subtypes and development of a prognostic CRRS model in glioma: insights into immunotherapy response and biomarker discovery
Xue J et al. (+3)
Research Square
Abstract Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom in glioma patients, significantly affecting their quality of life. The underlying mechanisms of fatigue in these patients are not fully understood. Methods Using CRF-associated genes (CAGs), we identified two CRF-related subtypes in glioma patients. We evaluated differences in clinicopathological features, immune characteristics, and prognostic…
mRNA & VaccinesPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 2, 2026
Computationally Guided Design of TANSR-Vax: An Integrated Self-Amplifying RNA–Lipid Nanoparticle Strategy for Overcoming Immune Exclusion and Stromal Suppression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Kassab M
Research Square
Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops within a highly tolerogenic hepatic environment characterized by impaired antitumor T-cell activity, immunosuppressive signaling, stromal restriction, and accumulation of suppressive myeloid and regulatory lymphocyte populations. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors and molecularly targeted combinations have improved the systemic treatment of advanced…
Cancer BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 2, 2026
Optimizing Aqueous Humor Liquid Biopsy: Safety and Performance of a Short, Low-Dead-Space Ophthalmic Needle for Anterior Chamber Paracentesis
Singh AM et al. (+11)
medRxiv
ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the safety, procedural performance, sample recovery, and surgeon preference of an ophthalmic needle designed specifically for anterior chamber (AC) paracentesis. Methods In this multicenter study, AC paracentesis was performed in clinic and operating-room settings using a 32-gauge × 4-mm needle with low dead space. The procedure was evaluated using a standardized physician survey…
Gene EditingPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 1, 2026
Integrated Transcriptomic and CRISPR Dependency Analysis Prioritizes a CDK1–AURKB Mitotic Vulnerability Axis in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Rajeev A, Veeragoni S, Sundar A
bioRxiv
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), now classified within diffuse midline glioma, H3K27-altered, remains a lethal pediatric brainstem tumor with limited therapeutic options. Here, we integrated public DIPG transcriptomic datasets, protein–protein interaction modeling, functional enrichment, immune deconvolution, survival analysis, and DepMap CRISPR dependency data to nominate candidate mitotic vulnerabilities…
Gene EditingPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 1, 2026
BARCS: beta-binomial regression for multivariable CRISPR screen designs
Lee K, Jeong H
bioRxiv
Pooled CRISPR screens increasingly use longitudinal, donor-adjusted, and factorial designs, but beta-binomial screen methods have largely remained limited to pairwise comparisons. BARCS extends the library-total-conditional beta-binomial model to guide-level regression with an arbitrary design matrix, enabling direct estimation of time, covariate, and interaction effects. In four replicate-complete Cas13 screens…
AI & Protein DesignSep 1, 2026
Comprehensive evaluation of AlphaFold/OpenFold prediction of experimentally unresolved proteins through novel metrics.
Díaz FR et al. (+7)
Briefings in bioinformatics
Predicting accurate protein structures is essential for understanding molecular mechanisms, interpreting the impact of sequence variation, and supporting translational applications ranging from drug discovery to clinical genomics. Recent advances in deep-learning-based predictors such as AlphaFold2, OpenFold, and AlphaFold3 have transformed structural biology, enabling routine in silico modeling even for challenging…
AI & Protein DesignSep 1, 2026
A simple probabilistic AlphaFold interaction score.
Badonyi M, Toth-Petroczy A
Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society
AlphaFold has enabled large-scale prediction of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes, but ranking and assessing the quality of predicted models remain challenging. Existing confidence scores are often highly parametrized and provide limited interpretability. We introduce a simple geometric framework that converts AlphaFold-predicted aligned error (PAE) into conditional contact probability. We show that…
NeurotechnologySep 1, 2026
The complete gustatory connectome of adult Drosophila reveals how taste guides feeding, foraging, and social behavior.
Tastekin I et al. (+12)
Cell
Gustatory systems drive critical survival behaviors such as feeding, foraging, and social interactions. However, gustation remains one of the least mapped sensory modalities at the connectome level. Here, we present the first complete wiring diagram of the male Drosophila adult gustatory system, comprehensively reconstructing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) from peripheral organs in a contiguous electron…
NeurotechnologySep 1, 2026
Sexual dimorphism in the complete Drosophila male central nervous system connectome.
Berg S et al. (+110)
Cell
Sex differences in behavior exist across all animals, typically under strong genetic regulation. In Drosophila, fruitless/doublesex transcription factors identify dimorphic neurons, but their organization into functional circuits remains unclear. We present the connectome of the entire Drosophila male central nervous system. This contains 166,700 neurons spanning the brain and nerve cord, fully proofread and…
Cancer BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedSep 1, 2026
Non-invasive forecasting of skin cancer evolution through longitudinal hair sampling
Del Prete S et al. (+13)
bioRxiv
The ability to longitudinally track clonal evolution non-invasively would transform cancer interception strategies, long before late-stage disease when most cancer genomes are analysed. Here, we demonstrate that repeated hair sampling from the same individual followed by exome sequencing enables tracking of somatic evolution in vivo over several months after chemically induced skin carcinogenesis. We found that hair…
Gene EditingPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 31, 2026
Comprehensive Comparative Evaluation and Consensus Strategy for CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA Design Targeting the TaDREB1 Gene in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Amin TOM, Siddiq G
Research Square
Abstract Gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9 relies heavily on accurate single-guide RNA (gRNA) selection to maximize target cleavage efficiency while minimizing off-target binding. In complex polyploid genomes like bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), variations across predictive algorithms often lead to inconsistent gRNA recommendations. Here, we conducted an in silico comparative analysis of five widely used gRNA design…
Single-Cell & OmicsAug 31, 2026
Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers an immunosuppressive program in PDAC mast cells: tumour-driven activation, proliferation, and association with Treg recruitment.
Wu M et al. (+7)
Annals of medicine
BackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a highly immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME), which contributes to its resistance to immunotherapy. Although mast cells (MCs) have been implicated in PDAC progression, their functional heterogeneity and candidate signaling models of immune modulation remain poorly understood.MethodsThrough an integrated analysis of multiple single-cell…
Cancer BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 31, 2026
Novel Insights into the Biochemistry of Citrate and its Transporters: Relevance to Metabolic Rewiring, Tumor Microenvironment, and Bone Metastasis in Cancer
Ganapathy V et al. (+4)
Preprints.org
Citrate intersects multiple biochemical pathways, yet its role in cancer has received limited attention. Similarly, the Na+-coupled citrate transporter (SLC13A5) has been investigated extensively in connection with epileptic encephalopathy, but its relevance to cancer remains understudied. This review focuses on novel insights into citrate biology and SLC13A5 that suggest a tumor-promoting role for SLC13A5/citrate…
Drug DiscoveryPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 30, 2026
FlexiTAC enables controllable PROTAC linker generation across diverse structural settings using a Bayesian flow network with posterior guidance
Li Y et al. (+9)
bioRxiv
Linker chemistry and conformation are central determinants of PROTAC activity, shaping ternary-complex geometry, cooperativity, target-lysine presentation and cellular permeability. Existing linker generators often lack explicit control over linker flexibility, require predefined attachment sites and linker lengths, or produce structures that demand substantial geometric correction, limiting their utility in…
Synthetic BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 27, 2026
DIPTAR: A synthetic biology platform for functional interrogation of protein degradation
Exconde PM et al. (+8)
bioRxiv
Protein degradation regulates cellular homeostasis, yet many degradation events are difficult to study because they lack a readily selectable phenotype. Here, we develop Degradation-Induced Pyroptosis TArgeting Receptors (DIPTAR), a modular synthetic biology platform that couples protein degradation to CARD8-mediated pyroptosis. Using HIF-1α as a model substrate, we show that DIPTAR faithfully reports…
Cancer BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 27, 2026
dTF-FCU1-Armed Vaccinia Virus Synergizes with the 5-FC Prodrug to Induce Immunogenic Cell Death and Remodel Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment
Guo F et al. (+16)
Research Square
Abstract Oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) serves as a powerful platform for targeted prodrug delivery. Vaccinia virus (VACV) serves as an attractive oncolytic vector due to its favorable safety profile, ease of genetic modification, and inherent tumor selectivity. We engineered an oncolytic vaccinia virus, dTF-FCU1, by inserting the prodrug-converting enzyme gene FCU1 and deleting the J2R and F4L genes to enhance tumor…
Gene EditingAug 26, 2026
U.S. consumers' processing of information about CRISPR-edited pork products.
Gakpo JO et al. (+6)
GM crops & food
The commercialization of CRISPR gene-edited pork is advancing rapidly, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of gene-edited pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). As these products move closer to market entry, understanding how consumers seek, process, and avoid information about them is critical for developing effective communication strategies. Guided by the…
AI & Protein DesignPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 26, 2026
A Medicinal Chemistry-Centered Evaluation of AlphaFold 3 and Boltz-2 Across Diverse Binding Modalities
Chen K et al. (+9)
bioRxiv
AlphaFold 3 (AF3) and Boltz-2 are state-of-the-art AI-based tools for biomolecular structure prediction, but whether their predictions provide useful guidance for lead optimization, SAR interpretation, and virtual screening remains insufficiently characterized. We benchmarked their performance using newly determined soluble epoxide hydrolase co-crystal structures and matched activity data together with a curated…
NeurotechnologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 26, 2026
Sensory experience drives glutamate spillover, presynaptic LTP and functional connectome remodeling in the barrel cortex
Kopach O et al. (+5)
bioRxiv
SUMMARY Information handling and storage by neural circuits is thought to involve dynamic changes in the synaptic connectome, yet how this process unfolds at the level of individual synapses in vivo remains unclear. We took advantage of a well-defined thalamocortical anatomical framework to monitor identifiable individual synapses in barrel cortex during rhythmic whisker stimulation (RWS). Multiplexed ratiometric…
Synthetic BiologyAug 25, 2026
Engineered bacterial therapeutics from synthetic biology to clinical translation: A multi-database scientometric analysis, 2000-2026.
Zhou H et al. (+5)
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics
Engineered bacterial therapeutics integrate programmable strain engineering with biomedical functions such as sensing, delivery, immune modulation, microbiome intervention, and disease management. This study conducted a multi-database bibliometric analysis to map the knowledge structure, collaboration patterns, and translational direction of this field. Bibliographic records were retrieved from Web of Science Core…
NeurotechnologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 25, 2026
Connectome-constrained modeling identifies neurons and synapses that sustain spontaneous activity in Drosophila
Li Q et al. (+3)
bioRxiv
Synapse-resolution connectomes specify a brain’s wiring; brain-wide recordings capture its activity. Neither alone identifies the cells and synapses that generate the activity. We bridge them by fitting a FlyWire connectome-constrained whole-brain model to calcium recordings of spontaneous activity in head-fixed Drosophila , then probing it in silico at cellular and synaptic resolution. The fitted model reproduces…
NeurotechnologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 25, 2026
Quantifying Large Language Model Influence in Brain Computer Interface Communication for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Gorenshtein A et al. (+9)
medRxiv
Large language models are integrated into brain-computer interfaces for communication, but accuracy does not show whether an emitted character depended on neural evidence or on the language-model prior. We retrospectively re-decoded 3,373 P300-speller selections from 47 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, reconstructing a neural posterior and combining it with 25 language priors ranging from 5-grams to…
Single-Cell & OmicsAug 24, 2026
Integrative transcriptomic and single-cell analysis identifies anoikis-related molecular signatures in vascular calcification.
Chen D et al. (+5)
Renal failure
BackgroundVascular calcification (VC) is a life-threatening complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) driven by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic transdifferentiation. Anoikis, a form of adhesion-dependent apoptosis, is involved in cardiovascular remodeling, yet its regulatory role in CKD-associated VC remains unexplored.MethodsWe performed an integrative transcriptomic and single‑cell analysis using…
ImmunotherapyAug 22, 2026
Harnessing necroptosis via RIPK1 degradation to potentiate radio-immunotherapy in cervical cancer.
Wu T et al. (+9)
Bioactive materials
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are first-line therapy for cervical cancer (CC), yet their efficacy is limited to a subset of patients owing to low tumor immunogenicity. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that CC patients exhibiting robust immune responses following radiotherapy (RT) showed upregulation of necroptosis along with lower baseline RIPK1 expression. In vitro and in vivo experiments further…
ImmunotherapyAug 22, 2026
Corrigendum to "Mechanisms of tumor cell evasion from NK cell-mediated killing and advances in NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy" [Pharm. Sci. Adv. 4 (2026) 100109].
Zheng R et al. (+8)
Pharmaceutical science advances
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.pscia.2026.100109.].
Cancer BiologyAug 22, 2026
Ultrasound-activated Piezocatalytic nanomedicine for tumor microenvironment remodeling and immunotherapy.
Wang Y et al. (+6)
Biomaterials advances
The physical and immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment limit drug delivery, immune-cell infiltration, and the response of many solid tumors to immunotherapy. Piezocatalytic nanomedicine uses ultrasound to activate piezoelectric nanomaterials, producing charge separation, local electrical effects, and reactive oxygen species within tumors. These effects can induce cellular stress and regulated…
Cell & Gene TherapyAug 21, 2026
Optimizing nucleic acid delivery using PF14 peptide and lipid nanoparticle systems.
Daniele D et al. (+3)
International journal of pharmaceutics: X
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics are a rapidly expanding class of precision medicines capable of directly modulating gene expression. However, their clinical application is limited by challenges in cellular delivery, including large molecular size, hydrophilicity, and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. To address these barriers, advanced delivery platforms such as cell-penetrating peptides and lipid…
Cell & Gene TherapyAug 21, 2026
CD7 CAR-T cells eliminate chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells specifically and effectively.
Zhang W et al. (+6)
Hematology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
ObjectivesLeukemia stem cells (LSCs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are associated with disease recurrence and progression, cannot be eliminated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and affect TKI discontinuation in CML patients. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) therapy can eliminate tumor cells expressing specific antigens. CD7 is highly expressed on LSCs and can distinguish LSCs from normal…
Longevity & AgingPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 21, 2026
A Standardized In Vitro Platform for Senolytic Drug Discovery in Human Musculoskeletal Cells
Cherif H et al. (+3)
bioRxiv
Cellular senescence contributes to the progression of many age-related musculoskeletal diseases. Cellular senescence is a biological state that arises from replicative exhaustion and various cellular stressors, including elevated oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, mechanical overload, and chronic exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteases. Although senolytic agents show promise for eliminating…
Cell & Gene TherapyAug 20, 2026
A dual-targeting mRNA lipid nanoparticle restores ABCA1-dependent cholesterol homeostasis to promote repair of age-related bone defects.
Cheng M et al. (+17)
Bioactive materials
Cholesterol regulates autophagy and aging, yet its role in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) senescence remains unclear. We demonstrate that ABCA1 palmitoylation is associated with its lysosomal localization and lysosome-associated cholesterol transport, thereby contributing to autophagy inhibition, senescence, and impaired osteogenesis. However, directly perturbing ABCA1 palmitoylation impaired cholesterol…
Cell & Gene TherapyAug 20, 2026
Global trends in CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma: A bibliometric analysis, 2013-2025.
Zhang T et al. (+4)
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics
CAR-T cell therapy has dramatically changed the treatment paradigm for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). Nevertheless, there is a notable paucity of comprehensive bibliometric analyses within this specialized domain. On January 26, 2026, publications on CAR-T cell therapy for MM (2013-2025) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using: TS = (CAR-T OR "chimeric antigen receptor T*" OR…
AI & Protein DesignAug 20, 2026
AlphaFold 3 prediction of TCR mimic Fv - pMHC complex structures and their validation and optimization.
Sarkar A et al. (+3)
mAbs
Monoclonal antibody-derived chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that mimic T‑cell receptors (TCR) on binding to peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) and activating T‑cell functions hold great promise for the development of effective immunotherapy. This study applied AlphaFold 3 (AF3) to model the quaternary structures of TCR mimic antibody variable fragment (TCRm Fv) complexed with…
Longevity & AgingPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 20, 2026
Novel senolytic and senescence-suppressing compounds overcome senescence-driven chemoresistance in NSCLC
Verswyvel J et al. (+15)
Research Square
Abstract Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by a high recurrence rate after curative resection of early-stage disease and a poor overall survival. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have reshaped the standard-of-care (SOC) of NSCLC, chemotherapy, particularly platinum-doublet regimens, remains a key treatment modality in early-stage, locally advanced and metastatic settings…
Gene EditingAug 19, 2026
A genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen identified host genes essential for Brucella invasion and intracellular survival.
Wang X et al. (+5)
Emerging microbes & infections
For Brucella spp., the ability to invade and survive within host macrophages is essential for causing chronic infections in their mammalian hosts. In this study, a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen was performed for the first time in human THP-1 macrophages to identify host genes mediating resistance to Brucella invasion and intracellular survival. Results showed that the screening identified 35 candidate genes, 11…
Synthetic BiologyAug 19, 2026
Combinatorial metabolic engineering of <i>Mycobacterium neoaurum</i> LY-2 for efficient androstenedione production from phytosterols.
Xu L et al. (+6)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
Androstenedione (AD) is an important precursor for the synthesis of corticosteroids, sex hormones, and other high-value steroid pharmaceuticals. Microbial conversion of phytosterols provides a sustainable route for AD production, but current production levels remain insufficient for practical industrial application. In this study, a modular metabolic engineering strategy was developed to improve AD biosynthesis from…
Cancer BiologyAug 18, 2026
Amino acid metabolic reprogramming by gut microbiota: a novel metabolic checkpoint in the tumor microenvironment.
Lin H et al. (+5)
Gut microbes
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in human health, significantly influencing various physiological functions such as amino acid metabolism, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis and preventing disease. Recent progress in gut microbiota research has highlighted the intricate relationships between gut microbial communities and host amino acid metabolism, particularly in the context of cancer. This…
Longevity & AgingPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 17, 2026
The BEAC, an epigenetic clock for birds
Hukkanen M et al. (+55)
bioRxiv
Epigenetic clocks are powerful tools for estimating both chronological and biological age, enabling the integration of age information into population monitoring, demographic modelling, and research on the ecophysiology and evolution of ageing. Most epigenetic clocks so far have been developed for mammals: here, we present the Bird Epigenetic Ageing Clock (BEAC) for estimating chronological age in avian species…
Cancer BiologyAug 17, 2026
Development of a mobile high-intensity focused ultrasound platform for preclinical tumor microenvironment modulation in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma mouse model.
Shon HW et al. (+9)
International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group
PurposeHigh-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive ablation technology with increasing relevance for preclinical research and clinical translation. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal cancers, with limited therapeutic options and poor response to current treatments, underscoring the urgent need for alternative strategies. To address this, we developed a mobile HIFU platform…
Gene EditingAug 14, 2026
CRISPR-Cas9 mediated adiA knockout in Hafnia paralvei: Implications for agmatine production and acid stress survival in a fermented dairy matrix.
Casado A et al. (+6)
Food microbiology
Agmatine, the product of the decarboxylation of arginine, catalysed by arginine decarboxylase (ADC), is a bioactive compound that functions as a neuromodulator and co-transmitter and has gained increasing attention in recent years due to its therapeutic potential, particularly for its neuroprotective properties. Members of the genus Hafnia are the main agmatine producers in dairy products. In this regard, Hafnia is…
Gene EditingAug 13, 2026
CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing for enhancing grain quality traits in rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.).
Mani M, Poonguzhali S, Baghyalakshmi K
Plant signaling & behavior
Rice is one of the most important food crops and feeds more than half of the world's population. Enhancing grain quality is currently a highly important issue since consumers are now more concerned with the taste, appearance, and nutritional value of the grain. The quality of grain in rice is complex and regulated by a multitude of genes that influence qualities such as amylase content, grain size and shape…
Drug DiscoveryPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 13, 2026
MG2Act: A Mechanism-Inspired Sequential Attention Framework for Molecular Glue Degradation Prediction
Zhuang Z et al. (+18)
bioRxiv
Molecular glue degraders act by inducing productive proximity between an E3 ligase and a substrate protein. For most characterized degradative glues, a small molecule first engages the E3, conditions its substrate-recognition surface, and only then enables recruitment of a compatible neo-substrate. This directionality is rarely encoded explicitly in computational models, which typically fuse molecule, E3 and target…
Synthetic BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 12, 2026
A synthetic biology approach to bacterial transcription initiation: RNA aptamer based in vitro transcription assay for rapidly testing bacterial RNA polymerases, promoters and inhibitors
Lanzmaier T et al. (+5)
bioRxiv
We present a robust and versatile in vitro transcription (IVT) assay based on an optimized Broccoli RNA aptamer sequence. When paired with the fluorophore DFHBI-1T, this system enables real-time monitoring of multi-round transcription over several hours. To facilitate streamlined promoter analysis, we developed the pIVT3 plasmid backbone. The system was validated using both the single-subunit T7 RNA polymerase and…
Single-Cell & OmicsAug 10, 2026
GRAIL-heart: A graph attention network for inferring ligand-receptor interactions in spatial transcriptomics.
Kgabeng T et al. (+4)
MethodsX
Cell-cell communication through ligand-receptor (L-R) interactions orchestrates cardiac development, homeostasis, and disease progression, yet existing computational methods cannot infer directional signalling networks or distinguish causal from correlational interactions in spatial transcriptomics data. We present GRAIL-Heart, a graph-attention-based framework that integrates spatial tissue topology with multi-task…
Longevity & AgingPreprint · not peer reviewedAug 10, 2026
Cellular senescence is associated with age-related loss of liver zonation and hepatocyte function
Laux L et al. (+29)
bioRxiv
The liver is organized into tightly regulated zones with distinct metabolic functions but zonation erodes with age. Cellular senescence contributes to aging and liver diseases, however, its impact on aging biology is ill-defined. As part of The Cellular Senescence Network Consortium, we used multiple spatial transcriptomics approaches (GeoMx, Visium, CosMx) with snRNA-seq to profile senescence signatures, zonation…
Synthetic BiologyAug 7, 2026
Metabolic engineering of <i>Escherichia coli</i> for efficient production of d-phenylglycine.
Xiong Y et al. (+8)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
d-phenylglycine (D-PHG) is a valuable building block extensively used in the synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics and other high-value pharmaceuticals. However, its conventional chemical production relies on expensive starting materials and harsh reaction conditions, while existing biotechnological approaches remain constrained by low production efficiency. In the present work, we established a novel de novo…
Single-Cell & OmicsAug 6, 2026
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals dysregulation of innate immune signaling in early-life respiratory syncytial virus infection with subsequent low-level cadmium exposure.
Jarrell ZR et al. (+8)
Toxicology reports
Early-life respiratory syncytial virus infection (eRSV) causes severe respiratory illness in vulnerable populations and has a significant global health burden. eRSV-associated pathologies are exacerbated by low levels of cadmium (Cd) in the diet, leading to increased cytokine and chemokine levels, inhibited autophagy by mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling and enhanced fibrosis. In this…
AI & Protein DesignAug 5, 2026
PLM-ArgMe: Protein language model for arginine methylation prediction for different species.
Bhatt N et al. (+4)
Biochemical and biophysical research communications
Protein methylation is a crucial post-translational modification (PTM) responsible for many diseases and accurate prediction of the methylation site is important for understanding the molecular mechanism of the disease. The models have been successful in capturing contextual dependencies in protein sequences, with deep learning models, specifically those based on the Transformer architecture and Multi-Head…
Cancer BiologyOpen accessAug 4, 2026
Recent progress in small molecules targeting the acidic tumor microenvironment.
Fu Y et al. (+7)
Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry
The acidic tumour microenvironment (pHe 6.5-6.9) is sustained by the Warburg effect and pH regulators, such as monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4, Na+/H + exchanger 1, vacuolar ATPase, and carbonic anhydrases IX and XII. This environment facilitates tumour invasion, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy in solid tumours. Recent advancements in small molecule inhibitors targeting these pathways have…
Drug DiscoveryOpen accessAug 4, 2026
Context matters in PROTAC design: navigating the trade-off between degradation and developability.
Zhang B et al. (+11)
Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry
Proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) couple target recognition to ubiquitin-dependent degradation, but their translation requires coordinated optimisation of degradation efficiency and developability. This review frames PROTAC design as a context-dependent medicinal chemistry problem rather than modular assembly of a warhead, linker and ubiquitin ligase (E3) recruiter. Linker length, rigidity, and exit vectors…
Single-Cell & OmicsAug 1, 2026
Livecyte kinetic cytometer combined with RpHluorin2 reporter system for real-time single-cell resolution monitoring of JTC-801-induced alkaliptosis.
Li XY et al. (+8)
MethodsX
Intracellular alkalization-driven alkaliptosis has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer intervention, yet static endpoint detection limits insights into its spatiotemporal dynamics. Here, we integrated the Livecyte Kinetic Cytometer (ptychographic quantitative phase imaging, QPI) with the RpHluorin2 pH-sensitive fluorescent reporter system to establish a real-time, single-cell resolution platform for…
Drug DiscoveryAug 1, 2026
A DoE-Dual centrifugation-driven screening platform for liposomal incorporation of poorly soluble APIs: Application to the PROTAC ACBI2.
Jaki M et al. (+4)
International journal of pharmaceutics: X
A fast and efficient screening platform is presented for formulating poorly soluble drugs, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), into liposomes. Driven by Design of Experiments (DoE) and powered by dual centrifugation, this platform enables high-throughput parallel preparation alongside a newly validated, single-run HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of all lipid components and hydrophobic…
Longevity & AgingJul 31, 2026
The Physical Senotype in cellular senescence: Mechanical and physical strategies for senotherapy.
Wang B et al. (+3)
Ageing research reviews
Cellular senescence is traditionally described through durable cell-cycle arrest, DNA-damage signaling, metabolic remodeling, mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction, and acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). However, senescent cells also undergo prominent structural and biomechanical changes, including enlarged and flattened cell shape, altered stiffness and force transmission…
Longevity & AgingJul 31, 2026
Cellular senescence at the bidirectional interface between ageing and coronary artery disease.
Li X et al. (+10)
Ageing research reviews
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality, and population ageing is reshaping its clinical phenotype, disease trajectory, and therapeutic complexity. Chronological age alone cannot explain the heterogeneity of CAD outcomes in older individuals, highlighting the need to integrate biological ageing into cardiovascular disease research and management. Cellular senescence…
MicrobiomeJul 30, 2026
Steaming reduces Polygonum multiflorum hepatotoxicity by modulating gut microbiota-bile acid-FXR/NF-κB signaling in the gut-liver axis.
Dong AD et al. (+9)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
BackgroundPolygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) can induce hepatotoxicity, particularly with prolonged use. Traditional processing methods, notably steaming (SPM) and steaming with black bean decoction (PPM), are recognized for their ability to mitigate this toxicity; however, the underlying mechanisms, especially from the gut-liver axis perspective, remain poorly understood.PurposeThis study aims to clarify the…
Drug DiscoveryPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 30, 2026
Exploring the use of Cyrene for the amidation of E3 ligase recruiters: efficient access to PROTAC precursors
Galli M et al. (+4)
Beilstein Archives
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a powerful therapeutic strategy based on the selective degradation of disease-relevant proteins through Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC). The synthesis of PROTAC precursors commonly requires the functionalization of E3 ligase recruiters using polar aprotic solvents such as DMF or DMSO, which present environmental and safety concerns. In this work, we…
Gene EditingJul 29, 2026
Recent advances of CRISPR-based gene editing technologies and delivery strategies.
Xue F et al. (+6)
Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
CRISPR technology is a powerful tool for gene editing, in which the efficient delivery of living target cells allows it to show great clinical potential. At present, the commonly used in vivo delivery strategies mainly include biological methods (AAV, VLP, SEND) and chemical methods (LNP), which subtly deliver gene editors to living target cells safely and efficiently from different ways. However, existing delivery…
Longevity & AgingJul 29, 2026
Crocin I delays cellular senescence potentially via modulating SIRT1/PKM2 expression to improve lactate homeostasis <i>in vitro</i>.
Fu Y et al. (+6)
Experimental and therapeutic medicine
Crocin I has a protective effect against D-galactose-induced aging in rat models; however, its specific mechanism on delaying cellular senescence remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the interventional effect and related molecular mechanism of Crocin Ⅰ on replicative senescence and premature senescence of human embryonic lung diploid fibroblasts (WI-38) cells. Replicative senescence model…
Longevity & AgingJul 29, 2026
Complosome as a key modulator of cellular senescence, aging and age-related diseases.
Gold NM et al. (+3)
Ageing research reviews
Aging is characterized by progressive physiological decline and accumulation of senescent cells that drive chronic "inflammaging" through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The complement system, traditionally viewed as a systemic extracellular defense mechanism, is now recognized as an essential intracellular network (the complosome). This review synthesizes current research on how intracellular…
Single-Cell & OmicsJul 28, 2026
Single-cell transcriptome-guided biomimetic magnetothermal hydrogel microspheres for multimodal eradication of residual glioblastoma.
Wu N et al. (+10)
Bioactive materials
Incomplete resection and rapid postoperative recurrence remain major challenges in glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Inspired by the self-healing microduct architecture of pine resin, we developed an injectable magnetothermal-responsive hierarchical hydrogel microsphere platform, HGM + Multi(+), for spatiotemporally programmed magnetothermal ablation, anti-angiogenic blockade, and targeted chemotherapy. The system…
MicrobiomeJul 26, 2026
Mulberry leaf flavonoids alleviate type 2 diabetes by remodeling the gut microbiota-bile acid axis and activating FXR signaling.
Shi L et al. (+15)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacological relevanceMulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating "Xiaoke" (diabetes), as documented in "Compendium of Materia Medica" compiled by Li Shi-Zhen of the Ming Dynasty. Mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLF) are the major active components and have demonstrated anti-diabetic effects in modern studies. However, whether MLF alleviates type 2 diabetes…
Cell & Gene TherapyJul 25, 2026
Harnessing oleic acid for facilitating topical delivery of lipid nanoparticle to the ocular posterior segment and improving anti-angiogenesis effect.
Fang G et al. (+6)
International journal of pharmaceutics: X
Fundus neovascularization is a leading cause of vision loss. Axitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has significant antiangiogenic effects but suffers from extremely low aqueous solubility and faces multiple ocular barriers when topically instilled. Here, we incorporated oleic acid into a lipid nanoparticle for the topical ocular delivery of axitinib. Meanwhile, we systemically investigated the impact of oleic acid…
MicrobiomeJul 25, 2026
Mechanistic insights into Cistanche deserticola aqueous extract in alleviating functional constipation: Integration of gut microbiota remodeling and focal adhesion-associated mucosal repair.
Hu J et al. (+8)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacological relevanceCistanche deserticola Ma (Orobanchaceae), a widely used botanical drug in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is traditionally utilized to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, particularly for senile and deficiency-induced constipation.Aim of the studyTo evaluate the restorative effects of C. deserticola (CD) aqueous extract on functional constipation (FC) and elucidate its…
Synthetic BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 24, 2026
Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli to modulate hydrogen sulfide levels in the mammalian gut
Hayes JA et al. (+10)
bioRxiv
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a microbiota-derived metabolite in the gastrointestinal tract implicated in a number of diseases. Its volatility and reactivity make experimentally controlling H 2 S concentration in vivo difficult, limiting our ability to interrogate its dose-dependent effects on host physiology. Engineered bacteria present a compelling solution, yet most probiotic metabolic engineering approaches have…
MicrobiomeJul 24, 2026
Da-Jian-Zhong decoction restores the gut-brain balance in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome rats via gut microbiota-bile acid axis.
Gao HQ et al. (+10)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacological relevanceDa-Jian-Zhong decoction (DJZD), a Chinese medicinal formula, exhibits therapeutic effects in the clinical management of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Accumulating studies have demonstrated that DJZD can regulate the gut-brain balance in IBS-D model rats; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.Aim of the studyTo explore the potential…
Drug DiscoveryJul 23, 2026
An optimized RNF126-targeting covalent handle for molecular glue degraders.
Modi A et al. (+9)
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
Molecular glue degraders represent a powerful modality for targeting proteins that are refractory to traditional inhibition. However, rational design principles for molecular glue degraders remain poorly defined. Previously, we reported a chemistry-centric strategy to identify covalent degradative handles that, when appended to established ligands, convert non-degradative inhibitors into molecular glue degraders by…
Drug DiscoveryPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 23, 2026
Leveraging Supramolecular Polymers to Induce the Targeted Protein Degradation of α-Synuclein
Swetman WS et al. (+4)
bioRxiv
Halting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases remains one of the foremost challenges in medicinal chemistry due to the complex biology that drives disease progression. For example, a hallmark of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease, is the misfolding and aggregation of the protein α-Synuclein (α-Syn), driving the formation of toxic oligomers and fibrils that avoid natural intracellular clearance…
Longevity & AgingJul 22, 2026
Poricoic acid a ameliorates ulcerative colitis via AMPK/PPARγ pathway-dependent cellular senescence inhibition and concomitant gut microbiota-metabolome modulation.
Wang Y et al. (+11)
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
BackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) is an intractable inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by persistent intestinal inflammation and impaired gut barrier integrity. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving gut microbiota dysbiosis, metabolic dysfunction, and cellular senescence. Current therapeutic regimens remain limited, underscoring an urgent need for innovative agents that target these interrelated…
Synthetic BiologyPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 21, 2026
Caffeinated Coli: Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists through Synthetic Biology
Tian NY et al. (+4)
bioRxiv
The Caffeinated Coli Educational Module brings inquiry-driven learning to high schools, introducing students to scientific research, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering. The module focuses on the exploration of a genetically engineered strain of E. coli modified to grow exclusively on caffeine and, as such, can be used as a measurement device to determine the amount of caffeine in a liquid or beverage…
MicrobiomeJul 21, 2026
Paliurus ramosissimus extract partially ameliorates AOM/DSS-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer in mice: insights from transcriptomic and gut microbiota analyses.
Peng J et al. (+10)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacological relevancePaliurus ramosissimus (PR) is a traditional folk medicinal plant recorded in Zhonghua Bencao (Chinese Materia Medica) and local medicinal records. In this study, Paliurus ramosissimus extract (PRex) was defined as an ethanol extract prepared from PR leaves. PR leaves have traditionally been used for heat-clearing and detoxification and for relieving swelling and pain. These traditional…
Cell & Gene TherapyOpen accessJul 20, 2026
Research trends and hotspots of CAR-T cell therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A bibliometric analysis.
Tian X et al. (+4)
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics
This study aims to analyze the global research patterns and emerging trends in CAR-T cell therapy for ALL through a bibliometric analysis. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The bibliometric analysis utilized VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix" to visualize collaborations, keyword co-occurrences, and emerging research trends. A total of 844 articles from…
ImmunotherapyJul 20, 2026
Cascade-catalytic microneedles convert the tumor cholesterol shield into an oxidative spear for self-amplifying ferroptosis-driven cancer immunotherapy.
Yang R et al. (+9)
Biomaterials
Ferroptosis holds great promise for cancer immunotherapy, yet elevated cholesterol levels in tumor cells impose substantial structural and functional barriers to ferroptosis. Here, a cascade-catalytic nanocomposite microneedle platform (CSMZC MNs) is developed to convert this tumor-intrinsic cholesterol shield into an oxidative spear for ferroptosis-amplified cancer immunotherapy. By integrating superoxide dismutase…
MicrobiomeJul 20, 2026
Callistephus A from Callistephus chinensis alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and gut-liver axis disruption by targeting the JAK2/STAT1 pathway and remodeling gut microbiota.
Yang N et al. (+6)
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacological relevanceCallistephus chinensis, a plant belonging to the genus Callistephus in the family Asteraceae, is a traditional Mongolian medicinal herb. In ancient times, it was commonly used for clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling and relieving pain. CA is a 6/7-thickened sesquiterpenoid component isolated from the flowers of Callistephus chinensis, however, its pharmacological mechanism…
Drug DiscoveryJul 20, 2026
Epitope-guided Detection of a Molecular Glue-induced Ternary Complex Using Engineered Synthetic Antibody Fragments.
O'Leary KM et al. (+3)
Journal of molecular biology
Molecular glues represent a class of small molecules that enable the modulation of proteins lacking traditional ligand-binding pockets. A defining feature of molecular glues is their ability to bind cooperatively at weak or neomorphic protein-protein interfaces. Despite growing interest in these compounds, tools for selectively isolating native molecular glue-induced protein assemblies from heterogeneous populations…
Drug DiscoveryJul 18, 2026
RNA-based ATTEC: an RNA-guided autophagy-lysosome platform for targeted protein degradation.
Zhang Y et al. (+9)
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a breakthrough in drug discovery and a global biomedical research hotspot. However, its reliance on traditional small-molecule ligands inherently restricts the scope of targetable proteins. Herein, we report a novel autophagosome-tethering compound (ATTEC) strategy based on RNA aptamers to expand the target applicability of this technology. We designed and…
Gene EditingJul 17, 2026
A light-activated one-pot ERA/CRISPR-Cas12a assay for cost-effective dual-mode detection of HBV DNA.
Zhou X et al. (+7)
Talanta
Light-activatable CRISPR-Cas systems offer an effective strategy to overcome the kinetic incompatibility in one-pot nucleic acid assays; however, their practical application remains limited by high reagent cost, the lack of compatible reaction buffers, and reliance on instrument-dependent readout. In this work, we developed a cost-effective light-controlled one-pot ERA/CRISPR-Cas12a platform for rapid hepatitis B…
AI & Protein DesignJul 16, 2026
Leveraging protein language model for maturation of high-affinity peptide ligand in the purification of an adeno‒associated virus vector.
Zhao Y et al. (+6)
Journal of chromatography. A
Computational design has emerged as an important approach for the discovery of peptide ligands in development of affinity chromatography. However, fast and efficient identification of high-affinity and specific ligands is still challenging. Here an artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategy for affinity maturation was proposed for improving the binding affinity of peptide ligands of adeno‒associated virus (AAV). To…
Single-Cell & OmicsOpen accessJul 16, 2026
scYeast: a biological-knowledge-guided foundation model on yeast single-cell transcriptomics.
Fan X et al. (+4)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
Though large-scale pre-trained models are vital for foundational cell modeling, most of them focus on human or mouse systems, with less emphasis on model organisms like yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and fail to use existing biological prior knowledge effectively. Here, we present scYeast, the first foundational cell model for yeast single-cell transcriptomics that effectively embeds biological priors. scYeast…
mRNA & VaccinesPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 16, 2026
Stepwise Enhancement of HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA Vaccine Efficacy Using HSV-1 gD Epitope Incorporation and Immune-Modulating Agents
Johnson K et al. (+4)
Research Square
Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies remain a significant global health burden, particularly among individuals with established infection or limited access to prophylactic vaccination. Although the E6 and E7 oncogenes of high-risk HPV types represent attractive therapeutic targets, current vaccine approaches have shown limited clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated multiple…
mRNA & VaccinesPreprint · not peer reviewedJul 15, 2026
Safety and Immunogenicity of SW-BIC-213, a Modified COVID-19 Lipo-Polyplex mRNA Vaccine, in Laotian Healthy Adults Aged 18 Years and Above: A Phase 1/2 Trial
Yuan Y et al. (+9)
Preprints.org
We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of SW-BIC-213, a Lipo-Polyplex (LPP)-based mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, administered as a two-dose regimen 21 days apart in healthy adults in Laos. In this phase 1/2 trial, healthy adults aged 18–60 years (phase 1) or ≥18 years (phase 2) were enrolled at Mahosot Hospital (Vientiane) and Champhone District Hospital (Savannakhet). In phase 1, 41 participants received…
mRNA & VaccinesOpen accessJul 13, 2026
Optimized seasonal influenza mRNA vaccine compositions demonstrate safety and enhanced immunogenicity in a phase 2 study.
Fierro C et al. (+8)
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics
Seasonal influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality, with influenza A and B viruses driving most influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccination remains a key influenza prevention strategy; however, current seasonal influenza vaccines based on traditional platforms provide inconsistent protection. Messenger RNA - based vaccines may offer several key advantages over other vaccines, including…
MicrobiomeJul 13, 2026
Synergistic integration of forensic transcriptome and microbiome: A robust multi-marker strategy combined with machine learning for accurate body fluid identification.
Wang X et al. (+4)
Forensic science international. Genetics
In recent years, the development of microbiome and transcriptome analyses has significantly improved the efficiency of forensic body fluid identification. However, challenging or limited biological samples in forensic practice demand highly efficient utilization of biological samples to minimize sample loss. In this study, we developed two independent assays based on a capillary electrophoresis (CE) approach: a…
Cancer BiologyJul 11, 2026
Tumor microenvironment-responsive self-assembling nanotherapeutics integrating chemo-, anti-angiogenic, and immunostimulatory therapy for triple-negative breast cancer.
Nie W et al. (+10)
Biomaterials
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant clinical challenge due to the lack of actionable targets, dose-limiting cardiotoxicity, and the limited efficacy of single-modality therapies. Doxorubicin (DOX), a first-line chemotherapeutic agent, is constrained by inadequate tumor targeting and systemic toxicity. In this study, we identified an SML peptide with high binding affinity for TNBC through in…
ImmunotherapyJul 10, 2026
Heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes-based sonocatalysts trigger gasdermin D palmitoylation to augment hypoxia-resistant non-canonical pyroptotic immunotherapy.
Xu H et al. (+5)
Biomaterials
Sonodynamic therapy is expected to induce pyroptosis of cancer cells and activate the immune response. However, its efficacy is limited by the tumor hypoxic microenvironment. Moreover, these sonosensitizers trigger a gasdermin D palmitoylation-associated non-canonical pyroptosis pathway to boost tumor immunogenicity, there is a lack of research. Herein, a series of heteroleptic Ru(II) polypyridine-single-layered…
AI & Protein DesignJul 9, 2026
AlphaFold-based peptide structure prediction: Opportunities, limitations, and future directions.
Zhang B et al. (+3)
Biotechnology advances
Accurate prediction of peptide structures and peptide-receptor complexes is essential for rational peptide drug development. However, the inherent conformational flexibility of short and disordered peptides presents a fundamental challenge. The AlphaFold model series, which has progressed from AlphaFold2 through AlphaFold-Multimer to AlphaFold3, has substantially advanced computational peptide structure prediction…
ImmunotherapyJul 9, 2026
A metabolically reprogrammable nanoplatform potentiates photodynamic immunotherapy through glycolytic blockade.
Zhang J et al. (+13)
Biomaterials
Tumor glycolysis supports malignant progression and promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment, but glycolysis blockade alone often gives limited therapeutic benefit because tumor cells can adapt metabolically and metabolic inhibition does not necessarily elicit antitumor immunity. Here, we report a metabolically reprogrammable nanoplatform, TCP@PRL3 nanoparticles (TCP@PRL3 NPs), integrating an aggregation…
ImmunotherapyJul 9, 2026
Harnessing Chlorella vulgaris-derived extracellular vesicles for potentiated cancer immunotherapy.
Meng F et al. (+8)
Biomaterials
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising drug delivery vehicle due to their inherent biocompatibility, high stability and large-scale production. Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) has been increasing application in the food industry and biomedical fields. Nevertheless, the biogenesis and immunomodulatory functions of EVs from Chlorella species remain poorly understood. Herein, we found…
ImmunotherapyJul 8, 2026
Synergistic immunotherapy of NSCLC enabled by a biomimetic nanodelivery system for autophagy-mediated MDSC reprogramming and metabolic modulation.
Guo Z et al. (+4)
Biomaterials
The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly the dominance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), remains a major barrier to effective immunotherapy. Here, we developed a bioengineered nanoplatform (PD-L1-SSD@NPs) by conjugating an anti-PD-L1 antibody to hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of saikosaponin D (SSD) to…
NeurotechnologyJul 8, 2026
Longitudinal structural connectome changes linked to recovery and persistence in women with postpartum depression.
Li Y et al. (+6)
Journal of affective disorders
BackgroundClinical outcomes in postpartum depression (PPD) are highly heterogeneous, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying recovery remain unclear. Identifying network-based biomarkers that reflect the brain's capacity for adaptive reorganization may improve prognostic accuracy and support individualized treatment.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study of 115 PPD patients and…
Cancer BiologyOpen accessJul 8, 2026
Modulation of the response to immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer: the role of the microbiota and microbial metabolites in the tumor microenvironment.
Serrano-García L et al. (+6)
Gut microbes
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive and heterogeneous breast cancer subtype for which immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy have improved outcomes in selected patients. However, primary and acquired resistance remain common, underscoring the need to identify extrinsic, modifiable determinants of antitumor immunity. Increasing evidence indicates that the gut and tumor-associated…
Drug DiscoveryJul 8, 2026
Discovery of a potent PROTAC targeting G9a suppresses proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells and psoriasis-like keratinocytes.
Liu M et al. (+6)
European journal of medicinal chemistry
G9a is a SET domain-containing histone methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K9 methylation to regulate gene transcription. Recent studies have revealed that G9a exerts both catalytic and non-catalytic functions in tumor progression and inflammatory diseases, establishing it as a promising therapeutic target. Herein, we developed L4 by using proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology. L4 induces G9a degradation…
Cancer BiologyOpen accessJul 7, 2026
Integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomic approaches to decipher the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer.
Luo M et al. (+4)
Cancer biology & therapy
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most aggressive human malignancies and has an extremely poor prognosis. Its progression is largely driven by a highly complex and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), highlighting the urgent need for a deeper understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) have…
Gene EditingOpen accessJul 2, 2026
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of <i>MsMLO1</i> confers enhanced powdery mildew resistance in alfalfa.
Hou Z et al. (+9)
aBIOTECH
Powdery mildew, a disease primarily caused by Erysiphe pisi, is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a globally important forage crop. The MLO gene is a well-known susceptibility factor for powdery mildew in many plant species, but its role in alfalfa remains unclear. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to edit MsMLO1 in alfalfa cultivar 'Aohan'. We designed an sgRNA…
mRNA & VaccinesJun 30, 2026
An LNP-encapsulated mRNA vaccine targeting the major capsid protein of largemouth bass virus confers protective immunity and reduces RIG-I pathway activation in Micropterus salmoides.
Liu Y et al. (+7)
Fish & shellfish immunology
Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) infection poses a significant threat to largemouth bass farming in China, yet effective and safe vaccines remain scarce. In this study, we designed and evaluated four mRNA vaccine candidates against LMBV, all encoding the viral major capsid protein (MCP). The fully configured construct (LMUM) contained a 5' cap1, untranslated regions (UTRs), and a poly(A) tail, and was produced by in…
Gene EditingJun 25, 2026
Sensitive detection of prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) in urine based upon CRISPR/Cas12a and gold nanorods (AuNRs).
Liao W et al. (+7)
Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
Prostate Cancer Antigen 3, a type of long non-coding RNA, exhibits outstanding specificity as a biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, offering a highly effective diagnostic indicator, whereas the currently used prostate specific antigen exhibits low specificity, leading to reduced accuracy in prostate cancer diagnosis. Herein, we designed a novel fluorescent sensing platform for targeted detection of PCA3…
mRNA & VaccinesPreprint · not peer reviewedJun 24, 2026
Comprehensive Profiling of Monkeypox Virus Antigens Identifies Potent Targets for Next-Generation mRNA Vaccine Development
Walls AC et al. (+13)
bioRxiv
ABSTRACT The 2022 Monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak renewed interest in vaccines for orthopoxviruses. Initial development efforts focused on well-established antigen targets, especially A35, B6, and M1. However, orthopoxvirus surfaces are complex, displaying many antigens across two infectious forms, mature virions (MV) and extracellular virions (EV) and targets relevant to protection remain to be comprehensively…
Cancer BiologyOpen accessJun 24, 2026
Associations between migrasome-related genes and long non-coding rnas in glioma and their prognostic relevance to the tumor microenvironment.
Yang B, Li R, Duan H
IBRO neuroscience reports
ObjectiveThis exploratory study evaluated associations between migrasome-related genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in glioma and examined whether migrasome-related lncRNA patterns were associated with prognosis and the tumor microenvironment.MethodsTranscriptomic, clinical, survival, and mutation data were obtained from the TCGA GDC portal. Migrasome-related genes were identified from published literature and…
NeurotechnologyJun 22, 2026
BAMBI: A Ca<sup>2+</sup> imaging-based brain-computer interface for longitudinal neuronal tracking in freely behaving mice.
Balilti-Turgeman L et al. (+6)
Journal of neuroscience methods
BackgroundBrain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are powerful tools for investigating neuronal dynamics underlying cognitive processes. However, BCIs commonly rely on electrophysiological techniques, which are limited in their ability to track populations of the same neurons over long periods, constraining their utility for studying long-term neuronal processes.New methodTo address this, we developed a BCI system, BAMBI…
Synthetic BiologyOpen accessJun 18, 2026
Metabolic engineering of <i>Escherichia coli</i> based on adaptive evolution and omics technology for highly efficient l-valine production under oxygen-limited conditions.
Zhang H et al. (+10)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
In industrial production, the yield of desired targets derived from carbon sources is frequently diminished by the competitive influence of cellular metabolism within microbial cell factories. The bioproduction of l-valine exemplifies a classic process that is confronted with such a dilemma, substantially hindering its economic industrial-scale production. In this study, we aim to engineer a cell factory capable of…
Drug DiscoveryJun 18, 2026
A PROTAC-inspired bifunctional small molecule recruits CDK6 to target EYA2 degradation and suppress breast tumor growth.
Zhang Y et al. (+12)
European journal of medicinal chemistry
Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) has been reported to exert tumor-suppressive functions through its non-enzymatic activity and promotes the degradation of the oncogenic driver EYA2. This suggests a potential strategy for targeted protein degradation by exploiting endogenous protein-protein interactions. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a bifunctional small molecule, EC21, capable of simultaneously…
Longevity & AgingOpen accessJun 17, 2026
Synergistic nanosenolytic therapy reverses age-related dry eye disease by targeting cellular senescence and oxidative stress.
Ren Q et al. (+7)
Bioactive materials
Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent, age-related ocular disorder that severely impairs vision and quality of life. Age-related cellular senescence drives disease progression through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which establishes a self-perpetuating cycle of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. However, current therapeutic options are insufficient to directly disrupt this pathogenic…
Single-Cell & OmicsJun 16, 2026
The next frontier in forensic genetics: Single-cell genetic analysis and its expanding role.
Ballantyne J, Grgicak CM, Marciano MA
Forensic science international. Genetics
Standard short tandem repeat (STR) DNA profiling has transformed forensic science by enabling reliable human identification across routine and complex casework. However, conventional 'bulk' DNA extraction and analysis inherently co-detect alleles from all biological contributors within a stain, thus potentially confounding the interpretation of DNA mixtures. Probabilistic genotyping software (PGS) has greatly…
mRNA & VaccinesJun 14, 2026
A narrative review of COVID-19 epidemiology and mRNA vaccine impact in children <12 years during the omicron era (November 2021 - December 2025).
Zheng Z et al. (+6)
Expert review of vaccines
IntroductionCOVID-19 continues to pose a burden in children under 12 years of age during the Omicron era (November 2021 - December 2025). Following Omicron's emergence, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence increased rapidly, with most children infected by ages 2-4 years. Pediatric hospitalization rates declined after the initial Omicron wave but remained elevated in children under 2 years and in those with underlying…
Synthetic BiologyOpen accessJun 12, 2026
Metabolic engineering of <i>Vibrio natriegens</i> for the efficient biosynthesis of ergothioneine from sucrose using non-sterile fed-batch fermentation.
Liang X et al. (+9)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
Fast-growing Vibrio natriegens is now recognized as a next-generation chassis for synthetic biology and biotechnology; however, its low transformation efficiency, limited gene editing methods and high fermentation cost are still the main challenges hampering its industrial application. In this study, we established an efficient electroporation transformation and dual-plasmid CRISPR-Cas9 editing system in V…
Synthetic BiologyOpen accessJun 11, 2026
Synthetic biology of oncolytic bacteria: Comparative microbial chassis and precise killing strategies.
Hadid MA et al. (+4)
Toxicology reports
The field of synthetic biology has become a revolutionary tool for engineering microorganisms capable of precise, programmed cancer treatment. Unlike conventional cancer treatments, which lack safe, selective toxicity, engineered microbial cells can detect tumor-specific signals, target hypoxic environments, and deliver cytotoxic payloads more effectively in both space and time. This review presents the most recent…
Synthetic BiologyOpen accessJun 10, 2026
Metabolic engineering of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> for co-production of ergothioneine, salidroside and gadusol.
Zhang L et al. (+6)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
Ergothioneine (EGT), salidroside and gadusol are high-value cosmetic ingredients valued for their moisturizing, skin-brightening and ultraviolet (UV)-protective properties. Leveraging Saccharomyces cerevisia, a GRAS organism already widely used in cosmetics, we engineered a single strain for their simultaneous co-production. We first identified the 5-histidylcysteine sulfoxide synthase domain reaction as…
NeurotechnologyJun 8, 2026
Resting-state functional connectome correlates of suicide attempt history and childhood trauma in major depressive disorder.
Jung M et al. (+9)
Journal of affective disorders
BackgroundA prior suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of subsequent suicide mortality in major depressive disorder (MDD); however, the functional network architecture distinguishing individuals with and without a history of suicide attempts remains incompletely characterized. We applied a connectome-wide functional connectivity (FC) framework to identify FC alterations associated with suicide attempt history…
Synthetic BiologyOpen accessJun 6, 2026
Engineered bacteria in disease diagnosis and therapy: A synthetic biology perspective.
Shen Y et al. (+5)
Synthetic and systems biotechnology
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that integrates knowledge and techniques from modern biology and many other disciplines to design and construct novel biological systems or to modify existing life forms. Its core technologies include gene editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9), DNA assembly, in vivo directed evolution, and integration with artificial intelligence. The development of these technologies has…
Longevity & AgingJun 6, 2026
Polarity probes targeting different organelles based on aza-coumarin for monitoring ferroptosis and cellular senescence.
Ni WP et al. (+4)
Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
Polarity within the cellular microenvironment is a key physical parameter that regulates multiple biological processes, and its dysregulation is closely associated with various diseases. This work designed and synthesized three polarity-sensitive fluorescent probes (3a-3c) based on an aza-coumarin fluorophore with a D-π-A structure, leveraging the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The optical…
Longevity & AgingJun 5, 2026
Orbital hybridization-mediated nanozymes reverse cellular senescence for aged bone regeneration.
Wang Y et al. (+9)
Biomaterials
The regeneration of aged bone is severely compromised by a deteriorating microenvironment characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequential endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Herein, we report a biomimetic nanozyme engineered through synergistic p-d orbital hybridization and youthful membrane camouflage to precisely reverse this degenerative cascade. The designed Cu-Sn dual-atom core…
Cell & Gene TherapyOpen accessJun 1, 2026
Design and initial evaluation of a certified committee model for review of in vivo gene therapy and related technologies, together with ex vivo gene therapy, under the act on the safety of regenerative medicine.
Katano H et al. (+3)
Regenerative therapy
IntroductionThe 2024 amendment to the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine expanded the Act's regulatory scope to include in vivo gene therapy and related technologies. This created a need for certified committees for regenerative medicine to address associated scientific and regulatory issues. This study aimed to design and provide an initial evaluation of a practical and implementable committee model for…
Drug DiscoveryOpen accessMay 27, 2026
Lysosome-directed targeted protein degradation technologies for overcoming cancer drug resistance: mechanisms, design principles, and therapeutic opportunities.
Mao H et al. (+9)
Drug delivery
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to address cancer drug resistance by enabling the selective and efficient degradation of disease-associated proteins through cellular mechanisms. Since 2020, lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) have gained attention for expanding targeted protein degradation to extracellular and membrane-associated disease-related proteins beyond the…
AI & Protein DesignMay 19, 2026
SPLiNet: Lightweight prediction of protein-RNA interaction sites by integrating a structure-aware protein language model with a dual-branch network.
Ye H et al. (+4)
Computational biology and chemistry
Protein-RNA interactions are central to post-transcriptional regulation, yet residue-level identification of RNA-binding sites remains challenging. Sequence-based predictors often have limited ability to capture long-range dependencies, whereas structure-based pipelines commonly depend on explicit geometric modeling and additional structural preprocessing. Here, we present SPLiNet, a lightweight framework for…
mRNA & VaccinesOpen accessMay 19, 2026
Enhanced immunogenicity and dose-sparing efficacy of self-amplifying RNA vaccines against seasonal influenza across subtypes.
Huang M et al. (+30)
Emerging microbes & infections
Recent clinical data on seasonal influenza mRNA vaccines have demonstrated suboptimal efficacy against the influenza B virus (IBV). We employed sequence optimization strategies that successfully enhanced the antigen expression of hemagglutinin (HA) and developed mRNA vaccine candidates targeting the WHO-recommended strains. When administered at a low dose (0.1 μg), both mono-and trivalent influenza A mRNA vaccines…
mRNA & VaccinesOpen accessApr 22, 2026
Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) vaccines: Progress, evidence gaps, and translational pathways for durable and scalable immunization.
Okechukwu Paul-Chima U et al. (+4)
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 4 citations
Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) are emerging vaccine modalities that extend conventional, non-replicating mRNA platforms. Self-amplifying RNA encodes a replicase that amplifies intracellular RNA templates, enabling high antigen expression at substantially lower doses than non-replicating mRNA. Circular RNA has a covalently closed topology that confers resistance to exonucleases and supports…
mRNA & VaccinesApr 20, 2026
Interference of target protein translation in multivalent mRNA vaccine in cell-based assay.
Stiving AQ et al. (+7)
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are highly effective against infectious diseases, but viral diversity has underscored the necessity for multivalent and combination vaccines. We hypothesize there could be interference of target protein translation in multivalent mRNA vaccines in cell-based assays used for potency testing. Following transfection into human cells, we observed that antigen protein translation is inhibited…
NeurotechnologyOpen accessMar 19, 2026
Application and prospects of brain-computer interface technology for motor function reconstruction after brachial plexus injury.
Song S, Li X, Pan P
Annals of medicine
BackgroundBrachial plexus injury (BPI) is a severe peripheral nerve disorder leading to significant upper limb motor dysfunction. While traditional surgeries like nerve grafting and tendon transfer exist, functional outcomes are often suboptimal due to biomechanical limitations and slow neural recovery. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has emerged as a promising innovative pathway for motor function…
mRNA & VaccinesOpen accessJan 6, 2026
Influence of the administration route and dose on the expression and antibody responses of a reporter and avian influenza self-amplifying mRNA vaccine in poultry.
Snoeck J et al. (+4)
The veterinary quarterly
Vaccination is routinely used in industrial poultry to control infectious diseases. Vaccines based on mRNA and self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) are approved for human use, but research on their application in poultry is limited. In this study the saRNA vaccine platform is evaluated in poultry. First, a luciferase-encoding saRNA (luc-saRNA) was tested as a model vaccine across different administration routes and doses in…
NeurotechnologyNov 24, 2025
Control analysis of deep brain stimulation and optogenetics for Alzheimer's disease under the computational cortex model.
Zhang Y, Zhang H, Shen Z
Cognitive neurodynamics
Abnormal τ and β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is significantly associated with cognitive decline. This abnormal deposition has been reported to be linked to increased excitatory and inhibitory time constants in neural circuits. In this paper, we focus on three typical electroencephalography (EEG) slowdowns clinically reported in association with AD, including…