A. Macdonald

Inhibitors of the Small Membrane (M) Protein Viroporin Prevent Zika Virus Infection

This study identifies the ZIKV M protein as a therapeutic target, showing that inhibitors like rimantadine block viral infection in vitro and in vivo by targeting M-formed channels.

Modeling gene-environment interactions in Parkinson's Disease: Helicobacter pylori infection of Pink1-/- mice induces CD8 T cell-dependent motor and cognitive dysfunction.

This study shows that Helicobacter pylori infection in Pink1-/- mice causes motor and cognitive dysfunction linked to CD8 T cell activity, mimicking early PD features.

IFNB induced by non-lytic virus immunotherapy promotes improved survival in hepatocellular carcinoma, mediated by MHCII-independent cytotoxic CD4+ T-cells

This paper shows that uv-inactivated reovirus combined with sorafenib improves survival in HCC by promoting IFNβ-induced cytotoxic CD4+ T-cell responses that are MHCII-independent.

E7-mediated repression of miR-203 promotes LASP1-dependent proliferation in HPV-positive cervical cancer

This study shows that HPV E7 represses miR-203, leading to LASP1 upregulation and promoting proliferation in HPV-positive cervical cancer.

REPRODUCTIVE COMPATIBILITY OF TWO LINES OF DELIA PLATURA (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

This study investigates reproductive compatibility between two genetic lines of Delia platura, finding evidence of pre-mating isolation in one direction but not the other, and partial post-mating isolation.

Comparative Analysis of Methods to Reduce Activation Signature Gene Expression in PBMCs

This study compares methods to reduce activation signature gene expression in PBMCs, finding that cold isolation is effective and cost-efficient, while TTis impair cellular responsiveness.

Development and Biophysical Characterization of a Humanized FSH-Blocking Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutic Formulated at an Ultra-High Concentration

This paper develops a stable, high-concentration formulation of a humanized FSH-blocking antibody and validates its physicochemical and thermal stability.

MerTK mediates the immunologically silent uptake of alpha-synuclein fibrils by human microglia

This study shows MerTK mediates microglial uptake of alpha-synuclein fibrils without triggering inflammation and links MERTK variants to Parkinson's disease.

m6A regulates the stability of cellular transcripts required for efficient KSHV lytic replication

This study shows m6A modification stabilizes GPRC5A mRNA, which promotes KSHV lytic replication by enhancing NF-κB signaling.

SituSeq: An offline protocol for rapid and remote Nanopore amplicon sequence analysis

SituSeq enables rapid, offline analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons using Nanopore MinION and a laptop, validated across platforms with high sequence identity and community composition consistency.

Bacterial anomalies in seabed sediments associated with deep water hydrocarbon seepage

This study uses 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify bacterial anomalies in deep-sea sediments linked to hydrocarbon seepage, finding distinct microbial signatures associated with thermogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons.

Exploitation of ATP-sensitive potassium ion (KATP) channels by HPV promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation by contributing to MAPK/AP-1 signalling

This study shows that HPV exploits KATP channels to promote cervical cancer cell proliferation through MAPK/AP-1 signaling.

A Single Multipurpose FSH-Blocking Therapeutic for Osteoporosis and Obesity

This paper develops and tests a first-in-class FSH-blocking antibody, MS-Hu6, showing efficacy in preventing obesity and osteoporosis in mice and safety in monkeys.

Geological processes mediate a subsurface microbial loop in the deep biosphere

The paper investigates a subsurface microbial loop mediated by geological processes, showing thermophilic endospores migrate from deep oil reservoirs to the seabed and re-enter the geosphere through sedimentation.

CircHIPK3 dysregulation of the miR-30c/DLL4 axis is essential for KSHV lytic replication

The paper identifies a host ncRNA regulatory network involving circHIPK3 and miR-30c/DLL4 that is essential for KSHV lytic replication in B cells.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a risk factor for bladder cancer through induction of APOBEC3-mediated genomic damage

This study shows BKPyV infection increases APOBEC3-mediated genomic damage in urothelial cells, contributing to bladder cancer risk in immunocompromised individuals.

An analysis of genetic diversity actions, indicators and targets in 114 National Reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity

This study quantitatively analyzes genetic diversity actions, indicators, and targets in 114 CBD National Reports, finding limited focus on wild species and inadequate monitoring indicators.

The deubiquitinase (DUB) USP13 promotes Mcl-1 stabilisation in cervical cancer

This study identifies USP13 as an oncogene in cervical cancer that stabilizes Mcl-1, enhancing cell survival and sensitivity to ABT-263.

Molecular Ecology of Coral Reef Microorganisms in the Western Indian Ocean coast of Kenya

The paper uses whole metagenome sequencing to study microbial communities around coral reefs in Kenya, revealing pollution and antibiotic resistance.

Thermogenic hydrocarbons fuel a redox stratified subseafloor microbiome in deep sea cold seep sediments

This study profiles microbial activities in deep sea cold seep sediments, revealing hydrocarbon oxidation pathways and their role in sustaining diverse microbial communities across redox gradients.

Environmental biases in the study of ecological networks at the planetary scale

This paper analyzes 1300 ecological networks from the mangal.io database to assess their spatial and biome coverage, revealing fragmentation and biases that hinder global synthesis and climate change forecasting.

A peek into Western Indian Ocean microbial richness: a pilot for a coral microbiome study

The paper conducts a metabarcoding survey of bacterial diversity in the western Indian Ocean, revealing high microbial richness and identifying potential biotechnological applications.

Rationally derived inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) p7 channel activity reveal prospect for bimodal antiviral therapy

The paper designs a rationally derived inhibitor of HCV p7 channel activity, revealing its dual role in virus entry and infection spread, and highlights its potential for bimodal antiviral therapy.

Autocrine STAT3 activation in HPV positive cervical cancer through a virus-driven Akt - NF?B - IL-6 signalling axis

This study identifies an IL-6-driven STAT3 activation pathway in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells, mediated by Akt and NF-κB, suggesting therapeutic targets.

Synchronous diversification of Sulawesi’s iconic artiodactyls driven by recent geological events

The paper tests the hypothesis that recent geological events on Sulawesi drove the synchronous diversification of its endemic artiodactyls, finding that species expanded from a central area that emerged above sea level ~1-2 Myr ago.