A. Sato

Combination therapy with oral antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs improves the efficacy of delayed treatment in severe COVID-19

This study shows that combining an oral antiviral with a corticosteroid improves treatment outcomes in delayed SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters compared to monotherapy.

Effect of acetic acid bacteria colonization on oviposition and feeding site choice in Drosophila suzukii and its related species

This study examines oviposition site preferences in Drosophila species for media with or without acetic acid bacteria, revealing species-specific and shared preferences.

Diversification of Polynucleotide Kinase Clp1 Family Proteins and Their Possible Origins in Eukaryotic Evolution

The paper identifies the evolutionary origin of Clp1 family proteins by analyzing genome data from 358 eukaryotic species and finds that protist Euglenozoa have multiple Clp1 family genes with unique domain structures.

2-Thiouridine is a broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside analogue against positive-strand RNA viruses

This study identifies 2-thiouridine as a broad-spectrum antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 and other positive-strand RNA viruses by inhibiting viral RNA synthesis.

Body temperature rebounds on sea ice and is elevated by mercury contamination in a keystone predator

This study examines how body temperature varies with behavior and environment in little auks, finding that mercury contamination increases and stabilizes body temperature across contexts.

FDA-approved drug screening identified micafungin as an antiviral agent against bat-borne emerging zoonotic Pteropine orthoreovirus

The paper screens FDA-approved drugs to identify micafungin as an antiviral agent against Pteropine orthoreovirus.

Discovery of Chlorofluoroacetamide-Based Covalent Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease

The paper identifies a new class of covalent inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease with chlorofluoroacetamide warhead, showing potent antiviral activity comparable to nirmatrelvir.

Chemical screen of Arabidopsis zygote and proteomics in tobacco BY-2 cells identify general plant cell division inhibitors

The paper identifies two plant cell division inhibitors through chemical screening in Arabidopsis zygotes and validates their effects in tobacco BY-2 cells and multiple plant species.

Oral administration of S-217622, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor, decreases viral load and accelerates recovery from clinical aspects of COVID-19

This study shows that oral S-217622 reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral load and improves recovery in hamsters, with activity against multiple variants.

Discovery of S-217622, a Non-Covalent Oral SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibitor Clinical Candidate for Treating COVID-19

This paper describes the discovery of S-217622, an oral non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitor showing antiviral activity and favorable pharmacokinetics in preclinical studies.

A synthetic bispecific antibody capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron

This paper describes a synthetic bispecific antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants with picomolar affinity.

Experience resetting in reinforcement learning facilitates exploration-exploitation transitions during a behavioral task for primates

This study shows that experience resetting in reinforcement learning improves performance during exploration-exploitation transitions in primates using a target search task.

Microevolution of Pieris butterfly genes involved in host-plant adaptation along a host-plant community cline

This study examines microevolutionary dynamics of NSP and MA genes in Pieris butterflies across Japan, finding NSP diversity correlates with local host plant diversity while MA shows no local adaptation.

Small Vessel Diseases: 3D Characteristics of the Vasculature and White Matter

This study examines 2D and 3D vascular and white matter changes in CADASIL, HTRA1-AD, and sSVD using light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, revealing distinct patterns of degeneration.

External fertilization is orchestrated by a pH-regulated soluble adenylyl cyclase controlling sperm motility and chemotaxis

This paper identifies a pH-regulated soluble adenylyl cyclase in non-mammalian sperm that controls motility and chemotaxis, revealing evolutionary adaptations to aquatic environments.

SARS-CoV-2 bearing a mutation at the S1/S2 cleavage site exhibits attenuated virulence and confers protective immunity

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the furin cleavage site are less virulent and induce protective immunity in hamsters.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the S1/S2 cleavage site are generated in vitro during propagation in TMPRSS2-deficient cells

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the S1/S2 cleavage site emerge in TMPRSS2-deficient cells, leading to reduced cell tropism and plaque size.

Drosophila suzukii avoidance of microbes in oviposition choice

This study shows D. suzukii avoids microbial cues on oviposition substrates, unlike D. melanogaster and D. biarmipes, suggesting a shift in microbial response mechanisms in its lineage.

Various miRNAs are involved in efficient HCV replication

This study identifies miRNAs other than miR-122 that support HCV replication in non-hepatic cells by interacting with the viral 5UTR and stabilizing the IRES structure.

Effect of nanocarbon molecules on the Arabidopsis thaliana transcriptome

The paper investigates the effects of nanocarbon molecules on Arabidopsis thaliana transcriptomes and identifies a gene upregulated by these molecules.

Molecular signatures of selection associated with host-plant differences in Pieris butterflies

The paper investigates evolutionary forces on NSP-like genes in Pieris butterflies linked to host-plant adaptation, finding positive selection in NSPs but not in MAs or SDMAs.

Dipeptidyl dipeptidase-4 inhibitor, MK-0626, promotes bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cell bioactivities for vascular regeneration in diet-induced obese mice

This study shows that MK-0626, a DPP-4 inhibitor, improves EPC bioactivity and reduces inflammation in diet-induced obese mice with ischemia.