B. Hoffmann

Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in western Germany, October 2023, and ad-hoc monitoring in Culicoides biting midges

Bluetongue virus serotype 3 was detected in Culicoides biting midges in Germany in October 2023, coinciding with its emergence in ruminants and the presence of Schmallenberg virus in midge pools.

Elastomeric Pillar Cages Modulate Actomyosin Contractility of Epithelial Microtissues by Substrate Stiffness and Topography

This study introduces an elastomeric pillar cage device to measure how substrate stiffness and topography affect actomyosin contractility in epithelial microtissues.

The role of pneumococcal extracellular vesicles on the pathophysiology of the kidney disease Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

This paper investigates the role of pneumococcal extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of hemolytic uremic syndrome and identifies their cargo and effects on host cells.

Impairment of sugar transport in the vascular system acts on nitrogen remobilisation and nitrogen use efficiency in Arabidopsis.

This study shows that disrupting SWEET11 and SWEET12 sugar transporters in Arabidopsis impairs stem development but improves nitrogen use efficiency and remobilization to seeds.

Selectively expressed RNA molecules: a new dimension infunctionalized cell targeting

The paper develops selectively expressed RNA molecules (seRNAs) that target specific cell types and enable functionalization for therapy, showing efficacy in reducing glioblastoma tumors in mice.

The spike gene is a major determinant for the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 phenotype

This study shows the spike gene determines replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 compared to Delta in cell cultures and animal models.

Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7, but not B.1.351, in animal models

The paper compares the fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in animal models, finding B.1.1.7 has a fitness advantage in ferrets and mice but not in hamsters.

A vacuolar hexose transport is required for xylem development in the inflorescence stem of Arabidopsis.

This study shows that SWEET16-mediated hexose transport at the tonoplast is essential for xylem cell division and secondary cell wall formation in Arabidopsis inflorescence stems.

The Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens PpKAI2L receptors for strigolactones and related compounds highlight MAX2 dependent and independent pathways

The paper identifies PpKAI2L-G and -J as receptors for PpCCD8-derived strigolactones in moss, showing PpMAX2-dependent signaling, while other PpKAI2L subclades are not involved.

SARS-CoV-2 spike D614G variant confers enhanced replication and transmissibility

This study shows the SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant has enhanced replication and transmissibility in animal models, explaining its global dominance.

Evolutionary stasis of an RNA virus indicates arbovirus re-emergence triggered by accidental release

This study uses genomic data to show that a BTV-8 virus strain re-emerged in 2015 without significant evolution, suggesting accidental release rather than natural persistence.