D. Hoffmann

Supramodal Coding of Detection and Confidence in the Human Cortex

This study investigates whether stimulus detection and confidence evaluation in the human cortex use shared or modality-specific circuits, finding evidence for supramodal coding in detection and partial supramodal coding in confidence.

CLEC18A interacts with sulfated GAGs and controls clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression

This study identifies CLEC18A as a regulator of clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression by interacting with sulfated GAGs and shows its expression is linked to improved patient survival.

Evaluating the Analytical Performance of Direct-to-Consumer Gut Microbiome Testing Services

This study evaluates seven DTC gut microbiome testing services using standardized fecal material, revealing significant variability in analytical performance comparable to biological donor differences.

A functional overlap between evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind in the pre-supplementary motor area and insula

This study identifies overlapping neural mechanisms for evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind in specific brain regions using intracranial recordings and computational modeling.

Cortical evidence accumulation for perceptual experience occurs irrespective of reports

The paper shows evidence accumulation in brain regions explains perceptual experience and confidence, using neural data from 29 participants.

Small in size but huge as reservoir -- insights into the virome of European white-toothed shrews

The paper identifies a diverse virome in European white-toothed shrews, including novel viral species related to WHO priority pathogens, and highlights their potential role in zoonotic spillover.

Tumor sialylation controls effective anti-cancer immunity in breast cancer

This study shows that tumor sialylation suppresses anti-cancer immunity in breast cancer by altering immune cell interactions and checkpoint ligands, and that inhibiting sialylation enhances immune response and therapy effectiveness.

Targeted mutations in IFNα2 improve its antiviral activity against various viruses

The paper identifies critical antiviral residues in IFN subtypes and designs improved IFN molecules with enhanced antiviral activity against HIV and HBV.

Assessment of Immunogenicity and Efficacy of CV0501 mRNA-based Omicron COVID-19 Vaccination in Small Animal Models

This paper evaluates the immunogenicity and efficacy of a bivalent mRNA vaccine CV0501 against Omicron subvariants in animal models, showing robust neutralizing antibodies and reduced viral loads.

Peyers Patch B cells undergo cell death via neutrophil-released toxic DNA following sterile tissue injury

The paper shows that sterile tissue injury causes B cell death in Peyers patches via neutrophil-released toxic DNA, leading to tissue shrinkage and reduced secretory IgA.

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.

Low-dose bivalent mRNA vaccine is highly effective against different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a transgenic mouse model

This study shows a low-dose bivalent mRNA vaccine targeting multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants provides strong protection in mice and rats, with comparable antibody levels and reduced viral replication.

Serological screening in wild ruminants in Germany, 2021/22: No evidence of SARS-CoV-2, bluetongue virus or pestivirus spread but high seroprevalences against Schmallenberg virus

The paper serologically screens wild ruminants in Germany for SARS-CoV-2, bluetongue virus, pestivirus, and Schmallenberg virus, finding no evidence of spread but high seroprevalence against Schmallenberg virus and potential cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV-2.

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.

Optimised non-coding regions of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CV2CoV improves homogeneous and heterogenous neutralising antibody responses

This study compares two mRNA vaccines, CVnCoV and CV2CoV, showing CV2CoV induces higher neutralizing antibody titers and cross-neutralization against variants in rats.

CVnCoV protects human ACE2 transgenic mice from ancestral B BavPat1 and emerging B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2

This study evaluates the efficacy of the CVnCoV mRNA vaccine against ancestral and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in a human ACE2 transgenic mouse model, showing complete protection against B.1.351.

Experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection of bank voles - general susceptibility but lack of direct transmission

This study shows bank voles become infected with SARS-CoV-2, showing seroconversion and viral RNA, but do not transmit the virus to contact animals.

Varying trypsin inhibitor activity in differently processed soybean expellers linearly reduces prececal amino acid digestibility in broilers

This study shows that higher trypsin inhibitor activity in soybean meal reduces amino acid digestibility and growth in broiler chickens in a linear manner.

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.

3D reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets emphasizes focal infection pattern in the upper respiratory tract

This study uses 3D imaging to show SARS-CoV-2 preferentially infects the upper respiratory tract of ferrets with a focal pattern in nasal turbinates.

Multi-species ELISA for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in animals

The paper develops a multi-species ELISA to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in animals, achieving 100% specificity and 98.31% sensitivity across multiple species.

Experimental infection of cattle with SARS-CoV-2

This study infects cattle with SARS-CoV-2 and observes limited replication and sero-reactivity in some animals while in-contact animals remain uninfected.

Susceptibility of raccoon dogs for experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study shows raccoon dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can transmit it to direct contact animals, suggesting they may act as intermediate hosts.

Human neonatal B cell immunity differs from the adult version by conserved Ig repertoires and rapid, but transient response dynamics

This study shows that human cord blood B cells are mature and functional but have distinct transcriptional programs and rapid, transient response dynamics compared to adult B cells.

Age-dependent progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters

This study compares SARS-CoV-2 infection progression in young and aged Syrian hamsters, finding age-related differences in weight loss, immune response, and lung recovery.