D. Sheppard

Structural and functional analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PelA provides insight into the modification of the Pel exopolysaccharide

This study determines the structure of PelA and shows it modifies Pel through deacetylation and hydrolysis, with PelAB interaction enhancing deacetylation and guiding export.

Dynamic fibroblast-immune interactions shape wound healing after brain injury

This study identifies dynamic fibroblast-immune interactions that regulate CNS wound healing and neuroinflammation after brain injury.

Impaired Myofibroblast Proliferation is a Central Feature of Pathologic Post-Natal Alveolar Simplification

This study identifies impaired myofibroblast proliferation as a central feature of alveolar simplification in BPD using single-cell RNA sequencing and pharmacologic approaches.

Myeloid-mesenchymal crosstalk drives Arg1-dependent profibrotic metabolism via ornithine in lung fibrosis

The paper identifies a myeloid-mesenchymal crosstalk pathway involving Arg1 and ornithine that drives profibrotic metabolism in lung fibrosis.

CD56-mediated activation of human natural killer cells is triggered by Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan

This study identifies galactosaminogalactan as the fungal ligand for CD56 on human NK cells, triggering antifungal responses and immune cell activation.

Radial glia promote microglial development through integrin aVb8 -TGFb1 signaling

This study shows radial glia use integrin aVb8-TGFb1 signaling to promote microglial development, with disruptions causing dysmature microglia and neuromotor symptoms.

Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies are a novel predictive biomarker in ulcerative colitis

This study identifies anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies as a predictive biomarker for ulcerative colitis, showing they precede diagnosis by up to 10 years and correlate with adverse outcomes.

Tracing the origin of pathologic pulmonary fibroblasts

The paper identifies alveolar fibroblasts as the main source of fibroblast subsets involved in lung fibrosis and shows their lineage progression using mouse models and human scRNA-seq data.

Full structure/function analysis of all the pilin subunits in a type 4 pilus: a complex of minor pilins in Streptococcus sanguinis mediates binding to glycans

The paper determines the structures and functions of minor pilins in Streptococcus sanguinis T4P, showing they form a tip complex that mediates adhesion to host glycans.

Identification of Serum Bridging Molecules that Mediate Human Endothelial Cell Invasion by Candida species

This paper identifies serum proteins that mediate endothelial cell invasion by non-C. albicans Candida species through bridging molecule-mediated endocytosis.

IRE1α drives lung epithelial progenitor dysfunction to establish a niche for pulmonary fibrosis

This study shows that IRE1α inhibition reduces ER stress and TGFβ signaling in lung epithelial cells, decreasing fibrosis by targeting damage-associated progenitors.

An Alanine Aminotransferase is Required for Polysaccharide Regulation and Resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus Biofilms to Echinocandin Treatment

This study shows that alanine aminotransferase AlaA is essential for A. fumigatus biofilm formation and resistance to echinocandin antifungals, with its inhibition increasing drug susceptibility.

PilB from Streptococcus sanguinis is a bimodular type IV pilin with a direct role in adhesion

This study identifies PilB from Streptococcus sanguinis as a bimodular type IV pilin with a metal-binding vWA domain that enhances adhesion and twitching motility.

Integrin αvβ8 on T cells is responsible for suppression of anti-tumor immunity in multiple syngeneic models and is a promising target for tumor immunotherapy

This study shows that blocking integrin αvβ8 on T cells enhances anti-tumor immunity in multiple syngeneic models and is effective even when tumor cells do not express the integrin.

The major subunit of widespread competence pili exhibits a novel and conserved type IV pilin fold

The paper reports the structural and phylogenetic analysis of ComGC, a major pilin subunit of competence pili, revealing a novel and conserved type IV pilin fold across multiple bacterial species.

Gli1+ mesenchymal stromal cells modulate epithelial metaplasia in lung fibrosis

This study shows Gli1+ mesenchymal stromal cells drive metaplastic differentiation of airway progenitors into KRT5+ basal cells in fibrosis by modulating BMP activation through hedgehog signaling.

Broadly Conserved Roles of TMEM-131 Family Proteins in Intracellular Collagen Assembly and Secretory Cargo Trafficking

This study identifies TMEM-131 family proteins as conserved regulators of collagen assembly and secretion across species, showing their role in ER stress and collagen production.