K. Watanabe

Can Colpoda travel across oceans? Salinity tolerance of resting cysts may enable global dispersal of the species.

The study investigates whether Colpoda cucullus resting cysts can tolerate saline conditions, suggesting a mechanism for oceanic dispersal of freshwater protists.

Rapid propagation of Ca2+ waves and electrical signals in a liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

This study shows that the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha propagates Ca2+ waves and electrical signals rapidly in response to wounding, similar to vascular plants, involving GLR channels.

Does larval ability to modulate body buoyancy explain successful colonization of freshwater environments by diadromous gobies?

The study tests whether larval buoyancy modulation ability explains freshwater colonization success in diadromous gobies, finding all three species can modulate body SG similarly.

Possibilities of skin coat color-dependent risks and risk factors of squamous cell carcinoma and deafness of domestic cats inferred via RNA-seq data

The paper analyzes RNA-seq data from domestic cats with different coat colors to explore links between coat color-related gene expression and risks of squamous cell carcinoma and deafness.

Comparison of eDNA, bulk-sample metabarcoding, and morphological approaches: A case study of riverine benthic macroinvertebrate communities

This study compares eDNA, bulk-sample metabarcoding, and morphological methods for assessing riverine benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity, finding bulk-sample metabarcoding provides finer taxonomic resolution.

Engineering a highly durable adeno-associated virus receptor for analytical applications

The paper engineers a durable AAV receptor for analyzing AAV-AAVR interactions, showing diverse binding affinities among AAV serotypes and enabling quality checks and purification of AAV vectors.

High-resolution fecal pharmacokinetic modeling in mice with orally administered antibiotics

This study develops a high-resolution fecal pharmacokinetic model in mice to analyze antibiotic concentrations and inter-individual variability.

Discovery of prevalent natural Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines using locally designed primers: bacterial density is influenced by strain and host sex

The paper screens for Wolbachia density in Aedes aegypti from Metropolitan Manila using locally designed primers, finding higher densities in males and a unique strain wAegML with lower density than other strains.

Pulsed stimulated Brillouin microscopy enables high-sensitivity mechanical imaging of live and fragile biological specimens

This paper introduces pulsed stimulated Brillouin microscopy to improve mechanical imaging of live biological specimens with reduced phototoxicity and enhanced signal-to-background ratio.

The influence of river discharge on gravel bar hyporheic microbial community structure and putative metabolic functions.

This study examines how river discharge affects microbial community structure and metabolic functions in hyporheic zones of gravel bars.

Sodium ion regulates liquidity of biomolecular condensates in hyperosmotic stress response

This study shows that sodium ion influx regulates biomolecular condensate liquidity during hyperosmotic stress, with TRPM4 mediating Na+ entry and affecting condensate phase transitions.

Differences in the genetic structure between and within two landlocked Ayu groups with different migration patterns in Lake Biwa revealed by environmental DNA analysis

This study uses environmental DNA analysis to reveal genetic differences between two landlocked Ayu groups in Lake Biwa based on migration patterns and geographical distance.

Highly concentrated trehalose induces transient senescence-associated secretory phenotype in fibroblasts via CDKN1A/p21

High-concentration trehalose induces a beneficial senescence-associated secretory phenotype in fibroblasts via CDKN1A/p21, enhancing wound repair in mice.

Stress-dependent cell stiffening by tardigrade tolerance proteins through reversible formation of cytoskeleton-like filamentous network and gel-transition

This study identifies CAHS proteins as stress-dependent cytoskeletal-like proteins that form reversible filaments and gels to enhance cell stiffness and dehydration resistance in tardigrades.

Haplotype-level metabarcoding of freshwater macroinvertebrate species: a prospective tool for population genetic analysis

This study evaluates DNA metabarcoding's ability to infer haplotypes from freshwater macroinvertebrates using mock samples, showing promise for population genetic analysis but highlighting methodological challenges.

Computational capability of ecological dynamics

This paper demonstrates that ecological networks can function as computational resources, introducing 'Ecological Reservoir Computing' to predict future dynamics and emulate nonlinear systems.

Implications of taxonomic and numerical resolution on DNA metabarcoding-based inference of benthic macroinvertebrate responses to river restoration

This study evaluates how different taxonomic and numerical resolutions in DNA metabarcoding affect the assessment of benthic macroinvertebrate communities compared to morphology-based methods.

Detection and phylogeny of Wolbachia in field-collected Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti from Manila City, Philippines

The paper detects Wolbachia in field-collected Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti using wsp and 16S markers, finding higher prevalence in Ae. albopictus than Ae. aegypti.

Microtubule inhibitors identified through non-biased screening enhance DNA transfection efficiency by delaying p62-dependent ubiquitin recruitment

Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide E. coli-induced acute lung injury by extracted Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng fruits as compared to Fluticasone Propionate, a corticosteroid

This study shows that Bignay fruit extract reduces LPS-induced ALI in mice, comparable to Fluticasone Propionate, by decreasing inflammatory biomarkers and vascular leakage.

Spatial and phylogenetic structure of Alpine stonefly community assemblages across seven habitats using DNA-species

This study examines how habitat heterogeneity affects the spatial and phylogenetic structure of Alpine stonefly communities across seven habitats.

Molecular basis for two stereoselective Diels-Alderases that produce decalin skeletons

This study determines the molecular mechanisms of two Diels-Alderases that produce enantiomeric decalin scaffolds through structural and computational analyses.

Centriole and PCM cooperatively recruit CEP192 to spindle poles to promote bipolar spindle assembly

This study shows that centrioles and PCM cooperatively recruit CEP192 to spindle poles, promoting bipolar spindle formation in human cells.

Sediment-associated microbial community profiling: sample pre-processing through sequential membrane filtration for 16s rDNA amplicon sequencing

This study evaluates the impact of sequential membrane filtration on 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing of sediment-associated microbes, finding comparable microbial diversity and community composition between processed and non-processed samples.

Polygamous breeding system identified in the distylous genus Psychotria: P. manillensis in the Ryukyu archipelago, Japan

The paper identifies a polygamous breeding system in Psychotria manillensis, including monoecious, female, male, and hermaphroditic individuals, marking the first such report in distylous species.

Wing Geometry and Genetic Analyses Reveal Contrasting Spatial Structures between Male and Female Aedes aegypti Populations in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines

This study compares genetic and phenotypic population structures of male and female Aedes aegypti in Metropolitan Manila, finding greater spatial structuring in males than females.

Dengue Disease Dynamics are Modulated by the Combined Influence of Precipitation and Landscapes: A Machine Learning-based Approach

This study uses machine learning to show that precipitation and landscape factors together influence mosquito occurrence and dengue incidence in Metro Manila.

DONSON, a gene responsible for microcephalic primordial dwarfism, ensures proper centriole duplication cycle by maintaining centriole engagement during interphase.

This study shows that DONSON regulates centriole duplication by maintaining centriole engagement during interphase, and its loss causes centrosome overduplication and chromosome segregation errors in MPD patient cells.

Cep57 and Cep57L1 cooperatively maintain centriole engagement during interphase to ensure proper centriole duplication cycle

This study shows that Cep57 and Cep57L1 work together to keep centrioles engaged during interphase, preventing premature disengagement and ensuring proper centriole duplication and chromosome segregation.

Cells recognize osmotic stress through liquid-liquid phase separation lubricated with poly(ADP-ribose)

The paper identifies poly(ADP-ribose) as a regulator of ASK3 phase separation, enabling osmotic stress recognition and cell volume regulation.