S. Johnston

Exploring the role of E. faecalis Enterococcal Polysaccharide Antigen (EPA) and lipoproteins in evasion of phagocytosis

This study develops an in vitro assay to investigate how EPA decorations on E. faecalis affect phagocytosis, showing that decoration deletion increases phagocytosis and that lipoproteins are not involved.

AMHY and sex determination in egg-laying mammals

This study identifies AMHY as the primary male sex determination gene in monotremes by analyzing its expression and function during sexual differentiation.

Increased HIF-2α Activity in the Nucleus Pulposus Causes Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in the Aging Mouse Spine

This study shows that increased HIF-2α activity in nucleus pulposus cells accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration in aging mice.

Ageing-related defects in macrophage function are driven by MYC and USF1 transcriptional programmes

This study identifies MYC and USF1 as key drivers of age-related functional decline in human macrophages, showing their role in phagocytosis, migration, and morphology.

Candida albicans cells lacking AP-2 have defective hyphae and are avirulent despite increased host uptake and intracellular proliferation in macrophages

IL-33-induced neutrophilic inflammation and NETosis underlie rhinovirus-triggered exacerbations of asthma

This study identifies IL-33 as a key driver of neutrophilic inflammation and NETosis in rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations, showing that blocking IL-33 reduces exacerbation severity.

Rapid genomic expansion and purging associated with habitat transitions in a clade of beach crustaceans (Haustoriidae: Amphipoda)

This study examines genome size variation in a clade of amphipods, finding a 6-fold variation linked to body length and LINE element expansions, with evidence of genomic purging in lineages adapting to brackish waters.

IP3R activity increases frequency of RyR-mediated sparks by elevating dyadic Ca2+

The paper develops a mathematical model to show IP3R activity increases Ca2+ sparks by raising dyadic Ca2+ levels, which sensitizes RyRs but reduces JSR Ca2+ availability.

An in vitro model to study the naive human peripheral blood mononuclear cell response to Cryptococcus neoformans infection

This study uses an in vitro model to examine how naive human PBMCs interact with Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing aggregate formation and cryptococcal replication dynamics.

Blood vessel occlusion by Cryptococcus neoformans is a mechanism for hemorrhagic dissemination of infection

The paper investigates how Cryptococcus neoformans causes vessel damage and dissemination in zebrafish, finding that vascular growth and stiffness increase dissemination events.

The multiplicity of infection does not affect interactions between Cryptococcus neoformans and macrophages

This study shows that varying fungal burden does not affect macrophage interactions with Cryptococcus neoformans, suggesting that individual cell interactions are not influenced by pathogen density.

Individual variation of the masticatory system dominates 3D skull shape in the herbivory-adapted marsupial wombats

This study shows that individual variation in the masticatory system dominates 3D skull shape in wombats, challenging the idea that allometry primarily drives shape variation in marsupials.

15-keto-prostaglandin E2 activates host peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) to promote Cryptococcus neoformans growth during infection.

The impact of short- and long-range perception on population movements

The paper models population movement based on short- and long-range perception, showing nonlocal responses can filter landscape noise and improve accumulation at hilltopping locations.

Co-operation, competition and crowding: a discrete framework linking Allee kinetics, nonlinear diffusion, shocks and sharp-fronted travelling waves

The paper develops a discrete model of invasion processes with different birth, death, and movement rates for individuals in or out of the bulk population, showing shock-fronted travelling waves under strong Allee effect and nonlinear diffusion.