Meng Li

The paper identifies millions of self-cleaving ribozymes in humans and other species, revealing a much larger ribozyme-ome than previously thought and their potential roles in gene regulation and biotechnology.

This study characterizes Asgard archaeal primases, showing they fall into two groups with distinct phylogenetic and functional features, supporting the hypothesis that Asgard archaea are the origin of Eukarya.

The paper identifies archaeal microcompartments in Hodarchaeales, showing they enhance energy production and may have contributed to eukaryogenesis.

This study shows that some Asgard archaea use terminal oxidase and globin for oxygen adaptation, suggesting ancient oxygen tolerance and potential role in eukaryogenesis.

This study identifies NAD-jumbo phages, which synthesize and utilize NAD+ for their life cycle, and finds they are widespread in various ecosystems.

This study systematically analyzes 132 antiviral defense systems across 212,599 prokaryotic genomes, revealing their diversity and distribution among bacteria, archaea, and viruses.

This study designs antibodies targeting the LILRB1 receptor's D1D2 domain to block RIFIN-mediated immune evasion in malaria parasites, enhancing NK cell activity.

This paper reconstructs the evolution of ESCRT systems in archaea, identifying homologs in Asgardarchaeota and other groups, suggesting an early origin of ESCRT components and their connection to the ubiquitin system.

The paper identifies a new Asgard archaea phylum, Hermodarchaeota, capable of degrading alkanes and aromatics via alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthase and benzoyl-CoA pathway in anaerobic sediments.

The paper expands the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of Asgard archaea and suggests eukaryotes may have originated from an unknown ancestral lineage outside extant archaea.

This study identifies 13 Asgard archaeal subgroups, reveals their widespread distribution in anaerobic environments, and provides evidence of their transcriptionally active mixotrophic lifestyle.