Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising drug carriers for targeted therapies, diagnostic imaging and advanced vaccines. However, their clinical translation is limited by complex biological barriers that reduce cellular uptake and efficacy. Specifically, the interaction with the cellular membrane controls nanoparticle adhesion, wrapping or full engulfment, which ultimately govern nanoparticle internalization efficiency. Flexible nanocarriers (e.g. liposomes, polymeric, […]
Spatiotemporal regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis at cellular resolution
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis develops through successive colonization of root epidermal and cortical cells, culminating in the formation of arbuscules, tree-like intracellular structures that are transient yet essential sites of nutrient exchange. To dissect the cellular and structural complexity of AM establishment in rice roots colonized by Rhizophagus irregularis, we applied dual-species spatial transcriptomics to […]
Forecasting bryozoan assemblage dynamics under simulated climate change
The shallow Antarctic continental shelf experiences strong physical disturbances in the form of ice-scour which play a key role in maintaining biodiversity. Due to climate change, both the extent and duration of sea ice cover is expected to rapidly decline, leading to complex shifts in disturbance regimes with unknown impacts on successional dynamics and biodiversity […]
Characterization of genetically novel chimeric plasmids from Salmonella Heidelberg conferring multi-drug resistance and increased pathogenicity
Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg (S. Heidelberg) is a significant cause of human salmonellosis, with resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins posing challenges for clinical management. In this study, we genetically and functionally characterized six plasmids isolated from distinct PFGE-types of S. Heidelberg previously reported in The Netherlands, revealing a chimeric IncC-I1a plasmid that shares similarities with the […]
Split-luciferin Assay for Real-time Measurement of Cytosolic Drug Accumulation in Live Mycobacteria
Tuberculosis causes over one million deaths annually and remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The emergence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains highlights the urgent need for new antibiotics, a pursuit hindered by their complex cell envelope. As most anti-tuberculosis agents act on intracellular targets, assessing cytosolic drug accumulation is critical. […]
An Application for Automated Drosophila Locomotor Assay with Integrated Device Design and Computer Vision Tracking
Drosophila has long served as a powerful model for investigating locomotor behavior, and geotaxis assays have generated valuable insights into genetics, aging, and neurobiology. Nonetheless, their use can be constrained by subjective scoring, modest throughput, and challenges in reproducibility. To complement and extend these classical approaches, we developed and validated an integrated hardware-software platform that […]
Fission yeast histone chaperone Rtt106 regulates histone levels, prevents early division, and promotes genome stability
Chromatin packaging influences gene expression and is linked to genome stability through the establishment and maintenance of histone modifications. Histone chaperone proteins regulate chromatin assembly and thus packaging. We tested how loss of the histone chaperone Rtt106 affects genome stability through cell cycle checkpoint stability in response to cellular stress. We tested how double mutants […]
A genomic atlas of the human gut virome elucidates genetic factors shaping host interactions
Viruses are key modulators of human gut microbiome composition and function. While metagenomic sequencing has enabled culture-independent discovery of gut bacteriophage diversity, existing genomic catalogues suffer from limited geographic representation, sparse taxonomic classification, and insufficient functional annotation, hindering detailed investigation into phage biology. Here, we present the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Virome (UHGV), a collection of […]
Detection dog performance state estimation from pre-stimulus video and physiological signals using deep learning and Bayesian inference
Detection dogs play a critical role in operational settings ranging from explosives detection to medical diagnostics. Their unmatched olfactory capabilities allow them to locate trace-level targets that remain beyond the reach of current technology. However, detection performance can decline without overt behavioral signs, posing a challenge for timely and informed deployment decisions. Identifying subtle precursors […]
Studying macromolecular composition in cell-cell interfaces using 3D membrane reconstitution systems
During direct communication between two cells, the plasma membranes of each cell serve as a platform for ligand-receptor interaction initiating downstream signalling cascades. In immune cell signalling, this cell-cell interface – the immune synapse – is highly spatiotemporally organized. Multiple stimulatory and co-stimulatory signals need to be integrated over time to ensure proper immune cell […]