New bioRxiv preprints
The best new bioRxiv preprints in biology, neuroscience, genetics and ecology, picked every day from everything posted. Main results in the authors' own words.
583 new papers over 3 days. Pipette read all of them; these are the 60 best, across every field.
The best of the last 3 days
Increased Demographic Turnover and Isolation Precede Social Fragmentation in Asian Elephants
Following accumulated demographic turnover, networks fractured into smaller and more isolated social communities.
PreprintClaims a big stepEasy to readA streamlined proof of concept CRISPR-based environmental biosurveillance platform for the detection of closely related invasive rats
Using Rattus exulans, R. norvegicus, and R. rattus as a challenging model of closely related invasive vertebrates, SENTINEL achieved species-specific discrimination without detectable cross-reactivity and sensitivities of 10 aM for plasmid DNA and 10 fg/uL for genomic DNA.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepReal-world useSomatic differentiation evolves rapidly and repeatedly through the modification of developmental plasticity
Our results provide the first empirical demonstration that the modification of plastic responses to the environment can drive the evolution of somatic differentiation, a key step in the evolution of a new kind of evolutionary individual.
PreprintClaims a big stepA near-complete chromosome from a bacterial pathogen integrated into the genome of its arthropod vector
In addition to numerous NUMTs and diverse families of transposable elements, an almost-complete chromosome of R. africae origin was identified in the cell line genome, localised to the putative sex chromosome.
PreprintClaims a big stepReal-world useA prefrontal cortex-hypothalamus circuit for heart rate control in non-human primates
Here, we identify a prefrontal-hypothalamic circuit that exerts powerful, bidirectional control over heart rate in monkeys.
PreprintTracking human foragers and their prey reveals adaptive predator-prey dynamics
Our results show how human foragers overcome the challenges of extracting invisible, mobile and reactive prey by tightly tuning patch-selection, patch-leaving and patch-return decisions to the distribution and behaviour of their prey.
PreprintSelf-guided search in immersive VR reveals active hierarchical planning
Consistent with our hypotheses, we found that self-guided search engaged a hierarchical information-seeking policy characterized at each stage by recurring plan-and-execute cycles paired with subgoal-specific attentional priorities.
PreprintDirect voltage imaging of peripheral axons in vivo reveals ongoing nociceptor firing in healthy mice
Thus, direct voltage imaging reveals ongoing and spatially coordinated electrical activity within intact peripheral sensory arbors.
PreprintClaims a big stepStriatal habit system drives behavioral rigidity in PTSD
Together, these results provide the first empirical evidence for the role of habits in PTSD.
PreprintClaims a big stepMicro- and nanoplastics alter electrophysiological brain patterns and reshape human neurodevelopmental trajectories
Collectively, our findings identify MNPs as potent disruptors of human neurophysiology, linking plastic exposure to altered developmental trajectories, cellular senescence, neuroinflammation, and impaired neuronal network activity, providing mechanistic insights into how plastic accumulation may contribute to impaired brain dynamics.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useControlling membrane tension by dynamic DNA nanorings
To bridge this technological gap, we present reconfigurable DNA origami rings for dynamically controlling membrane tension of sub-100 nm liposomes.
PreprintReal-world useGenome assembly of Eucalyptus recurva provides insights into inbreeding and conservation priorities in Australia's rarest Eucalyptus
Here we report the first genome assembly of E. recurva: a haplotype-resolved, gapless, telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assembly produced from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing.
PreprintReal-world useSperm AluY Epimutations in Male Partners of Couples with Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
AluY epimutation represents a previously unrecognized, predominant signature of paternal epigenetic perturbation in uRPL, establishing repetitive elements as a new axis of sperm epigenetic risk.
PreprintClaims a big stepLate-Stage Posttranslational Assembly of Fosfazinomycins
In this work, we provide the final missing steps in fosfazinomycin biosynthesis by revealing an unexpected engagement of biosynthetic machinery that is typically involved in ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs).
PreprintClaims a big stepRedox activation of ATG5 licenses autophagy upon nutrient restriction
The autophagic response to nutrient restriction is thus gated by oxidation of a single cysteine.
PreprintProtein hunger-driven nitrogen flow from phospholipids to amino acids inDrosophila
Using Drosophila, we reveal a previously undocumented nitrogen flow from phospholipids to amino acids, a process enhanced by protein deprivation.
PreprintPhysiological Group Synchrony Captures Individual Perceptions of Trust and Cohesion and Collective Performance through Multi-Channel Network Analysis
Together, these findings show that the social meaning of physiological group synchrony lies not only in how much individuals align, but in how physiological alignment is distributed across people, relationships, and biological systems.
PreprintLow-dose radiopharmaceutical therapy enhances the efficacy of B7-H3 CAR T cells in murine metastatic neuroblastoma
Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that low-dose RPT can potentiate the anti-tumor efficacy of CAR T cells in metastatic neuroblastoma.
PreprintHopeaphenol targets histidine kinase signaling across kingdoms to suppress bacterial virulence and potentiate plant immunity
Here we show that hopeaphenol (HP), a resveratrol tetramer from stilbene producing plants, acts on histidine kinase (HK) signaling on both sides of the Arabidopsis-Pseudomonas interaction.
PreprintConnectome-based biophysical modeling of a figure-ground discrimination circuit
Using Drosophila connectomics data and biophysically accurate modeling, we reveal a biological circuit implementing this canonical architecture.
PreprintClaims a big stepThe dendritic spine vicinome: characterizing its crowding in the human brain with petavoxel electron microscopy
We conclude that cortical depth, and not pyramidal neuron polarity, was related to the number of neuronal elements neighboring the spine.
PreprintClaims a big stepSatellite-gene abundance fusion reveals global hotspots of ocean ecosystem services
We reveal putative hotspots of functional diversity, net primary productivity, and carbon export.
PreprintReal-world useFirst density and abundance estimate for the only East African Population of Western bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) in Semuliki National Park, Uganda
The model estimated a population size of 56.49 individuals (SE = 7.69; 95% CI = 41.43-71.56), with an estimated density of 0.58 individuals km-2 (SE = 0.171; 95% CI = 0.32-1.09) within Semuliki National Park.
PreprintReal-world useA Community-Driven Single-Cell PBMC Reference Integrating Landmark Datasets Spanning Health and Disease
Here, we present HARP (Human Cell Atlas Reference for PBMCs), an integrated atlas of ~9 million PBMCs from >2,600 donors across 15 studies spanning four continents, encompassing diverse populations, neonates to 97 years, across health and diverse immune-related diseases.
PreprintBig-team science reveals that patterns of inhibitory control variation in teleost fishes differ from those in mammals and birds
Performance varied markedly among species, but, strikingly, showed only a weak phylogenetic signal, contrasting with patterns previously reported in mammals and birds.
PreprintA Vision-Language Model as a Teacher for Bird Vocalization Detection
We find that the student generally exceeds both the teacher and supervised models trained on human annotations and performs strongly on held-out datasets for both time-frequency and onset-offset localization.
PreprintReal-world useSomatic mutations and single-nucleus transcriptomics reveal uniquely human properties of neuronal aging
Although somatic single nucleotide variant (SNV) and short insertion/deletion (Indel) mutations accumulate at rates that inversely scale to lifespan in colon cells - leaving diverse mammals with similar end-of-life burdens of mutations - here we show that cerebral cortical neurons accumulate SNVs at annual rates that are remarkably similar across six mammalian species (human, chimpanzee, rhesus macaque, marmoset, ferret, mouse) resulting in >12-fold more mutations in human neurons at the end of life compared to mouse neurons.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyAI-Guided Multi-Objective Engineering of Glucoamylase Enables Acidification-Free Starch Saccharification
Here, we developed an artificial intelligence-guided strategy to simultaneously improve the thermostability, pH tolerance, and catalytic activity of glucoamylase from Penicillium oxalicum (PoGA).
PreprintReal-world useSpatial Transcriptomics Identifies Muscle Inflammation Susceptibility as a Distinct Periarticular Skeletal Muscle Phenotype in End-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis
Our findings provide the first spatial transcriptomic analysis of periarticular skeletal muscle in end-stage KOA and identify MuIS as a distinct local transcriptional phenotype in diseased muscle.
PreprintClaims a big stepTransposable Element insertions Repurpose Immune Endonucleases as Drivers of Reproductive Isolation in Mice
Here we resolve the DDK syndrome, a long-standing model of hybrid incompatibility in mice, by showing that two independent retrotransposon insertions rewire immune Schlafen endoribonuclease genes expression, causing hybrid embryo death.
PreprintVariability of Head Motion Reveals Development of Spatial Attention
Thus, movements unrelated to the attention goal do not reflect noise but signify attentional control across development.
PreprintEasy to readDevelopmental cold exposure increases the ability to maintain body temperature during future cold challenges in a free-living altricial bird
These results are, to our knowledge, the first to show that developmental cold exposure increases the capacity to maintain body temperature during future cold challenges in a songbird.
PreprintIsoleucine absence from adult human hemoglobin is mirrored in mosquito proteomes and limits malaria parasite growth
Here we show a proteome-wide shift to lower isoleucine usage in blood-feeding mosquitoes, mirroring the known isoleucine deficiency of adult human hemoglobin.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyAirborne Sound Detection in Manduca sexta Caterpillars
Together, these findings provide direct experimental evidence that the behavioural responses of M. sexta caterpillars to acoustic stimulation cannot be explained by sound-induced substrate vibration and instead support direct detection of airborne sound.
PreprintChemical Synthesis of Thrombostasin: An Anticoagulant Protein Produced by the Horn Fly Haematobia irritans
Here, we report the first chemical synthesis of native thrombostasin and a hepta-glutamate analogue, together with assessment of their thrombin inhibitory and anticoagulant activity.
PreprintHow sparse can a fly-brain model be? Connection strength, wiring placement, network state and task jointly determine function-preserving compression of the Drosophila connectome
These results provide a first benchmark for connectome sparsification and show that what must be kept depends on task and network state.
PreprintThe diversity, evolution, and conservation of African plants
We reveal a pronounced decoupling between DR and accumulated evolutionary history across Africa.
PreprintA Neutrophil Defensin-VDAC1 Axis Drives Steatotic Liver Disease
These findings link neutrophil innate immunity to hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction, recast host-protective HNPs as pathogenic effectors when hepatocyte mitochondria are lipid-burdened, and establish the HNP-VDAC1 axis as a therapeutic target in MASLD.
PreprintReal-world useAn integrated platform for genome-wide functional analysis in Aspergillus niger through Ac/Ds insertion profiling and metabolic modeling
Here, we establish a unified experimental and computational platform in Aspergillus niger ATCC1015 by combining curated metabolic reconstruction, Ac/Ds transposon mutagenesis and machine-learning-based essentiality prediction.
PreprintXenon improves autism-like behaviors in mice through potentiation of PVT-CeA glutamatergic neurotransmission
These findings demonstrate that Xe ameliorates ASD-like phenotypes in mouse models by modulating the PVT Glu-CeA circuit, supporting Xe as a novel potential therapy for ASD.
PreprintReal-world useAn automated machine vision-based index for Rett Syndrome provides a generalizable framework for modeling rare disease therapeutics
These results establish an objective, high-resolution severity index for RTT and a generalizable framework for preclinical phenotyping in a rare disease.
PreprintGenetic diversity and phylogeography of swine influenza A virus in 2013-2022 in Europe using a harmonized genotyping nomenclature
Application of this tool to European sequence data revealed unprecedented genetic diversity, successfully identifying 150 swIAV genotypes mixing segments of both swine and human origin.
PreprintReal-world useHistotripsy-induced vascular remodeling in the tumor microenvironment enhances local and off-target intratumoral drug delivery
These findings suggest that histotripsy not only creates a more favorable microenvironment for immunotherapy, but also optimizes drug delivery into solid tumors.
PreprintReal-world useDisrupting aberrant EGFR catalytic trimers reverses T790M gefitinib resistance
Genetically disrupting these pathological trimers into dimers via a single-point mutation rewires downstream signaling, decelerates tumor progression, and reverses gefitinib resistance in vivo.
PreprintReal-world useStandardized human tests show that most vision models are face-blind
We found that the majority 55% of models to be classified as face-blind and that even the best face-trained models do not cross the human threshold to be considered a super-recognizer.
PreprintARSA: an autonomous research scientist for target nomination in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
To address this challenge, we present ARSA, an autonomous research scientist that transforms natural-language research interests and molecular data into prioritized, evidence-grounded target shortlists.
PreprintReal-world useLoss of restriction-modification methyltransferases drives persistence to fluoroquinolones in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Deletion of HsdM selectively increases the levels of persisters that survive treatment with fluoroquinolones by displaying enhanced SOS response but without acquiring resistance.
PreprintDementia Language Models: a generalizable and controllable representation of cognitive impairment
We introduce Dementia Language Models (DLMs)--a generalizable and controllable representation of cognitive impairment through language--alongside an evaluation framework for establishing their validity and clinical grounding.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useRefractoriness-Based Masking Yields Threshold-Specific Human Auditory Nerve Responses
To overcome this, we developed a novel refractoriness-masking paradigm to non-invasively isolate threshold-specific AN fiber responses in humans.
PreprintLive-cell imaging and ultrastructure expansion microscopy reveal the dynamic intracellular life cycle of Encephalitozoon intestinalis
Here we develop a live-cell imaging technique, "silhouette microscopy", that does not rely on genetic manipulation of microsporidia, and enables us to study the live cell dynamics of E. intestinalis replication in host cells, from entry to exit.
PreprintKLHL40 gene replacement therapy in severe nemaline myopathy improves survival and skeletal muscle function in a preclinical mouse model
A single systemic administration of an AAV9 vector encoding human KLHL40 during early disease produced durable rescue of survival, skeletal muscle pathology, motor performance, and contractile function in KLHL40-deficient mice.
PreprintReal-world useA germline-specific reporter reveals conserved primordial germ cell developmental dynamics between jawless and jawed fish species
Here, we report the development of the first germline-specific reporter (GSR) in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), Tg(piwil1: egfp-UTRnanos1), a piwil1-based germline reporter that is driven by the sea lamprey piwil1 regulatory region that directs Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) expression in early PGCs.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepPredictors Recover Most of the Metagenomic Signal for Antibiotic Resistance Gene Occurrence: A Cross-City Test of Geographic Transferability in Urban Wastewater
These findings demonstrate that freely available environmental reanalysis predictors - spanning meteorological, hydrological, radiative, geospatial, and temporal domains - recover 78% of the predictive signal for antibiotic resistance gene occurrence in urban wastewater, allowing scarce sequencing capacity to be directed to the catchments where it changes a decision.
PreprintReal-world useModeling one-shot interceptions in fruit-catching fish
In a minimal setting, where launch velocity and actuated control are constants, we show that the optimal wait time is attenuated by noise in both the target measurement and control actuation, as well as agent energy conservation.
PreprintBroad interestThe chromosome level genome of the Blueberry Stem Gall Wasp, Hemadas nubilipennis (Hymenoptera: Ormyridae) on lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) reveals repeat-driven expansion
Given that (a) the biology has been characterized primarily from natural lowbush-associated populations, (b) the absence of genomic resources limits comparative analyses, and (c) populations on cultivated highbush represent a recent host shift, we generated the first chromosome-level genome from wild lowbush blueberry.
PreprintSystemic iron sequestration restricts the intratumoral CD8+ T cell landscape in pancreas cancer
These findings establish a direct link between hepcidin-mediated iron sequestration and tumoral immunity and nominate systemic iron dysregulation as a therapeutic target to enhance anti-tumoral CD8+ T cell responses.
PreprintReal-world useMultimodal imaging maps spinal glymphatic transport in health and its disruption after injury
These findings define major determinants of spinal glymphatic transport and show that accelerated tracer propagation after SCI does not indicate effective clearance.
PreprintConvergent evolutionary loss of chemosensory and blood-feeding pathways in non-blood-feeding mosquitoes
Together, these findings identify a compact set of genes, expression patterns, and brain regions associated with blood feeding, offering an evolutionary entry point for functional dissection of how this complex and dangerous trait is built and dismantled.
PreprintSpatiotemporal dynamics and stability of multi-kingdom microbial communities in hospital sinks acting as persistent pathogen reservoirs
Together, these findings identify hospital sink drains as persistent and structured multi-kingdom microbial reservoirs that harbor clinically relevant multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
PreprintReal-world useDecoding subtype development and function in human pluripotent stem cell-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons
Here we establish a strategy to derive substantia nigra (A9) and ventral tegmental area (A10) mDA neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs).
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