This press release contains:
Summaries of newsworthy papers:
Evolution: Jurassic walk in the park
Infectious disease: Fungal threat to bat populations
Astronomy: Clearing up the components of stellar dust
Immunology: Gut microbiota in autoimmune disease
Genomics: Roundworm sequence aids anti-parasitic strategies
Quantum physics: Making light work of solid-state control
Bio-inorganic chemistry: Oxidizing with iron
And finally... Pluto’s colder twin
Mention of papers to be published at the same time
Geographical listing of authors
The Nature journals press site is at http://press.nature.com
PDFs for the Articles, Letters, Progress articles, Review articles, Insights and Brief Communications in this issue will be available on the Nature journals press site from 1400 London time / 0900 US Eastern Time on the Friday before publication.
PDFs of News & Views, News Features, Correspondence and Commentaries will be available from 1400 London time / 0900 US Eastern Time on the Monday before publication
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[1] Evolution: Jurassic walk in the park (AOP)
DOI: 10.1038/nature10570
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
Evidence to suggest that large, herbivorous dinosaurs undertook seasonal migrations over hundreds of kilometres is presented in Nature this week.
Whether dinosaurs migrated has been difficult to prove; predicting the behaviour of prehistoric creatures is tricky, but analysing the composition of their fossils can provide clues about the environment they lived in. Henry Fricke and colleagues use this method to better understand the movements of sauropods — the largest animals ever to have lived on land — in western North America. Comparing stable isotope ratios in the teeth to those of ancient soil samples indicates that some of the dinosaurs migrated around 300 kilometres from lowland to highland environments. The variation in stable isotopes found in the teeth suggests that this movement was seasonal.
An understanding of the movements of sauropods may uncover the role that migration had in the ecology and evolution of gigantism of these and associated dinosaurs, the authors conclude.
CONTACT
Henry Fricke (Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, USA)
Tel: +1 719 389 6514; E-mail: [email protected]
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[2] Infectious disease: Fungal threat to bat populations (AOP)
DOI: 10.1038/nature10590
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
The cause of a disease that has the potential to devastate North American bat populations and even cause species extinctions is clarified in Nature this week. A fungus associated with white-nose syndrome (WNS) is identified as the causal agent of this disease. Elucidating the source of WNS may provide a basis for developing management approaches to protect bat populations against the threat posed by this devastating infectious disease.
WNS has caused widespread declines of hibernating bat populations in eastern North America. Although the fungus Geomyces destructans is associated with the disease, other factors have been suggested as alternative causes. David Blehert and colleagues demonstrate that exposure to G. destructans causes WNS in little brown bats, in the absence of underlying health conditions, and that the fungus can be transmitted between animals. Identifying the underlying causes of WNS will enable future research efforts to focus on mitigating the effects before bat populations suffer losses beyond the point of recovery, the authors conclude.
CONTACT
David Blehert (U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA)
Tel: +1 608 270 2466; E-mail: [email protected]
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[3] Astronomy: Clearing up the components of stellar dust (AOP)
DOI: 10.1038/nature10542
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
The composition of features attributed to unidentified infrared emissions (UIEs) observed in a range of galactic environments may be more complex than previously thought. The carriers of these UIEs may consist of a mixture of components with structures similar to those of materials found in meteorites, according to a report in Nature this week.
Some features of the UIE bands at wavelengths of 3–20 micrometres are commonly attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. Although over 160 molecules have been identified in the circumstellar and interstellar environments, no PAH molecules have yet been observed in astronomical spectra. In an analysis of archival spectroscopic observations, Sun Kwok and Yong Zhang demonstrate that the UIE carrier is not a pure or predominantly aromatic compound, thereby challenging the PAH hypothesis. Their findings indicate that the features of the UIE carriers are most consistent with amorphous organic solids with a mixed aliphatic and aromatic structure.
The make-up of the UIE cloud is similar to organic matter in meteorites, which suggests that the Solar System may have inherited these organics from interstellar sources, the authors note.
CONTACT
Sun Kwok (The University of Hong Kong, China)
Tel: +852 2859 2682; E-mail: [email protected]
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[4] Immunology: Gut microbiota in autoimmune disease (AOP)
DOI: 10.1038/nature10554
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
Commensal gut flora are required for initiating immune processes in a mouse model for spontaneous relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research in Nature this week.
Environmental factors such as microbial infection are thought to contribute towards the activation of immune cells that leads to the production of lesions associated with MS. However, following the observation of a demyelinating disease similar to human MS spontaneously developing in mice in a pathogen-free environment, Gurumoorthy Krishnamoorthy and colleagues consider other contributing factors. They find that an intact commensal gut flora, not pathogenic microbes, is essential to trigger the demyelinating autoimmune disease. Moreover, they show that recruitment and activation of pathogenic immune cells depends on availability of the target autoantigen and commensal microbiota.
Identifying the composition of intestinal microbiota associated with an increased susceptibility to MS could provide a platform for exploring new, non-invasive treatment strategies, the authors propose.
CONTACT
Gurumoorthy Krishnamoorthy (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany)
Tel: +49 89 8578 3558; E-mail: [email protected]
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[5] Genomics: Roundworm sequence aids anti-parasitic strategies (AOP)
DOI: 10.1038/nature10553
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
The genome sequence of the parasitic roundworm Ascaris suum, which infects around 1.2 billion people worldwide, is published in Nature this week. This work paves the way for the design of new methods for the treatment and control of this and other parasitic nematodes.
Diseases caused by parasitic roundworms result in ~135,000 deaths annually and new interventions are urgently needed. To study the relationships between the common roundworm, A. suum, and its host at the molecular level, Aaron Jex and co-workers sequenced its genome. Analyses identify numerous genes that encode peptidases linked to the penetration and degradation of host tissues, as well as molecules that are likely to modulate or evade host immune responses. Notably the researchers identify druggable targets in this genome, providing a platform for rational drug design aimed at controlling this parasitic nematode.
The availability of this genome sequence provides a platform for the development of new therapeutic interventions, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests against A. suum and other nematode infections.
CONTACT
Aaron Jex (University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia)
Tel: +61 3 9731 2294; E-mail: [email protected]
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[6] Quantum physics: Making light work of solid-state control (pp 497-501)
Optical techniques used to control quantum states of isolated atoms and ions can also be used to monitor and control quantum dynamics in the solid state. Potential applications of the approach range from ultrasensitive magnetic field detection to quantum feedback control of solid-state qubits. The methods are described in Nature this week.
Control over quantum dynamics of open systems is one of the major challenges in quantum science and engineering. Coherent optical techniques have been used for various processes involving atoms and ions. Mikhail Lukin and colleagues demonstrate that these methods can also achieve optical cooling, real-time projective measurement and control of the nuclear spin ensemble surrounding an electronic spin qubit in the solid state. Enabling the control of nuclear spins may eventually lead to new approaches for quantum information storage and processing, the authors note.
CONTACT
Mikhail Lukin (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA)
Tel: +1 617 495 2862; E-mail: [email protected]
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[7] Bio-inorganic chemistry: Oxidizing with iron (pp 502-505)
The generation and characterization of three synthetic iron complexes that could have biologically important implications are described in Nature this week.
Enzymes that contain transition metal ions in their active sites are capable of catalysing challenging chemical reactions. For example, cytochrome P450 oxidases contain an iron atom that facilitates the oxidation of small organic molecules, metabolizing many pharmaceutical agents. Wonwoo Nam and colleagues synthesize and characterize three iron- and oxygen-containing small molecules that they believe resemble the transient intermediates of iron-containing oxidases. The authors obtain the first high-resolution crystal structure of a 'side-on' iron(iii)–peroxo complex. Reactivity studies demonstrate that iron(iii)–hydroperoxo species, which are believed to be the active oxidizing agents in some cytochrome P450-catalysed reactions, are capable of acting as oxidants in both nucleophilic and electrophilic chemical transformations.
Oxygen-containing mononuclear iron species — iron(iii)–peroxo, iron(iii)–hydroperoxo and iron(iv)–oxo species — are believed to be key intermediates in the catalytic activation of dioxygen by many iron-containing metalloenzymes, but studying their structures and reactivities has been challenging.
CONTACT
Wonwoo Nam (Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea)
Tel: +82 232 772 392; E-mail: [email protected]
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[8] And finally... Pluto’s colder twin (pp 493-496; N&V)
A rare occultation event, when the dwarf planet Eris crosses in front of a distant star, provides a means of determining Eris’ size and improving our understanding of the planet. Observations of such an event reported in Nature this week suggest that Eris’ radius is similar to Pluto’s and uncover the possible reason for its bright surface.
Eris orbits our Sun at a distance up to three times greater than that of Pluto. Owing to this great distance, measuring its size or detecting a putative atmosphere is difficult. Following the detection of a stellar occultation by Eris in November 2010, Bruno Sicardy and colleagues obtain a radius measurement of around 1,163 kilometres; this measurement is comparable to Pluto's estimated radius of 1,150 to 1,200 kilometres. The observations support previous predictions of a close to spherical shape for Eris. Moreover, the authors suggest that Eris’ bright surface may be caused by a collapsed atmosphere, frozen by its cold environment.
The authors suggest that Eris might develop an atmosphere similar to that of Pluto as it orbits closer to the Sun. However, detailed models are required to confirm this scenario, they conclude.
CONTACT
Bruno Sicardy (Université Pierre et Marie Curie and Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France)
Tel: +33 1 45 07 71 15; E-mail: [email protected]
Amanda Gulbis (Southern African Large Telescope and South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa) N&V author. E-mail: [email protected]
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[9] Spatio-temporal transcriptome of the human brain (pp 483-489)
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[10] Temporal dynamics and genetic control of transcription in the human prefrontal cortex (pp 519-523)
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[11] Saccharomyces cerevisiae THI4p is a suicide thiamine thiazole synthase (pp 542-546; N&V)
ADVANCE ONLINE PUBLICATION
*** This paper will be published electronically on Nature's website on 26 October at 1800 London time / 1300 US Eastern Time (which is also when the embargo lifts) as part of our AOP (ahead of print) programme. Although we have included it on this release to avoid multiple mailings it will not appear in print on 27 October, but at a later date. ***
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[12] Resolving the evolutionary relationships of molluscs with phylogenomic tools
DOI: 10.1038/nature10526
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GEOGRAPHICAL LISTING OF AUTHORS…
The following list of places refers to the whereabouts of authors on the papers numbered in this release. For example, London: 4 - this means that on paper number four, there will be at least one author affiliated to an institute or company in London. The listing may be for an author's main affiliation, or for a place where they are working temporarily. Please see the PDF of the paper for full details.
ARGENTINA
San Juan: 8
AUSTRALIA
Parkville: 5
Sydney: 5, 12
BELGIUM
Ghent: 5
Liège: 8
BRAZIL
Belo Horizonte: 8
Fortaleza: 8
Ponta Grossa: 8
Rio de Janeiro: 8
São José dos Campos: 8
CANADA
Toronto: 5
CHILE
San Pedro de Atacama: 8
CHINA
Hong Kong: 3
Shenzhen: 5
CROATIA
Zagreb: 9
DENMARK
Copenhagen: 5
FRANCE
Meudon: 8
Paris: 8
GERMANY
Berlin: 8
Freiburg: 4
Göttingen: 9
Heidelberg: 12
Martinsried: 4
ITALY
Firenze: 8
KOREA
Seoul: 7
MEXICO
Ensenada: 8
Mexico City: 8
PORTUGAL
Porto: 9
SPAIN
Almería: 8
Bellaterra: 8
Granada: 8
Huelva: 8
Ibiza: 8
Lanzarote: 8
Madrid: 8
Málaga: 8
Murcia: 8
Paterna: 8
Seva: 8
Tenerife: 8
Toledo: 8
SWITZERLAND
Sauverny: 8
UNITED KINGDOM
Birkenhead: 8
Erpingham: 8
Newcastle upon Tyne: 9
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
California
La Jolla: 11, 12
Los Angeles: 7
Menlo Park: 7
Pasadena: 5
Stanford: 7
Colorado
Colorado Springs: 1
Fort Collins: 2
Connecticut
New Haven: 9
Illinois
Chicago: 1
Massachusetts
Cambridge: 6, 12
Hadley: 2
Maryland
Baltimore: 9, 10
Bethesda: 9, 10
Michigan
Ann Arbor: 7
New York
Albany: 2
Ithaca: 11
Pennsylvania
Lewisburg: 2
Rhode Island
Providence: 12
Tennessee
Knoxville: 2
Texas
College Station: 11
Virginia
Richmond: 9
Wisconsin
Madison: 2
PRESS CONTACTS…
From North America and Canada
Neda Afsarmanesh, Nature New York
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From Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and Taiwan
Mika Nakano, Nature Tokyo
Tel: +81 3 3267 8751; E-mail: [email protected]
From the UK
Rebecca Walton, Nature, London
Tel: +44 20 7843 4502; E-mail: [email protected]
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