Nature Communications

A groundbreaking study led by a global research consortium offers new hope for patients with mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease. Researchers using an insect model and transcriptome analysis have unravelled the mechanism of iron regulation between host tissue and the mycetoma grain, a fungal mass characteristic of the disease. This discovery illuminates how the causative fungus invades and develops these protective grains within subcutaneous tissue, paving the way for new drug development and less invasive treatment strategies beyond surgical removal, potentially reducing the burden on patients significantly.

How halogens uncover the hidden history of lunar crust formation and the striking lunar surface dichotomy.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University observe and model how the enzyme ADAR1 interacts with double-stranded RNA, which may be useful for future cancer treatment strategies.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found that EGR1-expressing CD14+ monocytes and CD8+ T cells with a type II interferon signature are associated with scleroderma renal crisis and interstitial lung disease, respectively, in patients with systemic sclerosis. Understanding the specific immune cell abnormalities underlying different clinical manifestations of the disease could help predict and prevent serious complications.

Deep-brain imaging in awake mice reveals how light resets the circadian clock by activating complex SCN neuron networks.

Jellyfish cyborgs may sound like something straight out of science fiction. But harnessing jellyfishes’ natural locomotion provides an efficient and environmentally-friendly means to monitor coral reefs, track oil spills or observe climate change. Now, a team from Tohoku University’s Department of Robotics has successfully modulated the swimming behavior of jellyfish using gentle electric pulses and generated a means of measuring it via AI. In doing so, they have created a gentle way to harness the powerful swimming mechanisms of jellyfish.

Prof. Chii-Shen Yang’s team at National Taiwan University resolved the molecular structure and discovered that HwMR, a light-sensing protein in H. walsbyi, transports magnesium ions using key residues, helping microbes survive extreme conditions.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found that the Wnt5a protein, secreted by inflammatory fibroblasts within cancerous tumors, inhibits angiogenesis and consequently promotes hypoxia within tumors. Hypoxic conditions help sustain the inflammatory fibroblasts, which also secrete the growth factor epiregulin, thereby promoting tumor growth. This newly proposed mechanism for tumor growth offers a promising new target for cancer therapies and possibly other conditions linked to inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

The rules about magnetic order may need to be rewritten. An international team of researchers found that it was possible to turn a non-magnetic material into a magnetic material by slicing it into thin films.

Researchers from The University of Osaka discover that specific white blood cells and the amount of an inflammation protein in the blood can predict relapse of an autoimmune blood vessel disease.

An analysis of satellite imagery of major river systems in the Philippines has revealed surprising insights into how rivers behave, with significant implications for river management in tropical settings.

Graph neural networks with uncertainty quantification enable reliable exploration of vast chemical spaces for material and drug discovery.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in "Nature Communications" how the targeted suppression of lysosome function may lead to brain cancer therapy.

Understanding this molecular arms race between viruses and plant defenses is essential for developing innovative disease-resistance strategies in agriculture.

- A joint research team from DGIST, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, and Dongguk University has revealed the identity of cervical stem cells for the first time in the world - The research presents new possibilities for cervical cancer prevention and treatment using lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid, published in Nature Communications

Researchers have found that pressure can scramble the electrical charge order in a material, creating a disordered "charge glass" state before it turns metallic. This discovery in BiNiO3 offers a new perspective on how materials change under pressure, expanding our understanding of phase transitions, and marking a significant advancement in the fields of physics and materials science.

To be able to make the switch to environmentally friendly hydrogen fuels, there needs to be a catalyst…or a precatalyst, to be specific!

Coronavirus 229E is the earliest reported human coronavirus (hCoV-229E). Here, the authors used cryo-EM, glycoproteomics, and modeling to generate the atomic structure of fully glycosylated and membrane-bound hCoV-229E spike protein bound to its host receptor, human aminopeptidase N (hAPN).

N-Cadherin is found to boost cardiomyocyte regeneration after injury by stabilizing β-Catenin, suggesting a potential new way to improve the function of human failing hearts.

A team from Osaka University has developed scSPOT, a new technique that reveals how immune cells called Tregs simultaneously control the immune system. The team identified key immune cells controlled by Tregs and found that Tregs are targets for the cancer drugs ipilimumab and tazemetostat. They also found that Tregs are indicators of serious viral infection. This valuable technique may accelerate the development of treatments for cancer and other diseases.

AI transformational impact is well under way. But as AI technologies develop, so too does their power consumption. Now, researchershave developed a new spintronic device that can potentially revolutionize AI hardware through higher efficiency and lower energy costs.

A collaboration led by researchers at Osaka University has developed a versatile platform with an electrically controlled nanogate that can be used for applications in sensing, chemical synthesis, memristors, and neuromorphic computing. The nanogate, which consists of a pore in a membrane, is closed by the formation of a precipitate and opened by the dissolution of the precipitate, which are regulated by the applied voltage.

- DGIST Professor Kyung-In Jang’s team develops a smart patch capable of simultaneous electrical and optical cardiovascular health monitoring and immediate drug delivery using a foldable structure - Anticipated to evolve into an intelligent healthcare platform for real-time monitoring and the treatment of cardiovascular and chronic diseases

- A joint research team from DGIST and KAIST, in collaboration with Japanese and German researchers, discovered an unprecedented 1/3 fractional quantum Hall state - The research provides key clues to developing next-generation electronic devices in quantum computing

Cyborg insects integrate living organisms with electronic control units, enabling programmable behavior and superior adaptability to complex terrains compared to conventional robots. While progress has been made in single-cyborg control, coordinating multi-cyborg systems remains challenging due to variability in individual insect responses to control inputs. To address this, this research team developed a novel swarm navigation algorithm specifically designed for cyborg insects and succeeded in making them reach a goal in a group on an obstructed soft terrain.

Researchers from Osaka University have revealed some of the precise mechanisms by which erroneous cells are recognized, marked for removal, and eliminated via apoptosis in developing zebrafish. Notably, they found that the protein Foxo3 may be a universal marker of cell competition in zebrafish and mice. These findings have important implications for congenital disorders, cancer, and aging, and may lead to novel treatments.

- DGIST Professor Kim Kyuhyung's research team uncovers the role of Piezo channels that sense pressure in the digestive tract and regulate swallowing behavior - The research opens new opportunities for developing treatments for digestive and eating disorders

Nanostructured two-dimensional gold monolayers offer possibilities in catalysis, electronics, and nanotechnology.

- Revealing how astrocytes interact with nerve cells to generate a stress response - Suggesting a new direction in the development of treatments for stress-related mental disorders

Researchers in Singapore and China observe the emergence of steady currents in new experimental approach.