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Journal articleGeorgakilas AG, Vasilopoulos SN, BigiÅŸ EZ, et al., 2026, , Virology, Vol: 624
Comparative viral genomics can reveal sequence-level constraints influencing virus-host interactions. Relative minimal absent words (rMAWs) are short oligonucleotide motifs present in viral genomes but completely absent from the host, potentially reflecting selective pressures related to host adaptation and immune evasion. Using the EAGLE algorithm and the GRCh38 human reference genome, we systematically screened for prevalent rMAWs (prMAWs) across six major human oncogenic viruses: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and human herpesvirus 8/Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8/KSHV). highly conserved 11- and 12-bp prMAWs were identified in EBV, HBV, HTLV-1, and HHV-8/KSHV, with sequence prevalences ranging from 91.5% to 97.9%. Conversely, no short prMAWs were detected in HCV or HPV, likely reflecting differences in genome architecture, mutation rates, and long-term host adaptation to the human host. Importantly, the identified host-exclusive motifs exhibited non-random genomic distribution and were preferentially embedded within viral genes central to replication, persistence, immune modulation, and oncogenesis, including EBNA-1 (EBV), HBx (HBV), Tax-associated regions (HTLV-1), and lytic replication genes of HHV-8/KSHV. Notably, all detected prMAWs were enriched in GC nucleotides and exhibited marked CpG over-representation, suggesting sequence constraints associated with epigenetic regulation and viral persistence. Collectively, these highly conserved, host-exclusive signatures offer promising, candidates for sequence-directed approaches in the diagnosis, monitoring, and investigation of virus-associated cancers.
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Journal articleDebabèche NB, Wagner M, Jiang Q, et al., 2026, , Carbohydr Polym, Vol: 389
Lightweight porous cellulose materials, in particular pulp fibre foams, face challenges in achieving suitable mechanical properties while maintaining sustainability. Porous cellulose structures were developed by inserting pulp fibre pins or paper tubes into pre-perforated pulp fibre foams to form a sandwich structure with kraft liner paper deck sheets using a simple and scalable manufacturing process. The resulting porous cellulose composite structures, with densities ranging from 80 kg/m3 to 177 kg/m3, were mechanically characterised under compression, three-point bending, and double lap shear loading. We demonstrate that tube-reinforced configurations outperformed perforated pulp fibre foams in stiffness and strength, showing a significant improvement of 10,300% in compressive, 1500% in flexural, and 350% in shear modulus compared to perforated pulp fibre foams. We showed that the mechanical performance of pulp-based materials can be controlled by structural design rather than material modification, providing a viable strategy to overcome mechanical limitations of cellulose fibre foams.
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Journal articleEl Arkoubi I, Kaur B, Hummer S, et al., 2026, , ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, Vol: 14, Pages: 15575-15586
The utilization of bio-based monomers to fabricate porous polyHIPE frameworks is often discouraged due to the limited reactivity of these monomers for polymerization. The present work highlights the challenges associated with using these monomers for polyHIPE fabrication and the plausible strategies to mitigate these challenges. To this end, eugenol was selected as a bio-based monomer, and it was functionalized to obtain eugenol acrylate (EUA) to overcome its limited reactivity. To fabricate polyHIPEs, EUA, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), divinylbenzene (DVB), and emulsifiers (Hypermer 1083) were used. Nevertheless, to achieve a polyHIPE structure from biomass-derived monomers (EUA), it was necessary to incorporate hydrophobized silica particles along with Hypermer surfactant as the primary emulsifier. The impact of different factors, such as the monomer volume ratios, the nature and concentration of the emulsifier, and the internal phase volume fraction, on the properties of the resulting polyHIPEs was further scrutinized. With variation in these parameters, the fabricated polyHIPEs exhibited porosities (up to 90%), specific surface areas (up to 64 m<sup>2</sup>/g), and low densities (<0.2 g/cm<sup>3</sup>), resulting in a lightweight yet functionally effective nature. Their unique interconnected pore structure, along with their chemical composition, endows the produced polyHIPEs with superhydrophobicity (with a water contact angle exceeding 145°) and excellent lipophilicity. These porous scaffolds demonstrated high oil absorption capacity for various oils. The system displayed excellent recyclability and reusability with trivial performance loss over ten consecutive cycles. The development of these superhydrophobic polyHIPEs presents remarkable potential for oil spill remediation and other industrial applications where such properties are beneficial.
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Journal articleSibila O, Perea L, Burgel PR, et al., 2026, , Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Vol: 212, Pages: 1999-2010
RATIONALE: The frequent exacerbator phenotype was previously defined using a threshold of ≥3 exacerbations per year in bronchiectasis. However, the contribution of each prior exacerbation to future risk as well as the influence of severe exacerbations and different etiologies and regions remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the risk associated with each prior exacerbation of bronchiectasis in predicting future exacerbations and severe exacerbations, and to determine whether this association varies across different etiologies and geographic regions. METHODS: We analyzed data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC), including 30 countries across Europe and Asia. The association between baseline exacerbation history and future exacerbations was tested using negative binomial regression over up to 5 years of follow-up. Severe exacerbations were defined as those requiring hospitalization. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 19 324 patients with bronchiectasis were included. Each prior exacerbation was associated with an increased risk of exacerbations and severe exacerbations. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) for future exacerbations was 1.45 (95% CI 1.34-1.58, P < .001) for 1 exacerbation; 1.84 (95% CI 1.69-1.99, P < .001) for 2 exacerbations; 2.50 (95% CI 2.29-2.73, P < .001) for 3 exacerbations; and 3.56 (95% CI 3.32-3.82, P < .001) for patients with 4 or more prior exacerbations. Additionally, 1 prior severe exacerbation was associated with increased risk of exacerbation (IRR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.45-1.60, P < .001) and strongly associated with future severe exacerbations (IRR = 3.96, 95% CI 3.71-4.22, P < .001). The frequent exacerbator phenotype was consistent across different etiologies and geographic regions. CONCLUSIONS: The frequent exacerbator phenotype is highly consistent across patient subgrou
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Journal articleFerrando-Marco M, Lin S, Garcia Del Valle B, et al., 2026, , Development, Vol: 153
Asymmetric cell division generates distinct daughter cells essential for tissue development, yet the mechanisms orienting division polarity within tissues remain incompletely understood. Here, we uncover a role for chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression in controlling polarity orientation during asymmetric division of Caenorhabditis elegans epidermal stem cells, known as the seam cells. Tissue-specific loss of the class I histone deacetylase hda-1, homologous to mammalian HDAC1/2, causes polarity reversals and reduces molecular asymmetry between daughter cells. Using Targeted DamID, we identify the Wnt receptors lin-17 (frizzled homologue) and cam-1 (Ror homologue) as key targets. Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation reveals opposing expression gradients along the body axis, with cam-1 enriched anteriorly and lin-17 posteriorly. In hda-1 mutants, both receptors are upregulated and differences between seam cells are flattened. Overexpression of either receptor alone is sufficient to reproduce the polarity reversals, while co-overexpression produces additive effects. The polarity phenotype is independent of the canonical NuRD and SIN3 complexes, suggesting that HDA-1 acts through an alternative mechanism. These findings link histone deacetylase activity to Wnt receptor expression and suggest that graded receptor expression may provide cues that orient asymmetric division polarity.
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Journal articleBush A, Chotirmall SH, Han MK, et al., 2026, , Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Vol: 212, Pages: 1879-1881
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Journal articleBosma CB, Aaron SD, Celli BR, et al., 2026, , Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Vol: 212, Pages: 1947-1961
Mucus plugs have been previously recognized as an important pathological feature in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their clinical role in these diseases has not been explored in depth until recently. Mucus plug formation is driven by mucus hyperconcentration, changes in mucus viscoelastic properties, impaired clearance, and mucociliary collapse. Scoring systems, such as the bronchopulmonary segment mucus plug score, have been used to associate greater mucus plug burden with poor clinical outcomes. Additional scoring methods obtained through quantitative image processing are currently under development. Mucus plug burden has been associated with greater exacerbations and spirometric decline in both asthma and COPD, as well as greater mortality in COPD. Recently, mucus plug burden has been used as an endpoint in clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of biologic therapies in asthma; multiple biologic therapies demonstrated decreases in mucus plug burden and associated improvements in spirometry with treatment. Together, these data suggest that mucus plugs may be a treatable trait in asthma and COPD. Mucus plug burden has current clinical, phenotypic, and predictive utility and shows promise as a future biomarker. Increased incorporation into clinical trials, expanded evidence of treatment effect, and standardization of methodology and imaging protocols will be needed. Computed tomographic detection of mucus plug burden is ready for greater incorporation into both research outcomes and clinical care.
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Journal articleBeslać J, Brandfellner L, Bismarck A, et al., 2026, , Journal of Non Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, Vol: 350, ISSN: 0377-0257
Polymer concentration is a key parameter for the application of polymeric drag reducing agents. Drag reducing agents are high molecular weight polymers which reduce drag in turbulent flow. Increasing polymer concentration increases drag reduction (DR) as well as polymer stability, counteracting polymer chain scission in turbulent flow. We investigated DR and stability of polyethylene oxide (PEO) in dilute and semi-dilute solutions in the concentration range of 25 wppm to 200 wppm using the pilot scale Vienna Experiment for Drag Reducing Agents (ViEDRA), taking into account viscosity changes caused by polymer concentration variation and polymer degradation. Theories attempt to reveal the mechanism of DR and to describe polymer degradation in turbulent flow. Most numerical simulations of DR do not account for polymer degradation and many experimental studies neglect viscosity changes. We focus on the impact of polymer concentration on both initial DR of the un-degraded polymer and on polymer degradation rate. Solution viscosity is monitored to disentangle DR provided by polymer dynamics from artefacts caused by viscosity changes with polymer addition, revealing a clear influence of polymer concentration on both initial DR and polymer degradation rate. The highest initial DR value was observed in solutions with the highest polymer concentrations. Degradation rate was higher for low polymer concentrations.
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Journal articleSun M, Gao AX, Ye B, et al., 2026, , Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, Vol: 13, Pages: 37-49, ISSN: 2405-805X
Membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) constitute crucial dynamic microenvironments within cells, capable of selectively concentrating specific molecules and regulating biochemical reactions. Based on the working mechanisms of natural MLOs, researchers have designed and constructed various synthetic MLOs. These MLOs have been applied in regulating enzyme activity, optimizing metabolic pathways, regulating gene expression, producing recombinant proteins, and developing functional biomaterials. Here, we systematically summarized the design strategies, characterization techniques, and client protein recruitment methods for synthetic MLOs, and categorically reviewed their application progress in the biotechnology field. We also discussed current challenges faced in the practical applications of synthetic MLOs and future research directions. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for the design and application of LLPS-driven synthetic MLOs, thereby promoting their innovative development in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
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Journal articleMoffatt MF, Nishimura T, Cox MJ, et al., 2026, , American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 212, Pages: 1962-1974, ISSN: 1073-449X
RationaleAsthma is characterized by disruption of the thoracic airway mucosae and loss of microbial diversity. Spatial profiling of the mucosal transcriptome may systematically discover mechanisms for microbial influences on immunity.ObjectivesWe investigated relationships between clinical measures, microbial communities, and the host mucosal transcriptome within different strata of bronchial biopsies in subjects with and without asthma.MethodsWe bronchoscoped 65 adult asthmatics and 44 healthy controls, quantifying bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in bronchial brushings by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences. Biopsy histologic features were scored blind to diagnosis. Following 16S rRNA in situ hybridization of 44 biopsies, bacterial foci were scored in epithelium, basement membrane and stroma. Global human gene expression was quantified in epithelial and stromal compartments using Digital Spatial Profiling.Measurements and main resultsClinical asthma was independently predicted by basement membrane abnormalities (BaseMA), endobronchial bacterial diversity and circulating eosinophil counts, but not by specific OTU abundances. 16S rRNA staining revealed bacteria within epithelium and mucosa of all biopsies. Intra-mucosal bacteria (IMCBs) counts correlated negatively with spatially organized co-expression networks encoding antigen-specific immunity, neutrophil functions, and matrix activation, whereas BaseMA correlated positively with the adaptive immunity module. Eosinophil counts correlated with epithelial bacterial counts and senescence pathways. Clinical asthma was accompanied by upregulation of a Treg cell network.ConclusionsAsthma and its related phenotypes are accompanied by complex mucosal events that extend beyond eosinophilic pathways. Components of diverse airway microbiota may modify immunity by beneficial interactions within the mucosa.
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