Behind the paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
BA.5 infection results in milder pathology than ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain infection
Zaigham Abbas Rizvi, Amit Awasthi
Original article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05263-6
Advancing Species Identification in Metagenomic Profiling with MAP2B
MAP2B is a metagenomic profiler that works differently from universal marker or whole genome-based methods for deciphering whole metagenome sequencing, which can significantly remove false identifications and generate highly accurate taxonomic profiling results.
Therapeutic phages that infect mycobacteria require cell-surface trehalose polyphleates
Trehalose polyphleates- very large, surface-exposed molecules- are required for infection of several phages used as therapy against opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus.
Discovery of a natural IgA human monoclonal antibody against Mtb protein LpqH and its significance in TB prophylaxis
The discovery of a protective natural IgA human monoclonal antibody against LpqH, a major virulence factor in Mtb pathogenesis, from a naturally exposed asymptomatic donor, opens new avenues in TB vaccine development and prophylaxis.
Cetaceans as Potentially Useful Animal Models for Human Central Nervous System Disorders
Stranded cetaceans provide a unique opportunity for gaining insight into their increasingly threatened health and conservation. Within this framework, cetaceans could also serve as potentially useful animal models for human central nervous system (CNS) diseases (Di Guardo, 2023).
Full-length MSP1 as a malaria vaccine: is there hope?
Successful immunisation studies in monkeys based on MSP1 involved the use of the full-length protein as a malaria vaccine. However, unsuccessful human trials only tested MSP1 subunits. We explore the potential of SumayaVac-1 to broadly stimulate immune mechanisms associated with protection.
Diving into connections between the gut microbiota and host lipids
Correlations hint at connections between host traits and groups of bacteria from the gut microbiota, but the underlying mechanisms are often hard to figure out. We explored the biology of understudied gut bacteria from the genus Turicibacter and identified one way they are linked to host lipids.
Critical considerations of sensitivity and specificity for HIV reservoir measurements
The story behind our mathematical modeling study which took a deep dive into different assays for measuring the latent HIV reservoir, the barrier to cure.
