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Journal articleBueno AS, Mendenhall CD, Anciães M, et al., 2026,
High-quality surrounding landscapes mitigate avian extirpations from forest remnants.
, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 123The species-area relationship (SAR) has long been used to predict extirpation rates from habitat loss, but these rates depend not only on habitat area but also on the surrounding landscape and species' habitat specialization. We collated global data from forest islands created by river damming and forest fragments resulting from clear-cut deforestation to examine the effects of matrix type (aquatic or terrestrial) and tree cover on avian SARs. Unlike oceanic islands, which are often millions of years old, anthropogenic forest islands provide a contemporary analog to forest fragments to understand matrix effects on SARs and serve as a baseline for worst-case scenarios of forest fragmentation. Our database comprises 50 datasets from 45 studies conducted in tropical and subtropical regions, totaling 1,954 bird species detected through 39,197 incidence records from 336 forest islands and 669 forest fragments. We found that bird extirpation rates were lower in fragments than on islands, especially for forest-dependent species compared to all species. Species losses were further reduced by increasing tree cover around forest remnants at local landscape scales of 300 m, highlighting the importance of small-scale conservation strategies. Moreover, even small forest fragments with greater nearby tree cover held high conservation value, emphasizing the crucial role of the surrounding landscape in mitigating avian extirpations from forest remnants. Beyond protecting forest remnants themselves, area-based conservation efforts would therefore be greatly enhanced by improving matrix quality and expanding tree cover in otherwise hostile landscapes.
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Journal articleGan W, Alizadeh N, Best M, et al., 2026,
An eco-evolutionary optimality model explains theacclimated temperature response of photosynthesis
, New Phytologist, ISSN: 0028-646XThe optimal temperature of net photosynthesis (Topt) generally increases with plant growth temperature. Changes in Topt are associated with changes in the maximum carboxylation capacity at 25 °C (Vcmax25) and the maximum electron transport rate at 25 °C (Jmax25). The ratio between Jmax25 and Vcmax25 declines with warming. Accurate representation of leaf-level photosynthetic responses to temperature is essential for realistic projections of the terrestrial carbon cycle and its response to ongoing climate changes. However, many land-surface models incorporate thermal acclimation through empirical approaches and through assigning distinct but static parameter values to plant functional types (PFTs). Eco-evolutionary optimality approaches provide a simpler way of modelling photosynthesis without recourse to PFTs. Here we use the sub-daily P model, an eco-evolutionary optimality-based model of photosynthesis that explicitly separates the instantaneous and acclimated responses of photosynthetic parameters to temperature to investigate how optimal temperature changes with growth temperature, as represented by leaf or air temperature. We show that the simulated responses are consistent with observations from both controlled experiments and eddy-covariance flux tower data. We show that changes in Topt, and in the assimilation rate at Topt, are caused by changes in carboxylation capacity and electron transport rate that follow directly from the hypotheses underlying the model.
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Journal articleXu H, Wang H, Prentice IC, et al., 2026,
Global variation in the ratio of sapwood to leaf area explained by optimality principles
, New Phytologist, Vol: 250, Pages: 181-193, ISSN: 0028-646X• The sapwood area supporting a given leaf area (Huber value, vH) reflects the coupling between carbon uptake and water transport and loss at a whole-plant level. Geographic variation in vH presumably reflect plant strategic adaptations but the lack of a general explanation for such variation hinders its representation in vegetation models and assessment of how its impact on the global carbon and water cycles. • Here we develop a simple hydraulic trait model to predict optimal vH by matching stem water supply and leaf water loss, and test its performance against two extensive plant hydraulic datasets. • We show that our eco-evolutionary optimality-based model explains nearly 60% of global vH variation in response to light, vapour pressure deficit, temperature and sapwood conductivity. Enhanced hydraulic efficiency with warmer temperatures reduces the sapwood area required to support a given leaf area, whereas high irradiance (supporting increased photosynthetic capacity) and drier air increase it. • This study thus provides a route to modelling variation in functional traits through the coordination of carbon uptake and water transport processes.
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Journal articleMajumdar A, Upadhyay MK, Ojha M, et al., 2026,
Corrigendum to "A critical review on the organo-metal(loid)s pollution in the environment: Distribution, remediation and risk assessment" [Sci. Total Environ., 951, (2024) 175531].
, Sci Total Environ -
Journal articleYuen ELH, Bozkurt TO, 2026,
Autophagy in the arms race: how pathogen effectors rewire immunity in plants.
, Open Biol, Vol: 16Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved recycling process that underpins cellular homeostasis and stress resilience in eukaryotes. In the context of plant-pathogen interactions, autophagy has emerged as a key regulatory hub linking immunity, metabolism and programmed cell death. Recent discoveries reveal that diverse virulence factors, or effectors, from a wide range of pathogens target the host autophagy machinery to manipulate cellular responses for their own benefit. On the one hand, selective autophagy functions as a critical component of plant immunity by directly eliminating intracellular pathogens and pathogen-derived molecules, while also degrading negative regulators of immune pathways, thereby strengthening host defences. On the other hand, many pathogens subvert autophagic processes through their effector arsenal: some suppress autophagic degradation to evade immune clearance or maintain host cell viability, whereas others hijack autophagic membranes and signalling components to promote replication and nutrient acquisition. Together, these findings establish autophagy as a central battleground in the molecular arms race between plants and their pathogens. Understanding how effector-autophagy interfaces shape infection outcomes will be critical for engineering disease resistance and for redefining the multifaceted roles of autophagy in plant immunity.
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Journal articleHedger G, Lyman E, Rouse SL, 2026,
Ligand-like lipid interactions with membrane proteins: simulations and machine learning
, Current Opinion in Structural Biology, Vol: 97, ISSN: 0959-440XMembrane lipids can bind to specific sites on membrane proteins in a ligand-like manner and modulate protein structure and function. Molecular dynamics simulations encompass a suite of approaches to identify, characterise, and explain the atomic-level mechanisms that underlie the functional effects of ligand-like lipids on membrane proteins. Simulations have shown good agreement with available structural data on lipid-protein interactions. Building on successes, simulations are now used to identify new interactions and mechanisms de novo for a given membrane protein. In this age of abundance, it is increasingly possible to analyse patterns across large groups of proteins and in ever more complex membrane environments. The dawn of machine learning approaches in lipid-protein cofolding holds considerable promise to synergistically capitalise on this availability of simulation data and uncover new facets of ligand-like lipid biology.
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Journal articleStadinski BD, Mills EA, Humphries PA, et al., 2026,
Author Correction: Age-dependent Zap70 expression in thymocytes regulates selection of the neonatal regulatory T cell repertoire.
, Nat Immunol, Vol: 27 -
Journal articleLi Z, Chawla H, Di Vagno L, et al., 2026,
Xylosyltransferase engineering to manipulate proteoglycans in mammalian cells.
, Nat Chem Biol, Vol: 22, Pages: 612-621Mammalian cells receive signaling instructions through interactions on their surfaces. Proteoglycans are critical to these interactions, carrying long glycosaminoglycans that recruit signaling molecules. Biosynthetic redundancy in the first glycosylation step by two xylosyltransferases XT1/2 complicates annotation of proteoglycans. Here we develop a chemical genetic strategy that manipulates the glycan attachment site of cellular proteoglycans. Through a bump-and-hole tactic, we engineer the two isoenzymes XT1 and XT2 to specifically transfer the chemically tagged xylose analog 6AzGlc to target proteins. The tag contains a bioorthogonal functionality, allowing to visualize and profile target proteins in mammalian cells. Unlike xylose analogs, 6AzGlc is amenable to cellular nucleotide-sugar biosynthesis, establishing the XT1/2 bump-and-hole tactic in cells. The approach allows pinpointing glycosylation sites by mass spectrometry and exploiting the chemical handle to manufacture proteoglycans with defined glycosaminoglycan chains for cellular applications. Engineered XT enzymes permit an orthogonal view into proteoglycan biology through conventional techniques in biochemistry.
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Journal articleSanchez-Garrido J, 2026,
Commensals join the effector game.
, Nat Immunol, Vol: 27, Pages: 649-651 -
Journal articleCooke R, Burton VJ, Brown C, et al., 2026,
Future scenarios for British biodiversity under climate and land-use change.
, Nat Commun, Vol: 17Projections of biodiversity futures are needed to translate global policies into national action. We use dissimilarity modelling to project climate change scenarios for 1002 plant, 56 butterfly, and 219 bird species across Great Britain up to 2080. Under all scenarios we find extensive community reorganisation, with the disappearance of current bioclimates and emergence of novel ones. We also explore impacts of combined climate and land-use change, finding that even optimistic scenarios could see accumulating extinction debts. Scenarios featuring reduced emissions and a more sustainable society could bend the curve of loss, reducing species heading for extinction by 32% for plants, 14% for butterflies, and 20% for birds. Scenarios differ in impact between groups, with plants showing the most severe responses to environmental change. Overall, we show that actions taken during the next 20 years are crucial to mitigate the worst effects of climate and land-use change for biodiversity in Britain.
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Journal articleQiao S, Harrison SP, Prentice IC, et al., 2026,
Adaptive sowing helps mitigate future wheat losses globally
, Earth's Future, ISSN: 2328-4277The escalating effect of climate change on crop yields necessitates urgent adaptation measures. Shifting sowing dates is emerging as one cost-effective adaptation strategy. However, the implications for global wheat yields are unclear. Here we use an optimality-based model, assuming farmers select sowing dates to maximise yields, to quantify changes in wheat sowing dates and potential grain yields by the 2090s under two climatic scenarios (SSP126, SSP370). We find that the optimal wheat sowing dates are affected by climate change, primarily driven by temperature norms and warming trends. Global warming prompts earlier sowing (10-20 days) and even a switch from spring to winter wheat in cold areas, while strong warming delays sowing (20-40 days). Scenario modelling shows climate change is projected to negatively impact wheat potential yields under both moderate (–2.4%, SSP126) and strong (–7.8%, SSP370) warming scenarios. Adaptive sowing dates coupled with CO2 fertilization could mitigate these losses and even enhance yields, resulting in a +5.6% increase in potential yield for SSP126 and a +12.4% for SSP370. However, the benefits are not uniformly distributed across regions, with hotter and less developed regions—such as sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America—facing heightened risks of yield decline. Our findings suggest that simple adaptation strategies could help address the challenges posed by climate change for agricultural production and emphasize the need for region-specific adaptation policies to ensure equitable climate resilience in agriculture.
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Journal articleWang H-Y, Yuen ELH, Chen Y-F, et al., 2026,
A hydrophobic core in the coiled-coil domain is essential for NRC resistosome function.
, New PhytolThe nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein (NLR) required for cell death (NRC) family represents a group of helper NLRs that are required by sensor NLRs to execute hypersensitive cell death during pathogen infection. NRCs contain an N-terminal coiled-coil (CC) domain essential for their function, yet our knowledge of how this domain contributes to NRC function remains limited. Using site-directed mutagenesis and transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, we screened conserved hydrophobic residues among NRCs and identified seven required for NRC4-mediated cell death, revealing a hydrophobic feature within the CC domain that contributes to NRC-mediated immunity. Structural analysis revealed that four of these residues form a hydrophobic core in the CC domain. This hydrophobic core is important for NRC4 subcellular localization, oligomerization, and phospholipid association, but not for NRC4 focal accumulation at the extrahaustorial membrane during Phytophthora infestans infection. Sequence analysis and functional assays revealed that this core is highly conserved in NRCs and some singleton NLRs but has degenerated in NRC-dependent sensor NLRs. Our study identifies a hydrophobic feature in the CC domain of NRCs and reveals its contribution to NLR-mediated immunity.
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Journal articleBannister K, 2026,
Peri-operative pregabalin does not alter behavioural or diffuse noxious inhibitory control responses in two rat models of chronic pain
, PAIN Reports, ISSN: 2471-2531Introduction: Multiple mechanisms contribute to the experience of pain where the use of model organisms to dissect mechanistically sensory regulatory circuitry is a vital component of discovering underlying causes of persistent pain in disease states. Such disease states can be modelled in animals using surgical procedures that, ethically, should involve administration of analgesia. However, since basic pain researchers often wish to measure pain-related events, animals may be denied peri-operative analgesia to avoid adversely influencing experimental outcomes. Methods: We conducted a structured review of peri-operative analgesia usage in rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) models. Using a combination of behavioural testing and in vivo electrophysiology in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, we assessed the impact of peri-operative pregabalin on nociceptive behaviours in the acute recovery phase, and behavioural and electrophysiological experimental outcomes in the established phase, of rat SNL and CIBP models.Results: A literature search revealed that, for studies using rat models of SNL or CIBP, only 5.37 % and 12.69 % respectively reported the use of peri-operative analgesia. We then demonstrated that the use of pregabalin as a peri-operative analgesic reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in the acute period following SNL surgery, with no impact on behavioural, electrophysiological or neuropharmacological outcomes in the established phase of either model.Conclusions: This study challenges the basic science researcher’s reasoning that peri-operative analgesia confounds neurobiological outcomes. The use of peri-operative analgesia should be an important consideration to improve animal welfare in chronic models of pain.
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Journal articleHe S, Sanchez Garrido J, Beis K, et al., 2026,
TraN variants mediate conjugation species specificity of IncA/C, IncH and Acinetobacter baumannii plasmids
, Journal of Bacteriology, ISSN: 0021-9193IncA/C and IncH plasmids commonly carry antimicrobial resistance genes, notably blaNDM-1. Although these plasmids disseminate among Gram-negative pathogens via conjugation, the mechanisms underlying mating pair stabilisation (MPS) and conjugation species specificity remain poorly understood. In IncF plasmids, MPS is mediated by interactions between outer membrane proteins (OMP) encoded by the plasmids in the donor (TraN) and by the chromosome in the recipient. Using the Plascad database, we extracted 1,436 TraN sequences from 1517 plasmids: 62.5% (898/1,436), mainly in IncF plasmids, are 550–660aa (we renamed TraN short, TraNS); 15% (216/1,436), in IncA/C plasmids, are 880–950aa (TraN medium, TraNM); and 11% (160/1,436), in IncH plasmids, are 1,050–1,070aa (TraN long, TraNL). One TraN, found in six plasmids from Acinetobacter baumannii (891aa), was designated TraN V-shaped (TraNV). Like TraNS, TraNM and TraNL contain a base and one distal tip domain essential for conjugation, whereas TraNV has a base and two distinct tip domains forming a V-shaped structure. TraNM, TraNL and TraNV determine conjugation species specificity, with TraNL cooperating with OmpA. Tip swapping reverses conjugation specificity, revealing how TraNM and TraNL diversity influence plasmid host range and AMR dissemination. Our new data reveal the molecular basis of plasmid host specificity and broaden our understanding of how conjugation drives the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes among clinically relevant bacteria.
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Journal articleXu V, McInnes A, Wake M, et al., 2026,
Structural basis for Rep-mediated adeno-associated virus packaging
, Cell Reports, Vol: 45, ISSN: 2211-1247Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are parvoviruses utilized as gene therapy vectors. However, the AAV packaging mechanism is unresolved at the molecular level, creating a bottleneck for vector manufacturing, safety, and efficacy. Here, cryo-EM structures of the Rep helicase packaging motor in complex with the packaging marker DNA (ITR) and the Rep-AAV8 capsid complex are presented. Rep-ITR complexes reveal dynamic oligomeric states on the DNA, elucidating the strand separation mechanism coupled to its ATPase cycle. We observe Rep preferentially bound to empty capsids, with a binding interface likely conserved across the virus family. This complex also unveils a cryptic capsid ATP-binding site which, alongside Rep binding, triggers structural rearrangements priming the capsid for packaging. Collectively, these findings advance the understanding of Rep-mediated packaging, with significant implications for parvovirus virology and viral vector design.
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Journal articleAlonso A, Kirkegaard JB, Endres RG, 2026,
Reply to van Haastert: Local competition between Ras/actin-driven protrusions.
, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 123 -
Journal articleChen Y-F, Lin K-Y, Huang C-Y, et al., 2026,
Subcellular calcium dynamics and organelle perturbations in resistosome-mediated cell death.
, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 123Plant nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) proteins act as intracellular immune receptors that assemble into resistosomes to execute immune responses. However, the subcellular processes during cell death following resistosome activation remain unclear. Here, we visualized the changes in calcium signaling and organelle behavior after activation of the NRC4 (NLR required for cell death 4) resistosome. We found that NRC4 membrane enrichment coincided with calcium influx. This is followed by sequential mitochondria and plastid disruption, endoplasmic reticulum fragmentation, and cytoskeleton depolymerization. Subsequent loss of plasma membrane integrity, nuclear shrinkage, and vacuolar collapse mark the terminal stage of cell death. Our findings reveal a spatiotemporally resolved cascade of subcellular events downstream of resistosome activation, providing mechanistic insight into the execution phase of plant immune cell death.
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Journal articleEllis HR, Behrends V, Larrouy-Maumus G, et al., 2026,
Glutathione impacts Hfq condensation in nitrogen-starved Escherichia coli.
, J BacteriolNitrogen (N) is essential for bacterial growth, and adaptation to N starvation involves extensive reprogramming of metabolism and gene expression. A hallmark subcellular feature in long-term N-starved Escherichia coli cells is the presence of biomolecular condensates of the major bacterial RNA regulator Hfq. The Hfq condensates, which accumulate gradually during N starvation, contribute to adaptation by modulating RNA metabolism and central metabolic pathways. Metabolites play central roles in stress responses, often acting as modulators of protein function to support survival and recovery. Glutathione (GSH), a universal stress protectant, has broad roles in bacterial stress adaptation, yet its function during N starvation remains unexplored. Using a GSH-deficient mutant (ΔgshAB), we show that GSH is required for optimal survival and recovery from prolonged N starvation. We reveal that GSH regulates the temporal dynamics of Hfq condensation and dissipation during N starvation and recovery from N starvation, respectively, via an as-yet unknown mechanism. However, the contribution of GSH to survival during and recovery from N starvation and Hfq condensation dynamics seems to be unlinked. Overall, the results point to a role for GSH in the adaptive response to N starvation, potentially extending its canonical function as a stress protectant.IMPORTANCENitrogen is a vital nutrient for bacterial growth. When nitrogen becomes scarce, bacteria must quickly adapt to survive. Escherichia coli forms tiny structures called Hfq condensates, which help manage genetic information flow and metabolism. Small molecules called metabolites aid bacteria in coping with stress, and one such molecule, glutathione (GSH), protects cells under various stress conditions. GSH's role during nitrogen starvation is unknown. We used an E. coli mutant unable to produce GSH and found that these bacteria struggle to survive and recover from nitrogen starvation. We also discovered that GSH helps
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Journal articleAdams G, Tissot FS, Liu C, et al., 2026,
Practical AI-based cell extraction and spatial statistics for large 3D bone marrow tissue images.
, Cell Rep Methods, Vol: 6Although the molecular regulation of hematopoiesis is well characterized, the spatial organization of hematopoietic cells within bone marrow (BM) remains unclear. Advances in microscopy have produced increasingly detailed images of murine BM, yet accurate and scalable methods to extract and analyze these complex datasets are limited. We present PACESS, a computational workflow for BM analysis that combines convolutional neural networks for 2D cell detection and classification with an automated method to extrapolate into 3D, spatial statistical analyses to define tissue regions based on local cell-type densities, and logistic regression to assess whether the relative abundances of cell types reflect reciprocal dependencies. Using PACESS, we investigate the spatial organization of T cells, megakaryocytes, and leukemic cells, revealing that distinct leukemic clusters generate diverse, previously unrecognized neighborhoods within the same BM cavity. PACESS, thus, provides a powerful tool to dissect BM architecture.
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Journal articleBiswas P, Matange N, Samanta S, et al., 2026,
The metallophosphoesterase Rv0805 regulates carbon flux and cell envelope homeostasis during growth of mycobacteria in propionate.
, J Bacteriol, Vol: 208Mycobacterium tuberculosis relies on host-derived lipids, including cholesterol, for intracellular survival, generating propionyl-CoA-a metabolite that must be efficiently assimilated to prevent toxicity. The metallophosphoesterase Rv0805 is required for optimal growth on cholesterol, and an Rv0805 knockout strain exhibits impaired ability to colonize the murine lung. However, the mechanisms underlying the essential role of Rv0805 under host-relevant conditions remain unclear. The deletion of the rv0805 ortholog (bcg_0857) in Mycobacterium bovis BCG reveals that both its catalytic activity and membrane localization are essential for growth on propionate, a by-product of cholesterol metabolism. Loss of Rv0805 impaired propionate uptake, altered cell envelope lipid composition with an accumulation of methyl-branched lipids, and reduced carbon flux through the methylcitrate cycle, ultimately depleting key central carbon metabolites required for growth. Vitamin B12 supplementation activated the methylmalonyl pathway, restoring metabolic balance and rescuing growth. These findings demonstrate that Rv0805 links propionate metabolism with cell envelope integrity, identifying its activity and localization as metabolic vulnerabilities that could be exploited for tuberculosis therapy.IMPORTANCERv0805 links propionate metabolism with cell envelope homeostasis in mycobacteria, and its loss uncovers a metabolic vulnerability that could be exploited to restrict mycobacterial survival in lipid-rich host microenvironments.
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Journal articleSharma AA, Martinou AF, Cadar D, et al., 2026,
Integrated vector and arbovirus surveillance in Cyprus: first reports of Usutu virus and Culex pipiens bioform diversity highlight potential for zoonotic arbovirus transmission.
, Parasit VectorsBACKGROUND: Anthropogenic pressures, including urbanisation, globalisation and climate change, have facilitated an increased risk for emergence or re-emergence of mosquito-borne diseases into regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Cyprus is a major stop-over site for migratory birds and has previously experienced outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV). The island has native mosquito vector populations; however, it has also seen the recent establishment of invasive Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Given the dynamic climatic conditions and the shifting ecological and epidemiological landscapes in the region, the need for routine vector and pathogen surveillance has never been more critical. METHODS: Herein, we present the results from localised adult mosquito surveillance that were conducted in two cities of Cyprus between 2019 and 2022. Mosquito taxa were identified through morphological analysis, and molecular techniques were used to further characterise the Culex pipiens bioforms. Engorged mosquito midguts were analysed to determine host blood meals. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing was employed to screen mosquito pools for arboviruses. RESULTS: Our results provide the first report of Usutu virus in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes in Cyprus. Blood meal analysis identified multiple vertebrate hosts, including Cetti's warbler, a bird species previously reported to be seropositive for WNV on the island. Additionally, we report the presence of both Cx. pipiens pipiens and Cx. pipiens molestus, an ornithophilic and a mammophilic bioform, respectively, as well as their hybrids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced mosquito surveillance strategies where mosquito populations will be regularly screened for pathogens to mitigate emerging risks of arbovirus transmission in Cyprus.
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Journal articleGrimaldi A, Hobbs B, Stofella M, et al., 2026,
Amide Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange in Isotopically Mixed Water
, ACS Physical Chemistry Au, ISSN: 2694-2445 -
Journal articleMATANZA X, Leung PB, Torraca V, et al., 2026,
Genome-wide analysis exploring mechanisms used by Shigella sonnei to survive long-term nutrient starvation
, mSystems, ISSN: 2379-5077Shigella is a major cause of severe diarrhea, with Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei accounting for over 90% of infections. Progressive economic growth worldwide correlates with the replacement of S. flexneri by S. sonnei as the dominant cause of shigellosis. The basis of the epidemiological shift remains unclear, but it highlights the urgent need for further studies on the increasingly prevalent, but less well-studied, S. sonnei. Here, we investigated whether S. sonnei is better equipped to survive nutrient starvation, a crucial condition for persistence both outside the host and within the colonic lumen. S. sonnei exhibited greater survival under long-term nutrient starvation (LTNS) than S. flexneri, rapidly activating survival mechanisms. We interrogated the genome of S. sonnei using transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing (TraDIS), revealing that metabolic pathways (ATP, nucleotide, and amino acid synthesis) and envelope homeostasis systems (e.g., Tol-Pal complex, Bam complex, peptidoglycan recycling, and RpoE stress response) are conditionally essential for LTNS. TraDIS findings were validated by non-competitive and competitive survival of wild-type and deletion mutant strains. We compared the homology of conditionally essential genes between S. sonnei and S. flexneri to identify genes potentially involved in differential LTNS survival between the species. However, S. sonnei strains in which a single gene was replaced with the S. !exneri allele showed wild-type survival phenotypes. This suggests that the divergent survival of these two species may be more complex than a monogenic difference. Together, these data define the molecular adaptations of starvation resistance in S. sonnei and provide insights into its epidemiological dominance in high-income countries.
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OtherGao M, Sandoval D, Prentice IC, 2026,
Separating stomatal and non-stomatal responses of gross primary productivity to soil moisture
<jats:p>Soil moisture is a major constraint on terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP). In this study, we propose and test two hypotheses to explain how soil moisture limits carbon uptake: 1) plants reduce stomatal conductance around midday to conserve water, leading to a temporary decline in internal CO₂ concentration and photosynthesis; and 2) water stress causes a more general reduction in photosynthetic capacity, expressed as a decrease in the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis (φ₀), thereby lowering GPP throughout the day. Here, we combine Eco-Evolutionary Optimality (EEO) Theory with eddy covariance observations to separate and quantify stomatal and non-stomatal responses of GPP to soil moisture. Our results show that both midday stomatal closure and photosynthetic capacity suppression coexist, supporting both hypotheses, with their relative importance strongly modulated by soil moisture. Across most sites, the magnitude of midday GPP depression weakens with increasing soil moisture, indicating that stomatal responses are more sensitive under low soil moisture conditions. In addition, photosynthetic capacity increases with soil moisture, contributing to an overall enhancement of daily GPP. By explicitly separating stomatal and non-stomatal pathways through which soil moisture affects carbon uptake, this study provides a mechanistic explanation for the more conservative water use strategies observed in plants from dry climates and improves the representation of diurnal GPP dynamics in water-limited ecosystems.</jats:p>
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Journal articleDuncan JA, Jerse AE, Martinón-Torres F, et al., 2026,
Perspective on the pathogenic Neisseria: milestones, challenges, and future directions.
, NPJ VaccinesThe 24th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference (IPNC) marked a shift toward a balanced forum addressing both meningococcal and gonococcal disease. This drove discussion on how multivalent meningococcal vaccines are enabling the WHO roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, while highlighting growing evidence that effective gonococcal vaccines are achievable. Major challenges remain, including antimicrobial resistance, limited genomic surveillance and incomplete understanding of pathogenesis and immune evasion. These reflections shaped this perspective piece.
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Journal articleCator L, 2026,
A tiger is not always a satyr: role of male mating behaviour in interspecific mating interactions between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
, Parasites and Vectors, ISSN: 1756-3305Background: Interspecific mating between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which act as vectors of a wide range of arboviruses, is predicted to have an important influence on their future distributions and disease control efforts. While interspecific insemination has been documented in a range of laboratory and field studies, rates vary between populations. It has been suggested that the outcome of mating interactions is driven by evolved variation in both the male ability to mate interspecific females and ability of females to resist interspecific males. However, there has been relatively little dissection of the behaviours that underlie interspecific insemination rates. Methods: We compared insemination rates between sympatric, allopatric, and lab-adapted strains of Ae. aegypti (Colombia, Arizona, and Liverpool, respectively) and allopatric and sympatric strains of Ae. albopictus (Montpellier and Colombia, respectively). We then used both live observations and high-speed videography to compare intraspecific and interspecific mating interactions. Results: We found very low rates of interspecific mating across all strains used. Both behavioural observations and high-speed videography suggested that female resistance behaviours were not responsible for low interspecific mating. Interestingly, we documented male Ae. albopictus consistently aborting interspecific mating attempts. Conclusions: This study provides additional evidence for strong pre-copulatory species barriers between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus species and adds male avoidance as a possible mechanism to maintain these barriers. Considering female resistance, the ability of males to overcome that resistance, and male avoidance of interspecific matings together will be important for informing understanding of how we expect interspecific mating rates to vary across populations and respond to selective pressures such as mass-release strategies.
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OtherHarrison SP, Cain S, Ding R, et al., 2026,
An eco-evolutionary approach to modelling wildfire regimes
<jats:p>Wildfires are ubiquitous and an integral part of the Earth System, vital for maintaining the biodiversity and functioning of many ecosystems. Wildfire-induced changes in vegetation and landscape properties also have important feedbacks to climate through modulating water- and energy-exchanges and the carbon cycle. The current state-of-the-art global models used to predict how wildfires might behave in a changing climate capture some aspects of wildfire behaviour, but are poor at simulating fire seasonality, interannual variability and extreme fires, in large part because they do not adequately capture the vegetation-wildfire interactions regulating fire occurrence. Eco-evolutionary optimality approaches are increasingly being used to provide simple but robust models of vegetation functioning, and here we extend this approach to modelling wildfires.Fuel availability and fuel dryness are consistently shown to be the primary drivers of wildfire occurrence, intensity and burnt area. Differences in the timing of fuel build up and drying determine the optimal time for wildfire occurrence and give rise to pyroclimates with distinct wildfire regimes. The phase difference in the seasonal time course and magnitude of gross primary production (GPP) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is used to provide a measure of the “propensity to burn”, which in turn can be translated into a probability for fire occurrence. An EEO-based model of the seasonal cycle of GPP is then used to derive litter fall and hence the inputs to dead fuel loads along with an empirically based formulation of decomposition to determine changes in the actual dead fuel load through time. We use an EEO-based model of biomass production efficiency to derive tree and grass cover, where the grass cover and dead fuel load together will determine the incidence of ground fires and tree cover the incidence of crown fires. We show that this simple model produces realistic simulations of spatial
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OtherSandoval D, Orme D, Prentice IC, 2026,
Right answers for the wrong Reasons? Testing water use efficiency responses in terrestrial biosphere models
<jats:p>Water-use efficiency (WUE) quantifies the ratio of CO₂ assimilation to transpiration, reflecting the trade-off between carbon gain and water loss. It therefore provides key information about ecosystems’ strategies for dealing with drought, as well as their responses and feedbacks to climate. From an optimality perspective, a robust theory to predict WUE is fundamental for exploring potential adaptations, shifts in vegetation communities, or migration, especially under future scenarios.Global estimates of WUE, generated by terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), typically evaluate the accuracy of their predictions using observed fluxes. However, these evaluations often overlook whether the simulated sensitivity of fluxes to environmental drivers matches observed sensitivities, possibly covering flaws in the underlying theory, allowing models to produce “right answers for the wrong reasons”.Here, we assess the sensitivity of WUE simulated by the TRENDY models to environmental variables and compare them against sensitivities inferred from δ¹³C isotopes and state-of-the-art remotely sensed datasets derived from machine learning. We found qualitative disagreements (opposite signs) in the sensitivity coefficients of WUE to environmental variables, highlighting gaps in the current theoretical understanding of ecosystem functioning.</jats:p>
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Journal articleLee S, Chesters D, Vogler AP, 2026,
Organelle genomes as universal standard for phylogenetics: a sociotechnical perspective.
, Trends Ecol EvolAssembling a densely sampled tree-of-life from genomic data requires the integration of disparate studies in phylogenetics, genomics, and ecology. Currently, we lack agreement on a standard genetic marker acting as a universal ortholog across all taxa and hierarchical levels. The universality and structural simplicity of organellar genomes, and the relative ease of their acquisition and phylogenetic analysis compared to whole-genome sequences, suggest they should play a greater role as a universal data standard. Standardization requires wide community acceptance, exemplified by the sociotechnical factors leading to its general adoption. Similar processes could promote organellar genomes as the next-generation standard in phylogenetics, with just minor adjustments to data generation and accessibility, to act as the anchoring framework for the current hugely diverse genomic data structure.
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Journal articleSavolainen V, Roberts B, Collins T, et al., 2026,
Rethinking intensification: biodiversity-inclusive management sustains coconut yields
, Plants, People, Planet, ISSN: 2572-2611
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