Generation of systemic antitumour immunity via the in situ modulation of the gut microbiome by an orally administered inulin gel.

The performance of immune-checkpoint inhibitors, which benefit only a subset of patients and can cause serious immune-related adverse events, underscores the need for strategies that induce T-cell immunity with minimal toxicity. The gut microbiota has been implicated in the outcomes of patients following cancer immunotherapy, yet manipulating the gut microbiome to achieve systemic antitumour immunity is challenging. Here we show in multiple murine tumour models that inulin-a widely consumed dietary fibre-formulated as a 'colon-retentive' orally administered gel can effectively modulate the gut microbiome in situ, induce systemic memory-T-cell responses and amplify the antitumour activity of the checkpoint inhibitor anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (α-PD-1).

The Vc2 Cyclic di-GMP-Dependent Riboswitch of Vibrio cholerae Regulates Expression of an Upstream Putative Small RNA by Controlling RNA Stability.

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a bacterial second messenger molecule that is important in the biology of , but the molecular mechanisms by which this molecule regulates downstream phenotypes have not been fully characterized. We have previously shown that the Vc2 c-di-GMP-binding riboswitch, encoded upstream of the gene , functions as an off switch in response to c-di-GMP. However, the mechanism by which c-di-GMP controls expression of has not been fully elucidated.

Picosecond pulse shaping of single photons using quantum dots.

Quantum dots (QDs) are an excellent single-photon source that can be combined with a spin quantum memory. Many quantum technologies require increased control over the characteristics of emitted photons. A powerful approach is to trigger coherent Raman photons from QDs with a Λ energy-level system, such as the spin singlet-triplet system in two coupled QDs.

Cyclic di-GMP Regulates TfoY in Vibrio cholerae To Control Motility by both Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Mechanisms.

3',5'-Cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) is a bacterial second messenger molecule that is a key global regulator in , but the molecular mechanisms by which this molecule regulates downstream phenotypes have not been fully characterized. One such regulatory factor that may respond to c-di-GMP is the Vc2 c-di-GMP-binding riboswitch that is hypothesized to control the expression of the downstream putative transcription factor TfoY. Although much is known about the physical and structural properties of the Vc2 riboswitch aptamer, the nature of its expression and function in has not been investigated.

Amplifying optical rotation using a coupled waveguide and ring resonator.

Measuring optical rotations in materials is a useful tool in many experimental studies. Research may be limited by the ability to measure small rotations due to weak interactions. We propose a novel scheme wherein we use a coupled waveguide and ring resonator to amplify the effects of optical rotation, potentially opening new avenues for investigation.