Multi-omics characterization of the monkeypox virus infection.

Multiple omics analyzes of Vaccinia virus (VACV) infection have defined molecular characteristics of poxvirus biology. However, little is known about the monkeypox (mpox) virus (MPXV) in humans, which has a different disease manifestation despite its high sequence similarity to VACV. Here, we perform an in-depth multi-omics analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and phosphoproteome signatures of MPXV-infected primary human fibroblasts to gain insights into the virus-host interplay.

CK-666 and CK-869 differentially inhibit Arp2/3 iso-complexes.

The inhibitors, CK-666 and CK-869, are widely used to probe the function of Arp2/3 complex mediated actin nucleation in vitro and in cells. However, in mammals, the Arp2/3 complex consists of 8 iso-complexes, as three of its subunits (Arp3, ArpC1, ArpC5) are encoded by two different genes. Here, we used recombinant Arp2/3 with defined composition to assess the activity of CK-666 and CK-869 against iso-complexes.

The stabilization of Arp2/3 complex generated actin filaments.

The Arp2/3 complex, which generates both branched but also linear actin filaments via activation of SPIN90, is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes. Several factors regulate the stability of filaments generated by the Arp2/3 complex to maintain the dynamics and architecture of actin networks. In this review, we summarise recent studies on the molecular mechanisms governing the tuning of Arp2/3 complex nucleated actin filaments, which includes investigations using microfluidics and single-molecule imaging to reveal the mechanosensitivity, dissociation and regeneration of actin branches.

Regeneration of actin filament branches from the same Arp2/3 complex.

Branched actin filaments are found in many key cellular structures. Branches are nucleated by the Arp2/3 complex activated by nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) proteins and bound to the side of preexisting "mother" filaments. Over time, branches dissociate from their mother filament, leading to network reorganization and turnover, but this mechanism is less understood.

Cortactin stabilizes actin branches by bridging activated Arp2/3 to its nucleated actin filament.

Regulation of the assembly and turnover of branched actin filament networks nucleated by the Arp2/3 complex is essential during many cellular processes, including cell migration and membrane trafficking. Cortactin is important for actin branch stabilization, but the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Given this, we determined the structure of vertebrate cortactin-stabilized Arp2/3 actin branches using cryogenic electron microscopy.

Palisade structure in intact vaccinia virions.

Vaccinia virus assembly in the cytoplasm of infected cells involves the formation of a biconcave viral core inside the maturing viral particle. The boundary of the core is defined by a pseudohexagonal palisade layer, composed of trimers projecting from an inner wall. To understand the assembly of this complex core architecture, we obtained a subnanometer structure of the palisade trimer by cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging of purified intact virions.

The amount of Nck rather than N-WASP correlates with the rate of actin-based motility of Vaccinia virus.

Vaccinia virus is a large double-stranded DNA virus and a close relative of Mpox and Variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. During infection, Vaccinia hijacks its host's transport systems and promotes its spread into neighboring cells by recruiting a signaling network that stimulates actin polymerization. Over the years, Vaccinia has provided a powerful model to understand how signaling networks regulate actin polymerization.

Deriving new mixing ratios for Venus atmospheric gases using data from the Pioneer Venus Large Probe Neutral Mass Spectrometer.

We present the first published method to convert data obtained by the Pioneer Venus Large Probe Neutral Mass Spectrometer (LNMS) into units of mixing ratio (ppm) and volume percent (v%) against CO and N, the dominant Venus atmospheric gases, including conversion to density (kg m). These unit conversions are key to unlocking the untapped potential of the data, which represents a significant challenge given the scant calibration data in the literature. Herein, we show that our data treatments and conversions yield mixing ratios and volume percent values for HO, N, and SO that are within error to those reported for the gas chromatograph (LGC) on the Pioneer Venus Large Probe (PVLP).

ARPC5 deficiency leads to severe early-onset systemic inflammation and mortality.

The Arp2/3 complex drives the formation of branched actin networks that are essential for many cellular processes. In humans, the ARPC5 subunit of the Arp2/3 complex is encoded by two paralogous genes (ARPC5 and ARPC5L) with 67% identity. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified a biallelic ARPC5 frameshift variant in a female child who presented with recurrent infections, multiple congenital anomalies, diarrhea and thrombocytopenia, and suffered early demise from sepsis.

ARPC5 isoforms and their regulation by calcium-calmodulin-N-WASP drive distinct Arp2/3-dependent actin remodeling events in CD4 T cells.

CD4 T cell activation induces nuclear and cytoplasmic actin polymerization via the Arp2/3 complex to activate cytokine expression and strengthen T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Actin polymerization dynamics and filament morphology differ between nucleus and cytoplasm. However, it is unclear how the Arp2/3 complex mediates distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic actin polymerization in response to a common stimulus.

Regulation of branched versus linear Arp2/3-generated actin filaments.

Activation of the Arp2/3 complex by VCA-motif-bearing actin nucleation-promoting factors results in the formation of "daughter" actin filaments branching off the sides of pre-existing "mother" filaments. Alternatively, when stimulated by SPIN90, Arp2/3 directly nucleates "linear" actin filaments. Uncovering the similarities and differences between these two mechanisms is fundamental to understanding how actin cytoskeleton dynamics are regulated.

A succession of two viral lattices drives vaccinia virus assembly.

During its cytoplasmic replication, vaccinia virus assembles non-infectious spherical immature virions (IV) coated by a viral D13 lattice. Subsequently, IV mature into infectious brick-shaped intracellular mature virions (IMV) that lack D13. Here, we performed cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) of frozen-hydrated vaccinia-infected cells to structurally characterise the maturation process in situ.

Synergies Between Venus & Exoplanetary Observations: Venus and Its Extrasolar Siblings.

Here we examine how our knowledge of present day Venus can inform terrestrial exoplanetary science and how exoplanetary science can inform our study of Venus. In a superficial way the contrasts in knowledge appear stark. We have been looking at Venus for millennia and studying it via telescopic observations for centuries.

Potential Distribution of L. in Mexico according to Its Optimal Thermal Range for Seed Germination under Different Climate Change Scenarios.

is a native tree of economic importance, as its wood is highly demanded in the international market. In this work, the current and future distributions of in Mexico under climate change scenarios were analyzed according to their optimal temperature ranges for seed germination. For the present distribution, 256 localities of the species' presence were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database and modelled with MaxEnt.

Characterization of Resistance to the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) among Sugarcane Cultivars.

Cultivar resistance is an essential management strategy for the Mexican rice borer, (Dyar), in sugarcane in the USA, but resistance mechanisms are poorly understood. Resistance was evaluated among Louisiana's (USA) commercial sugarcane cultivars and experimental clones through field screenings, greenhouse trials, and a diet incorporation assay. Cultivars L 01-299 and HoCP 85-845 had the lowest borer injury levels, while HoCP 00-950 and L 12-201 were among the most heavily injured in field and greenhouse trials.

Basal cell carcinomas in organ transplant recipients versus the general population: clinicopathologic study.

Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are at greater risk of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) than non-OTRs, but histopathologic differences between BCCs in OTRs and the general population are largely unknown. We compared clinicopathologic features of BCCs in OTRs vs the general population in Queensland, Australia. Details of BCC tumors (site, size, level of invasion, subtype, biopsy procedure) were collected from histopathology reports in two prospective skin cancer studies, one in OTRs and one general-population-based.

Kinesin-1 transports morphologically distinct intracellular virions during vaccinia infection.

Intracellular mature viruses (IMVs) are the first and most abundant infectious form of vaccinia virus to assemble during its replication cycle. IMVs can undergo microtubule-based motility, but their directionality and the motor involved in their transport remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that IMVs, like intracellular enveloped viruses (IEVs), the second form of vaccinia that are wrapped in Golgi-derived membranes, recruit kinesin-1 and undergo anterograde transport.

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: A Synopsis of Coordinated National Crop Wild Relative Seed Collecting Programs across Five Continents.

The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results.

The relative binding position of Nck and Grb2 adaptors impacts actin-based motility of Vaccinia virus.

Phosphotyrosine (pTyr) motifs in unstructured polypeptides orchestrate important cellular processes by engaging SH2-containing adaptors to assemble complex signalling networks. The concept of phase separation has recently changed our appreciation of multivalent networks, however, the role of pTyr motif positioning in their function remains to be explored. We have now investigated this parameter in the operation of the signalling cascade driving actin-based motility and spread of Vaccinia virus.