Andres Floto’s group has defined the necessary steps for M. abscessus bacteria to evolve into a human pathogen, suggesting the importance of identifying and treating infections quickly, before more virulent strains can arise.
Evolutionary journey of mycobacteria mapped
How immune responses differ between asymptomatic cases and people with severe COVID-19
People infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience a large range in severity of infection. Menna Clatworthy’s group has taken part in the largest study of its type to investigate differences in the immune response that could explain this variation.
First atomic model of human telomerase constructed by electron cryo-microscopy
Telomerase is a vital enzyme which synthesizes telomeric repeats at eukaryotic chromosome ends to compensate for loss generated by incomplete genome replication. Kelly Nguyen’s group has produced the first atomic structure of the complex and revealed histones as novel subunits.
Repeating peptides are obstacles to neuronal transport in motor neurone disease
Repetitive peptides from the C9orf72 gene contribute to the most prevalent form of motor neurone disease, but it has been unclear how. Simon Bullock’s group help show how these peptides bind to both motor proteins and microtubule tracks to block neuronal transport.
How timing in early brain development sets humans apart from apes
The advent of brain organoid technology has enabled scientists to begin to ask what makes us human. Madeline Lancaster’s group has identified differences in early brain development that can help to explain the increased number of neurons in human brains over other apes.
Capturing the activation of a lipid kinase on membranes by G-proteins
Rare lipids in our cell membranes act as postcodes to operate regulatory processes such as autophagy and endocytosis. Roger Williams, together with Sean Munro’s and John Brigg’s groups, have shown how the G-proteins Rab1 and Rab5 activate these processes respectively, through conformational changes of kinase VPS34 complexes.