06/17/2022
Primer
Siebren Faber and Ronald Roepman explore a PLOS Biology study which uses ultrastructure expansion microscopy to study the inner scaffold of the photoreceptor connecting cilium, the location of multiple proteins implicated in inherited forms of progressive sight loss such as retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis.
Image credit: pbio.3001672
Current IssueMay 2022
06/16/2022
Perspective
Tropical biology is currently largely absent from undergraduate curricula. Ann Russell and co-authors argue that the integration of authentic research in tropical biology could promote internationality among scientists and provide experiential learning that enables students to address complex global problems.
Image credit: J. Leighton Reid
06/14/2022
Research Article
Gamma oscillations in visual cortex have been proposed to play an important role in feature binding, but this role has recently been questioned. Vinay Shirhatti, Poojya Ravishankar and Supratim Ray show that visual stimulus-induced gamma oscillations are highly attenuated with even small discontinuities in the stimulus. This "resonant" behaviour can be explained by an excitatory-inhibitory model in which discontinuities lead to a reduction in lateral inputs.
Image credit: pbio.3001666
06/14/2022
Research Article
Does cellular senescence contribute to developmental birth defects? Muriel Rhinn, William Keyes and colleagues show that valproic acid induces cellular senescence in neuroepithelial cells, the precursors of all adult brain cells, and blocks their differentiation, suggesting that aberrant senescence in the embryo may contribute to postnatal cognitive defects.
Image credit: pbio.3001664
06/13/2022
Short Reports
Munzareen Khan, Piali Sengupta and co-workers examine how context modulates the valence of individual odorants in Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing that context-dependent engagement of distinct intracellular signaling pathways within a single sensory neuron type is sufficient to switch olfactory preference behavior to an individual odorant from attraction to aversion.
Image credit: pbio.3001677
06/10/2022
Research Article
The polyol pathway, which converts glucose to fructose via sorbitol, was thought to be largely silent, and only the negative effects of its activation were known. Hiroko Sano, Masayasu Kojima and colleagues reveal that the polyol pathway is involved in glucose-responsive activation of Mondo/ChREBP-mediated metabolic remodeling in both mice and flies.
Image credit: Hiroko Sano
06/10/2022
Essay
Assuming technology advanced enough to fully manipulate our brains, this thought experiment addresses the question of whether action potentials cause consciousness.
Image credit: pbio.3001651
06/09/2022
Research Article
Overexpression of siRNA pathway factors in mosquitoes mediates a broad-spectrum antiviral action against human pathogenic viruses, also regulating responses against bacteria and fungi.
Image credit: pbio.3001668
06/09/2022
Discovery Report
Mendelian randomization provides evidence that being overweight during childhood may have a long-term influence on cardiac structure in later life.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user Ekko
06/07/2022
Research Article
The most “beautiful” reef fish are tightly packed into small regions of both the phylogenetic tree and ecological trait space, and are less threatened than “ugly” fish.
Image credit: pbio.3001640
Raquel Lieberman discusses her work on the protein myocilin, implicated in glaucoma, but whose normal function remains unclear after over 20 years.
Susanna Bidgood explores the future of using poxviruses as versatile tools for cell biology research.
Rachel Harding proposes that open notebooks present an opportunity for researchers to showcase their work and rapidly advance science in their field
On the eve of the UN General Assembly meeting on TB, Christoph Grundner urged the need to consider basic research as an essential component of any future anti-TB strategy.
Norman Pace remembers the early days of what became known as "metagenomics," as experienced by the author during his development as a scientist.
June 12-17
Meet Senior Editor Ines Alvarez-Garcia
June 12-16
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente
June 29 - July 2
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (virtual)
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