Disease-Associated Shifts in Minor T Cell Subpopulations Define Distinct Immunopathology in HBV vs. HCV Infection.

Unlabelled: Hepatic viruses, such as hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV), evade immune defenses and drive liver cirrhosis and cancer. They remain a major global health burden, requiring deeper research into immune responses; specifically, adaptive immunity. This study aims to analyze T cellular subsets in chronic HBV and HCV infection and investigate their potential role in the immunopathogenesis of these conditions.

T Cell Dynamics in COVID-19, Long COVID and Successful Recovery.

Despite targeting mainly the respiratory tract, SARS-CoV-2 disrupts T cell homeostasis in ways that may explain both acute lethality and long-term immunological consequences. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the T-cell-mediated chain of immunity and formation of TCR via TREC assessment in COVID-19 and long COVID (LC). For this study, we collected 231 blood samples taken from patients with acute COVID-19 ( = 71), convalescents ( = 51), people diagnosed with LC ( = 63), and healthy volunteers ( = 46).

B Cell Dynamics and Transitional B Cells in Long COVID.

Background: Long COVID is characterized by persistent symptoms following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to evaluate immune system markers, including antigen-specific antibodies, B cell subsets, and Th2-related cytokines, in individuals with long COVID and to investigate their potential impact on the development of this condition.

Methods: We analyzed blood plasma from 63 individuals diagnosed with long COVID based on clinical presentation and 47 healthy individuals with COVID-19 history but no clinical symptoms.

Evolutionary Insights into the Length Variation of DNA Damage Response Proteins Across Eukaryotes.

Across the tree of life, DNA damage response (DDR) proteins play a pivotal, yet dichotomous role in organismal development and evolution. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of 432 DDR proteins encoded by 68 genomes, including that of Nucleospora cyclopteri, an intranuclear microsporidia sequenced in this study. We compared the DDR proteins encoded by these genomes to those of humans to uncover the DNA repair-ome across phylogenetically distant eukaryotes.

Comparative genomic analysis of trypanosomatid protists illuminates an extensive change in the nuclear genetic code.

Unlabelled: Trypanosomatids are among the most extensively studied protists due to their parasitic interactions with insects, vertebrates, and plants. Recently, was found to depart from the canonical genetic code, with all three stop codons reassigned to encode amino acids (UAR for glutamate and UGA for tryptophan), and UAA having dual meaning also as a termination signal (glutamate and stop). To explore features linked to this phenomenon, we analyzed the genomes of four and four species, the latter representing a sister group employing the canonical genetic code.