Structures and receptor binding activities of merbecovirus spike proteins reveal key signatures for human DPP4 adaptation.

Merbecoviruses from bats, pangolins, and hedgehogs pose significant zoonotic threats, with a limited understanding of receptor binding by their spike (S) proteins. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of GD-BatCoV (BtCoV-422) and SE-PangolinCoV (MjHKU4r-CoV-1) RBDs in complex with human DPP4 (hDPP4). These structures exhibit a substantial offset in their hDPP4 interaction interfaces, revealing a conserved hydrophobic cluster as a convergent signature of DPP4 binding within the MERS-HKU4 clade of merbecoviruses.

Enhancing long-term adherence in elderly stroke rehabilitation through a digital health approach based on multimodal feedback and personalized intervention.

Multimodal digital health technologies aim to improve long-term adherence in stroke patients through personalized feedback and psychological monitoring. However, the interactive effects of physiological and psychological factors on rehabilitation adherence remain unclear. This study evaluates personalized feedback, physiological and psychological factors, and their independent and synergistic effects to optimize rehabilitation adherence in elderly stroke patients.

Structural basis of nucleosome deacetylation and DNA linker tightening by Rpd3S histone deacetylase complex.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cryptic transcription at the coding region is prevented by the activity of Sin3 histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex Rpd3S, which is carried by the transcribing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) to deacetylate and stabilize chromatin. Despite its fundamental importance, the mechanisms by which Rpd3S deacetylates nucleosomes and regulates chromatin dynamics remain elusive. Here, we determined several cryo-EM structures of Rpd3S in complex with nucleosome core particles (NCPs), including the H3/H4 deacetylation states, the alternative deacetylation state, the linker tightening state, and a state in which Rpd3S co-exists with the Hho1 linker histone on NCP.

Somatically hypermutated antibodies isolated from SARS-CoV-2 Delta infected patients cross-neutralize heterologous variants.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants feature highly mutated spike proteins with extraordinary abilities in evading antibodies isolated earlier in the pandemic. Investigation of memory B cells from patients primarily with breakthrough infections with the Delta variant enables isolation of a number of neutralizing antibodies cross-reactive to heterologous variants of concern (VOCs) including Omicron variants (BA.1-BA.

SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants evade population antibody response by mutations in a single spike epitope.

Population antibody response is thought to be important in selection of virus variants. We report that SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits a population immune response that is mediated by a lineage of VH1-69 germline antibodies. A representative antibody R1-32 from this lineage was isolated.

Hybrid Arch Repair with Supra-Aortic Debranching and Using Castor Stent-Graft.

 The management of aortic lesions involving the aortic arch in patients who cannot tolerate thoracotomy is a challenge.  A 32-year-old woman who underwent a giant aneurysm at the proximal end of the descending aorta with significant vascular wall calcification. The patient underwent Castor single-branched stent-grafting in the brachiocephalic trunk combined with surgical supra-aortic debranching, which avoided surgical aortic arch replacement and stent fenestration.

A medical adhesive used in a wet environment by blending tannic acid and silk fibroin.

A multifunctional and effective medical adhesive with a combination of high toughness and superior adhesion is highly desired in biomedical fields. However, clinical application of medical adhesives is still limited due to their weak adhesion to wet tissue. In this study, a novel medical adhesive called TASK composed of tannic acid (TA) and silk fibroin (SF) based on polyphenol-gel systems was developed.