🧬 biology

BioGPT-ClinVar: Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning of a Biomedical LLM for Genomic Variant Interpretation

This study presents BioGPT-ClinVar, a parameter-efficient fine-tuning framework using Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) to adapt the 150-million-parameter BioGPT model for genomic variant interpretation, demonstrating effective convergence on a curated ClinVar dataset while providing an open-source, reproducible pipeline for future clinical and surveillance applications.

Sepideh Moafi2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Trained quantum Kolmogorov--Arnold networks can dequantize, and a discrete-logarithm encoding need not: a measurement-based map of where quantum advantage can live

This paper demonstrates that while trained quantum Kolmogorov–Arnold networks are often classically simulable via low-bond-dimension tensor networks, genuine quantum advantage can be preserved and made trainable by employing discrete-logarithm encodings that embed number-theoretic hardness without succumbing to barren plateaus.

Hikaru Wakaura2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Xkr regulates phosphatidylserine transport via ER-PM contact sites to promote apoptotic cell clearance

This study reveals that the Drosophila lipid scramblase Xkr promotes apoptotic cell clearance by interacting with dORP9 at ER-plasma membrane contact sites to facilitate non-vesicular phosphatidylserine transport to the cell surface, thereby serving as an alternative caspase-independent pathway for "eat me" signal exposure.

Qian Zheng, Xinyu Ma, Fuqiao Liu, Tong Xiao, Lei Yuan, Qing Yan, Hui Wang, Hui Xiao2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Analysis of Human Physiology in Simulated Lunar and Martian Hypogravity With and Without Virtual Reality

This study demonstrates that simulated hypogravity reduces cardiovascular demand during walking while virtual reality modulates physiological responses by delaying heart rate increases, confirming the safety and efficacy of combining AlterG treadmills with VR for preparing crews for future lunar and Martian missions.

Rosirene Pantaleão Gessinger, Juliana Silva Herbert, João de Carvalho Castro, Joana Figueira Godinho, Adrian Alberto Fer (…)2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Intrasexual competition modulates heatwave effects on male reproduction in Drosophila prolongata

Contrary to expectations, this study reveals that intense intrasexual competition partially mitigates the negative impact of heatwaves on male reproductive output in *Drosophila prolongata*, likely through a compensatory increase in reproductive investment, highlighting the critical role of interactive environmental stressors in shaping wildlife responses to climate change.

Shivanshi Gupta, Gayatri Raina, Marta Cortés Mediavilla, Tom Ratz2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Tracing the Evolution and Circulation of Measles Virus in Africa

This study utilizes phylodynamic analysis of 336 measles virus strains to reveal that African transmission is driven by human mobility and frequent Asian introductions, characterized by prolonged cryptic circulation that underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and vaccination to prevent global spread.

Nidia Trovao, Sana Tamim, Herve Kadjo, Samiah Kanwar, Anna Salafsky, Olayinka Okoh, Marius Adagba, Yakoura Ouattara, Ven (…)2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Programmable RNA targeting with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) effector Cas7-11 in zebrafish embryos and mammalian cells

This study demonstrates that the CRISPR/Cas7-11 system serves as a precise, efficient, and low-toxicity RNA knockdown tool capable of inducing specific phenotypic changes in zebrafish embryos and driving differentiation in human embryonic stem cells with minimal off-target effects.

Huan Yan, Hassan Imtiaz UL, Kai Yan, Man Yee Cheung, Jiani Deng, Dio Daniel Wuyang, Ke Jiang, Liangji Zhou, Dongqing Cai (…)2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Cannabis sativa L. Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Oxidative Stress and Rescues MITF Transcriptional Suppression in B16-F10 Melanoma Cell Line

A neutral cannabinoid-rich *Cannabis sativa* L. extract mitigates UVB-induced oxidative stress and partially restores MITF transcriptional suppression in B16-F10 melanoma cells without significantly altering total melanin content, suggesting its potential as a photoprotective agent in dermatological formulations.

Pakawadee Mahaprom, Kannapat Narasuwan, Natta Wiriyakun, Piyanee Ratanachamnong, Porntipa Korprasertthaworn, Vasanop Vac (…)2026-07-01
🧬 biology

Development of an Edible Vaccine Using Conserved PspA Epitopes Against Pneumococcal Infection in a Murine Model

This study demonstrates that an edible vaccine developed by expressing conserved PspA B-cell epitopes fused to alpha-zein in transgenic tomato plants successfully protects mice against lethal pneumococcal challenge, highlighting a promising, affordable oral vaccination strategy.

Shahina Akter, Eva Stoger, Tanjina Akhtar Banu, Barna Goswami, Mohammad Nashir Uddin, Salim Khan, Jamalun Nessa, Chowdhu (…)2026-07-01