🧬 biology

Pseudohaptic Social Touch Enhances Social Connection and Physiological Regulation in Virtual Reality

This study demonstrates that an immersive Virtual Reality experience utilizing pseudohaptics—visual and auditory cues simulating touch without physical feedback—effectively enhances social connection and reduces heart rate, particularly benefiting individuals with less intimate relationships or higher interoceptive sensitivity.

Irene Valori, Giulia Anilia Gambaretti, John Desnoyers-Stewart, Ekaterina R. Stepanova, Bernhard E. Riecke, Merle T. Fai (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Intestinal dysbiosis and oral microbiota translocation in osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a comparative cohort study with traumatic fracture patients

This comparative cohort study reveals that non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is characterized by a unique gut dysbiosis marked by Bacteroidetes dominance and excessive ecological connectivity, distinct from traumatic fractures and potentially driven by the translocation of oral microbiota such as *Segatella*.

zelong Yang, Xixin Jin, Zipu Zhang, Xinru Li, Zhongwei Chang, Yun Hu, HaoYu Wang, Xinjun Wang2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Four-year outcomes from an HIV research pathway program for aspiring scientists at the University of California, San Francisco Center for AIDS Research

A four-year evaluation of the UCSF CFAR Scholars Program demonstrates that a structured, mentored research pathway for pre-doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds significantly enhances research readiness, scientific identity, and interest in HIV careers, supporting early intervention as an effective strategy to diversify the biomedical workforce.

Carina Marquez, Said Iftekhar Sadaat, Lauren Sterling, Joseph Watabe, Jonathan D. Fuchs, Audrey Paragan-Smith, Kelechi U (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Circulating CD5⁺ dendritic cells link gut microbiome function to immunotherapy response in cancer patients

This prospective study of 82 cancer patients reveals that elevated baseline frequencies of circulating CD5⁺ conventional dendritic cells type 2, driven by a specific gut microbiome metabolic output, independently predict clinical benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors, while a distinct oral microbiome signature forecasts severe adverse events.

Janin Chandra, Huang Wang, Tasafin Hossain, Bree Tillett, Catherine Berman, Michael Nissen, Shannon Joseph, Fiona Simpso (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Integrated Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics Identifies an RBM8A/HDAC9/p16 Axis Driving Early Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This study identifies a distinct malignant subpopulation in hepatocellular carcinoma driven by an RBM8A/HDAC9/p16 axis, where RBM8A stabilizes HDAC9 mRNA to epigenetically silence p16, thereby promoting early tumor recurrence and chemoresistance.

Jiazhou Ye, Haoyu Zeng, Wenbing Li, Xiaoqing Li, Zhenbo Huang, Weijie Cen, Yuejiao Su, Jingting Su, Kaixiang Mo, Youzhen (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Biofilm Formation and Genomic Signatures of Circulating Bordetella pertussis Strains Isolated in Beijing, China

This study characterizes the high prevalence of strong biofilm formation among circulating *Bordetella pertussis* isolates in Beijing and utilizes GWAS to reveal that this phenotypic heterogeneity is driven by coordinated genomic remodeling across multiple biological pathways rather than single genetic determinants.

Dongshan Yan, Jie Che, Hanying Dai, Luyao Guo, Jie Li, Bohan Chen, Yuan Gao, Hairui Wang, Xueping Liu, Li Xu, Fuyi Han (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Fungi synthesize flavonoids, but not isoflavones - a risk of feeding source contamination

This study demonstrates that reports of fungi synthesizing isoflavones are likely artifacts caused by plant-derived contaminants in culture media, as fungal genomes lack the necessary enzymatic machinery for isoflavone biosynthesis despite possessing the ability to produce simpler flavonoids via distinct evolutionary pathways.

Lenka Machová, Lucie Černá, Eva Stodůlková, Miroslav Flieger, Martin Štícha, Eliška Procházková, Miroslav Kolařík2026-07-08
🧬 biology

Dietary protein source dictates the impact of obesogenic diets on hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance via carnitine-dependent regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase

This study reveals that dietary protein sources (pork and soy) exacerbate obesity and hepatic insulin resistance in obesogenic conditions by elevating carnitine levels, which downregulate ACC2 and alter mitochondrial lipid handling, whereas casein protein does not produce these adverse effects.

Andre Marette, Frédéric Bégin, Lia Rossi Perazza, Patricia Mitchell, Thomas Guerbette, Bertrand Bouchard, Michael Shum (…)2026-07-08
🧬 biology

ZNF114 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Inducing Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Shaping an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment

This study demonstrates that ZNF114 acts as an oncogenic driver in gastric cancer by promoting epithelial–mesenchymal transition and establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby correlating with poor patient prognosis and serving as a potential therapeutic target.

Wenzheng Li, Zhengxuan Zhang, Yiyan Li, Aoxue Xing, Hailiang Wang, Gang Wu, Peichun Sun, Wei Zhang2026-07-08