Foundation models in molecular biology, leveraging their success in NLP and image generation, are revolutionizing the understanding of multi-level molecular correlations by training on vast datasets encompassing RNA/DNA/protein sequences, single-cell transcriptomics, and spatial transcriptomics. These models decode intricate relationships (e.g., gene regulatory networks, protein interaction hubs) to predict functions, design therapeutics, and infer spatial tissue dynamics. Current frameworks include ESM-2 (protein structure-function prediction), scGPT (single-cell data integration), and DNABERT (genomic variant interpretation). Future directions emphasize multimodal integration (combining sequences, structures, and omics), interpretable attention mechanisms for biological insights, and scalable architectures for high-resolution spatial-temporal data. Addressing data heterogeneity and model generalizability will unlock precision biomedicine applications.

This protocol establishes the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model in avian embryos to investigate migrasome-mediated angiogenesis mechanisms. Key methodologies include the CAM nylon mesh assay and ex vivo sprouting assay for quantifying vascular growth, alongside migrasome isolation, labeling, and targeted delivery. CRISPR-generated T4-KO-mCherry-KI embryos enable functional analysis of migrasome dynamics in real-time angiogenesis. The CAM's high vascularity and accessibility allow parallel assessment of pro-/anti-angiogenic factors and migrasome-cell interaction mapping. By integrating genetic editing and migrasome manipulation, this platform bridges migrasome biology with developmental angiogenesis, offering a scalable tool for mechanistic and therapeutic exploration.

A scientific breakthrough at Tel Aviv University: A world-first study shows an acoustic interaction between plants and insects. In this study, the team focused on female moths and found that they make a critical decision—where to lay their eggs—based on sounds emitted by nearby plants. When plants emitted distress sounds, the female moths preferred healthy plants that were not emitting such sounds. These sounds are ultrasonic, beyond the hearing range of the human ear, but moths can hear them.

This study reveals the step-wise establishment of nuclear speckle-associated domains (SPADs) during mouse embryogenesis. Using optimized CUT&Tag, researchers found paternal SPADs dominate pre-ZGA stages, coordinating sequential gene expression and 3D genome reorganization. SPADs form two classes (primary and ZGA-dependent secondary), regulated by factors like Nipbl and Gata6, linking chromatin dynamics to developmental programming.

This study reported that pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila (pAKK) promotes the differentiation of intestinal microfold cells (M cells) and increases the expression of the GP2 receptor via the TLR2-MyD88-NF-κB pathway, thereby enhancing the ability of Salmonella Typhimurium (STm) to invade Peyer's patches and leading to aggravated infection in mice. However, pAKK had no significant effect on the extracellular pathogen Citrobacter rodentium (Cr). Experiments showed that pre-treatment with pAKK significantly increased the expression of M cell markers and the number of gut lymphoid tissues, with effects depending on TLR2 signal activation mediated by the Amuc_1100 protein, independent of the canonical RANKL pathway. This study cautions that the application of probiotics should take pathogen specificity into account, as pAKK may increase the risk of infection by pathogens that rely on M cell invasion.

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of musculoskeletal disability worldwide, affecting approximately 70% of the global population (Global Burden of Disease Study 2021). Aging is an independent risk factor for LBP, with nearly 40% of individuals over 65 developing LBP and exhibiting heightened susceptibility to lumbar disc herniation. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing of human lumbar disc specimens, this study systematically compares cellular heterogeneity between aging and herniated discs. We identified senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in aged disc cells and IL-17-mediated immune activation in herniation, revealing distinct therapeutic targets. These findings advance mechanistic understanding of disc degeneration and offer mechanistically-informed strategies, such as SASP inhibition and IL-17 pathway modulation, for precision treatment of age-related LBP in elderly populations. 

This study reveals that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) drive macrophage-derived chemokine production (CXCL9/10/11) to promote CD8+ T cell infiltration in obstruction-induced renal fibrosis. Using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) models, researchers demonstrated that NET inhibition via PAD4 deletion or DNase treatment attenuated fibrosis, while NET transfer exacerbated it. Mechanistically, NET-macrophage interactions via TLR2/4 signaling license chemokine secretion, fueling CD8+ T cell recruitment and granzyme B-mediated tubular injury. These findings establish NETs as central orchestrators of immune-fibrotic crosstalk, providing therapeutic targets for chronic kidney diseases.

This study demonstrates that Setd2 overexpression rescues bivalent gene expression during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, significantly improving cloning efficiency. By mapping H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 dynamics in mouse SCNT embryos, researchers identified aberrant hyperaccumulation of these histone marks at promoter regions during ZGA, leading to dysregulated bivalent gene expression. Overexpression of Setd2, the H3K36me3 methyltransferase, restored chromatin balance by antagonizing H3K27me3 deposition and enhancing transcriptional activation of ZGA-critical genes, thereby increasing blastocyst formation rates.