In the brain, what matters is not only whether a signal reaches a nerve cell, but also how long its chemical gate remains open. A team led by Dr Mehdi Borjkhani from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) has demonstrated in a computational model that both excessively fast and excessively slow NMDA-receptor deactivation can disrupt neuronal activity. Importantly, these extremes in cessation rates lead to instability through two distinct mechanisms.

A research team at Southern Medical University reveals a complete pathway running from gut microbiota to liver detoxification enzymes: depression disrupts the *Clostridium*-LCA-PXR-CYP3A11 metabolic axis, causing the gelsemium toxin to accumulate in the body and sharply worsening neurotoxicity

The WHO Global Action Plan for Poliovirus Containment, 4th edition (GAPIV) describes the necessary conditions for the containment of poliovirus material in poliovirus-essential facilities (PEFs). The method used for validation of chemical products for poliovirus decontamination in this study was based on processes outlined in European Standard EN14476, as recommended by the WHO GAPIV guidelines. The disinfectants 5 % Microchem Plus and 1 % Virkon®S were evaluated for efficacy against high titre poliovirus in solutions with and without high organic load using an endpoint dilution assay. A poliovirus Sabin 1 strain was used as the reference virus with the titre 8.33 log10 CCID50 (50 % cell culture infectious dose) in 0.1 ml. Microchem Plus only partially inactivated poliovirus and cannot be relied upon as the sole decontaminant. In contrast, Virkon®S performed well for both high titre poliovirus in solutions with and without high organic load, achieving >4 log10 titre reduction for both, making Virkon®S a suitable disinfectant for poliovirus.

In vivo immune cell engineering directly reprograms endogenous immune cells, bypassing individualized ex vivo manufacturing and opening a path toward more accessible and scalable cell therapies. This review summarizes cell-specific engineering strategies, compares viral and non-viral delivery platforms, highlights emerging applications in cancer, autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and discusses the key challenges that must be overcome for clinical translation.

A new study reveals how microbial communities dynamically reorganize their metabolic functions during Shanxi aged vinegar fermentation. By integrating metatranscriptomic analysis with global metabolic profiling, researchers uncovered a stage-dependent metabolic transition from microbial growth and substrate utilization to acidification and stress adaptation. The study further identified a self-organizing microbial network characterized by functional division of labor and metabolic cooperation between key microorganisms, providing new insights into how traditional fermentation ecosystems achieve stability and develop unique flavor characteristics.

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed SimuScan, an AI system that helps an atomic force microscope — a tool that maps surfaces at the scale of molecules — recognize meaningful features and decide where to look next. Trained on realistic, simulated images, it can reduce the need for expert manual control and make nanoscale imaging faster, more consistent, and better suited for automated, high-throughput research.

Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology and their collaborators discover a surprising way to improve anion exchange membranes, a key component of lower-cost hydrogen fuel cells. They find that some rigid polymers form highly organized, water-filled channels when immersed in water, allowing ions to move more efficiently—challenging assumptions about how these materials should be designed, and paving the way to more affordable and sustainable hydrogen technologies.

A case report published in UroPrecision shows that transurethral holmium laser ablation of a large seminal vesicle cyst can relieve acute urinary retention in Zinner syndrome, with the patient remaining asymptomatic and passing a normal uroflowmetry at one-year follow-up.