The current outbreak of Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlights the challenges of responding to rare but potentially devastating infectious diseases. Two studies led by researchers from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, together with other national and international collaborators, now provide important insights for outbreak response. One demonstrates how diagnostic tests can be evaluated rapidly during an outbreak; the other investigates the biological properties of the 2026 BDBV strain and whether an existing Ebola vaccine could offer some cross-protection. Both studies were published this month in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

New study identifies hundreds of previously overlooked micropeptides linked to cancer progression. Hebrew University researchers have discovered that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)—genetic material once thought not to produce proteins—can encode hundreds of tiny proteins collectively called micropeptides. By analyzing nearly 10,000 tumours across 17 cancer types, the team identified hundreds of micropeptides associated with different stages of cancer progression, revealing a previously underexplored layer of cancer biology that could improve understanding of how tumours develop and help identify future biomarkers.

We have preferences for some foods over others, and this behavior is also seen in animals. Now, researchers at the University of Fukui have found that rats produce distinct ultrasonic vocalizations while consuming highly palatable food. Using machine learning, they identified a specific 40 kHz inverted-U vocalization that occurred more frequently during chocolate consumption than regular chow feeding. The findings could provide a measurable way to study food-related reward and positive emotional states.We have preferences for some foods over others, and this behavior is also seen in animals. Now, researchers at the University of Fukui have found that rats produce distinct ultrasonic vocalizations while consuming highly palatable food. Using machine learning, they identified a specific 40 kHz inverted-U vocalization that occurred more frequently during chocolate consumption than regular chow feeding. The findings could provide a measurable way to study food-related reward and positive emotional states.

Bone repair depends on skeletal progenitor cells (SPCs) moving to injured areas and developing into bone-forming cells, but how these cells respond to their surroundings remains unclear. A study published in the International Journal of Oral Science shows that two collagen receptors, β1 integrin and DDR2, work together to regulate SPC migration, proliferation, and differentiation during cranial bone regeneration. The findings reveal a cooperative mechanism that could guide strategies to enhance bone repair.

A flexible metal–organic framework developed by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo enables the structural determination of large “beyond rule of 5” molecules from microgram-scale samples. Using APF-40 as a crystalline sponge, the researchers determined the structures of 12 pharmaceutical-related molecules, including the 899 Da drug molecule doramectin and trace ivermectin derivatives. The method could aid drug discovery, natural products research, and the characterization of rare compounds available only in very small quantities.

Digital pathology relies on high-resolution imaging for accurate cancer diagnosis, yet high-magnification systems remain slow and costly for large-scale screening. Meanwhile, standard AI super-resolution often generates hallucinated cellular artifacts that risk diagnostic accuracy. To overcome this, researchers developed a hybrid bright-dark field computational framework using fast LED illumination to provide physical guidance. This physics-guided approach doubles spatial resolution, reduces reconstruction artifacts by 84%, and boosts AI cancer screening sensitivity by 11.14%.

The smell of Japanese Igusa (rush grass), the core component of tatami mats, has long been associated with comfort and relaxation. However, there was little scientific evidence behind such claims. To test this, researchers measured the brain activity of volunteers while they sat on Igusa mats and completed simple tasks. The researchers found that when using the Igusa mats the participants’ brain activity suggested they had better focus, cognitive engagement, and stress resilience.