The Impact of CD30 on Germinal Center B Cell Dynamics and the Expansion of IgG1-Switched B Cells Background CD30 (also known as TNFRSF8) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) superfamily. Initially identified as a marker of Hodgkin lymphoma, subsequent research revealed its expression on other lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-...

Critical and Differential Roles of eIF4A1 and eIF4A2 in B-Cell Development and Function Academic Background In mammalian cells, translation initiation is a crucial step in protein synthesis, where the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) plays a pivotal role. eIF4A is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds secondary structures in the 5’ untr...

Academic Background and Problem Statement Loss-of-Function (LOF) mutations in Tumor Suppressor Genes (TSGs) are prevalent in cancer. However, therapeutic strategies directly targeting these mutations are challenging due to the loss or reduction of encoded protein function, which in normal states plays a role in inhibiting aberrant cell proliferatio...

Critical Role of UBXN6 in Autophagy Induction and Inflammation Control in Macrophages Background The innate immune system serves as the first line of defense against pathogen invasion and inflammatory responses. Monocytes and macrophages, as key cell types in the innate immune system, play critical roles during infection and inflammation. However, ...

NUDT21 Regulates Macrophage Hyperactivation via the Autophagy Pathway Academic Background The inflammatory response is a critical component of the body’s immune defense, facilitating pathogen clearance and tissue repair. However, dysregulation of the inflammatory response can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease ...

This study explores the necessity of quickly recognizing and avoiding predators in the natural environment, which is crucial for juvenile animals due to their increased vulnerability to predators. However, it remains unclear whether neonatal vertebrates can rapidly acquire such skills and the underlying neural mechanisms. Zebrafish, a widely used m...

Academic Report on the Study of Layer-Specific Anatomical and Physiological Characteristics of the Retinal Neurovascular Unit Background and Problem Statement Retinal processing, similar to all neural computations, is metabolically expensive and involves the dynamic regulation of blood flow, known as neurovascular coupling (NVC). The retina is supp...

Report on the Paper “Separate Sites of Action for Cry1 and Phot1 Blue-Light Receptors in the Arabidopsis Hypocotyl” Background and Motivation Plants rely on the rapid elongation of the hypocotyl to overcome the resistance of the soil surface and access light environments for establishing autotrophic photosynthesis. Upon exposure to blue light, the ...

Highlights of the Study: Metabolite-Level Regulation of Cyanobacteria Awakening from Dormancy Study Title: “Metabolite-level regulation of enzymatic activity controls awakening of cyanobacteria from metabolic dormancy” Published in Current Biology (January 6, 2025), this study, led by Sofía Doello, involves researchers from the University of Tübing...

Report on the Study of the Impact of ANCV1R Gene Deficiency on Pheromone Detection and Sexual Behavior in Mice Background Introduction In mammals, pheromones are crucial chemical signals that regulate social and sexual behaviors. Pheromone detection is mediated by the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which uses vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) to recogni...