Zhu Etal Research Articles

From dysbiosis to homeostasis: Oleic acid matters in the vagina

The role of fatty acids in shaping vaginal microbiota remains unclear. In an issue of Cell, Zhu etal. use genomic and transcriptomic analyses to reveal that oleic acid (OA) selectively inhibits L.iners while promoting L.crispatus, suggesting new strategies for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH), a complex disorder in need of precision medicine

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria is an autosomal recessive phosphate-wasting disorder, associated with kidney and skeletal pathologies, which is caused by pathogenic variants of SLC34A3. In this issue, Zhu etal. describe a pooled analysis of 304 individuals carrying SLC34A3 variants. Their study underscores the complexity of hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria, as kidney and bone phenotypes generally do not coexist, heterozygous carriers of SLC34A3 variants also can be affected, and the response to oral phosphate supplementation is dependent on the genetic status.

Sustainable protein regeneration in encapsulated materials

Zhu etal. introduce MELG (materials engineered by living grafting), combining engineered microbes with non-living scaffolds for functional protein regeneration within. These MELGs can be used for long-term controlled release, enzyme-mediated biocatalysis, and DNA purification. This approach offers enhanced functionality and durability in bioactive materials compared to traditional non-living counterparts.

Exploring the Equivalence between Two-Dimensional Classical and Quantum Turbulence through Velocity Circulation Statistics.

We study the statistics of velocity circulation in two-dimensional classical and quantum turbulence. We perform numerical simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes and the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equations for the direct and inverse cascades. Our GP simulations display clear energy spectra compatible with the double cascade theory of two-dimensional classical turbulence. In the inverse cascade, we found that circulation intermittency in quantum turbulence is the same as in classical turbulence. We compare GP data to Navier-Stokes simulations and experimental data from Zhu etal. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 214001 (2023)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.130.214001]. In the direct cascade, for nearly incompressible GP flows, classical and quantum turbulence circulation displays the same self-similar scaling. When compressibility becomes important, quasishocks generate quantum vortices and the equivalence of quantum and classical turbulence only holds for low-order moments. Our results establish the boundaries of the equivalence between two-dimensional classical and quantum turbulence.

The glucose-to-acetate metabolic flux that drives endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition via TGF-β signaling

The metabolic mechanisms supporting the process of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) remain largely unknown. Here, Zhu etal. describe a novel role for acetate and ACC2 in regulating EndMT and atherosclerosis via modulation of the TGF-β signaling. This study sheds light on the role of glucose-derived metabolites that drive endothelial pathophysiology.

Yet uninfected? Resolving cell states of plants under pathogen attack

Although we have made significant strides in unraveling plant responses to pathogen attacks at the tissue or major cell type scale, a comprehensive understanding of individual cell responses still needs to be achieved. Addressing this gap, Zhu etal. employed single-cell transcriptome analysis to unveil the heterogeneous responses of plant cells when confronted with bacterial pathogens.

Commentary on: Zhu etal. Outcomes and prognostic factors for nerve grafting following high radial nerve injury. J Hand Surg Eur. Epub ahead of print 28 January 2023. DOI: 10.1177/17531934221147651.

Commentary on: Zhu etal. Outcomes and prognostic factors for nerve grafting following high radial nerve injury. J Hand Surg Eur. Epub ahead of print 28 January 2023. DOI: 10.1177/17531934221147651.

Fragile-like regulatory T cells modulate opioid withdrawal in humans and mice

Opioid use alters peripheral immune functions via unknown mechanisms. In a recent issue of Cell, Zhu etal. report increased fragile-like regulatory Tcells in patients with opioid use disorder and in morphine-treated mice. In mice, Treg cell-derived interferon-γ within the brain promotes withdrawal-associated alterations in synapses.

Evolution gone wrong: Enteric serotonergic neurons and colorectal cancer

Serotonin is a multifunctional signaling molecule. In this issue of Neuron, Zhu etal. (2022) demonstrate, surprisingly, that despite the diminutive size of the enteric serotonin neuronal pool, it is serotonin from these neurons that drives proliferation of colorectal cancer stem cells.

Beating the heat: Phase separation in plant stress granules

Plants form stress granules made of RNA binding proteins and RNA in response to various stresses. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Zhu etal. identify two RNA-binding proteins, RBGD2/4, that phase, separate, and localize stress granules to promote heat stress tolerance.

Happy gut, happy kidneys? Restoration of gut microbiome ameliorates acute and chronic kidney disease

In a new study, Zhu etal. (2021) show that mitigating dysbiosis by the probiotic L.casei Zhang reduces kidney inflammation via restoring short-chain fatty acid-producing gut microbiome and nicotinamide metabolism. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of probiotics in treating human kidney diseases.

Histone Deacetylases in the Control of Epidermal Homeostasis: From Chromatin Biology toward Therapy

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) induce gene repression and modify the activity of nonhistone proteins. In a new article in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Zhu etal. (2021) demonstrate essential roles for HDAC1/2 in maintaining keratinocyte proliferation and survival in adult epidermis and basal cell carcinoma, thus providing a rationale for using HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of hyperproliferative and neoplastic skin disorders.

A no-Wnt situation for alveolar macrophage self-renewal

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are central to defense against respiratory pathogens. Impediments in restoring AMs after infection increase the risk for superinfection, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this issue of Immunity, Zhu etal. report a Wnt-β-catenin-HIF-1α axis in AMs that promotes an inflammatory phenotype while restricting proliferation and self-renewal.

Anger management: pSI has a say in it

In this issue of Neuron, Zhu etal. (2021) reveal that activities in posterior substantia innominate (pSI) neurons that project to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) are both necessary and sufficient to drive aggressive attacks in mice under various conditions.

EcDNA party bus: Bringing the enhancer to you

Recent work from Zhu etal. (2021) reveals that extrachromosomal DNA circles harboring enhancers can serve as mobile regulatory elements that interact with chromosomal oncogenes, stimulating high-level gene activity and contributing to tumor heterogeneity and cancer progression.

Structures from the Mesophase: MicroED Targets Crystals Extracted from LCP

The determination of protein structures from nanocrystals grown in lipidic cubic phase (LCP) is a promising crystallographic approach. In this issue of Structure, Zhu etal. (2020) extract crystals from the dense matrix ofmonoolein LCP for interrogation by micro electron diffraction (MicroED) and yield a 2Å structure of Proteinase K.

The Integrated Stress Response: A Central Memory Switch in Down Syndrome

Genetic and pharmacological evidence causally demonstrate that the integrated stress response (ISR) is a central molecular switch for long-term memory formation across different species. Zhu etal. (2019) recently demonstrated that persistent activation of the ISR could explain the long-term memory and synaptic plasticity deficits in a mouse model of Down syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability.

Emerging from the Shadow of Hemagglutinin: Neuraminidase Is an Important Target for Influenza Vaccination

Gilchuk etal. (2019) and Zhu etal. (2019) provide detailed structural information about epitopes on influenza virus N9 neuraminidase and characterize breadth, potency, mechanism of action, and invivo protective effects of human antibodies targeting these epitopes. The findings highlight the importance of neuraminidase as a target for improved influenza virus vaccines.

A Mother’s Touch: Emerging Roles in Development of the Cutaneous Microbiome

Skin-associated bacteria constitute a large proportion of the human microbiome and influence host immunity. The healthy cutaneous microbiome adopts site-specific composition, weeks to months postpartum. Zhu etal. (2019) expand the scope of pediatric data, tracking infant skin microflora changes by site, through childhood, and establish new associations with delivery mode and maternal microbiome.

The Transsulfuration Pathway Makes, the Tumor Takes

Cells can take up cysteine or synthesize it de novo from methionine, but synthesis alone does not meet the high demands of cancer cells to proliferate. In this issue, Zhu etal. (2019) identify the SAH:SAM ratio, indicative of the cellular methylation state, as limiting for effective cysteine synthesis and the growth of some tumors.