eLife assessment

The discovery of Homo naledi-associated evidence for intentional burial and engravings would undoubtedly have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of complex cognition and behavior. Based on claims made in two related preprints by Berger et al., this study discusses the potential implications of the purported mortuary practice and symbolic behaviors claimed to be associated with the small-brained H. naledi remains. Unfortunately, the evidence presented in the two related submissions that the current paper entirely relies on is incomplete at this stage.

eLife assessment

This paper presents important information about potentially Homo naledi-associated markings discovered on the walls of the Hill Antechamber of the Rising Star Cave system, South Africa. If confirmed, the antiquity, intentionality, and authorship of the reported markings will have profound archaeological implications, as such behaviors are otherwise widely considered to be unique to our species, Homo sapiens. As it stands, the study is incomplete, and the evidence presented does not support the claims about the anthropogenic nature, age, and author of the engravings. While it is appreciated that this report concerns preliminary findings, all reviewers agree that: a) the initial nature of the reported results must be more clearly indicated, b) the anthropogenic nature of the engravings must be adequately demonstrated, c) ideally the chronology of the claimed engravings has to be established for any age estimate to be reliable, and d) the claim about H. naledi being the author of the reported engravings requires robust association.

eLife assessment

The authors study the context of the skeletal remains of three individuals and associated sediment samples to conclude that the hominin species Homo naledi intentionally buried their dead. Demonstration of the earliest known instance of intentional funerary practice – with a relatively small-brained hominin engaging in a highly complex behavior that has otherwise been observed from Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis – would be a landmark finding. However, the evidence for these claims is considered inadequate in the current version of the study. The four reviewers were in strong consensus that the methods, data, and analyses do not support the primary conclusions. Without full excavations, the study is missing crucial geoarchaeology (especially micromorphology) and taphonomic components, among other limitations, that make premature the conclusion that H. naledi intentionally buried their dead. The null hypothesis must be that these skeletons accumulated naturally and the research must then reject the null hypothesis and robustly exclude equifinality in order to justifiably draw the remarkable conclusions made in the present version of the paper.

eLife assessment

Brain inflammation is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis. Using novel spatial transcriptomics methods, the authors provide convincing evidence for a gradient of immune genes and inflammatory markers from the meninges toward the adjacent brain parenchyma in a mouse model. This important study advances our understanding of the mechanisms of brain damage in this autoimmune disease.

eLife assessment

This research advance article describes a valuable image analysis method to identify individual cells (neurons) within a ‎population of fluorescently labeled cells in the nematode C. elegans. The findings are solid and the method succeeds to identify cells with high precision. The method will be valuable to the C. elegans research community.

eLife assessment

This important study characterises the involvement of condensin complexes in the segregation of telomeres in fission yeast. The authors present solid evidence in support of their claims, employing a diverse range of complementary techniques. This research will be of interest for cell biologists working on chromosome biology and cell division.

eLife assessment

This valuable study describes engineered dengue virus variants that can be used to dissect epitope specificities in polyclonal sera, and to design candidate vaccine antigens that dampen antibody responses against undesirable epitopes. The evidence supporting the major claims is solid, although experiments to distinguish the impact on antibody binding versus neutralizing activities would have strengthened the study. This work will be of interest to virologists and structural biologists working on antibody responses to flaviviruses.

eLife assessment

This important article provides insights into the neural centres in the Japanese quail brain that are associated with photoperiod-induced life-history states. The physiological and transcriptomic analyses of the mediobasal hypothalamus and pituitary gland offer evidence for a coincidence timing mechanism for measuring day length, which is relevant for the field of circannual biology. Despite some shortcomings in data analysis, the study's convincing experiments and findings have the potential to captivate the attention of molecular and organismal endocrinologists.

eLife assessment:

This important study describes spatial RNA processing events by combining methods for single-cell transcriptomics data with spatial transcriptomics data. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although the analysis could be further strengthened by including a broader range of samples as well as orthogonal validation either by experimental methods or simulated data. The work will be of general interest to researchers in the spatial transcriptomics field as well as researchers investigating alternative pre-mRNA processing across diverse tissues.

eLife assessment:

Trypanosoma brucei evades mammalian humoral immunity through the expression of different variant surface glycoprotein genes. In this fundamental paper, the authors extend previous observations that TbRAP1 both interacts with PIP5Pase and binds PI(3,4,5)P3, indicating a role for PI(3,4,5)P3 binding and suggesting that antigen switching is signal dependent. While much of the evidence is compelling, one reviewer suggested that the work would benefit from further controls.

eLife assessment

This paper describes an important, well-organized study into an under-exploited area of spatial transcriptomics. The limitations of the approach are generally made clear, but there is insufficient orthogonal validation to demonstrate the biological significance of the results, which leads to the evidence for the claims being currently incomplete. Nevertheless, the tools presented will provide a resource to researchers wishing to characterise spatial patterning of mRNAs, and the paper will be of interest to researchers studying cell biology, RNA biology, and method development for spatial transcriptomics/proteomics.

eLife assessment

This important paper reports a novel, compelling method, based on barcoding viral genes and next-generation sequencing, to quantify both viral transcription levels and progeny virus production in influenza virus-infected cells at the single-cell level. The authors show that viral transcription and progeny virus production are unexpectedly poorly correlated, and that cells in which viral RNAs are transcribed at high levels are not necessarily those producing the most progeny virions. Because of its novelty, the study will be of interest to the broader virology community.

eLife assessment

This is an important study that reports the discovery of a new pathway of miRNA sorting to exosomes, involving a mitochondrially-localized protein. The evidence provided by some of the biochemical data is convincing. However, the major body of evidence is still incomplete.

eLife assessment

Overall, this is an interesting topic of study, and the conclusions could be of relevance more broadly. However, mechanistic support, limited TTF frequencies/timing, and visual support of the quantitative data would be critical in order to provide convincing and rigorous support for this interesting concept.

eLife assessment

This study explores the regulatory function of O-GlcNAcylation on DNA methyltransferase 1 and identifies serine 878 as the main target. This study is of interest to those in epigenetics and metabolism. The significance is important and the strength of the evidence is convincing.

eLife assessment

This US study presents findings from an online survey and in-person interviews of healthcare providers in areas associated with cervical screening provision during the post-acute phase of the pandemic. The findings are valuable as they provide insights into a range of areas, from healthcare characteristics to screening barriers and HPV self-sampling. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although the inclusion of a nationally-representative sample of healthcare providers and a greater gender/ethnicity/racial mix of interviewees would have strengthened the study. The work will be of interest to public health scientists and a cancer prevention and control audience.

eLife assessment

This manuscript suggests a novel mechanism of purifying selection by which programmed cell death contributes to the selective removal of mtDNA deletion mutations in C. elegans. The evidence for this mechanism of removal is strong although questions remain regarding the underlying mechanism and the role of canonical ageing pathways. Because of the likely central role of mtDNA deletions in ageing and age-dependent diseases, this work will be of interest to scientists in the field of mitochondrial biology as well as ageing.

eLife assessment

This work provides a valuable structural and functional characterization of the neurotransmitter's spatial distribution heterogeneity in cortical and subcortical regions. The authors report a systematic description and annotation of a new "layer" of brain organization that has been relatively poorly integrated with the wider neuroimaging literature to date. In sum, this paper has the potential to be of great interest to a wide audience in neurosciences.

eLife assessment

This important paper describes a valuable systematic review and meta-analysis of mental health problems in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that drive the excess economic burden associated with this common endocrine disorder. Interestingly, the cost of the diagnostic evaluation is only a relatively minor part of the total costs, but mental health disorders were identified as a significant component of the economic burden. These solid findings could not have been anticipated intuitively and are of considerable value for public health prioritization of PCOS.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable and elegant kinetic analysis of the GSKbeta activity as a function of phosphorylation and Axin binding - providing insights into critical steps of Wnt pathway signaling. The results will be of big use to the broader signaling community, however, the incomplete dissection of the mechanism by which Axin binding inhibits GSKbeta inhibitory phosphorylation remains a weakness of this study. The work will be of broad interest to cell biologists and biochemists.

eLife assessment

This important study used high-resolution brain imaging methods to visualize and index non-invasively auditory and language pathways of young children born with inner ear malformations or cochlear nerve dysfunction resulting in profound hearing loss. Nerve fiber impairments were compellingly demonstrated in subcortical auditory and cortical language pathways relative to typically-hearing controls. The results suggested novel approaches for clinical assessment of central auditory and language pathways that may influence different intervention strategies, pending further evidence linking these structural findings with functional outcomes.

eLife assessment

Rodberg et al. show systemic β adrenergic antagonism reduces engagement in decision-making, particularly in female rats, and reduces task-related encoding in neural activity. This is a valuable finding that addresses a gap in the field, however, the understanding of the direct contribution of β adrenergic receptors to the observed effects is incomplete. Further, the theoretical grounds, data analyses, and results could be improved in several ways.

eLife assessment

This work provides fundamental new insight into fine axonal morphologies based solely on extracellular action potential recordings. They provide compelling evidence of fine resolution in mapping functional connections between neurons. The work may have broad use in neurobiology, bioengineering, stem cell biology, as well as tissue engineering in functional characterization.

eLife assessment

The tool developed and implemented in this study has valuable significance for the combined analysis of large, diverse omics datasets, but some of the methodology is incomplete. Regarding the strength of evidence, there are some more significant concerns regarding potentially inadequate controls for false discovery and multiple testing corrections.

eLife assessment

The manuscript represents a valuable contribution to an ongoing discussion about the substrate binding site and mechanism of the Bile Acid Sodium Symporter (BASS) family of transporters. Structural and biochemical analysis of a bacterial homolog, ASTBnm, in complex with its native substrate (not bile acids, but a vitamin A precursor, pantoate) show a new binding site that is consistent with classical proposals for elevator-type transport mechanisms. Molecular simulations highlight the improved stability for the substrate in the active site when ions are present, suggesting a binding order during the transport cycle. The structural studies, binding assays, and MD simulations are convincing, although support for the transport mechanism is incomplete without a pantoate transport assay.

eLife assessment

This important study advances our knowledge of how parasites evade the host complement immune system. The new cryo-EM structure of the the trypanosome receptor ISG65 bound to complement component C3b is highly compelling and well-supported by biochemical experiments. This work will be of broad interest to parasitologists, immunologist, and structural biologists.

eLife assessment

This important study identifies two new transporters of the apicoplast, a non-photosynthetic organelle of apicomplexan parasites. In its current state, evidence is incomplete, as it only partially reveals how important those transporters are and as it does not address the metabolic function for the parasite. The results should be of interest to parasitologists and eukaryotic cell biologists.

eLife assessment

This study includes important findings on protein evolution, namely that changes in function are largely attributable to pairwise rather than higher-order interactions, and that epistasis potentiates rather than constrains evolutionary paths. Compelling evidence supporting the conclusions is provided by applying a new model to a previously generated experimental dataset on deep mutational scanning of the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of steroid hormone receptor. The implications of this work are of considerable interest to protein biochemistry, evolutionary biology, and numerous other fields.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study identifies the components of the N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase complexes in yeasts, with major differences with the same complexes in mammals and flies. The evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing, with rigorous high-throughput sequencing approaches and detailed functional analysis. This work will be of broad interest to colleagues in the RNA modification and meiosis fields.

eLife assessment

This valuable study examined the use of dantrolene, a Ryanodine Receptor stabilizer, in slowing pathological progression of pressure-overload heart failure in a guinea pig model and reducing arrhythmias. The data were collected and analyzed using solid and validated methodology and can be used as a starting point for future studies of dantrolene in Ca2+ handling in ROS production and further deterioration of cardiac function in chronic heart failure.

eLife assessment

The paper provides a useful and novel application of recursion theory to the long call vocalisations of orangutans to demonstrate repetitive, rhythmic sub-structuring. However the evidence provided to support the major claims of the paper is currently incomplete. Specifically, it is not yet clear how the rhythmic structuring found in these long calls is more similar to human language recursion per se rather than isochrony as a broader, more common phenomenon.

eLife assessment

This important study describes a combination of in vitro and in vivo results implicating Dyrk1a in the regulation of mTOR. Strengths include the combination of cell and whole-animal (Drosophila) based studies. However, the evidence supporting the conclusions is incomplete and additional experimentation (which could include IPs, more confirmation of the T1462 phosphorylation, and more information about Akt) would strengthen the main conclusions.

eLife assessment

This study reports important findings about new locomotory dynamics of crawling Drosophila larva based on imaging the reaction forces during larval crawling. The new high-resolution microscopy method is compelling, as it significantly improves the spatial, temporal, and force resolution compared to previous methods for studying Drosophila larva and could be applied to other crawling organisms. The manuscript would nevertheless benefit from more details explaining the new technology, limitations, and justifications for the choice of technology and certain experimental details. The work will be of interest to the broad neuroscience community interested in the mechanisms of locomotion in a highly tractable model.

eLife assessment

This study reports the important finding that there appears to be a timer that monitors the repair of DNA after damage and regulates whether cells are subsequently able to enter mitosis. The authors identify proteins important for this decision and propose a mechanism supported by solid but not conclusive data. This study will be of interest to researchers in the fields of DNA damage repair and cell cycle control.

eLife assessment

In this important study, the human membrane receptor guanyl cyclase GC-C was expressed in hamster cells, co-purified in complex with endogenous HSP90 and CDC37 proteins, and the structure of the complex was determined by cryo-EM. The study shows that the pseudo-kinase domain of GC-C associates with CDC37 and HSP90, similarly to how the bona fide protein kinases CDK4, CRAF and BRAF have been shown to interact. The methodology used is state of the art and the evidence presented is compelling.

eLife assessment

This study is useful to scientists studying cell polarity, epithelial morphogenesis, cancer, and primary cilia. The authors confirm the need for CRB3A/B in regulating ciliogenesis by using a combination of a mammary epithelial cell-specific conditional Crb3 knockout mouse model, and cellular, molecular and biochemical approaches. The results are solid, supporting and extending previous findings; the results also indicate that CRB3 affects ciliogenesis by a still incompletely understood mechanism involving Rab11 and gamma-TuRC.

eLife assessment

This study represents an important contribution to the field by supporting the utility of functional ultrasound imaging for evaluating cerebral hemodynamics in rat models of brain injury. Solid evidence is presented supporting the possibility of imaging the effect of thrombolysis during stroke in awake rats. This work will be of interest to researchers working in functional neuroimaging and more precisely with preclinical models of stroke in rodents.

eLife assessment

This important paper reports technical advances for in vivo intramuscular electrical recording from multiple motor units in behaving animals. This new muscle recording method has the potential to provide new insight into a range of questions in motor neuroscience. The paper includes compelling demonstrations of the efficacy of this new technique in multiple animal species, although further evidence is needed to support the claim that electromyogram "spike sorting" can reliably disambiguate individual motor units.

eLife assessment

This study documents valuable findings on three variants in SNAP25 that are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. The thorough characterization of synaptic release and in vitro vesicle fusion phenotypes provides interesting information about the nature of the SNAP25 variants. The evidence supporting the claims is compelling, and this work will be of interest to neuroscientists working on SNAP25, SNAP25-associated encephalopathy, and synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

eLife assessment

This important work examines the potential utility of socio-emotional and socio-cognitive mental training on hippocampal subfield structure and function, and cortisol levels. The evidence provided here is solid, but additional methodological considerations are needed to strengthen the evidence in support of their claims. The work will be of broad interest to neuroscience researchers including those in cognitive, social, and clinical neuroscience.

eLife assessment

This study examines how self-citations in the neuroscience literature differ according to geography, gender, seniority, and subfield within neuroscience. The evidence supporting the claims is mostly solid, but aspects of the analysis - notably concerning estimates of uncertainty, and the exact interpretation of the results - would benefit from further work. Overall, the article is a valuable addition to the literature on self-citations

Editor’s Assessment

This work has generated metabolic models for the human pathogens Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacteroides abscessus, alongside a new computational tool that can be used to identify potential drug targets. The standardised genomic scale metabolic models have been developed using the systems biology community standards for quality control and evaluation of models. After providing more detail on reproducibility, comparative performance of the models, and reuse, these resources are now published and are available for reuse by the global scientific community via the GigaDB, Biomodels, and PatMeDB repositories.

This assessment refers to version 1 of this preprint.

eLife assessment

This study demonstrates that vitamin D-bound VDR increased the expression of SIRT1 and that vitamin D-bound VDR interacts with SIRT1 to cause auto-deacetylation on Lys610 and activation of SIRT1 catalytic activity. This is an important finding that is relevant to the actions of VDR on colorectal cancer. The data presented to support the presented conclusion are convincing.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides solid evidence that acute experimental pain induces changes in cortical excitability and GABAergic neurotransmission. The findings will be of interest to researchers interested in the brain mechanisms of pain and may lay the ground for future studies on acute pain-related excitability changes as probed by TMS and EEG.

eLife assessment

This manuscript addresses an important question, that in countries endemic for P. vivax the need to administer a primaquine (PQ) course adequate to prevent relapse in G6PD deficient persons poses a real dilemma. On one hand PQ will cause haemolysis; on the other hand, without PQ the chance of relapse is very high. As a result, out of fear of severe haemolysis, PQ has been under-used. This manuscript is convincing that regimen (1) can be used successfully to deliver within 3 weeks, under hospital conditions, the dose of PQ required to prevent P. vivax relapse.

eLife assessment

This important study tested the hypothesis that liver-derived but not serum-derived antibodies that are cross-reactive to E.coli and to host proteins can play a role in the hepatic damage found in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). Using a solid methodology that includes state-of-the-art microscopy, proteome arrays, and gene ontology assays, it provides strong evidence that liver-derived IgG and IgA with cytotoxic properties and reactivity to both gut-derived E.coli and autoantigens accumulated in hepatocytes of SAH patients but not of healthy controls. The study would benefit from a broader analysis of gut microbiota proteome and further characterization of B cells infiltrating the liver tissue including their numbers/field and their origin (infiltrating versus resident cells). The work opens new avenues of understanding for the pathogenesis of severe alcoholic hepatitis and is of great interest to researchers and clinicians in the field.

eLife assessment

This paper presents a useful study regarding the meiotic functions of ARID1A, the DNA-binding component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler BAF. Whereas this work suggests that ARID1A regulates chromatin composition of the sex body relative to the autosomes, the reviewers raised substantial issues with the data and interpretation. The efficiency of the conditional deletion allele seems low and the CUT&RUN experiments are inadequate.

eLife assessment

The OpenApePose dataset presented in this manuscript represents an important contribution to the field of primate behaviour and computer-vision science with methodological applications that are sure to be applicable for a wide variety of taxa. The analysis supporting the utility of this database is solid and compelling but would benefit from some additional clarity, particularly with regards to the landmark annotations, model parameters and division of the dataset for training, validation and testing.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable finding on the role of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) and its target the microtubule associated protein 18 (MAP1B) in postnatal tangential migration of neuroblasts. The study combined molecular genetics (FMRP knock-out mice) with acute inactivation of FRMP and MAP1B to conclusively support the notion that FMRP-dependent regulation of MAP1B is necessary for proper neuronal migration toward the olfactory bulb using the rostral migratory stream. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although inclusion of additional controls for experiments and/or more rigorous description of the finding and conclusions would have strengthened the study. The work improves our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that control how neurons migrate in the brain to reach their final destinations and confirms that cytoskeleton regulators are key players in this process. will be of interest to developmental neurobiologists.

eLife assessment

This important study unravels the interaction between effort cost, pupil-indexed brain state, and movement (saccadic) vigor during foraging decisions in marmoset monkeys. Based on a computational model, the authors derive the prediction that anticipated effort should affect both decisions and movement vigor during foraging; and then provide solid behavioural and pupillometric evidence for this prediction in a foraging task. This paper will be of interest to decision and motor neuroscience as well as to all researchers studying animal behavior.

eLife assessment

This is an important paper that links distinctive stinging behavior of two related anemones occupying different ecological niches to varying inactivation properties of voltage-gated calcium channels conferred by auxiliary Cavβ subunits. Further convincing evidence is provided that these differences are mediated by alternative splicing of Cavβ subunit of the calcium channel. The study will be of interest to scientists studying Ca2+ signaling, ion channel biophysicists, and marine biologists.

eLife assessment

Gap junctions, formed from connexins, are important in cell communication, allowing ions and small molecules to move directly between cells. By determining the Cryo EM structure of the structure of connexin 43 in a putative closed state involving lipids, the study makes an important contribution to the development of a mechanistic model for connexin activation. The connexin 43 structure is solid and its presentation will appeal to the channel and membrane protein communities.

eLife assessment

This important paper uses a genome-wide, massively parallel reporter assay to determine how CpG methylation affects regulatory sequences that control the expression of human genes. The authors provide compelling evidence that methylation not only influences baseline activity of regulatory sequences but also the magnitude of acute responses to environmental stimuli. The findings are of broad interest, and the extensive data set will likely become a key resource for the community.

eLife assessment

This study describes important findings on how a core component of the circadian clock impacts the effect of dietary restriction (DR) on longevity and fecundity in Drosophila, which lead the authors to postulate rhythmic control of proteostasis in the fat body as a critical aspect of DR effects. The evidence presented is still incomplete, not fully supporting the conclusions of the study, as alternative hypotheses/explanations have not yet been systematically explored. The work will nevertheless be of substantial interest to researchers working in circadian and cell biology, metabolism, and aging, with an interesting hypothesis to be explored further.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides insights into mechanisms of placental aging and its relationship to labor initiation. The authors provide solid evidence and have thoroughly investigated the molecular characteristics of normal placental aging using in vivo and in vitro model systems and human placental tissue analysis to corroborate their findings. This work contributes to existing work in placental aging and preterm birth and will be of interest to reproductive scientists.

Editor’s Assessment

Like other mollusc species, the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) has a challenging genome to assemble owing to the large size of their genomes, heterozygosity, and repetitive sequence. The first published M. margaritifera genome was highly fragmented, but here an improved reference genome assembly was generated using PacBio CLR long reads to reduce fragmentation levels, missing and truncated genes, and chimerically assembled regions. The number of gene models predicted is a bit higher compared than other molluscan genomes, but after clarification and double checking these seem in line with some Mollusca and Bivalvia with similar and higher numbers of gene predictions. This new genome represents a new resource to start exploring the many biological, ecological, and evolutionary features of this threatened and commercially important group of organisms.

This assessment refers to version 1 of this preprint.

Editor’s Assessment

Hybrid genomes are tricky to assemble, and few genomic resources are available for hybrid grapevines such as ‘Chambourcin’, a French-American interspecific hybrid grape grown in the eastern and midwestern United States. Here is an attempt to assemble Chambourcin’ using a combination of PacBio HiFi long-reads, Bionano optical maps, and Illumina short-read sequencing technologies. Producing an assembly with 26 scaffolds, an N50 length 23.3 Mb and an estimated BUSCO completeness of 97.9% that can be used for genome comparisons, functional genomic analyses, and genome-assisted breeding research. Error correction and pilon polishing was a challenge with this hybrid assembly, but after trying a few different approaches in the review process have improved it, and as they have documented what they did and are clear about the final metrics, users can assess the quality themselves.

This assessment refers to version 2 of this preprint.

eLife assessment

In this valuable study, advanced simulation methodologies are used to extract the mechanisms of inactivation for the potassium ion channel KcsA. The string method approach provides solid evidence that reveal features associated with the interplay between gate size and collapse of the selectivity filter, as well as remarkable differences between different force fields. While this manuscript does not address recent discoveries in K channel inactivation involving dilated selectivity filter structures obtained by Xray and cryo-EM, it does help us understand the KcsA constriction process. With added descriptions and analysis of collective variables, improved reproducibility of results, consistency between string method free energies and unbiased simulations, and improved transition rate calculation, this manuscript will be of interest to the ion channel field.

eLife assessment

The primary goal of this paper is to examine microtubule detyrosination as a potential therapeutic target for axon regeneration. The valuable findings of this study provide convincing evidence for mechanistic links between microtubule detyrosination and neurite outgrowth in vitro and some evidence for axon regeneration in vivo.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study provides a framework for leveraging systems genetics data to dissect mechanisms of gut physiology. The authors provide compelling analyses to highlight diverse modes of interrogating intestinal inflammation, dietary response, and consequent impacts on inflammatory bowel disease. As a resource, it will have great utility for linking genetic variation and diet to gut-related pathophysiologies.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important description on the dynamics of histone variant exchange controlling the organization of the chromatin state of the Arabidopsis genome, combining the analysis of histone variants, histone modification, and chromatin states. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is compelling. This work will be of great interest to those in the field of epigenetics and chromatin biology.

eLife assessment

This important study uses machine learning-based network analysis on transcriptomic data from different tissue cell types to identify a small set of conserved (pan-tissue) genes associated with changes in cell mechanics. The new method is compelling and, together with rigorous in silico and experimental validation, provides convincing evidence for the claims. The study would be strengthened with an expanded set of validation (e.g. testing genes with hitherto unknown roles and different perturbation techniques), but will nonetheless be of broad interest to cell biologists, biophysicists, and bioengineers.

eLife assessment

This important study combines virology experiments and mathematical modeling to determine the nuclear export rate of each of the eight RNA segments of the influenza A virus, leading to the proposal that a specific retention of mRNA within the nucleus delays the expression of antigenic viral proteins. The proposed model for explaining the differential rate of export is compelling, going beyond the state of the art, but the experimental setup is incomplete and would benefit from additional approaches. The insight so far is interesting, but because in the end it is left as an observation, the overall advance remains limited.

eLife assessment

This study presents the valuable finding that sustained calcium signaling in induced-Treg (iTreg) cells can lead to the loss of Foxp3 expression and iTreg identity by altering the chromatin landscape. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, but alternative interpretations of the data should be considered and tested. The work will be of interest to immunologists working on Treg cell therapy.

eLife assessment

This study provides useful findings regarding the capacity for mental state attribution on the Frith-Happé task in a highly social non-human primate species, the marmoset. The methods are solid, integrating validated brain imaging and eye-tracking techniques, however, the theoretical analysis is incomplete due to the omission of a "goal-directed condition." The inclusion of the goal-directed condition would enable a stronger interpretation of the findings and would be of broad interest to neuroscientists working in social and affective sciences.

eLife assessment

This study provides important new insights into how learning affects behavior in the Drosophila model. Using a combination of connectomics, neurophysiology, and behavioral analysis, a small group of neurons in the Drosophila brain that integrates learned odor valences and promotes odor tracking by driving upwind orientation and movement is described. The study's conclusion is supported by convincing evidence and rigorous quantitative analysis. Insights from the neural circuit mechanism that translates learning-induced plasticity into appropriate behavioral actions will be of broad interest to neuroscientists.

eLife assessment

This simulation work with open source code will be of interest to those developing visual prostheses and demonstrates useful improvements over past visual prosthesis simulations. While the authors provide compelling evidence to support the generation of individual phosphenes and integration into deep-learning algorithms, the assumptions beyond individual phosphenes and the overall validation process are inadequate to support the claim of fitting the needs of cortical neuroprosthetic vision development.

eLife assessment

This study provides useful information on the impact of the pandemic on the quantity of healthcare delivered to patients with pancreatic cancer in England. The authors showed that there was no difference in the number of diagnoses of pancreatic cancer during the pandemic compared to the preceding 5-year period, but a reduction in surgical resections by nearly 25%. They reported no difference in deaths between the two periods. They show no differences in rates of diagnosis, but the clinical relevance is incomplete as they have not compared survival from cancer between those time periods.

eLife assessment

This is an important study reanalysing previously published datasets to understand methylation changes during aging. The evidence supporting the conclusions is solid and sheds new light on features of aging in cells, highlighting the concept of cell-specific methylation changes and their relationship to other physiological changes such as inflammation that may impact methylation patterns. This work will be of broad interest to cell and molecular biologists.

eLife assessment

This important study reveals the genetic regulation of changes in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in a Hymenopteran insect and links these changes with courtship behaviour and sexual attractiveness. It provides convincing empirical evidence, spanning genetic, chemical, and behavioural data. It adds valuable new perspectives on the mechanisms that underlie chemical recognition and communication systems in nature.

eLife assessment

The significance of this manuscript is that is provides useful information for the field of hepatology and endocrinology on the regulatory mechanisms of cholesterol homeostasis by melanocortin. The authors provide solid evidence utilizing both in vivo and in vitro molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches to support their claims.

eLife assessment

This important work advances our understanding of the import of clonal heterogeneity in cancers in immune response to individual antigens. The evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing, and uses interesting tools, although the mechanistic basis of the observations is unclear. The work will be of broad interest to immunologists including cancer immunologists.

eLife assessment

This is an important study describing the mechanism of Spermidine modulation of Src kinase, identifying the interacting amino acids and the effect on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) activation based on solid evidence. Considering the important role of IDO1 in the immune response this study could provide important information for the design of allosteric modulators capable of turning SRC on/off.

eLife assessment

This work examines a role for altered splicing in pancreatic tumorigenesis by interrogating effects of a specific mutation in the Sf3b splicing factor in pancreatic organoid and cell line growth primarily, with some in vivo work also performed. There is significant potential in the study but there is a concern about the lack of in vivo validation of claims that are most relevant to metastatic progression and the focus on one specific mechanism at the expense of other possible effects on splicing of factors important for disease progression.

eLife assessment:

This fundamental study provides compelling evidence that long-range resection is important for recombination between distal, but not proximal, homologous sequences. It is thus proposed that a major role of long resection of a double-strand break mediated by Sgs1 and Exo1 is to activate the DNA damage checkpoint to allow the chromosomal mobility needed for the DNA ends to find a distant homologous sequence with which repair via homologous recombination, adding a new biological meaning to the role of long DNA resection in homologous recombination.

eLife assessment

The mechanisms underlying mirror neurons are a topic of wide interest for all who study the workings of the brain. The authors use an elegant decoding approach to test whether mirror neurons encode action categories in the same framework regardless of whether actions are executed in the dark or observed in the light. This new approach identifies only a small subset of mirror neurons with fully matched coding among a larger set showing partial matches. The thought-provoking study opens up new principled avenues to probe the mechanics of matching action and perception.

eLife assessment

Using C. elegans as a model organism, the study hones in on the role of ether lipid biosynthesis as an effector of metformin--a process previously implicated in extending lifespan in response to diet--, TOR signalling, and mitochondrial interventions. The data in this paper are compelling, and a better understanding of biguanide impact on metabolism is highly important in the field.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable insights into the circuits that are common for innate and learned threat. The evidence supporting the author's conclusions is solid, but the specificity of the circuit targeting methods requires further histological assessment and clarification. Deeper interpretation of novel mechanistic insights that are gained would benefit the study.

eLife assessment

This valuable study advances our knowledge of the effects of anxiety/depression treatment on metacognition, demonstrating that treatment increases metacognitive confidence alongside improving symptoms. The authors provide convincing evidence for the state-dependency of metacognitive confidence, based on a large longitudinal treatment dataset. However, it is unclear to what extent this effect is truly specific to treatment, as changes in metacognitive confidence in the group receiving online therapy were not statistically different from those in the control group.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study substantially advances our physical understanding of the sharp increase and saturation of the viscosity of non-confluent tissues with increasing cell density. Through the analysis of a simplified model this study provides compelling evidence that polydispersity in cell size and the softness of cells together can lead to this phenomenon. The work will be of general interest to biologists and biophysicists working on development.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable finding on the impact of metformin-induced shifts in gut microbial community structure and metabolite levels for drug efficacy in a mouse model of liver injury. The current evidence supporting the claims of the authors is incomplete, although inclusion of additional controls and a revision to clarify the reviewer's methodological concerns could strengthen the study. This paper could be of broad interest to researchers across multiple disciplines, including the study of the microbiome, liver disease, and pharmacology.

eLife assessment

This manuscript provides important evidence on the association between sleep regularity and mortality in the UK Biobank, which is a popular topic in recent sleep and circadian research in population-based studies. The study is based on a large accelerometer study with validated follow-up of incident diseases and deaths, and the data quality and large sample size strengthen the credibility of the conclusion. Overall, the analyses are appropriately done, the manuscript is clearly written, and the strength of the evidence is convincing.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable findings describing how two brain regions, the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter and basolateral amygdala, communicate when a robotic predator threat is detected. While the experimental design and data collection methods are solid, the main claims are only partially supported by the data and would benefit from more rigorous anatomical approaches as well as functional validation of the role of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus as the critical connection between the periaqueductal gray and basolateral amygdala. The study will appeal to a broad audience, including basic scientists interested in neural circuits, basic and clinical researchers interested in fear, and behavioral ecologists interested in foraging.

eLife assessment

This potentially important study used single-cell whole-brain imaging of the immediate early gene Fos to identify the brain areas recruited by two anesthetics, ketamine and isoflurane. The results suggest these anesthetics might induce anesthesia via different brain regions and pathways. However, the support for the primary conclusions is incomplete owing to differences in route of administration between the drugs, lack of a dose response curve and behavioral/physiological measures of the depth of anesthesia, and statistical analysis that does not correct for multiple comparisons. With these issues addressed, this paper would be of interest to preclinical and clinical scientists working with anesthetic and dissociative drugs.

eLife assessment

This study provides an important investigation of the role that alpha-band activity modulations play in the generation of the P300. The data offer solid evidence in favour of such a role although further analyses may be required to determine whether the observed relationships may be driven by inter-individual differences in factors that may modulate both signals in tandem such as skull thickness.

eLife assessment

This important study dissects the interplay between internal energy homeostasis, food intake and food-related memories, focusing on the role played in Drosophila by Octopamine, a monoamine functionally related to noradrenalin. This work will help interpret previously published work on the function of Octopamine, and should be of interest to the growing community of biologists interested in how internal state shapes behavior, including decision making processes, learning and memory. The experimental evidence is solid, but additional evidence using, for instance, tissue-specific and effector-specific manipulation, and a unifying model would strengthen the present study.

eLife assessment

This study provides useful information on the evolution of gene expression levels and plasticity in tissues impacted by hypoxia during colonization of a high-altitude environment. Unfortunately, the evidence for the conclusions is incomplete because of the low sample size available.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study advances our understanding of seabird responses to environmental conditions, with implications for movement ecology, flight biomechanics, animal foraging and bio-energetics. Animal-borne data-loggers are used to generate a compelling high quality dataset on animal movement and environmental conditions. The study will interest ornithologists, comparative bio-mechanists, ocean ecologists and those interested in technological advances in animal sensors.

eLife assessment

This work presents valuable findings on the non-breeding itinerant behavior of a migratory raptor. With its extensive dataset and solid analytical framework, this work will be of broad interest to researchers investigating the ecological drivers of bird migration. However, the main claim on a novel migration pattern (so-called 'fox-trot migration') is incomplete in light of current knowledge on bird migratory behavior.

eLife assessment

Wang et al present a useful manuscript that builds modestly on the group's previous publication on KLF1 (EKLF) K47R mice focused on understanding how Eklf mutation confers anticancer and longevity advantages in vivo (Shyu et al., Adv Sci (Weinh). 2022). The data demonstrates that Eklf (K74R) imparts these advantages in a background, age, and gender independent manner, not the consequence of the specific amino acid substitution, and transferable by BMT. However, the authors overstate the meaning of these results and the strength of evidence is incomplete, since only a melanoma model of cancer is used, it is unclear why only homozygous mutation is needed when only a small fraction of cells during BMT confer benefit, they do not show EKLF expression in any cells analyzed, and the PD-1 and PDL-1 experiments are not conclusive. The definitive mechanism relative to the prior publication from this group on this topic remains unclear.

eLife assessment

The authors analyze a comprehensive cohort of human plasma samples to identify an extracellular vesicles protein signature for earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Application of liquid biopsies is valuable, and it addresses a significant clinical problem as pancreas cancer is often diagnosed in late stage with standard biopsies often nondiagnostic. The strength of evidence is largely solid; however, certain aspects of the data were deemed incomplete, given the broad manuscript claims. This work supports the use of extracellular vesicles in clinical settings, with potential interest to scientists and clinicians.

eLife assessment

This important study reports that a long non-coding RNA disrupts the activity of the tumor suppressor p53 to contribute to the growth and therapeutic response of glioblastoma. Most evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, but the conclusions would benefit from more rigorous approaches. The work will be of interest to biologists working on the non-coding RNA and brain tumors.

eLife assessment

This represents an important study that demonstrates a high degree of heterogeneity within trailblazer cells in clusters that participate in collective migration. Solid methods highlight this heterogeneity and show that in TNBC cancers, trailblazer cells are defined by vimentin (and not Keratin 14) and are dependent on both TGFbeta and EGFR signaling.

eLife assessment

This important manuscript presents several structures of the Kv1.2 voltage-gated potassium channel, based on state-of-the-art cryoEM techniques and algorithms. The authors present solid evidence for structures of DTX-bound Kv1.2 and of Kv1.2 in potassium-free solution (with presumably sodium ions bound within the selectivity filter). These structures advance our knowledge of the molecular basis of the channel inactivation process.

eLife assessment

This valuable study adds to our understanding of the DNA replication origin selection process in budding yeast. The authors provide convincing evidence that the number of possible origins of replication is much higher than previously appreciated, although many of the newly identified origins probably direct replication initiation only very rarely. This work will be of interest to those studying DNA replication and investigating protein-DNA interactions across the genome.

eLife assessment

This important work substantially advances our understanding of the interplay between genetic variation, chromatin, and genes within topologically associated domains and how this interplay regulates gene expression. The evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing, with appropriate and validated methodology in line with current state-of-the-art genomic and epigenomic techniques. The work will be of broad interest to geneticists and those working to understand the basic mechanisms of gene expression.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable findings regarding the role of the transcription factor BATF and its target PD1 in lipid metabolism including a model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Overall, the evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing. The work will be of interest to medical biologists working on NAFLD.

eLife assessment

The mechanisms that determine when neural stem cells should stop dividing after having generated their full repertoire of progeny remain not completely understood. The authors present useful findings on how Notch activity regulates the termination of neurogenesis in central brain of Drosophila. The evidence supporting the claims of the author is solid, although other complementary approaches could have been used to probe more deeply into the underlying molecular mechanisms. This work will be of interest to developmental neurobiologists.

eLife assessment

This is a useful investigation of the changes in gene expression and some of the physiological consequences of sublethal exposures to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in honeybee larvae. While the study adds to our understanding of how this insecticide impacts development and growth of honeybees, the evidence supporting the major claims is incomplete. The study would benefit from a more thorough mechanistic characterization of the phenotypes to substantiate the conclusions.

eLife assessment

The manuscript by Eyraud and colleagues examines the role of interactions between fibrocytes and CD8 cells as drivers of disease progression in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The findings that there exist bidirectional interactions between CD8 cells and fibrocytes are supported by solid evidence that combines histology of clinical lung samples, in vitro studies obtained from circulating blood fibrocytes and CD8 cells, as well as a computational model that predicts how bidirectional interactions could promote disease progression over the course of 20 years. The study, which is based on patient samples, thus provides fundamental insights on COPD progression.

eLife assessment

This important study uses the brain endocast of a ~1.9-million-year-old hominin fossil from Kenya, attributed to genus Homo, to show that the organization of the Broca's area in members of early Homo was primitive. Specifically, the prefrontal sulcal pattern in this early Homo specimen more closely resembles that of chimpanzees than of modern humans. Because Broca's area is associated with speech function, the compelling evidence from this study has relevant for understanding the timing and trajectory of evolution of speech related traits in our genus. Coupled with its potential implications for taxonomic classification, this study will be of interest to paleoanthropologists, paleontologists, archaeologists, and neuroscientists.

eLife assessment

This important study reports that Foxc2+ cells in the testis represent the quiescent spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The data supporting this claim are solid. The finding is of great significance to reproductive and stem-cell biology as male fertility depends on the fine balance between self-renewal and differentiation activities of the male germline stem cells, i.e., SSCs.

eLife assessment

In this valuable study, patients homozygous for both minor frequency alleles of the APOL1 gene are shown to be at significant risk for progression into sepsis after infection. The study has enrolled a significant number of subjects and provides solid results. The study addresses to infectious diseases and critical care experts and one major weakness is the lack of inclusion of non-Black patients.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable finding on the putative molecular patterns underlying characteristic morphological regions observed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the extent to which morphotype heterogeneity impedes prognostic and predictive expression-based classifiers. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although clarity in terms of patient selection and subtype definition would have strengthened the study. The work will be of interest to medical biologists working on colorectal cancer (CRC).

eLife assessment

This study follows the career trajectories of the winners of an early-career funding award in the United States, and finds that researchers with greater mobility, men, and those hired at well-funded institutions experience greater subsequent funding success. Using data on K99/R00 awards from the National Institutes of Health's grants management database, the authors provide convincing evidence documenting the inequalities that shape faculty funding opportunities and career pathways, and show that these inequalities disproportionately impact women and faculty working at particular institutions, including historically black colleges and universities. Overall, the article is an important addition to the literature examining inequality in biomedical research in the United States.

eLife assessment

This paper contributes to the field of hippocampal registration by introducing a novel surface-based approach that utilizes the topological and morphological features of the hippocampus for anatomical registration across individuals, rather than volumetric-based methods commonly used in the literature. The study provides compelling evidence for the efficacy of this approach using histological samples from three different datasets and offers validation of the method through comparison with traditional volumetric registration. This is important work given the large number of studies that examine hippocampal shape, thickness, and function in large cohorts, providing strong support for the use of hippocampal unfolding methods in future studies.

eLife assessment

This important study provides a panoramic view of the spectrum of natural variation in C. elegans egglaying behavior, begins to illuminate molecular and genetic influences underlying this variation, and reveals how distinct egglaying behaviors might impact maternal and offspring fitness in diverse environmental conditions. The evidence supporting the authors' conclusions is convincing. This work establishes intraspecific variation in C. elegans egglaying behavior as a model for elucidating the genetic basis for evolutionary transitions between oviparity and viviparity. As such, it will be of interest to evolutionary biologists studying molecular mechanisms underlying fitness tradeoffs between parent and offspring that influence adaptation to changing environments.

eLife assessment

Scheer and Bargmann provide an important behavioral genetics study on how behavioral context affects decision making of C. elegans. The results and interpretations are overall convincing; the behavioral analysis at multiple time scales combined with genetic and neuronal manipulations revealed how arousal states affect decision making. However, alternative interpretations should be considered and statistical methods should be justified. This work will be of interest to both neuroscientists and ecologists.

eLife assessment

This important work reports the identification of a list of proteins that may participate in the clearance of paternal mitochondria during fertilization, which is known as essential for normal fertilization and embryonic and fetal development. The main method used is state-of-the-art and the supporting data are solid. This work will be of interest to developmental and reproductive biologists working on fertilization.

eLife assessment

Boyle et al identify Npy-expressing dorsal horn neurons as powerfully inhibiting pain and itch under normal and pathological conditions. The valuable data are convincing, and the effect sizes are robust and directly challenge previous work.

eLife assessment

This manuscript describes a compelling study demonstrating an important mechanistic role for zinc fluctuations during fertilization. The results show strong evidence that zinc availability modulates inositol triphosphate receptor and that the cytosolic zinc concentration is critical for calcium oscillations that are required for egg activation and fertilization.

eLife assessment

This work describes the generation of a mouse reporter line dedicated to the visualization and study of the axon initial segment (AIS). This reporter line could be a valuable tool for molecular and cellular studies in neuroscience. In this work, the authors have made an exhaustive characterization of the structural and electrophysiological properties of the labelled neurons and convincingly show that they are unaffected by the expression of the reporter protein.

eLife assessment

This is an important study examining the behavioural and neural profile of weak and strong fear memories. The data presented provide solid evidence in support of the conclusion that weak but not strong fear memories are more easily modified using behavioural and pharmacological approaches potentially as a result of differential connectivity with the amygdala showing greater connectivity through the brain in weak compared to strong memories. This conclusion would be strengthened if the possible effect of extinction during training was eliminated. This paper is of interest to behavioural and neuroscience researchers studying learning, memory, and neural networks.

eLife assessment

This important study correlates the size of various prefrontal brain regions in primate species with socioecological variables like foraging distance and population density. The evidence presented in solid but needs to be strengthened with additional analyses that show the robustness of the results to delineation of the brain regions as well as including confounding variables like brain mass. Further the authors should clarify how this approach would generalize to lissencephalic primates which do not have the clear anatomical landmarks used in this study.

eLife assessment

This important study reports vastly different object recognition performance in rats and humans using comparable and rigorous behavioural testing, showing that rats performance is driven by low-level visual features whereas human performance is driven by more complex features. The evidence in support of these claims is intriguing but incomplete, and additional analyses are needed to elucidate the visual features that drive these differences and investigate inter-individual variability. The authors also need to acknowledge and discuss other factors such as visual acuity and training paradigm (extensive training on only two objects) that could have led to these different patterns of performance.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable findings on the impact of C-natriuretic peptide (CNP) treatment in vivo on the fertility of aged mice. Solid data indicate CNP induces the cAMP-PKA pathway, causing reduced recruitment of Parkin protein to mitochondria in oocytes, resulting in reduced mitophagy which may be significant for increased mitochondrial bioenergetics and improved cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation. The authors make additional claims regarding the mechanisms by which CNP impacts oocyte quality in vivo for which the evidence is incomplete. This work will be of interest to reproductive biologists and clinical infertility specialists.