Genomics

Intrahost dynamics, together with genetic and phenotypic effects predict the success of viral mutations

1. Cedric C.S. Tan
2. Marina Escalera-Zamudio
3. Alexei Yavlinsky
4. Lucy van Dorp
5. Francois Balloux

Reviewed by PREreview

De novo assembly and characterization of a highly degenerated ZW sex chromosome in the fish Megaleporinus macrocephalus

1. Carolina Heloisa de Souza Borges
2. Ricardo Utsunomia
3. Alessandro Varani
4. Marcela Uliano-Silva
5. Lieschen Valeria G. Lira
6. Arno J. Butzge
7. John F. Gomez Agudelo
8. Shisley Manso
9. Milena V. Freitas
10. Raquel B. Ariede
11. Vito A. Mastrochirico-Filho
12. Carolina Penaloza
13. Agustín Barria
14. Fábio Porto-Foresti
15. Fausto Foresti
16. Ricardo Hattori
17. Yann Guiguen
18. Ross D. Houston
19. Diogo Teruo Hashimoto

Reviewed by GigaScience

Genome-wide identification of stable RNA-chromatin interactions

1. Xingzhao Wen
2. Sheng Zhong

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This study provides a valuable look at genome-wide RNaseA-resistant RNA-DNA interactions in human embryonic stem cells. The research indicated that RNase treatment maintained long-range RNA-chromatin connections characterized by significant sequence conservation while abolishing permissive interactions. Interestingly, coding and non-coding RNA transcripts exhibited differing sensitivity to RNase treatment. Although the study findings reveal an intriguing RNase-inaccessible regulatory RNA-chromatin interactome, conclusions about the identity and regulatory significance of RNase-resistant RNA-chromatin interactions are incomplete and would benefit from more rigorous approaches that include additional computational and experimental controls.

Reviewed by eLife

Is tumor mutational burden predictive of response to immunotherapy?

1. Carino Gurjao
2. Dina Tsukrov
3. Maxim Imakaev
4. Lovelace J Luquette
5. Leonid A Mirny

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This useful study examines relationships between tumor mutational burden and the response to immunotherapy, using new data sets along with publicly available data sets. The authors conclude that tumor mutational burden cut-offs are unreliable proxies for predicting the response to therapy, underpinned by solid evidence, but with several caveats and assumptions that leave the central question subject to further inquiry. In summary, this is an interesting study that adds to a growing body of work investigating the particular conditions governing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Reviewed by eLife