Evaluated articles

eLife Assessment

Veiga et al demonstrate the importance of incorporating RNAseq and machine learning approaches for neoantigen prediction. The evidence is convincing, and these findings contribute important information towards the selection of neoantigens for personalized antitumor vaccination.

eLife Assessment

This solid study assesses a mitochondrial polymerase inhibitor in combination with the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, with the aim to increase the elimination of acute myeloid leukemia. It provides valuable findings of combinatorial efficacy using preclinical models in vitro and in vivo, confirming the overall importance of targeting oxidative phosphorylation to overcome venetoclax resistance in acute myeloid leukemia, and could be strengthened through mechanistic studies demonstrating on target effects and pharmacodynamic efficacy in vivo. The study is of interest to hematologists because it addresses a key biomedical issue in acute myeloid leukemia (venetoclax resistance) and provides data regarding the safety and activity of a novel inhibitor of the mitochondrial polymerase in combination with venetoclax.

eLife Assessment

In this important work, a quantitative analysis method for three-dimensional morphogenetic processes during embryonic development is introduced. The proposed method is a pipeline combining several methods, allowing quantitative analysis of developmental processes without cell segmentation and tracking. Upon application of their method, the authors obtain convincing evidence that ascidian gastrulation is a two-step process. This work should be of interest to a broad range of developmental biologists who aim to obtain a quantitative understanding of morphogenesis.

eLife Assessment

This valuable study presents a theoretical framework in which spatial periodicity in grid cell firing emerges as the optimal solution for encoding two-dimensional spatial trajectories via sequential neural activation. The idea is supported by solid evidence, though it rests on several key assumptions that merit careful consideration. This work will be of interest to neuroscientists investigating the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation.

eLife Assessment

This important study describes a neural circuit contributing to two behavioral processes affecting pathogen avoidance in the nematode C. elegans. The method used to identify specific contributing neurons is innovative and the experimental evidence supporting the major claims is solid. This study will be of interest to neuroscientists studying behavior, in particular in C. elegans.

eLife Assessment

This valuable study reports the existence of specific spike-timing dependent synaptic plasticity processes at two excitatory synapses of the dentate gyrus granule cells. These synapses link the entorhinal cortex and the dentate gyrus but via different circuits. With state-of-the-art patch-clamp electrophysiological analysis, the authors provide convincing information on the molecular mechanisms underlying these 2 forms of synaptic plasticity showing a critical role for astrocytes in both alongside some features distinctive to each pathway. These results will be of interest to neuroscientists as they uncover detailed plasticity mechanisms involving the hippocampus.

eLife Assessment

This neuroimaging and electrophysiology study in a small cohort of congenital cataract patients with sight recovery aims to characterize the effects of early visual deprivation on excitatory and inhibitory balance in visual cortex. While contrasting sight-recovery with visually intact controls suggested the existence of persistent alterations in Glx/GABA ratio and aperiodic EEG signals, it provided incomplete evidence supporting claims about the effects of early deprivation itself. The reported data were considered valuable, given the rare study population. However, methodological limitations will likely restrict usefulness to scientists working in this particular subfield.

eLife Assessment

Marshall et al describe the effects of altering metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 activity on activity of D1 receptor expressing spiny projection neurons in dorsolateral striatum focusing on two states - locomotion and rest. The authors examine effects of dSPN-specific constitutive mGlu5 deletion in several motor tests to arrive at this finding. Effects of inhibiting the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol are also examined. Overall, this is a valuable study that provides solid new information of relevance to movement disorders and possibly psychosis.

eLife assessment

This study is a computational analysis using publicly available deep sequencing datasets and the findings support the models that propose widespread gene transfer amongst DNA viruses. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, but reproducing the analysis based only on the information as presented in the Materials and Methods would be difficult as the data are currently presented. A Flow chart that details the process would help. This is an almost entirely computational study without experimental evidence but one that has the potential to become a fundamental resource for virus hunters - an activity of increasing importance.

eLife Assessment

This study investigates the role of queuosine (Q) tRNA modification in aminoglycoside tolerance in Vibrio cholerae and presents convincing evidence to conclude that Q is essential for the efficient translation of TAT codons, although this depends on the context. The absence of Q reduces aminoglycoside tolerance potentially by reprogramming the translation of an oxidative stress response gene, rxsA. Overall, the findings point to an important mechanism whereby changes in Q modification levels control the decoding of mRNAs enriched in TAT codons under antibiotic stress.

eLife assessment

This study provides valuable new insights into insect cognition and problem-solving in bumblebees. The authors present convincing evidence that bumblebees lack causal understanding in a string-pulling task, and find support for bumblebees instead using image-matching for this task.

eLife assessment

In this study, the authors found that a species of aphid that is a known agricultural pest salivated longer and produced more honeydew when feeding at night. The authors identified aphid genes with diurnal expression patterns, including potential saliva-related genes. Silencing these genes reduced aphid performance only on real plants, suggesting a specific role in plant feeding. While this study is valuable for understanding plant-insect interactions in agriculture, it is currently incomplete, as further research is needed to elucidate the function of the identified genes.

eLife Assessment

This valuable study proposes that protein secreted by colon cancer cells induces cells with Paneth-like properties that favor colon cancer metastasis. The evidence supporting the conclusions is strong but would benefit from more direct experiments to test the functional role of Paneth-like cells and to monitor metastasis from colon tumors. The work will be of interest to researchers studying colon cancer metastasis.

eLife Assessment

This study provides a valuable new resource to investigate the molecular basis of the particular features characterizing the pipefish embryo. The authors found both unique and shared gene expression patterns in pipefish organs compared with other teleost fishes. The solid data collected in this unconventional model organism will give new insights into understanding the extraordinary adaptations of the Syngnathidae family and will be of interest in the domain of evolution of fish development.

eLife Assessment

This important study reports a novel function of ATG14 in preventing pyroptosis and inflammation in oviduct cells, thus allowing smooth transport of the early embryo to the uterus and implantation. The data supporting the main conclusion are convincing. This work will be of interest to reproductive biologists and physicians practicing reproductive medicine.

eLife Assessment

This important study offers convincing evidence that intra-Golgi transport slows from cis to trans and varies between cargos even within the same cisternae, supporting a more stable compartment model. Using nocodazole-induced ministacks, the authors show cargo-specific transport kinetics with distinct velocities and residence times. These findings refine the cisternal progression model and prompt further investigation into alternative mechanisms, such as rapid partitioning or rim progression. This study will be of interest to cell biologists studying membrane trafficking, Golgi organization, and protein secretion, as well as researchers investigating the mechanisms of organelle dynamics and the molecular basis of intracellular transport.

eLife assessment

The authors show that short bouts of chemical ischemia lead to presynaptic changes in glutamate release and long-term potentiation, whereas longer bouts of chemical ischemia lead to synaptic failure and presumably cell death. This convincing work relies on rigorous electrophysiology/imaging experiments and data analysis. It is important as it provides new mechanistic details on chemical ischemia, which could offer potential insights into ischemic stroke in vivo.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important finding on the relationship between brain activity related to sustained attention and substance use in adolescence/early adulthood with a large longitudinal dataset. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing. The work will be of interest to cognitive neuroscientists, psychologists, and clinicians working on substance use or addiction.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important finding on the relationship between brain activity related to sustained attention and substance use in adolescence/early adulthood with a large longitudinal dataset. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing. The work will be of interest to cognitive neuroscientists, psychologists, and clinicians working on substance use or addiction.