Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: In a new experimental model of urinary tract infection (UTI), male C3H mice are infected with uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and treatment with ceftriaxone (the first-line parenteral treatment for complicated UTI in human patients) beginning 5 days later achieves microbiologic cure. A significant proportion of mice nonetheless develop renal scarring, recapitulating a common complication of pyelonephritis in children which has implications for long-term renal function. Gomori trichrome staining of mouse kidney sections 4 weeks after antibiotic treatment demonstrates collagen deposition (blue) in the scar, replacement and retraction of cortical tissue, and thickening of the capsule over the scar. The scar also features an extensive chronic leukocytic infiltrate, suggesting an ongoing and active process long after resolution of infection. See article by Olson et al. on page 1371. Cover image by Patrick Olson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
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REVIEW
Intraluminal valves: development, function and disease
Summary: This Review summarizes the similarities between cardiac and vascular valves, and highlights unanswered questions in diagnosis and treatment of valve disorders.
CLINICAL PUZZLE
Understanding the aetiology and resolution of chronic otitis media from animal and human studies
Summary: Chronic middle ear inflammation is a common disease. Animal models, and in particular mouse models, have been used to elucidate some potential mechanisms, including dysfunction in immune signalling, mucociliary function or Eustachian tube function.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Lysyl oxidases regulate fibrillar collagen remodelling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Summary: Transforming growth factor-β-induced collagen remodelling is driven by enhanced lysyl oxidase expression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
RhoB blockade selectively inhibits autoantibody production in autoimmune models of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Editors' choice: The small GTPase RhoB participates in the development of an autoimmune response, specifically by influencing the production of pathogenic autoantibodies.
Overexpression of microRNA-722 fine-tunes neutrophilic inflammation by inhibiting Rac2 in zebrafish
Summary: Identification of a microRNA that suppresses Rac2 expression and regulates neutrophil migration and systemic inflammation. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
Pumilio2-deficient mice show a predisposition for epilepsy
Summary: Epileptogenic risk factors are misregulated in Pumilio2-deficient mice, determining a predisposition to develop seizures. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
Early cerebellar deficits in mitochondrial biogenesis and respiratory chain complexes in the KIKO mouse model of Friedreich ataxia
Summary: Our findings identify early cerebellar mitochondrial biogenesis deficits as a potential mediator of cerebellar dysfunction and ataxia, and indicate a potential therapeutic target for early intervention of Friedreich ataxia.
RESOURCE ARTICLES
Comprehensive analysis of gene expression patterns in Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts by RNA sequencing reveals altered levels of protein synthesis factors and solute carriers
Summary: Transcriptome profiling of Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts by RNA sequencing reveals that this peripheral tissue can be used as a disease model for gene expression biomarker discovery.
Renal scar formation and kidney function following antibiotic-treated murine pyelonephritis
Summary: A new model of antibiotic-treated severe pyelonephritis offers a novel platform to study the molecular pathogenesis of pyelonephritis, response to antibiotic therapy, and sequelae, including fibrosis and renal scarring.
Virtual Meeting - Developmental Disorders: From Mechanism to Treatment
A collaboration between the Development and Disease Models & Mechanisms journal teams, this virtual Meeting will unite developmental biologists, human geneticists and clinical researchers to focus on building bridges from bench to clinic. Register your interest and find out more.
High-dose vitamin B1 therapy prevents the development of experimental fatty liver driven by overnutrition
Vitamin B1 is shown to prevent nutrition-induced fatty liver in our current Editor’s choice by Hay Davir and his colleagues, when they use sheep as a large-animal model for studying the disease.
Find out more in an interview with the paper's first authors, Mugagga Kalyesubula and Ramgopal Mopuri.
Upcoming grant deadlines
Grants awarded by The Company of Biologists help scientists travel, attend events and host sustainable activities. Make a note of the upcoming application deadlines and find out more about the grants on offer:
DMM Conference Travel Grants
17 May 2021
Sustainable Conferencing Grants
17 May 2021
Travelling Fellowships
31 May 2021
Scientific Meeting Grants
4 June 2021
Call for papers - The RAS Pathway: Diseases, Therapeutics and Beyond
Our upcoming special issue is welcoming submissions until 3 May 2021. Guest-edited by Donita Brady (Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, USA) and Arvin Dar (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA), the issue will focus on targeting the RAS pathway.