Norwich Research Park

Engineering root development with high precision

Root development is controlled by dynamic interactions between gene regulation, hormonal signalling, developmental history and environmental inputs, creating multiple layers of control that can be harnessed for engineering. Recent advances in single-cell technologies, spatial tra...

Dual mechanisms give rise to biphasic stomatal opening in onion

Stomata are controllable micropores on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Pore aperture adjustment is a mechanical process whereby changes in guard cell turgor drive changes in cell shape, resulting in stomatal opening or closure. Previous computational m...

Limits of Memory-Assisted Coherence in Cavity-Embedded Molecules

Abstract Strong light–matter coupling in optical cavities is being widely explored as a strategy for modifying molecular dynamics and enhancing coherence. At the same time, structured vibrational environments can exhibit non-Markovian memory that promotes information backflow and...

Systemically delivered Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron -derived bacterial extracellular vesicles inhibit primary and metastatic melanoma growth

ABSTRACT The gut microbiome can contribute to anti-tumor immunity and cancer therapy responses, but translating live microbe-based interventions remains challenging due to safety, controllability, and delivery constraints. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are an attractive...

Gestational Changes in Placental Iron Homeostasis are Associated With Ferroptosis‐Associated Redox Signaling and Trophoblast Behavior

Well-regulated trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell turnover are essential for normal placental development in humans and rodents. Given the established role of oxidative stress in placentation and the redox activity of iron, we investigated whether ferroptosi...

A disulfide bond sculpts the CTNIP4 phytocytokine fold for recognition by the receptor kinase HSL3

Abstract Precise ligand recognition by closely related leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases (LRR-RKs) is essential for plants to coordinate immunity, development and environmental adaptation. Here we show how the LRR-RK HSL3/NUT specifically recognizes the folded, disulfide-stabi...

RUNX2 inhibitor CADD522 improves bone microarchitecture and lipid metabolism in post-menopausal bone loss

Osteoporosis is a leading cause of age-related morbidity, yet existing antiresorptive and anabolic therapies remain limited by safety concerns, contraindications and poor long-term adherence. CADD522 is a small molecule inhibitor of the RUNX2 transcription factor currently under...

Genomic response to sex-separated gene pools

ABSTRACT Males and females experience differences in the strength and direction of selection but discerning the type of genes that are targets of sex differences in selection is complicated by their shared genome. We used experimental evolution in Drosophila melanogaster to parti...

Structural genome variation drives adaptation of the xylose-fermenting yeast Scheffersomyces stipitis to lignocellulosic hydrolysates

Abstract Second-generation (2G) bioethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, its production is constrained by the poor performance of industrial microbes in hydrolysates that are generated during biomass pretreatment. Scheffers...

A conserved small RNA-generating gene cluster undergoes sequence diversification and contributes to plant immunity

Abstract Small RNA-mediated gene silencing contributes to plant immunity. The secondary small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway promotes defense by silencing target genes in invading fungal and oomycete pathogens. Many secondary siRNAs are derived from transcripts potentially encod...

ZPY-CpG-Ch, a broad coverage vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae

Existing licensed pneumococcal vaccines, including Prevnar-13 and its higher-valency successors, have played a major role in reducing invasive pneumococcal disease worldwide. However, their effectiveness is increasingly threatened by the rise of multidrug-resistant strains and th...

Whole genome comparative analysis shows limited Escherichia coli co-occurrence within co-habiting humans and dogs

Abstract Background Dogs are one of the most popular companion animals in the UK, with an estimated 13.5 million within UK households. Within these households, human-animal physical interactions may lead to inter-species bacterial sharing, including Escherichia coli . E. coli is...

Wheat genotypic variation in root architecture modifies soil pore structure and hydraulic properties

Root-driven modification of soil hydraulic properties may influence crop water availability and resilience under climatic variability, yet genotype-specific effects on rhizosphere hydrology remain poorly understood. This study examined how contrasting root architectures of four w...