A pioneering study uncovers crucial immune dynamics in hepatitis B, offering new insights into how immune responses evolve throughout the different clinical phases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Researchers analyzed liver and blood samples from patients in various clinical phases—acute hepatitis B (AHB), immune tolerant (IT), immune active (IA), and inactive chronic infection (ICI)—using single-cell RNA and TCR/BCR sequencing. The findings highlight critical immune cell subsets and potential molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression, providing valuable targets for the development of future immunomodulatory therapies.

New research from UTHealth Houston reveals that substance use disorders accelerate biological aging in the brain through substance-specific molecular mechanisms. The study, published in Genomic Psychiatry, identified distinct genetic and biological pathways that contribute to premature aging in individuals with alcohol, opioid, and stimulant use disorders, offering potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.

Researchers at HSE MIEM, in collaboration with Chinese scientists, have developed a catalyst that efficiently converts CO₂ into formic acid. Thanks to carbon coating, it remains stable in acidic environments and functions with minimal potassium, contrary to previous beliefs that high concentrations were necessary. This could lower the cost of CO₂ processing and simplify its industrial application—e.g. in producing fuel for environmentally friendly transportation. The study has been published in Nature Communications. 

Scientists from China, the UK and the USA have collaborated to analyse the inner workings of Bolivia’s “zombie” volcano, Uturuncu. By combining seismology, physics models and analysis of rock composition, researchers identify the causes of Uturuncu’s unrest, alleviating fears of an imminent eruption. The findings have been published today (28 April) in the journal PNAS.