Harnessing the mechanisms of fungal bioluminescence to confer autonomous luminescence in plants and animal cells

Many tropical mushroom species glow in the dark. When scientists discovered the mechanism of luminescence, they found similarity to healthy plant metabolism. New research reveals plants might possess the native capability to emit light themselves

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC) LABORATORY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

 

VIDEO: 

PETUNIAS CREATED TO GLOW IN THE DARK BY USING METABOLIC MACHINERY FROM NATURALLY BIOLUMINESCENT MUSHROOMS

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CREDIT: KAREN SARKYSIAN, MRC_LMS

In a striking new study published today in Science Advances, a team of synthetic biologists led by Karen Sarkisyan at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, have reported the discovery of multiple plant enzymes – hispidin synthases – that can perform the most complex reaction of the bioluminescence pathway. This discovery is a significant milestone towards figuring out whether plants can natively produce all the molecules required for light emission. It also means that the glow of bioluminescent plants can now be more closely aligned with their internal biology.  

The technology reported in the paper is a hybrid pathway that couples the newly found plant hispidin synthases to other necessary bioluminescence enzymes found in mushrooms. This hybrid pathway allows the subtle inner rhythms and dynamics within plants to be unveiled as an ever-changing display of living light. “This technology is a plug-and-play tool to visualise virtually any molecular physiology at the organismal level, completely non-invasively” Sarkisyan states. His work also revealed that not only does a single indigenous plant gene effectively substitute for two fungal genes, the plant gene is notably smaller and has simpler biological requirements for luminescence. The gene's reduced size also enhances its usability and flexibility, making it more adaptable for extended applications. 

 

This research was sponsored by Light Bio, a plant synthetic biology company co-founded by Sarkisyan, which aims to transform the horticulture industry with beautiful biotech creations, such as glowing plants. The first product to exploit the hispidin-based pathway is Firefly Petunia, so named because its bright light-emitting flower buds resemble fireflies.  

 

Beyond the advances in aesthetics that luminous vegetation may provide to plant-lovers, the foundational science offers profound insights into plant molecular physiology. By enabling continuous monitoring of plant responses to various stresses, such as drought stress or attacks by pests, the technology may lead to significant progress in fields such as crop development and disease resistance.  

 

Sarkysian’s bioluminescence pathway has been replicated in other species including yeast and even in human cells. “We love growing our bioluminescent petunias, they are truly magical. But beyond aesthetics, understanding how we can adapt self-sustained luminescence to monitor disease progression and assist in the screening of drug candidates will make this technology even more impactful”, says Sarkysian. 

MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences synthetic biologist Karen Sarkysian observes his glowing plants which could one day be used to signal health or disease.

By exploiting the hispidin synthase pathway in plants, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences scientists have created Chrysanthemums that glow in the dark.

By exploiting an enzyme pathway found in bioluminescent fungi, MRC-LMS scientist Karen Sarkysian has created glow in the dark Firefly Petunias™️ with biotech company LightBio

Timelapse of self-sustaining b [VIDEO] | 

This timelapse film shows the growth and movement of different plants that have been bioengineered by MRC LMS scientist Karen Sarkysian to glow in the dark sustainably without the need for chemicals or UV light.

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JOURNAL

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adk1992 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Cells

ARTICLE TITLE

A hybrid pathway for self-sustained luminescence

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

8-Mar-2024

COI STATEMENT

This study was partially funded by Light Bio and Planta. The Synthetic biology Group is funded by the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (UKRI MC-A658-5QEA0). Cloning and luminescent assays performed in BY-2 were partially supported by RSF, project number 22-14-00400, https://rscf.ru/project/22-14-00400/. Plant transformations were funded by RFBR and MOST, project number 21-54-52004. Plant imaging experiments were funded by RSF, project number 22-74-00124, https://rscf.ru/project/22-74-00124/. Viral delivery experiments were funded by the grant PID2019-108203RB-I00 Plan Nacional I+D from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) through the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund).

Glowing flowers illuminate homes and gardens with organic light

Peer-Reviewed Publication

LIGHT BIO, INC.

 

IMAGE: 

THE FIREFLY PETUNIA EMITS A CONTINUOUS GLOW SIMILAR TO MOONLIGHT. ITS ENCHANTING LIGHT IS PRODUCED BY GENES ISOLATED FROM BIOLUMINESCENT MUSHROOMS. THE PETUNIA HAS PROVEN TO BE HUGELY POPULAR, OFFERING A NATURAL SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION FOR HOMES, GARDENS, AND BEYOND.

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CREDIT: LIGHT BIO, INC.

Sun Valley, ID - March 8, 2024 – Recent discoveries published in Science Advances have unveiled a native plant gene that enables researchers to more effortlessly harness the captivating glow of bioluminescent plants. This gene, which varies across different plant species, allows for the redirection of living energy into organic light.  The advancement reveals the intricate inner rhythms and dynamics of plants through continuously evolving luminosity, offering a natural source of illumination for homes, gardens, and beyond.

The study received support from Light Bio, a pioneer in the development of bioluminescent plants. Light Bio is dedicated to fostering greater connection and enjoyment of plants through the enchanting appeal of living light.

The latest research builds upon earlier findings, showing that the natural glow of luminous mushrooms aligns seamlessly with central metabolic processes in plants. Utilizing a gene native to plants further amplifies this bioluminescent harmony, optimizing the interplay between light production and energy utilization.

Prior approaches for creating bioluminescent plants involved incorporating five genes derived from fungi. In the new findings, a solitary gene indigenous to plants can effectively substitute for two of the fungal genes. The plant gene's compact size and simpler biological requirements enhance its versatility for diverse applications.

The compact gene plays a pivotal role, acting as a bridge between plant metabolism and light production. This connection allows the plant’s inner dynamics to be translated into a constantly changing spectacle of natural light.

Bioluminescent plants have garnered immense popularity among the public. Light Bio recently began taking orders for a bioluminescent petunia under the brand Firefly™ Petunia, so named because the bright buds resemble fireflies. The petunia emits a soft glow similar to moonlight.

Keith Wood, the CEO of Light Bio, reports that the Firefly Petunia is selling fast. He says that “sales for this remarkable plant have been impressively robust. We've had to ramp up production twice already to keep pace with the demand."

The company selected the petunia as its inaugural offering due to its popularity as an ornamental plant. Light Bio recently announced that their plants glow up to 100 times brighter than previously possible, with the petunia standing out as the most radiant. Known for their ease of cultivation and prolific flowering, petunias make an ideal choice for this innovative enhancement.

In September, following an independent review, the USDA concluded that the Firefly Petunia is safe for cultivation and breeding across the United States. Available for purchase at $29 USD per plant from Light Bio's website (www.light.bio), the petunia is set to start shipping in April to all 48 contiguous US states.

In partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, Light Bio envisions future plants to be at least ten times brighter, with an expanded range of varieties and colors. Beyond the sheer delight these luminous plants provide, the foundational science offers profound insights into plant molecular physiology. The collaborative teams are confident that discoveries from this research will lead to significant progress in essential fields such as crop development and disease resistance. 

For more information on Light Bio and the Firefly Petunia, please visit

www.light.bio.

 

About Light Bio

Founded in 2019, Light Bio is a pioneering synthetic biology startup focused on cultivating vibrant bioluminescent plants. Through the melding of proprietary technology and advanced genetic engineering, Light Bio is bringing the magic of living light to ornamental horticulture. The company enjoys robust backing from industry leaders such as NFX, Ginkgo Bioworks, and others. To learn more, please visit www.light.bio and follow on X (formerly known as Twitter) @Light_Bio, Instagram @Light.Bio, and LinkedIn.

 

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (formerly known as Twitter) (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks and @ConcentricByGinkgo), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.

 

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 8, 2023 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

 

LIGHT BIO CONTACT:

hello@light.bio

 

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:

investors@ginkgobioworks.com

 

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:

press@ginkgobioworks.com

 

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JOURNAL

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adk1992 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

A hybrid pathway for self-sustained luminescence

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

8-Mar-2024

COI STATEMENT

This study was partially funded by Light Bio and Planta.

Tiny wireless light bulbs for biomedical applications

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

 

IMAGE: 

WIRELESSLY POWERED LIGHT BULB ILLUMINATING A TRANSPARENT BRAIN PHANTOM

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CREDIT: JULIAN BUTSCHER

A research team from the University of St Andrews and the University of Cologne has developed a new wireless light source that might one day make it possible to 'illuminate' the human body from the inside. Such light sources could enable novel, minimally invasive means to treat and better understand diseases that today require the implantation of bulky devices. The study was published under the title ‘Wireless Magnetoelectrically Powered Organic Light-Emitting Diodes’ in Science Advances.

The new approach presented by the scientists from Germany and Scotland is based on the integration of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) on ‘acoustic antennas’. Acoustic antennas are currently being explored for various applications such as the detection of low magnetic fields. As a major advantage over electric antennas, acoustic antennas can be designed to be much smaller. OLEDs are commonly found in modern smartphones and high-end televisions and consist of thin layers of organic materials that can be applied to almost any surface. In their work, the researchers exploit this property to deposit OLEDs directly onto the acoustic antenna, thus merging the unique properties of both platforms into a single extremely compact device. In this way, the acoustic antennas serve as substrate and power source for the custom-developed OLED. They convert energy from a magnetic field into a mechanical oscillation and subsequently into an electric current by means of an effect known as the composite magnetoelectric effect.

The new devices operate at sub-megahertz frequencies, a frequency range used for example for submarine communication, as electromagnetic fields at this frequency are only weakly absorbed by water. However, unlike in submarines, the intended application in biomedicine requires a small device in order to avoid a negative impact on the tissue.

In recent years, optical stimulation techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to electrical stimulation because they can be more cell selective and even enable the stimulation of individual cells. Such techniques have already shown promising results in early clinical trials, for instance, to treat an otherwise untreatable eye disease.

“Our novel wireless light source combines minimal device size, low operation frequency and optical stimulation,” said Humboldt Professor Dr Malte Gather, head of the Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Cologne’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. “Many emerging applications require multiple sites to be stimulated independently, which is why modern brain stimulators often incorporate a large number of electrodes. In the case of our wireless light sources, the devices can be independently controlled and operated without the need of additional and potentially bulky electronics.”

This is possible because the operation frequencies of different acoustic antennas can be tuned to different values. In the future, this could allow for the individual control of multiple stimulators in different parts of the body, for example to treat tremor in the late stages of Parkinson's disease. As a next step, the researchers aim to further reduce the size of their wireless OLEDs and to test their technology in an animal model.

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JOURNAL

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adm7613 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Wireless magnetoelectrically powered organic light-emitting diodes

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

6-Mar-2024

 

Blood pressure control in veterans declined during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers identified a 7% decline in blood pressure control during the pandemic

Peer-Reviewed Publication

VETERANS AFFAIRS RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

A multi-institution team led by researchers at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont found that Veterans’ blood pressure control worsened due to disrupted care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings were published in the journal Medical Care.

The researchers followed a group of nearly 1.65 million Veterans who received their care at VA and who had high blood pressure (hypertension) during two periods—before the pandemic and during the pandemic. In Veterans with controlled blood pressure, researchers found a 7% decline in control during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Longer follow-up intervals were associated with a decreased likelihood of maintaining blood pressure control in both periods.

Most of the difference in control was explained by delays in follow-up care, according to the research team, led by Dr. Caroline Korves. But the pandemic itself was responsible for a small (2%) effect on blood pressure control.

Researchers also discovered that Veterans who had not yet achieved blood pressure control and who experienced longer intervals between follow-up care were modestly more likely to gain control during the pandemic, but not before the pandemic. The finding suggests that providers focused slightly more on people with uncontrolled blood pressure, an appropriate clinical response, according to the team.

“Opportunities for further research into the cause of the pandemic effect—whether lower maintenance of control stemmed from missed opportunity for treatment modifications, changes in patient behavior, or other factors―and investigating whether a modestly higher likelihood of gaining control was due to focusing on patients with more extreme conditions,  would offer valuable insights in how to prevent disruptions in care during similar crises,” wrote the researchers.

High blood pressure remains one of the top public health challenges in the country and contributes to serious health problems, like heart disease and kidney failure. It is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease―meaning it can respond to treatment―and is an important marker to track for disruptions in care, according to the research team.

The research was part of the VA Health Services Research and Development Disrupted Care National Project (DCNP), that aims to better understand disruptions in care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The DCNP is led by Dr. Louise Davies, Dr. Amy Justice, and Dr. Anita Vashi, and is based at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Vermont, with additional sites at West Haven, Connecticut, and Palo Alto, California.

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JOURNAL

Medical Care

DOI

10.1097/MLR.0000000000001971 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Hypertension Control During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Cohort Study Among US Veterans

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

6-Mar-2024

COI STATEMENT

C.K. has been an investigator on projects with research grants from Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur for work unrelated to this manuscript. A.J.P. is or has been the principal investigator on research grants from Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Lundbeck, Reata, and Vascular Dynamics to Yale University for work unrelated to this manuscript; has received honoraria for data safety monitoring activities from Ablative Solutions and KBP Biosciences; and has received consulting fees from BD, CinCor, and Diamedica, all for work unrelated to this manuscript. D.M.W. has received consulting fees for work unrelated to this manuscript from Pfizer, Merck, GSK, Affinivax, and Matrivax, and is the Principal Investigator on research grants from Pfizer and Merck to Yale University for work unrelated to this manuscript. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

Continuous Medicaid eligibility during the pandemic and postpartum coverage, health care, and outcomes

JAMA Health Forum

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA NETWORK

About The Study: In this study including 47,000 participants, continuous Medicaid eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced loss of Medicaid after birth, suggesting similar uninsurance reductions may be expected from post-pandemic postpartum Medicaid extensions, which most states plan to implement. 

Authors: Jamie R. Daw, Ph.D., of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, is the corresponding author.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0004)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article 

   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0004?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=030824

About JAMA Health Forum: JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health and health care. The journal publishes original research, evidence-based reports and opinion about national and global health policy; innovative approaches to health care delivery; and health care economics, access, quality, safety, equity and reform. Its distribution will be solely digital and all content will be freely available for anyone to read.

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JOURNAL

JAMA Health Forum

Medicaid eligibility during pandemic led to increased postpartum coverage, study suggests

Historically, Medicaid coverage ended at 60 days postpartum, but experts highlight the risk of maternal deaths between 43 and 365 days postpartum

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MICHIGAN MEDICINE - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are increasing and considered high compared to other wealthy nations. And Medicaid coverage plays a large role in maternal health, as it funds nearly half of all the births in the country.

Medicaid coverage has historically ended at 60 days postpartum, but according to new data, a significant number of maternal deaths are happening between 43 and 365 days postpartum.

“In the U.S., health insurance is really a necessary prerequisite to get high quality care,” said senior author Lindsay Admon, M.D., M.Sc., an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School and obstetrician-gynecologist at U-M Health Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

“It’s not the only step, but it’s a critical first step because without it, it’s hard to get a foot in the door.”

COVID-19 and coverage

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in March 2020, Admon notes, Medicaid programs were not allowed to disenroll people from Medicaid during the public health emergency. This was the first time pregnancy related Medicaid coverage was extended past 60 days postpartum. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) then passed in 2021, which provides states with federal funding to extend Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum now that the pandemic has ended. 

Admon and her fellow collaborators analyzed data to study the impact of the FFCRA on postpartum coverage and care during the pandemic. For people who had Medicaid at the time that they gave birth, they found that the policy allowed for large increases in postpartum Medicaid enrollment and a 40% decline in postpartum uninsurance, according to their study in JAMA Health Forum.

“As of March 2024, almost all states either have implemented or plan to implement extensions of pregnancy Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum,” said lead author Jamie Daw, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

“The results from our study are very encouraging, suggesting that those extensions are likely to significantly increase continued Medicaid enrollment and decrease uninsurance during the postpartum year.”

Postpartum coverage crucial

Nearly half of U.S. births are covered by Medicaid. Yet, once an individual gives birth, it can be more difficult to remain covered by Medicaid, Admon says, leaving postpartum people in a potentially dangerous position.

“A lot of postpartum maternal deaths are occurring in the late postpartum period, or beyond 43 days postpartum, which is actually around the time Medicaid coverage has historically ended.” Admon said.

“We know some of the leading causes of maternal deaths from the late postpartum period are things like behavioral health conditions, and it is difficult to remain in treatment without insurance coverage.”

While this study found that postpartum Medicaid enrollment increased while recipients were not allowed to be disenrolled, the authors found no association with postpartum visit attendance, contraception use, breastfeeding or depressive symptoms.

Coverage extensions beneficial

However, Daw says the COVID-19 pandemic could have played a factor in the lack of these findings due to stay at home orders that were in effect across the country and the fact that data used in the study only followed people for a few months postpartum, not the entire postpartum year.

“States can learn from this national experiment during the pandemic and apply these findings to consider the potential impact of adopting an ongoing extension of pregnancy related Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum,” Admon said.

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JOURNAL

JAMA Health Forum

DOI

10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0004 

ARTICLE TITLE

Continuous Medicaid Eligibility During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Postpartum Coverage, Health Care, and Outcomes

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

8-Mar-2024

 

COVID-19 virus can stay in the body more than a year after infection

Reports and Proceedings

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN FRANCISCO

The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, according to new research from UC San Francisco that offers potential clues to why some people develop long COVID. 

The scientists found pieces of SARS-CoV-2, referred to as COVID antigens, lingering in the blood up to 14 months after infection and for more than two years in tissue samples from people who had COVID. 

“These two studies provide some of the strongest evidence so far that COVID antigens can persist in some people, even though we think they have normal immune responses,” said Michael Peluso, MD, an infectious disease researcher in the UCSF School of Medicine, who led both studies. 

The findings were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which was held March 3 to 6, 2024, in Denver. 

Evidence of long-term infection

Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 was thought to be a transient illness. But a growing number of patients, even those who had previously been healthy, continued having symptoms, such as, brain fog, digestive problems and vascular issues, for months or even years. 

The researchers looked at blood samples from 171 people who had been infected with COVID. Using an ultra-sensitive test for the COVID “spike” protein, which helps the virus break into human cells, the scientists found the virus was still present up to 14 months later in some people.

Among those who were hospitalized for COVID, the likelihood of detecting the COVID antigens was about twice as high as it was for those who were not. It was also higher for those who reported being sicker, but were not hospitalized.

“As a clinician, these associations convince me that we are on to something, because it makes sense that someone who had been sicker with COVID would have more antigen that can stick around,” Peluso said. 

Virus persists up to two years in tissue 

Since the virus is believed to persist in the tissue reservoirs, the scientists turned to UCSF’s Long COVID Tissue Bank, which contains samples donated by patients with and without long COVID. 

They detected portions of viral RNA for up to two years after infection, although there was no evidence that the person had become reinfected. They found it in the connective tissue where immune cells are located, suggesting that the viral fragments were causing the immune system to attack. In some of the samples, the researchers found that the virus could be active.

Peluso said more research is needed to determine whether the persistence of these fragments drives long COVID and such associated risks as heart attack and stroke. 

But, based on these findings, Peluso’s team at UCSF is involved in multiple clinical trials that are testing whether monoclonal antibodies or antiviral drugs can remove the virus and improve the health of people with long COVID.

“There is a lot more work to be done, but I feel like we are making progress in really understanding the long-term consequences of this infection,” Peluso said.

Authors: Additional UCSF co-authors include Sarah Goldberg, MAS, Brian H. LaFranchi, Scott Lu, MD, Thomas Dalhuisen, MS, Badri Viswanathan, Ma Somsouk, MD, MAS, J.D. Kelly, MD, Steven G. Deeks, MD, Zoltan Laszik, MD, PhD, Jeffrey Martin, MD, MPH, and Timothy J. Henrich, MD. 

Funding: The studies were supported by funding from the PolyBio Research Foundation to support UCSF's Long-Term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) Clinical Core and a Merck Investigator Studies Program Grant. The National Institute of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases also provided funding (3R01AI1411003-03S1, R01AI158013 and K23AI134327, K23AI157875 and K24AI145806). Additional support came from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Department of Medicine and Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine.
 

About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. UCSF School of Medicine also has a regional campus in Fresno. Learn more at https://ucsf.edu, or see our Fact Sheet.

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What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS GRAINGER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

 

IMAGE: 

THE RESEARCHERS STUDIED HOW ELECTRIC CURRENT CREATED HEAT FLOWS IN A LITHIUM-ION BATTERY CELL. THE HEAT FLOWED OPPOSITE TO ELECTRIC CURRENT, RESULTING IN A HIGHER TEMPERATURE ON THE SIDE WHERE CURRENT ENTERED THE CELL.

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CREDIT: THE GRAINGER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Batteries are usually studied via electrical properties like voltage and current, but new research suggests that observing how heat flows in conjunction with electricity can give important insights into battery chemistry.

A team of researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has demonstrated how to study chemical properties of lithium-ion battery cells by exploiting the Peltier effect, in which electrical current causes a system to draw heat. Reported in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, this technique allowed them to experimentally measure the entropy of the lithium-ion electrolyte, a thermodynamic feature that could directly inform lithium-ion battery design.

“Our work is about understanding the fundamental thermodynamics of dissolved lithium ions, information that we hope will guide the development of better electrolytes for batteries,” said David Cahill, a U. of I. materials science & engineering professor and the project lead. “Measuring the coupled transport of electric charge and heat in the Peltier effect allows us to deduce the entropy, a quantity that is closely related to the chemical structure of the dissolved ions and how they interact with other parts of the battery.”

The Peltier effect is well-studied in solid-state systems where it is used in cooling and refrigeration. However, it remains largely unexplored in ionic systems like lithium electrolyte. The reason is that the temperature differences created by Peltier heating and cooling are small compared to other effects.

To overcome this barrier, the researchers used a measurement system capable of resolving one hundred-thousandth of a degree Celsius. This allowed the researchers to measure the heat between the two ends of the cell and use it to calculate the entropy of the lithium-ion electrolyte in the cell.

“We’re measuring a macroscopic property, but it still reveals important information about the microscopic behavior of the ions,” said Rosy Huang, a graduate student in Cahill’s research group and the study’s co-lead author. “Measurements of the Peltier effect and the solution’s entropy are closely connected to the solvation structure. Previously, battery researchers relied on energy measurements, but entropy would provide an important complement to that information that gives a more complete picture of the system.”

The researchers explored how the Peltier heat flow changed with the concentration of lithium ions, solvent type, electrode material and temperature. In all cases, they observed that the heat flow ran opposite to the ionic current in the solution, implying that the entropy from the dissolution of lithium ions is less than the entropy of solid lithium.

The ability to measure the entropy of lithium-ion electrolyte solutions can give important insights into the ions’ mobility, governing the battery’s recharging cycle, and how the solution interacts with the electrodes, an important factor in the battery’s lifetime.

“An underappreciated aspect of battery design is that the liquid electrolyte is not chemically stable when in contact with the electrodes,” Cahill said. “It always decomposes and forms something called a solid-electrolyte interphase. To make a battery stable over long cycles, you need to understand the thermodynamics of that interphase, which is what our method helps to do.”

***

Zhe Cheng is the second co-lead author of the study. Beniamin Zahiri, Patrick Kwon and U. of I. materials science & engineering professor Paul Braun also contributed to this work.

The researchers’ article, “Ionic Peltier effect in Li-ion electrolytes,” is available online. DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05998g

Support was provided by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering.

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JOURNAL

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

DOI

10.1039/d3cp05998g 

ARTICLE TITLE

Ionic Peltier effect in Li-ion electrolytes

 

NRL participates in international campaign investigating polar low phenomena

Business Announcement

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

 

IMAGE: 

NSF NCAR C-130 AIRCRAFT RIGHT BEFORE ITS FIRST MISSION IN KIRUNA, SWEDEN DURING THE COLD AIR OUTBREAK EXPERIMENT IN THE SUB-ARCTIC REGION (CAESAR) FIELD CAMPAIGN. THE CAESAR TEAM WILL FLY THE C-130 THROUGH ARCTIC CONDITIONS TO COLLECT DATA ON MARINE COLD AIR OUTBREAKS AND ARCTIC CLOUD BEHAVIOR. THE PURPOSE OF THE FIELD PROJECT IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WARMING IN THE ARCTIC. (NSF UCAR/DANIEL ZIETLOW)

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CREDIT: NSF UCAR/DANIEL ZIETLOW

WASHINGTON  –  U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research meteorologist James Doyle, Ph.D., joins an international team of scientists to investigate meteorological processes associated with Arctic cold air outbreaks.
 
From late February through early April, the 45-day international field campaign CAESAR, short for Cold-Air outbreak Experiment in the Sub-Arctic Region, is focused on cold-air outbreaks that occur as cold Arctic air flows-out over warmer open waters between northern Norway and the Arctic ice edge.
 
Cold-air outbreaks, or CAOs -- one of the most extreme meteorological air mass transformations on Earth -- can occur when cold Arctic air flows over frozen land masses or sea ice to over much warmer open ocean waters resulting in the formation of convective boundary layers that produce hazardous winds and seas, and spawn small-scale, intense “polar lows.”
 
“Despite the profound impact that CAOs have on atmospheric and oceanic circulations in the Arctic, as well as the important implications for Navy operations, surprisingly little is known about the nature of intense surface flux impacts on the atmosphere and ocean boundary-layer structure,” said Doyle. “The nature of the air-sea-ice interaction and cloud processes in CAOs are rapid with abrupt transitions, which have been a roadblock to process understanding and model predictions.”
 
CAOs pose challenges to Navy operations because of the severe environmental conditions and the rapid changes in the atmosphere and ocean boundary layer properties that impact electromagnetic and acoustic propagation characteristics. The CAESAR mission seeks to investigate the marine atmospheric boundary layer characteristics and shallow, precipitating clouds that form during CAOs, as well as the mesoscale circulations that lead to polar low developments.
 
“Under favorable conditions the air-sea interaction intensifies, triggering shallow and vigorous convective cells that produce hazardous winds and seas, and under some conditions lead to the genesis of small-scale, intense polar lows,” said Doyle. “Conventional theories and model parameterizations in Arctic CAOs have been lacking this vital data and CAESAR will provide a detailed characterization that will form the basis for NRL boundary layer and coupled modeling studies.”
 
Based in Kiruna, Sweden, the CAESAR team will utilize the National Science Foundation (NSF)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) center’s C-130 Hercules aircraft, with in situ and remote sensors and dropsondes for sampling the Arctic air mass -- from the CAO origin at the ice edge through the transformation -- as the boundary layer gets modified downstream. The C-130 suite of instruments also include airborne radar, LiDAR, and aerosol and cloud precipitation probes activated during CAO events.
 
CAESAR will also make use of Norwegian ground-based radars and instruments located on Norway’s Bear Island. 
 
 
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
 
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
 
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@us.navy.mil.

 

Are mountains carbon dioxide sources or sinks? New study finds they can be both

Peer-Reviewed Publication

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

There’s been a long-running debate in Earth sciences over whether mountains are a source of carbon dioxide or if they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through mineral weathering. A new study has found that mountains can be sources or sinks and has identified the tipping point at which they switch from one to the other.   

The study — by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Colorado State University and the German Research Centre for Geosciences — found that many mountains exist on a spectrum of removing or releasing carbon, and erosion rates determine the impact of mountains on climate. The research, published in Science, helps to clarify a wide range of observations that alternately suggested mountains were a source of carbon dioxide or a sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide from the air than they release. 

The study’s authors calculated that the optimal erosion rate at which carbon dioxide removal due to mineral weathering is maximized to be approximately 0.1 millimeter per year – a moderate rate. Higher erosion rates convert mountains to a source, and lower rates have no effect on carbon storage.  

"Whether a mountain range is a source or sink of carbon dioxide depends on how fast the landscape is eroding,” said Jeremy Rugenstein, a CSU assistant professor of geosciences and co-author of the study.  

The balance between erosion and uplift – the pace at which rock is being replaced through mountain formation – determines how long material sits at the surface. At high erosion rates, the minerals that remove carbon dioxide are stripped from the mountain before they have a chance to weather through exposure to water and wind. At these high erosion rates, the minerals that release carbon dioxide weather rapidly, overwhelming the effect from minerals that remove carbon dioxide.  

In contrast, at low erosion rates, the minerals needed to remove carbon dioxide through weathering have been depleted and do not impact climate. However, at moderate erosion rates, minerals that remove carbon dioxide are exposed long enough for the necessary chemical reactions to occur.  

"It's only at these intermediate Goldilocks zones where erosion is fast enough that new minerals are coming up, but not so fast that they're just getting swept away, and they have time to weather in situ and draw down CO2,” Rugenstein said. "That this Goldilocks zone occurs at such low erosion rates was a real surprise. Prior to this work, I might have guessed that such a switch from carbon dioxide sink to source — if it occurred at all — would be at a substantially higher erosion rate.” 

For this reason, lower-relief mountain ranges, which are often older and less active, exhibited optimal erosion rates. Higher mountains with faster erosion rates are carbon sources.   

The study examined metasedimentary mountains – where sediments are compressed and uplifted by tectonic activity – in different climates and across various erosion rates. Ranges as diverse as the Southern Alps in New Zealand, Central Mountain Range in Taiwan and eastern Tibetan Plateau in China all showed similar behavior at the same erosion rates, switching to a source of carbon at erosion rates higher than the optimal.  

Rugenstein said the next step will be to test mountains composed of different types of rock. Preliminary data indicates that mountains made of granite, like those in the Rocky Mountains, might have a similar optimal erosion rate that maximizes the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  

Bigger picture and longer timeline 

The study notes that including mountain basins could change the carbon accounting because rock eroded off mountains might continue to weather after it is relocated, sequestering carbon dioxide in the floodplain. So, while a fast-eroding mountain might be a carbon source, its basin might be a sink. The authors said more study is needed to piece together the bigger picture.  

Over the course of a mountain range’s life, it evolves from a low rate of erosion to faster erosion as it becomes more active and then returns to low erosion as activity slows.  

"Mountains might evolve through this cycle where they are transiently sinks of carbon dioxide and then sources of carbon dioxide,” Rugenstein said. 

The authors of the study — Rugenstein, Ludwig Maximilian University geologist Aaron Bufe and Niels Hovius from the German Research Centre for Geosciences — are investigating how mountains contribute to the long-term dynamics that drive climate and influence global temperatures. 

“Over geological timescales, the temperature to which Earth’s ‘thermostat’ is set depends strongly on the global distribution of erosion rates,” Aaron Bufe, the lead author, said in a press release from the university. 

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JOURNAL

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adk0957 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Computational simulation/modeling

ARTICLE TITLE

CO2 drawdown from weathering is maximized at moderate erosion rates

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

7-Mar-2024