Skip to main content
Advertisement
Seabird subsidy of coral reefs

July 8, 2025

Seabird subsidy of coral reefs

Cross-ecosystem nutrient fluxes can influence recipient food webs, including both static measures of structure and dynamic measures of function. This study of nutrient subsidies provided by seabirds on coral reefs, by Cassandra Benkwitt, Nicholas Graham and colleagues, shows that dynamic metrics better revealed the flow and effects of seabird-derived nutrients through coral-reef food chains. Don't miss the Primer by Sterling Tebbett and Scott Ling.

Image credit: Casey Benkwitt

PLOS Biologue

Community blog for PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Computational Biology.

PLOS BIOLOGUE

07/11/2025

Research Article

Mechanism of haptoglobin–hemoglobin clearance

The CD163 scavenger receptor on macrophages clears free hemoglobin in the bloodstream via binding to the haptoglobin-hemoglobin (HpHb) complex. Ching-Shin Huang, Lidia Mosyak and co-workers solve the cryo-EM structure of CD163 in complex with HpHb and reveal the mechanism by which CD163-mediated endocytosis efficiently clears different isoforms of HpHb.

Image credit: pbio.3003264

Mechanism of haptoglobin–hemoglobin clearance

Recently Published Articles

Current Issue

Current Issue June 2025

07/11/2025

Methods and Resources

Cilia in the brain

Using a high-throughput spatiotemporal analysis of over 10 million primary cilia in 22 mouse brain regions, Roudabeh Monfared, Sherif Abdelkarim, Pierre Baldi, Amal Alachkar and co-authors show that cilia have region-specific length and orientation patterns, and characterize circadian rhythms of cilia length in five brain regions. The findings suggest a role for cilia in the brain’s response to environmental changes.


Image credit: pbio.3003197

Cilia in the brain

07/10/2025

Methods and Resources

Inducible labeling of ER-membrane contact sites

ER-membrane contact sites are often distorted by existing labeling methods. Laura Downie, Stephen Royle and co-workers develop an inducible labeling system called LaBeRling that uses the Lamin B receptor to fluorescently tag a variety of ER-membrane contact sites in live cells preserving their morphology.

Image credit: Laura Downie & Stephen Royle

Inducible labeling of ER-membrane contact sites

07/07/2025

Research Article

Selective stimulation of cortical layers

Electrical brain stimulation can be used to modulate brain activity but it is unclear how it affects the cortical layers. Sangjun Lee, Alexander Opitz and co-authors show that only the deeper layers, but not the superficial layers, show phase-dependent changes in local field potential components upon electrical stimulation.

Selective stimulation of cortical layers

Image credit: pbio.3003278

07/07/2025

Research Article

Reward expectation, attention and decision making

Reward expectation modulates attention and decision making, but are these mediated by common or distinct mechanisms? Ankita Sengupta and Devarajan Sridharan show that spatial manipulation of reward expectation selectively modulates sensitivity, while choice-based manipulation of reward expectation selectively affects decision making.

Reward expectation, attention and decision making

Image credit: Ankita Sengupta

07/07/2025

Methods and Resources

Highly variable brain transgene expression

Chantal Wissing, Lena Eschholz, Simon Wiegert, Alexander Dieter and colleagues report substantial heterogeneity in transgene expression patterns when using different strategies to virally transduce noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus, highlighting the need to carefully validate each experimental approach in order to avoid misinterpretations when studying locus coeruleus function.

Highly variable brain transgene expression

Image credit: Lena Eschholz, Alexander Dieter & Chantal Wissing

06/30/2025

Editorial

A scientific future shared with AI

AI tools can aid almost every aspect of the research process, from hypothesis generation and data analysis to manuscript drafting and publication. This Editorial explores what the future might hold for researchers and publishers.

A scientific future shared with AI

Image credit: Unsplash user Igor Omilaev

06/23/2025

Perspective

Too poor to science

A career in science can come with a high price tag. This Perspective explores how persistent financial barriers limit who can succeed in science, and proposes structural changes to support equity and inclusion.

Too poor to science

Image credit: Pixabay user kschneider2991

06/23/2025

Perspective

Academic publishing in a multilingual world

As the availability and performance of AI for language editing and translation continues to improve, we can imagine a future in which everyone can use their own language to write, assess and read science. The question is, how can we achieve it?

Academic publishing in a multilingual world

Image credit: pbio.3003215

06/20/2025

Perspective

Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education

Educational equity faces renewed threats across higher education in the United States. This Perspective addresses what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, evidence-based teaching for all.

Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education

Image credit: Unsplash user Sam Balye

Get new content from PLOS Biology in your inbox

PLOS Biology | ISSN: 1545-7885 (online)