Chad VanSant-Webb
Jessye Castro
Read an interview with 1st authors Chad VanSant-Webb and Jessye Castro
"DMM has been one of our lab's favourite journals to read and reference, as it showcases strong scientific rigour while highlighting new and diverse scientific techniques and topics"
🥼 🥼 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Nile Red staining is a way to analyse lipid droplet composition and distribution. We combined this stain with DAPI (blue) to evaluate changes to lipid droplets in hepatocytes following high-cholesterol diet. Composition of the lipid droplets can be visualized with the stain based on colour. Droplets containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) are visible in the red channel versus those containing neutral lipids (NL), shown in the green channel. The merged image in the bottom right shows how varied the droplet contents can be by the three colours of droplets: red (PC), yellow (both) and green (NL).
This new paper from Kimberley Evason @huntsmancancer.bsky.social & co provides insights into mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma, with findings suggesting that microRNA-21 is a target of activated β-catenin that mediates some of its effects during liver tumorigenesis
📰 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Cartoon of a scientist writing at a computer while reading a grey scientific article and thinking of other diverse scientific papers.
Our new Editorial from EiC Liz Patton @uoe-igc.bsky.social urges you to CITE IT RIGHT!
Citations hold immense power in shaping the history of a field & the success of careers. Accurate & CONSIDERATE citation of the literature is vital!
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And revisit our editorial written by Monica J. Justice on the importance of sex in preclinical research: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Celebrate #InternationalWomensDay with us and read interviews with women leaders in disease biology research:
Peggy Goodell on stem cells and ageing in the blood: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Sadaf Farooqi on investigating the genetics underpinning obesity: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
And check out the #FirstPerson interview with Miguel Ramirez-Moreno, where he talks about what sparked his interest in research, breaks down his work in simple language and discusses his plans for future studies.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Images showing how expressing human Tau in the Drosophila wing reduces the size of the posterior compartment. Panels include: a schematic of larval and adult wings highlighting the posterior region; fluorescent wing discs expressing control mCD8::Cherry or mCherry‑tagged human Tau with E‑cadherin staining; quantification plots comparing posterior/anterior size ratios; and adult wings with the posterior compartment outlined, demonstrating that Tau isoforms 0N4R and 2N4R significantly shrink this region.
@miguelrmphd.bsky.social, Douglas Watt Allan, Amritpal Mudher & co model Tau-induced neurotoxicity in the #Drosophila wing, enabling a rapid, genetically tractable in vivo system for #tauopathies studies.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
Join @helloeacr.bsky.social Cancer Genomics in Essen, Germany (12-14 May 2026) to discover the latest breakthroughs in cancer genomics, multiomics and computational biology:
Travel Grant & abstract submission deadline: 16 March 2026
Registration deadline: 13 April 2026
And don't forget to check out the #FirstPerson interview with Tabea Soelter and Emma Jones, in which they discuss the inspiration behind their work and research plans for the future.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Multi‑panel diagram showing a workflow for processing and analyzing single‑nucleus RNA‑seq data. Panel A illustrates the overall pipeline; Panel B shows pseudobulk gene‑expression analysis and splice‑junction usage calculations by cell type and condition; Panel C depicts permutation‑based comparisons of splice‑junction usage between Setbp1S858R and wild‑type tissues; Panel D visualizes transcripts and splice‑junction locations for significant genes; Panel E compares significant genes across cell types and annotates their functions and disease links. Abbreviations include FC, OPC, snRNA‑seq, and UMAP
@tsoelter.bsky.social @emmafjones.bsky.social @bnlasse.bsky.social & co quantified gene and splice junction expression from single-nuclei RNA-seq data from the #cerebral cortex and #kidney in atypical Schinzel‑Giedion syndrome–variant and wild‑type mice.
#RareDisease
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Diagram depicting brain tumors as nested ecosystems. Four concentric bowls represent cellular, tissue, body, and environmental levels. A second panel lists three features of nested ecosystems: diversity with spatial and temporal variation, intersectional communication within and between levels, and dynamic adaptation to external influences.
In their Perspective, Lori Forster and @gutmannlab.bsky.social apply the nested ecosystems concept to #glioma, clarify how diverse risk factors shape CNS oncobiology, and highlight new opportunities for targeted disease‑mitigation strategies.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Registration is open for @dmmjournal.bsky.social 2026 meeting 'Innovative Preclinical Models for Pediatric Cancer Research' organised by James Amatruda amatrudalab.bsky.social, Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay, bandolab.bsky.social, Ana Banito & Elaine Mardis. Find out more bit.ly/46r84Ca #DMM2026cancer
Subject collection cover with title: Microbiome in Health and Disease. A collection of papers, reprinted from Disease Models & Mechanisms
I'm excited to be heading to Wellcome Genome Campus next week for #Microbiome26 @eventswcs.bsky.social
Please come chat to me if you're interested in publishing with @dmmjournal.bsky.social & joining our microbiome collection of articles:
journals.biologists.com/dmm/collecti...
#MicrobiomeSky
The figure shows gene expression analysis of unsorted, CD49 sorted and CD19 sorted SCβ-cells using NanoString analysis.
Luo Ting Huang, Yaser Tahamtani, @nictitate.bsky.social & co explored the possibility of magnetic selection of insulin-expressing stem cell‑derived β‑cells using a CRISPR/Cas9 technology and transmembrane glycoprotein CD19 as a marker.
@bcchresearch.bsky.social
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Innovative Preclinical Models for Pediatric Cancer Research Organisers: James Amatruda, Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay, Ana Banito and Elaine Mardis Date: 13 - 15 October 2026 Location: Nationwide Children's Hospital Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Registration is open for @dmmjournal.bsky.social 2026 meeting 'Innovative Preclinical Models for Pediatric Cancer Research' organised by James Amatruda amatrudalab.bsky.social, Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay, bandolab.bsky.social, Ana Banito & Elaine Mardis. Find out more bit.ly/46r84Ca #DMM2026cancer
Workflow diagram showing how a 26‑gene neuronal co‑expression module was derived from the human epilepsy‑associated M30 network using Drosophila single‑cell RNA‑seq data. Steps include identifying fly orthologs, filtering genes with high expression, computing pairwise Spearman correlations, and clustering. A heatmap displays co‑expression among 142 fly genes, highlighting a 26‑gene module marked by a boxed region and enlarged alongside the full matrix.
Jingyi Long, Kevin Lüthy, Mireia Coll-Tané, Annette Schenck & co used #Drosophila scRNA-seq to refine an #epilepsy gene co-expression network, reproducing seizures for 4 genes, identifying 2 new candidates and finding 3 genes whose knockdown was protective.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Comparative lung images from BALB/c mice infected with different MAC isolates, showing varying degrees of tissue damage. Representative lung slices display inflammation (in green) and granulomas (in red), with MAC101 and MAC104 infections showing larger affected areas than MAC2285R. Multi‑scale panels include whole‑lung views and higher‑magnification sections highlighting lesion severity and distribution.
Timothy Shaw, Mercedes Gonzalez-Juarrero & co investigated Mycobacterium avium complex isolate-dependent differences in #PulmonaryDisease, quantified them and added novel insights into #lung immune cell profiling and whole-body plethysmography in prolonged infection.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Super‑resolution images of Epm2b−/− astrocytes matured in culture and of hippocampal astrocytes from 16‑month‑old Epm2b−/− mice. Both sets of images show GFAP‑positive astrocytes (red), glycogen‑positive PGBs (green), and DAPI‑stained nuclei (blue), with magnified insets highlighting the granular PGB structures.
Mireia Moreno-Estellés, Pascual Sanz & co improved their astrocytic model of #LaforaDisease by maturing #astrocytes, showing that they accumulate larger and granular PGBs (insoluble glycogen form), recapitulating key characteristics of the disease.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
@ibv-csic.bsky.social
#apaperaday Today's pick is by Wang et al published in @dmmjournal.bsky.social on a Duchenne rat model with a deletion of exon 45 in rat dystrophin gene (one of the most common deletions in human dystrophin gene). Obviously I had to make an origami rat to decorate the paper. doi: 10.1242/dmm.052578
The pictures shows the details of the conference: Developmental origins of paediatric cancer symposium, Monday 8 June 2026, The Francis Crick Institute, London.
DMM is supporting the Developmental origins of #PaediatricCancer symposium. Discover the latest cutting-edge research on the modelling, biology and treatment in the field.
Just 3 days left before the abstract submission deadline on 28 Feb 2026
Info www.cclg.org.uk/information-...
Confocal images of Drosophila wing imaginal discs showing the effects of cohesin and PARP depletion. Panels display GFP‑marked regions of the wing pouch with staining for DNA (DAPI), DNA‑damage foci (γH2Av), and apoptosis (cleaved Caspase‑3). Quantification plots show increased γH2Av‑positive and cCas3‑positive cells in specific depletion conditions, with statistical comparisons indicating significant elevations in DNA damage and apoptosis relative to controls.
Simona Totaro, Valentina Massa, @vaccarilab.bsky.social & co showed that somatic STAG2 variants occur in #glioblastoma and #medulloblastoma, and that reducing SA1 during fly brain development disrupts neural stem cell differentiation and drives tumorigenesis.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
The figure shows staining of mouse embryos with X-gal to highlight Ttc21b in whole-mount embryos (panels A-D,H) or after sectioning (panels E-G,I-N). Boxed areas in panel E are shown magnified in panels F and G, boxed areas in panels I and L are shown magnified in panels J and M. Arrows indicate specific areas of lacZ expression.
Rebekah Niewoehner, Rolf Stottmann & co found that pathogenic Ttc21b variants, the primary #cilia gene, contribute to primary #microcephaly, with homozygous #mouse mutants showing severe #microcephaly due to impaired neural progenitor proliferation and differentiation.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Figure showing progressive cardiac abnormalities in DmdΔ45 rats compared with wild‑type controls. Panel A presents a bar graph of heart weight normalized to body weight, with DmdΔ45 rats showing increased values. Panel B displays heart tissue sections: HPS staining on the left reveals structural disorganization, and Sirius Red staining on the right highlights increased fibrosis in DmdΔ45 hearts, particularly in the left and right ventricles. Panel C shows a line graph of cardiac output measured by transthoracic echocardiography from 3 to 18 months, with DmdΔ45 rats exhibiting a decline over time. Panel D presents left ventricular end‑systolic diameter measurements, which are enlarged in DmdΔ45 rats. Panel E shows a bar plot of ejection fraction, reduced in DmdΔ45 animals.
Tao Wang, Cynthia Daoud, Abbass Jaber, Isabelle Richard & co generated a new #RatModel of #DuchenneMuscularDystrophy with an exon 45 deletion using CRISPR/Cas9, recapitulating the most-frequent single-exon deletion and key features of #DMD.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
We also have a separate programme for the Global South. If your idea is selected, we will bring the event to your region.
#BiologistsWorkshops
Details: www.biologists.com/workshops/pr...
Do you have a DMM-related workshop idea but need support with logistics or funding?
Our annual call for topics is now open, and if your idea is selected, you can bring it to life.
#BiologistsWorkshops
Details: www.biologists.com/workshops/pr...
Photo of Arístides López-Márquez
And check out #FirstPerson interview with Arístides López-Márquez, in which he talks about the inspiration behind his work and his plans for the future.
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The figure shows the fibrosis analysis. Top panel shows images of diaphragm, quadriceps and tibialis anterior sections from mice stained with Picro Sirius Red, which reveal collagen deposition as an indicator of fibrosis. Bottom panel shows violin plots representing the quantification of the percentage area of fibrosis in the diaphragm, quadriceps or tibialis anterior of wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous mice aged 2, 6 or 12 months.
Arístides López-Márquez, Cecilia Jiménez-Mallebrera & co used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate the first #MouseModel of a pathogenic variant that involves glycine substitutions in the triple helical domain of collagen VI alpha chains and leads to congenital #MuscleDisease.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
This year, DMM is supporting the 'Integrating Multi-Modal, Multi-Scale Models of Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms' workshop organised by Jennifer Davis,
Christine Mummery & Beth Pruitt.
Application deadline 8 May 2026 www.biologists.com/workshops/no...
#CardiovascularDisease
Check out the #FirstPerson interview with Mrudula Dileep and Anamika Sharma, the collaborators behind our January issue #EditorsChoise research article on the connection between mitochondrial stress and #ParkinsonsDisease.
Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Photo of Jacob Trend
Don't forget to read #FirstPerson interview with Jacob Trend for more insight into how this research came together and what he plans to do next.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
