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DMM Journal
@dmmjournal.bsky.social
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Disease Models & Mechanisms - discovery for human health. A
@biologists.bsky.social Open Access journal that publishes human disease research.
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DMM Journal @dmmjournal.bsky.social · Oct 21
Our new special issue on infectious diseases is now closed! bit.ly/4nc60U5

On the cover: 3D-volume render of tuberculosis granulomas in mice infected with E2Crimson-expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Granuloma boundary in turquoise and infecting bacteria in red.
Three-dimensional volume render of tuberculosis granulomas in C3HeB/FeJ mice infected with E2Crimson-expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Turquoise outlines mark the granuloma boundary, infecting bacteria are highlighted in red. Images were captured by light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and rendered in 3D at day 42 and day 70 post infection, revealing the spatial architecture of lesions and the pathogen distribution deep within intact lung tissue. See article by Beltran et al. (dmm052185).
dmmjournal.bsky.social
@jtrendbio.bsky.social, @clarkinbonebiol.bsky.social & co used synchrotron X-ray computed tomography to characterise the distribution and structure of intracortical canals and #osteocyte lacunae, helping identify molecular drivers of age-related cortical porosity.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
The figure shows the results of regionalisation of murine cortical bone, which reveals region-specific microstructural properties. Panels A-C show images of regional microstructure quantification, namely intracortical canals and osteocyte lacunae mapped by size. Panels D-G show graphs of regionalised and quantified cortical porosity, canal number density, lacunar number density and average lacunar volume.
February 12, 2026 at 12:01 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
For International Day of Women & #GirlsInScience revisit this editorial from Editorial Board Member Kirsten Sadler on the shifting culture of the scientific workforce doi.org/10.1242/dmm....

#WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM #EveryVoiceInScience
A split illustration compares scientific work in the past and present. On the left, labeled “Then,” a lone male scientist in a lab coat stands at a simple bench, holding glass flasks with books stacked beside them and a small mouse on the table. On the right, labeled “Now,” a diverse team of three researchers works together at a modern laboratory station with computers and a microscope.This image is by neilsmithillustration.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 1:49 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Jing-Fu Bao, Youhua Liu, Aiqing Li & co developed two methods to simulate human uremic #cardiomyopathy, compared these approaches across several #RatModel and#MouseModel, and identified CCR-2 as a potential therapeutic target.

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
The figure shows global changes of the left ventricle in modified nephrectomy- and adenine-induced uremic cardiomyopathy. Panel A: volcano plot of upregulated and downregulated differentially expressed genes. Panels B and C: gene ontology circle graphs showing the main changes in biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions in uremic cardiomyopathy developed by both approaches. Panel D: gene set enrichment analysis, which identified the primary differences between these two approaches.
February 11, 2026 at 12:01 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Esther Becker, Simone Mayer and @lenakutscher.bsky.social teamed up to summarise current approaches for generating #cerebellar #organoids and advocate for the establishment of rigorous quality control standards to ensure reproducible, high-quality research.

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
The figure shows the key features of human cerebellar patterning and gene expression. Panel A: The midbrain –hindbrain boundary is set at ∼4-5 post-conception weeks. The isthmic organizer secretes the morphogens to set the boundary. Panel B: around 10 weeks post conception, two progenitor pools are specified, including the ventricular zone, which generates all inhibitory neurons and glial cells, and the rhombic lip, which generates all excitatory neurons. The external granule layer is a second germinal zone producing the abundant excitatory granule neurons of the cerebellum. Panel C: at later stages in development, the cerebellum becomes highly foliated and adopts its characteristic three-layer structure. Panel D: major cell types of the mature cerebellum include Purkinje cells, granule cells, unipolar brush cells, GABAergic interneurons and cerebellar nuclei.
February 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Congratulations to our Editor-in-Chief, Liz Patton, on receiving the 2026 Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Award for the pioneering work using #zebrafish for #melanoma research.
She will give a CNV Award Lecture at the 2026 @ezsociety.bsky.social
meeting
www.ezsociety.org/cnv-awardee-...
#WomenInScience
The photo of Prof. Elizabeth Patton
February 9, 2026 at 12:02 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
DMM is supporting the Developmental origins of #PaediatricCancer symposium. Discover the latest cutting-edge research on the modelling, biology and treatment in the field.

Abstract submission until 28 Feb 2026

Info www.cclg.org.uk/information-...
Registration www.tickettailor.com/events/cclg/...
The pictures shows the details of the conference: Developmental origins of paediatric cancer symposium, Monday 8 June 2026, The Francis Crick Institute, London.
February 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Brand new review by Emily Troemel, Patricija van Oosten-Hawle & Michalis Barkoulas explores discoveries from C. elegans that elucidate connections between immune responses and #proteostasis

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
#Celegans #immunity
Diagram of a C. elegans worm showing two infection routes. On the left, oral delivery introduces pathogens into the pharynx and intestinal lumen, leading to intestinal infections. Extracellular bacteria are shown in the lumen, while intracellular pathogens such as Orsay virus and microsporidia appear inside intestinal cells. A zoomed inset shows three intestinal cells with nuclei. On the right, eukaryotic pathogens such as fungi and oomycetes penetrate the cuticle to infect the epidermal syncytium. A second inset shows the epidermal layer with hyp7 nuclei and a pathogen breaching the cuticle.
February 6, 2026 at 12:12 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
This new paper from Luo Ting Huang, @nictitate.bsky.social & co @bcchresearch.bsky.social used genetic engineering to facilitate magnetic-activated cell sorting enrichment of insulin-producing stem cell-derived β cells with implications for cell-replacement therapy

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Figure showing CD19Δ‑mScarlet localization and expression. (A) Flow cytometry dot plots of HEK293 cells 72 hours after transfection with CD19Δ‑mScarlet constructs, comparing untransfected control, construct with 2A, and without 2A; right panel shows a bar graph quantifying the percentage of mScarlet⁺CD19⁺ cells. (B) Flow cytometry of d25 SCβ‑cells showing unstained, surface‑stained, and surface plus intracellular CD19 staining, with a bar graph of CD19⁺ percentages. (C) Immunofluorescence images of stage 6 d25 SCβ‑cell clusters showing DAPI‑stained nuclei (blue), insulin (green), and CD19Δ‑mScarlet (red), including two magnified insets highlighting red fluorescence at the cell surface.
February 5, 2026 at 12:08 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Meet Priyanka Tibarewal, 1st author of new paper with Bart Vanhaesebroeck & co @ucl.ac.uk presenting a mouse model of human PTEN variants to elucidate associations with tissue overgrowth, #autism spectrum disorder and #cancer
Interview & article:
🥼 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
📰 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Photograph of Priyanka Tibarewal
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Join Cancer Genomics in Essen, Germany (12-14 May 2026) to discover the latest breakthroughs in cancer genomics, multiomics and computational biology: bit.ly/47xVTo7
@helloeacr.bsky.social
EACR Conference Cancer Genomics, Multiomics and Computational Biology Essen, Germany : 12 - 14 May 2026
February 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
This new paper from Bäumges, Lübke & co combined translational readthrough therapy & degradation of release factors to restore FUCA1 in an in vitro model of a #LysosomalStorageDisease

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
A multi-panel figure showing immunofluorescence images and quantitative analyses of HT1080 cells expressing FUCA1‑Flag constructs. Panels A–C display microscopy images of wild‑type, p.Q82X, and p.W188X FUCA1‑Flag under untreated, G418‑treated (to induce translational redthrough), and G418 + CC‑885 (to degrade eukaryotic relaease factors) conditions. Cell nuclei (blue, DAPI), LAMP1‑labeled lysosomes (green), and Flag‑tagged FUCA1 (red) are shown, with zoomed insets highlighting Flag signal intensity. Wild‑type cells show strong red Flag staining; mutant constructs show minimal signal when untreated and increased red fluorescence with G418 or combined treatment. Panels D and E present scatter plots quantifying normalized intracellular Flag fluorescence for each condition, with mean and standard deviation indicated and significance markers for comparisons.
January 30, 2026 at 12:46 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Our latest #EditorsChoice from Dileep, Sharma, Hasan & co uncovers early warning signs of #ParkinsonsDisease inside the cell’s powerhouse

EC highlight & article:
⚡ doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
📰 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
#Drosophila #mitochondria
Immunofluorescent image of dopaminergic neurons in adult Drosophila brains
January 29, 2026 at 12:08 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Our December issue marked the end of #biologists100 with a cover highlighting many of the scientists in our community, some of the featured #100biologists, as well as our Editors & in-house team!

Thank you everyone for helping us celebrate @biologists.bsky.social 100-year anniversary in style 🎉
January 28, 2026 at 12:32 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Meet Nayeli Reyes-Nava, 1st author of #EditorsChoice paper with @edwardmarcotte.bsky.social, @jbwallingford.bsky.social & co who used #Xenopus to study #Cilia motility disturbances in primary ciliary dyskinesia #PCD

Interview & article:
doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Photo of Nayeli Reyes-Nava
January 27, 2026 at 12:46 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
This study from Shin, Park & co demonstrates that PDGFRα+ fibroblast ablation worsens #asthma pathology by elevating neutrophil numbers and activation, highlighting fibroblast–immune crosstalk in asthma pathogenesis

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Multipanel figure comparing house dust mite (HDM)–exposed control and fibroblast-ablated mice. Panel A shows a schematic timeline illustrating tamoxifen induction followed by intranasal HDM or PBS exposure over five weeks. Panel B displays fluorescence images of lung sections from control and ablated mice treated with PBS or HDM; nuclei appear blue and tdTomato+ cells red, with increased red signal in HDM‑exposed control lungs. Panel C shows whole‑mount cleared bronchial and distal airway regions, with dense red fluorescence in control‑HDM tissue and visibly reduced signal in ablated‑HDM lungs. Panel D presents a bar graph quantifying tdTomato+ area normalized to DAPI. Panel E shows hydroxyproline levels across groups. Panel F shows qPCR elastin expression, and Panel H displays elastin protein by ELISA. Panel G provides Verhoeff–Van Gieson‑stained lung sections showing structural differences between control‑HDM and ablated‑HDM lungs. Panel I is a heatmap of differentially expressed genes related to fibroblast and extracellular matrix markers.
January 26, 2026 at 12:06 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Meet Chaitali Khan, 1st author of resource paper with Nasser Rusan @NIH that established reproducible #Drosophila metastatic tumour models, enabling organ-specific metastasis tracking & the study of tumor–host interactions
Interview & article:
doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Photo of Chaitali Khan
January 23, 2026 at 12:03 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Julien Debbache, Lukas Sommer & co generated a novel sporadic #MouseModel of Nf1 wild-type malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours, driven by conditional expression of oncogenic BrafV600E and loss of Pten in the glial lineage.

#sarcoma

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Multipanel figure showing comparative histological images of Plp1-driven MPNST-like tumor and corresponding Tyr-driven melanoma.
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 AM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Check out this new #preLight post on the influence of macrophages on human #kidney organoids! With a bonus response from the authors of the #preprint
January 22, 2026 at 3:10 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
In this new paper from Schuster-Winkelmann, Aszodi & co they show that a humanized mouse model engrafted with PBMCs from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis mirrors pathology & treatment response, enabling translational studies of disease mechanisms & novel therapies

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Composite scientific figure showing immunofluorescence and polarized light images characterizing synovial fibroblasts in the NSG‑RA mouse model. Panel A contains seven micrographs of mouse synovial tissue labeled for vimentin, Thy1, CD3, CD19, CD14, and CD4. Each image shows dark synovial structures with fluorescently stained cell populations highlighted by arrows. Vimentin‑positive fibroblasts appear in the hyperplastic intimal layer and pannus, while Thy1‑positive fibroblasts localize to the sublining region. Lower‑row images display infiltrating human immune cells—CD3+, CD19+, CD14+, and CD4+—within thickened synovium. Panel B shows isolated fibroblasts from challenged mice, with scattered vimentin‑positive cells emitting green fluorescence and Thy1‑positive cells emitting red fluorescence. Panel C presents Sirius Red staining under polarized light, showing dense collagen I and III deposition in inflamed synovium, while Panel D shows comparatively reduced collagen in non‑RA controls.
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Cassandra Diegel, @bartwilliams.bsky.social & co generated mice carrying an Lrp5 allele lacking the class A repeats and observed reduced bone mass and retinal vascularisation, suggesting an essential role for these repeats in normal #LRP5 function.

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
A multioanel figure showing schematics for creating mice with an Lrp5 allele that lacks the class A repeats and LRP5 protein expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Panel A: CRISPR/Cas9 targeting schematic of intron 17 and 19 of mouse Lrp5. Panel B: Model of wild-type and modified LRP5 proteins on the cell surface. Panel C: LRP5 protein expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
January 22, 2026 at 8:01 AM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Meet Camille Lacarrière-Keïta, 1st author of paper with Steve Jean & co that shows #autophagy inhibition in #Drosophila intestinal stem cells increases enteroendocrine cell differentiation

Interview & article below:
👩🏼‍🔬https://doi.org/10.1242/dmm.052770
📰https://doi.org/10.1242/dmm.052214
Photograph of Camille Lacarrière-Keïta
January 21, 2026 at 12:08 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Caiqin Zhang, Yangchao Don, Changhong Shi, & co developed a humanised STAT2 #MouseModel of Japanese #encephalitis #virus, which exhibited a phenotype resembling clinical human infections, characterised by elevated viral load and increased proinflammatory cytokines.

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Multipanel figure showing pathological changes in the brains and the peripheral organs of the investigated mouse models. Panel A: Images of the brains obtained from C57BL/6J mice not infected with JEV (Control), C57BL/6J, NCG and NCG-hSTAT2+/+ mice showing retention of Evans Blue. Panel B: Images, showing histopathological changes of the hippocampal area in the brains of mice as described in panel A. Panel C: a graph shoeing quantification of neuronal cell density in the hippocampus of the mice as described in panel B. Panel D: Images showing immunofluorescence staining of neuronal cells in the dentate gyrus region. Panel E: Histological images of liver and spleen tissues in mice, showing pathological changes in these peripheral organs.
January 21, 2026 at 8:01 AM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Check out this new paper from Gineste, Reiss & Laporte that shows there is no improvement in muscle phenotype observed in recessive Ryr1-linked centronuclear myopathy mice following tamoxifen administration

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Multi-panel figure showing effects of tamoxifen on muscle fiber nuclei and size in TA muscle of WT and Ryr1TM/indel mice. Panels A and B display representative images of succinate dehydrogenase staining (A) and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining (B) for four groups: WT+vehicle, WT+tamoxifen, Ryr1TM/indel+vehicle, and Ryr1TM/indel+tamoxifen. Arrows in B indicate mislocalized nuclei. Panel C shows a bar graph comparing percentage of fibers with abnormal nuclei positioning across groups, with statistical significance indicated (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). Panel D is a line graph of fiber size distribution (MinFeret diameter) for all groups. Panels E and F present bar graphs quantifying proportions of small fibers (≤35 μm) and large fibers (>35 μm), respectively, with individual data points and mean±s.e.m. Scale bars in A and B: 50 μm.
January 20, 2026 at 12:37 PM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
Elizabeth Apsley, Esther Becker & co used CRISPR-based gene editing in cerebellar #organoids to model specific aspects of early human cerebellar development, with a particular focus on the role of the previously understudied FOXP2.

#cerebellum #CRISPR

Read doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
A Multipannel figure showing FOXP2 expression in developing human Purkinje cells. Panel A: Bulk RNA-sequencing data from BrainSpan showing that FOXP2 is highly expressed in the cerebellum during human brain development. Panel B: Expression of FOXP genes in the developing human cerebellum plotted across timepoints and cell types based on published single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data. Panel C: OXP genes show differential expression across Purkinje cell subtypes, with FOXP1 marking early-born Purkinje cells.
January 20, 2026 at 8:01 AM
dmmjournal.bsky.social
To celebrate our publisher's (@dmmjournal.bsky.social) 100-year anniversary in 2025, we looked back over our comparably short history as a journal, highlighting our support for ECRs, including Conference Travel Grants

doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Photograph of Conference Travel Grant recipient Deeksha Prasad presenting a poster at the ‘2025 Cornea and Ocular Surface Biology, Pathology and Regeneration’ Gordon Research Conference.
January 19, 2026 at 12:10 PM