Biology subjects

Weber, M. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Weber, M. E..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

An innovative tool for non-invasive contact-free pathogen monitoring in animal saliva

Habitat fragmentation, climate change, poaching, human-wildlife conflicts, and infectious diseases are the main threats to biodiversity conservation. They alter host-pathogen dynamics, reduce viable conservation areas, and promote genetic isolation, resulting in physiological stress among animal populations. Moreover, increased proximity between domestic and wild animals further facilitates disease spillovers exposing naive host species and ecosystems to new pathogens. Of the more than 200 known zoonotic diseases, approximately 60% originate from animals, contributing significantly to the global infectious disease burden. Here, we describe the development of an innovative non-invasive approach for biological sampling that has been validated in mice and shelter cats. Our device consists of a disposable plastic cassette that through odor attractants lures animals to lick a filter paper. This saliva collection approach allowed for the detection of RNA viruses by RTqPCR and third-generation sequencing. RTqPCR oral swab and licked paper results showed that both methods significantly predicted serological status. Our sequencing results revealed the richness of the gene space, demonstrating the potential of this device for discovering rare or unknown species circulating in the saliva donor, enabling this player to be recognized as an environmental sentinel. This study demonstrates the feasibility of deploying this device in sheltered/captive animal settings as well as under laboratory simulations of different environments, providing necessary foundations for future field applications. Our methodology holds great potential for monitoring zoonotic pathogens in both captive and free-ranging animals, to even possibly allow proactive mitigation measures prior to spillover, without interfering with the natural animal behaviour and social structures. Visual abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=141 SRC="FIGDIR/small/705368v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (21K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1325498org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14ff0cdorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14a4334org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8217e4_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Native and regenerated cellulose show similar environmental biodegradation behavior across global terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer and serves as the structural scaffolding molecule of plants, and materials from cellulose fibers are considered important to the global shift toward renewable materials. Yet, uncertainty remains about their persistence in natural environments. Here we show that native and regenerated cellulose, ranging from cotton and linen to viscose, modal, and lyocell, despite minor structural differences, are biodegraded at comparable rates, indicating that there is no scientifically justified distinction regarding environmental behavior. We assessed the biodegradation of diverse cellulosic materials, including powders, loose fibers, fabrics, and nonwovens, under technical and natural conditions across soil, home compost, freshwater, and marine coastal and deep-sea environments. Our study combined a total of 152 scenarios with laboratory tests, mesocosm and field experiments, spanning from polar to tropical regions and temperatures from -1.8 {degrees}C in the high Arctic Ocean to 38.4 {degrees}C in a marine beach in the Mediterranean Sea, and between -6.1 to 54.1 {degrees}C in agricultural soil. All neat cellulosic fibers showed inherent biodegradability, with biodegradation half-lives typically ranging from weeks to months. Biodegradation rates were primarily driven by water availability, temperature, and nutrient levels, while the role of oxygen was indifferent. Standardized lab tests aligned well with field observations, confirming their validity for assessing inherent biodegradability with environmental relevance. However, biodegradation of biodegradable polymers in real-world scenarios is influenced by product-level modifications such as dyeing and finishing. By distinguishing the effects of fiber chemistry separately from those of finishing treatments, this study clarifies the role of cellulose in a sustainable materials economy and supports evidence-based regulation of fiber biodegradability claims and product labeling.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Spectroscopic glimpses of the transition state of ATP hydrolysis trapped in a bacterial DnaB helicase

The ATP hydrolysis transition state of motor proteins is a weakly populated protein state that can be stabilized and investigated by replacing ATP with chemical mimics. We present atomic-level structural and dynamic insights on a state created by ADP aluminum fluoride binding to the bacterial DnaB helicase from Helicobacter pylori. We determined the positioning of the metal ion cofactor within the active site using electron paramagnetic resonance, and identified the protein protons coordinating to the phosphate groups of ADP and DNA using proton-detected 31P,1H solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at fast magic-angle spinning > 100 kHz, as well as temperature-dependent proton chemical-shift values to prove their engagements in hydrogen bonds. 19F and 27Al MAS NMR spectra reveal a highly mobile, fast-rotating aluminum fluoride unit pointing to the capture of a late ATP hydrolysis translation state in which the phosphoryl unit is already detached from the arginine and lysine fingers.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Biomolecular solid-state NMR spectroscopy at highest field: the gain in resolution at 1200 MHz

Progress in NMR in general and in biomolecular applications in particular is driven by increasing magnetic-field strengths leading to improved resolution and sensitivity of the NMR spectra. Recently, persistent superconducting magnets at a magnetic field strength (magnetic induction) of 28.2 T corresponding to 1200 MHz proton resonance frequency became commercially available. We present here a collection of high-field NMR spectra of a variety of proteins, including molecular machines, membrane proteins and viral capsids and others. We show this large panel in order to provide an overview over a range of representative systems under study, rather than a single best performing model system. We discuss both carbon-13 and proton-detected experiments, and show that in 13C spectra substantially higher numbers of peaks can be resolved compared to 850 MHz while for 1H spectra the most impressive increase in resolution is observed for aliphatic side-chain resonances.

biophysics↗