Four native species selected after consultation, but which one adorns which note is yet to be decided Bees, barn owls, puffins and hedgehogs have been picked to feature on the next generation of banknotes, the Bank of England has announced. The quartet of creatures were selected after a large-scale consultation settled on wild animals as the theme, with members of the public then asked to pick their favourites out of 18 options divided into three categories. Continue reading...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants pose persistent global public health challenges. Understanding variant-specific viral uncoating mechanisms, a rate-limiting infection step, is critical for antiviral development. The nucleocapsid (N) protein is essential for viral RNA packaging and replication, but how its mutations regulate ribonucleocapsid disassembly remains unclear, with technical barriers hindering real-time biosafe visualization. We developed a versatile dual-labeled fluorescent trans-complemented virus-like particle (DL-trVLP) system enabling single-virus tracking of viral RNA and N protein dynamics under BSL-2 conditions. Our findings show that the circulating R203K/G204R mutation accelerates uncoating and enhances viral RNA accumulation and replication, uncovering a mutation-pathogenicity link. This work advances SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle understanding, provides a valuable research tool, and identifies a key antiviral target for combating variants.

A selection of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 finalists – from a shortlist featuring a caiman wearing a wig, a leopard doing a handstand, a strutting white-tailed eagle and a polar bear appeari...

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