May 29, 2026
How does the brain adapt when goals change? Jiasong Li, Lingwei Tang, Haibing Xu and colleagues show that coordinated neural rhythms between the medial orbitofrontal cortex and the hippocampus underlie flexible navigation, allowing animals to rapidly update their internal maps and switch between target locations.
Image credit: Jing Bian
05/29/2026
Short Reports
Pathogenic variants in the ribosome-associated endoribonuclease SLFN14 cause inherited thrombocytopenia, but the molecular basis of this disorder is unclear. Chengchao Ding, Yan Xiang and co-workers reveal that type II tRNA cleavage by mutant SLFN14 drives global translational repression and cell death.
Image credit: pbio.3003830
05/29/2026
Research Article
Some smells can seem stronger than others despite equivalent odor concentrations, but how does this occur? Frans Nordén, Irene Zanettin, Mikael Lundqvist, Artin Arshamian and Johan Lundström show that coordinated neural activity between the human olfactory bulb and piriform cortex tracks how intensely an odor is perceived, rather than physical concentration.
Image credit: pbio.3003810
05/21/2026
Research Article
Bilaterian animals with centralized nervous systems have patterns of BMP signaling activity gradient that suggest an ‘anti-neural’ ancestral role, but the evidence for this remains unclear. A study of cnidarians, by Paul Knabl, Grigory Genikhovich and co-workers, shows that BMP signalling can in fact promote neurogenesis and that the ‘anti-neural’ function described in vertebrates and arthropods is a side effect of its global function in dorsoventral axis patterning.
Image credit: Paul Knabl
05/20/2026
Research Article
Polymicrobial infections often involve co-colonizing pathogens, but how do they interact across host environments? Katlyn Todd, Olivia Schneider, Jay Vornhagen and co-authors show that phenazines from Pseudomonas aeruginosa drive strain- and oxygen-dependent inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae, revealing context-specific rules of competition.
Image credit: pbio.3003809
05/20/2026
Research Article
SARS-CoV-2 suppresses innate immunity through multiple proteins, but what are their relative roles during infection? Fuchun Zhou, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Stuart Sealfon, Alexander Bukreyev and colleagues explore the role of a panel of 12 viral proteins, showing that they (and especially NSP1 and NSP15), act via distinct yet redundant mechanisms to inhibit interferon responses and immune cell activation.
Image credit: pbio.3003808
05/20/2026
Research Article
Natural killer (NK) cells have a key role in the tumor microenvironment, but what drives their activity in hepatocellular carcinoma? Hangyu Liao, Jun Yang, Lei Cai and co-workers show that mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma cells activates NK cells via integrin β1–FAK–AKT signaling and reshapes an immune-activated microenvironment.
Image credit: pbio.3003793
05/29/2026
Editorial
Aging affects us all, but we still do not know how the process evolves or if we can modulate its pace. This Editorial presents a Collection of articles that explores different aspects of aging, discussing what challenges still need to be overcome.
Image credit: Gustav Klimt
05/27/2026
Perspective
Classifying ovaries solely as reproductive organs has obscured their role as systemic regulators of female physiology. This Perspective discusses that ovarian aging is a primary determinant of healthspan and belongs at the center of geroscience.
Image credit: Pixabay user therapractice
05/26/2026
Essay
Oocytes give rise to embryos that begin life with restored developmental potential. This Essay reframes ovarian biology as a model for rejuvenation rather than solely as a site of reproductive decline.
Image credit: pbio.3003804
05/26/2026
Essay
Basic biology of aging suggests that aging can be influenced by transient conditions experienced earlier in life. This Essay discusses these findings, which are essential to understand the plasticity of late-life health and longevity.
Image credit: pbio.3003794
This PLOS Biology collection aims to shine a light on the many facets of immunometabolism, highlighting how molecular and cellular mechanisms impact diverse tissue and organismal functions and the exciting potential for leveraging immunometabolism for therapeutic interventions.
Recent technological advancements in omics have unveiled the mechanisms governing tumor progression across spatial and temporal scales. This collection reveals the complexities of the crosstalk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
Neurotechnology offers unprecedented opportunities to treat neural disorders, restore brain function and enhance cognitive abilities. This collection explores the present and possible futures of neurotechnology to improve human health and cognition.
Translating conservation and biodiversity research from the field into the real world is a complex problem. This collection discusses issues around economics, policy, and how to do research that answers questions that decision makers have.
Symbiosis research has become a holistic and pervasive field with a mature theoretical basis. This collection showcases symbiotic relationships across the tree of life, exploring their evolutionary basis and underlying mechanisms.
June 3 - 5
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (npariente@plos.org)
June 8 - 11
Meet Magazine Senior Editor Joanna Clarke (jclarke@plos.org)
June 8 - 11
Meet Senior Editor Richard Hodge (rhodge@plos.org)
June 15 - 18
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (npariente@plos.org)
June 22 - 26
Meet Associate Editor Ankiit Ahluwalia (aahluwalia@plos.org).