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PLOS Biology
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A leading life science journal that champions high-impact research across all disciplines—from molecules to ecosystems. We offer innovative formats and collaborative editorial support to ensure your work achieves its full scientific impact.
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PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · Feb 21
PLOS has issued a statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity.

We are determined to stand firmly behind our mission, our values and our principles, and against any attempt at censorship or undermining of the core principles of scientific inquiry.

plos.io/3D4O8cH
PLOS statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity - The Official PLOS Blog
Since its founding over twenty five years ago PLOS has been dedicated to advancing open science, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to…
plos.io
plosbiology.org
Hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation (HCT) may play a role in #liver #regeneration, but how is it regulated? This study shows that HCT bypasses a hepatoblast-like state and requires derepression of an epithelial transcriptional program mediated by GRHL2 @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48JI3xW
Characterization of HCT using a scRNA-seq atlas of mouse parenchymal liver cells. Top: Overview of datasets used to generate the mouse liver scRNA-seq atlas together with the UMAP projection of the obtained 76,546 individual cells and positioning of hepatoblasts (embryonic and postnatal cells), hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Middle left: Data from the top panel were used for cell clustering. Shown here is a zoom of the UMAP projection highlighting the 3 clusters selected to further study HCT vs. developmental cholangiocyte differentiation. Middle right: Results of RNA velocity analyses showing the cell transitions associated respectively with developmental differentiation of cholangiocytes from hepatoblasts and HCT. Bottom left: BMEL cells were transfected with a GRHL2 expression plasmid or an empty control construct and grown in Matrigel. Representative images of obtained aggregates stained with phalloidin are shown. The arrows point to cystic cell aggregates. Bottom right: Cell aggregates highlighted in the zoomed areas from bottom left were further analyzed using confocal microscopy in order to better display the differences in their organization highlighting the cyst structures adopted by BMEL cells overexpressing GRHL2. Images were acquired using LSM confocal microscopy.
December 15, 2025 at 5:40 PM
plosbiology.org
Is #Bsubtilis a good model for the spore-forming #anthrax #pathogen B. anthracis? This study identifies >150 B. anthracis #sporulation genes and cytologically phenotypes the mutants, revealing similarities & striking differences between model & pathogen @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3YsvlyZ
Conserved B. anthracis sporulation genes have mutant phenotypes that are similar, but not identical, to B. subtilis mutants. Top: Representative fluorescence and phase-contrast micrographs of sporulating B. anthracis and B. subtilis. Wild-type strains were induced to sporulate by nutrient exhaustion at 37 °C in PA (B. anthracis) or DSM (B. subtilis). Time after the onset of sporulation is indicated in the top left corner of the B. anthracis images. The membranes were stained (0–5 hour) with TMA-DPH. Bottom: Representative fluorescence images of the indicated B. anthracis mutants at hour 4 of sporulation. All strains harbor forespore (PspoIIQ-yfp) and mother cell (PspoIID-cfp) transcriptional reporters. σF activity in the forespore (SigF) and σE activity in the mother cell (SigE) were visualized with YFP (false-colored green) and CFP (false-colored red), respectively. The membranes were stained with TMA-DPH. Disporic cells in spoIIR::Tn (yellow carets), impaired engulfment in spoIID::Tn and spoIIQ::Tn (white carets), and small forespores in spoIIIAE::Tn (light blue carets) are highlighted. Scale bars indicate 5 μm.
December 15, 2025 at 5:35 PM
plosbiology.org
What underlies the dynamics of #RedBloodCell production? Nicola Wilson explores a @plosbiology.org study that suggests a broadly applicable mechanism able to balance the maintenance of the steady-state with an effective stress response 🧪 #erythropoiesis Paper: plos.io/3KDskbX Primer: plos.io/4j4QBV1
Synergistic mechanisms of pleiotropic cytokines and lineage-specific factors. IL-17A dramatically enhances erythropoiesis, increasing the production of ProE precursors above levels generated by Epo alone. HSC, hematopoietic stem cell; MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid/basophil-mast cell/megakaryocytic progenitor; BFU-E, erythroid burst-forming unit; CFU-E, erythroid colony-forming unit; ProE, pro-erythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, poly erythroblast; OrthoE, ortho-chromatic erythroblast; RBC, red blood cell. Created in BioRender. Wilson, N. (2025).
December 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
plosbiology.org
CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) leads to seizures & intellectual disability. This study shows that #Chlamydomonas CDKL5 kinase is activated by the LF2/CDK20 kinase; CDKL5 in turn regulates #intraflagellar transport via protein abundance & phosphorylation #cilia @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/45490eP
Top: lf5 mutant cells untransformed, or expressing CDKL5-GFP, CDKL5K33R-GFP, CDKL5S162A,T164A,Y166A-GFP, or CDKL5Y166F-GFP, and lf2 mutant cells expressing CDKL5-GFP were stained for flagella (acetylated tubulin, red) and CDKL5 (GFP, green top panels, gray in bottom panels). The cell bodies of all strains are green (or gray) due to autofluorescence. Wild-type CDKL5-GFP concentrates at the basal end of the flagellar shaft (arrows). Note that all of the mutant CDKL5 proteins lack the major enrichment at the basal end of the flagellum but continue to show punctate stain along the flagellar shaft. Scale bar, 5 µm. Z projection of slices taken at 0.5-µm intervals. Bottom: Larger version of the first image in the top row.
December 15, 2025 at 5:28 PM
plosbiology.org
Why so many co-circulating #Klebsiella pneumoniae clones? By studying >7000 isolates, @bananabenana.bsky.social @kelwyres.bsky.social &co identify structured, clone-specific #metabolic specialisation across the population that enables reciprocal cross-feeding @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4qdC2B2
Collapsed phylogenetic tree of the Klebsiella pneumoniae Species Complex (top) and the presence of metabolic capabilities (bottom), leading to lineage-specific metabolic networks and traits
December 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
plosbiology.org
Why so many co-circulating #Klebsiella pneumoniae clones? By studying >7000 isolates, @bananabenana.bsky.social @kelwyres.bsky.social &co identify structured, clone-specific #metabolic specialisation across the population that enables reciprocal cross-feeding @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4qdC2B2
Collapsed phylogenetic tree of the Klebsiella pneumoniae Species Complex (top) and the presence of metabolic capabilities (bottom), leading to lineage-specific metabolic networks and traits
December 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
plosbiology.org
Is #Bsubtilis a good model for the spore-forming #anthrax #pathogen B. anthracis? This study identifies >150 B. anthracis #sporulation genes and cytologically phenotypes the mutants, revealing similarities & striking differences between model & pathogen @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3YsvlyZ
Conserved B. anthracis sporulation genes have mutant phenotypes that are similar, but not identical, to B. subtilis mutants. Top: Representative fluorescence and phase-contrast micrographs of sporulating B. anthracis and B. subtilis. Wild-type strains were induced to sporulate by nutrient exhaustion at 37 °C in PA (B. anthracis) or DSM (B. subtilis). Time after the onset of sporulation is indicated in the top left corner of the B. anthracis images. The membranes were stained (0–5 hour) with TMA-DPH. Bottom: Representative fluorescence images of the indicated B. anthracis mutants at hour 4 of sporulation. All strains harbor forespore (PspoIIQ-yfp) and mother cell (PspoIID-cfp) transcriptional reporters. σF activity in the forespore (SigF) and σE activity in the mother cell (SigE) were visualized with YFP (false-colored green) and CFP (false-colored red), respectively. The membranes were stained with TMA-DPH. Disporic cells in spoIIR::Tn (yellow carets), impaired engulfment in spoIID::Tn and spoIIQ::Tn (white carets), and small forespores in spoIIIAE::Tn (light blue carets) are highlighted. Scale bars indicate 5 μm.
December 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
plosbiology.org
What underlies the dynamics of #RedBloodCell production? Nicola Wilson explores a @plosbiology.org study that suggests a broadly applicable mechanism able to balance the maintenance of the steady-state with an effective stress response 🧪 #erythropoiesis Paper: plos.io/3KDskbX Primer: plos.io/4j4QBV1
Synergistic mechanisms of pleiotropic cytokines and lineage-specific factors. IL-17A dramatically enhances erythropoiesis, increasing the production of ProE precursors above levels generated by Epo alone. HSC, hematopoietic stem cell; MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid/basophil-mast cell/megakaryocytic progenitor; BFU-E, erythroid burst-forming unit; CFU-E, erythroid colony-forming unit; ProE, pro-erythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, poly erythroblast; OrthoE, ortho-chromatic erythroblast; RBC, red blood cell. Created in BioRender. Wilson, N. (2025).
December 15, 2025 at 1:55 PM
plosbiology.org
Hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte transdifferentiation (HCT) may play a role in #liver #regeneration, but how is it regulated? This study shows that HCT bypasses a hepatoblast-like state and requires derepression of an epithelial transcriptional program mediated by GRHL2 @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48JI3xW
Characterization of HCT using a scRNA-seq atlas of mouse parenchymal liver cells. Top: Overview of datasets used to generate the mouse liver scRNA-seq atlas together with the UMAP projection of the obtained 76,546 individual cells and positioning of hepatoblasts (embryonic and postnatal cells), hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Middle left: Data from the top panel were used for cell clustering. Shown here is a zoom of the UMAP projection highlighting the 3 clusters selected to further study HCT vs. developmental cholangiocyte differentiation. Middle right: Results of RNA velocity analyses showing the cell transitions associated respectively with developmental differentiation of cholangiocytes from hepatoblasts and HCT. Bottom left: BMEL cells were transfected with a GRHL2 expression plasmid or an empty control construct and grown in Matrigel. Representative images of obtained aggregates stained with phalloidin are shown. The arrows point to cystic cell aggregates. Bottom right: Cell aggregates highlighted in the zoomed areas from bottom left were further analyzed using confocal microscopy in order to better display the differences in their organization highlighting the cyst structures adopted by BMEL cells overexpressing GRHL2. Images were acquired using LSM confocal microscopy.
December 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
epbrainhealth.bsky.social
Building on @eraneuron.bsky.social’s legacy.

A new @plosbiology.org paper shows how #patient engagement, ethical rigor & quality can be embedded across the full #research lifecycle - offering a scalable model for responsible science.

Read the article: www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/news-events/...
New publication on strengthening patient involvement, ethical rigor, and methodological quality in biomedical research - CSA BrainHealth
The publication provides a practical, scalable blueprint for research funding programs worldwide, co-developed with patient representatives and the Berlin Brain Institute of Health/QUEST Center for Re...
www.brainhealth-partnership.eu
December 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
kelwyres.bsky.social
Ditto, ditto, ditto!

We are thrilled this is now available in @plosbiology.org 🎉🎉🎉

Our analysis of metabolic diversity in #klebsiella pneumoniae, showing clone specific metabolism. 🦠

Fantastic work by @bananabenana.bsky.social, summarised beautifully below. 🤩
December 15, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social
Identification of sporulation genes in Bacillus anthracis highlights similarities and significant differences with Bacillus subtilis

@plosbiology.org from David Rudner

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Identification of sporulation genes in Bacillus anthracis highlights similarities and significant differences with Bacillus subtilis
How good is Bacillus subtilis as a model for the spore-forming pathogen Bacillus anthracis? Using high throughput genetics to identify B. anthracis sporulation genes and cytological analysis of the mu...
journals.plos.org
December 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
molmicrounihoh.bsky.social
The Identification of sporulation genes in Bacillus anthracis highlights similarities and significant differences with Bacillus subtilis:

👇

dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

@plosbiology.org #subtiwiki
Identification of sporulation genes in Bacillus anthracis highlights similarities and significant differences with Bacillus subtilis
How good is Bacillus subtilis as a model for the spore-forming pathogen Bacillus anthracis? Using high throughput genetics to identify B. anthracis sporulation genes and cytological analysis of the mu...
dx.plos.org
December 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
evgenii-protasov.bsky.social
Microbial occurrence and symbiont detection in a global sample of lichen metagenomes
#microbiology #metagenomics #lichen #MicroSky
@plosbiology.org
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
December 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
plosbiology.org
What underlies the dynamics of #RedBloodCell production? Nicola Wilson explores a @plosbiology.org study that suggests a broadly applicable mechanism able to balance the maintenance of the steady-state with an effective stress response 🧪 #erythropoiesis Paper: plos.io/3KDskbX Primer: plos.io/4j4QBV1
Synergistic mechanisms of pleiotropic cytokines and lineage-specific factors. IL-17A dramatically enhances erythropoiesis, increasing the production of ProE precursors above levels generated by Epo alone. HSC, hematopoietic stem cell; MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid/basophil-mast cell/megakaryocytic progenitor; BFU-E, erythroid burst-forming unit; CFU-E, erythroid colony-forming unit; ProE, pro-erythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, poly erythroblast; OrthoE, ortho-chromatic erythroblast; RBC, red blood cell. Created in BioRender. Wilson, N. (2025).
December 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
plosbiology.org
#Erythropoietin can be an effective #anemia treatment, but not with cancer or chronic disease. This study identifies the pleiotropic #cytokine IL-17A as a stimulator of #erythropoiesis in vivo that acts by amplifying the response of erythroid progenitors to Epo @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3KDskbX
Single-cell transcriptomics of the Epo/IL-17A synergism in erythropoiesis. Left: UMAP visualization of single-cell transcriptomes across conditions and tissues, colored by annotated cell states. MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid-basophilic-megakaryocytic progenitor; BaMaP, basophil-mast cell progenitor; MegP, megakaryocyte progenitor; EosP, eosinophil progenitor; LyP, lymphoid progenitor; GMP, granulocyte monocyte progenitor; MoP, monocyte progenitor; imMo; immature monocyte; mMo, mature monocyte; NeuP, neutrophil progenitor; imNeu, immature neutrophil; mNeu, mature neutrophil; imB, immature B cell; proB, proB cell; T, T cell; cDC1/2, conventional dendritic cell 1/2; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cell; Mac, macrophage; EEP, early erythroid progenitor (BFU-e equivalent); CEP, committed erythroid progenitor (CFU-e equivalent); ProE, proerythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, polychromatic erythroblast; OrthoE, orthochromatic erythroblast; pyrenocytes, and reticulocytes. Right: Relative cell densities across the sampled RNA-Seq state space, evaluated in high dimensions and visualized on the UMAP plot. The plots are colored by the log2-transformed ratio of cell densities in the neighborhood of each sampled transcriptome, for each treatment pair as indicated.
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
plosbiology.org
Conjugative plasmids help spread AMR genes. @andrewmatthews.bsky.social @sonjalehtinen.bsky.social & @tatianadimitriu.bsky.social show that #AMR loss in evolving populations involves streamlined #plasmids that gain a transmission advantage by deleting AMR genes @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48NM0BL
Evolved plasmid-carrying clones with high copy number contain a mix of full-length and streamlined plasmids. Left: summary of the initial experimental evolution design and nomenclature used for the evolved plasmid-carrying clones. Host strains had either wildtype (w) or increased (m) mutation rate. Treatment indicates the % of plasmid-free hosts added at each passage during evolution. Right: coverage map of evolved clones. Relative coverage of sequencing reads is shown for all clones across R1 sequence length (only the first 50 kb are shown). The AMR region and copies of IS1 are shown against the ancestral R1 (“anc” treatment) coverage map.
December 15, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
bananabenana.bsky.social
Absolutely stoked to have this published in @plosbiology.org

We looked at the metabolism of #Klebsiella pneumoniae 🦠🧫. We not only demonstrated lineage-specific #metabolism, but that lineages can cross-feed and support each other.

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

#MicroSky #microbiology 🧬 🧪 💊
A metabolic atlas of the Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex reveals lineage-specific metabolism and capacity for intra-species co-operation
Why are there so many co-circulating Klebsiella pneumoniae clones? Using genomics and large-scale metabolic modelling of >7000 isolates, this study identifies structured, clone-specific metabolic spec...
journals.plos.org
December 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
plosbiology.org
#Erythropoietin can be an effective #anemia treatment, but not with cancer or chronic disease. This study identifies the pleiotropic #cytokine IL-17A as a stimulator of #erythropoiesis in vivo that acts by amplifying the response of erythroid progenitors to Epo @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3KDskbX
Single-cell transcriptomics of the Epo/IL-17A synergism in erythropoiesis. Left: UMAP visualization of single-cell transcriptomes across conditions and tissues, colored by annotated cell states. MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid-basophilic-megakaryocytic progenitor; BaMaP, basophil-mast cell progenitor; MegP, megakaryocyte progenitor; EosP, eosinophil progenitor; LyP, lymphoid progenitor; GMP, granulocyte monocyte progenitor; MoP, monocyte progenitor; imMo; immature monocyte; mMo, mature monocyte; NeuP, neutrophil progenitor; imNeu, immature neutrophil; mNeu, mature neutrophil; imB, immature B cell; proB, proB cell; T, T cell; cDC1/2, conventional dendritic cell 1/2; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cell; Mac, macrophage; EEP, early erythroid progenitor (BFU-e equivalent); CEP, committed erythroid progenitor (CFU-e equivalent); ProE, proerythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, polychromatic erythroblast; OrthoE, orthochromatic erythroblast; pyrenocytes, and reticulocytes. Right: Relative cell densities across the sampled RNA-Seq state space, evaluated in high dimensions and visualized on the UMAP plot. The plots are colored by the log2-transformed ratio of cell densities in the neighborhood of each sampled transcriptome, for each treatment pair as indicated.
December 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
plosbiology.org
Conjugative plasmids help spread AMR genes. @andrewmatthews.bsky.social @sonjalehtinen.bsky.social & @tatianadimitriu.bsky.social show that #AMR loss in evolving populations involves streamlined #plasmids that gain a transmission advantage by deleting AMR genes @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48NM0BL
Evolved plasmid-carrying clones with high copy number contain a mix of full-length and streamlined plasmids. Left: summary of the initial experimental evolution design and nomenclature used for the evolved plasmid-carrying clones. Host strains had either wildtype (w) or increased (m) mutation rate. Treatment indicates the % of plasmid-free hosts added at each passage during evolution. Right: coverage map of evolved clones. Relative coverage of sequencing reads is shown for all clones across R1 sequence length (only the first 50 kb are shown). The AMR region and copies of IS1 are shown against the ancestral R1 (“anc” treatment) coverage map.
December 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
plosbiology.org
Introgression between species can shape #evolution. Study of the colorful American #warblers (Parulidae) by @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social @davetoews.bsky.social &co reveals intergeneric & interspecific introgression of genes related to carotenoid #plumage color @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48MyfU2
Topological discordance between the concatenated ultra-conserved element species tree of parulid warblers and a 1.8-kb region of the BCO2 gene. Left: Full co-phylogeny, with the species tree on the left and gene tree on the right. Right: A magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia) perched on a rose branch. Image credit Davey Walters.
December 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by PLOS Biology
adityakamat.bsky.social
1/Now published! We identify a novel regulatory layer underlying SOS response dynamic. Find a short summary about our findings below.
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#MicroSky
Variability in intrinsic promoter strength underlies the temporal hierarchy of the Caulobacter SOS response induction
The bacterial SOS response unfolds in a defined temporal order, but the determinants of this hierarchy are unclear. This study shows that intrinsic promoter strength, modulated in part by sigma factor...
journals.plos.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
plosbiology.org
Lovely piece by @davetoews.bsky.social about his new @plosbiology.org paper on the evolution of plumage color in American #warblers. Paper: plos.io/48MyfU2 Article in @theconversation.com: theconversation.com/songbirds-sw...
Songbirds swap colorful plumage genes across species lines among their evolutionary neighbors
Interbreeding across species lines is one way helpful genes can spread into a bird population.
theconversation.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
plosbiology.org
#Erythropoietin can be an effective #anemia treatment, but not with cancer or chronic disease. This study identifies the pleiotropic #cytokine IL-17A as a stimulator of #erythropoiesis in vivo that acts by amplifying the response of erythroid progenitors to Epo @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3KDskbX
Single-cell transcriptomics of the Epo/IL-17A synergism in erythropoiesis. Left: UMAP visualization of single-cell transcriptomes across conditions and tissues, colored by annotated cell states. MPP, multipotent progenitor; EBMP, erythroid-basophilic-megakaryocytic progenitor; BaMaP, basophil-mast cell progenitor; MegP, megakaryocyte progenitor; EosP, eosinophil progenitor; LyP, lymphoid progenitor; GMP, granulocyte monocyte progenitor; MoP, monocyte progenitor; imMo; immature monocyte; mMo, mature monocyte; NeuP, neutrophil progenitor; imNeu, immature neutrophil; mNeu, mature neutrophil; imB, immature B cell; proB, proB cell; T, T cell; cDC1/2, conventional dendritic cell 1/2; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cell; Mac, macrophage; EEP, early erythroid progenitor (BFU-e equivalent); CEP, committed erythroid progenitor (CFU-e equivalent); ProE, proerythroblast; BasoE, basophilic erythroblast; PolyE, polychromatic erythroblast; OrthoE, orthochromatic erythroblast; pyrenocytes, and reticulocytes. Right: Relative cell densities across the sampled RNA-Seq state space, evaluated in high dimensions and visualized on the UMAP plot. The plots are colored by the log2-transformed ratio of cell densities in the neighborhood of each sampled transcriptome, for each treatment pair as indicated.
December 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
plosbiology.org
Conjugative plasmids help spread AMR genes. @andrewmatthews.bsky.social @sonjalehtinen.bsky.social & @tatianadimitriu.bsky.social show that #AMR loss in evolving populations involves streamlined #plasmids that gain a transmission advantage by deleting AMR genes @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48NM0BL
Evolved plasmid-carrying clones with high copy number contain a mix of full-length and streamlined plasmids. Left: summary of the initial experimental evolution design and nomenclature used for the evolved plasmid-carrying clones. Host strains had either wildtype (w) or increased (m) mutation rate. Treatment indicates the % of plasmid-free hosts added at each passage during evolution. Right: coverage map of evolved clones. Relative coverage of sequencing reads is shown for all clones across R1 sequence length (only the first 50 kb are shown). The AMR region and copies of IS1 are shown against the ancestral R1 (“anc” treatment) coverage map.
December 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM