Biology subjects

Nhiri, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Nhiri, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Decoding the molecular complexity governing corneal wound closure in vivo

The cornea, the transparent outermost layer of the eye, possesses exceptional wound healing capabilities essential for vision preservation. The complexity of the corneal microenvironment is central to its rapid healing; however, the molecular mechanisms orchestrating this process remain poorly defined, limiting therapeutic advancements. Here, we elucidate the extensive remodeling of the corneal molecular landscape following physical injury. Multi-omics analyses--including transcriptomic, epitranscriptomic, and proteomic profiling--uncover significant induction of epithelial cell plasticity driving wound closure. Moreover, lacrimal gland ablation further suppresses Pax6 expression, highlighting its regulatory role. Our multi-omic approach uniquely reveals bilateral remodeling of the molecular environment, a phenomenon constrained by an intact tear film. Collectively, our findings identify novel molecular factors critical to corneal healing, significantly advancing the understanding of epithelial plasticity. These insights will facilitate the translation of cell plasticity research into innovative strategies for tissue and organ regeneration.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Mechanistic Variability in Corneal Nerve Recovery Linked to Injury Type

The cornea, a transparent tissue covering the eye, is essential for clear vision and represents the most densely innervated tissue in the body. Its extensive sensory innervation provides both sensory perception and crucial trophic support, maintaining corneal health and integrity. Disruption of corneal innervation leads to neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a pathological condition caused by ocular injury, surgical procedures, or underlying diseases. The limited understanding of NKs pathophysiological mechanisms has hindered the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. In this study, we comparatively analyzed corneal innervation morphogenesis and regeneration across two clinically relevant injury models, highlighting both commonalities and differences among these contexts. Our results demonstrate that corneal nerve morphogenesis and maturation span approximately 13 weeks, from embryonic day 12 (E12) through three months of age. Additionally, we observed that the specification of distinct nerve fiber types coincided temporally with a significant enhancement in corneal sensitivity. Furthermore, we found that the type of innervation loss--either via axotomy or abrasion--differentially affected corneal sensitivity and epithelial cell homeostasis. Importantly, the regeneration mechanisms following injury were also distinctly dependent on the type of nerve damage sustained. Collectively, these findings underscore both the shared characteristics and unique aspects inherent in each NK model, highlighting the necessity for tailored therapeutic strategies specific to individual patterns of corneal innervation disruption.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Persistent lytic bacteriophage infection as a novel strategy for exploitation of nutrient-limited host bacteria

Wild bacteria, from the open ocean to the gut, experience persistent nutrient limitation. This fundamentally affects bacterial physiology and metabolism and has profound impacts on their infection by bacterial viruses (bacteriophages). For virulent bacteriophages, which cannot enter a lysogenic state, this poses a problem for environmental persistence. Here we demonstrate that virulent bacteriophage SPP1 productively infects nutrient-limited stationary phase cultures of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Slow production and release of low numbers of infective viral particles resulted from a prolonged infection of the host population. Extensive culture lysis was greatly delayed, releasing additional viral particles and promoting fresh infections of bacterial survivors. Induced overproduction of cell surface bacteriophage receptor YueB, compensating for its scarcity in stationary phase, expedited infection dynamics under nutrient-limiting conditions, but did not change overall infection productivity. The temporal program of SPP1 gene expression differed from exponential phase, consistent with a prolonged, persistent mode of infection. Reduced expression of genes coding viral structural proteins correlated with the low yield of infectious particles. Importantly, exogenous influx of the carbon source maltose enhanced viral particle production. Our results uncover a novel adaptive strategy of a lytic phage for productive infection of nutrient-limited bacterial populations through persistent, exhaustive infection.

microbiology↗