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Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint marker commonly expressed on memory T cells and enriched in latently HIV-infected [CD4.sup.+] T cells. We engineered an anti-PD-1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to assess the impact of PD-1 depletion on viral reservoirs and rebound dynamics in SIVmac239-infected rhesus macaques (RMs). Adoptive transfer of anti-PD-1 CAR T cells was done in 2 SIV-naive and 4 SIV-infected RMs on antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 3 of 6 RMs, anti-PD-1 CAR T cells expanded and persisted for up to 100 days concomitant with the depletion of [PD- 1.sup.+] memory T cells in blood and tissues, including lymph node [CD4.sup.+] follicular helper T (TFH) cells. Loss of TFH cells was associated with depletion of detectable SIV RNA from the germinal center (GC). However, following CAR T infusion and ART interruption, there was a marked increase in SIV replication in extrafollicular portions of lymph nodes, a 2-log higher plasma viremia relative to controls, and accelerated disease progression associated with the depletion of [CD8.sup.+] memory T cells. These data indicate anti-PD-1 CAR T cells depleted [PD-1.sup.+] T cells, including GC TFH cells, and eradicated SIV from this immunological sanctuary., Introduction HIV infects cells of the immune system through interaction with CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 and establishes long-lasting infections that develop into the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome if left untreated. With [...]

To effectively utilize MXenes, a family of two-dimensional materials, in various applications that include thermoelectric devices, semiconductors, and transistors, their thermodynamic and mechanical properties, which are closely related to their stability, must be understood. However, exploring the large chemical space of MXenes and verifying their stability using first-principles calculations are computationally expensive and inefficient. Therefore, this study proposes a machine learning (ML)-based high-throughput MXene screening framework to identify thermodynamically stable MXenes and determine their mechanical properties. A dataset of 23 857 MXenes with various compositions was used to validate this framework, and 48 MXenes were predicted to be stable by ML models in terms of heat of formation and energy above the convex hull. Among them, 45 MXenes were validated using density functional theory calculations, of which 23 MXenes, including Ti2CClBr and Zr2NCl2, have not been previously known for their stability, confirming the effectiveness of this framework. The in-plane stiffness, shear moduli, and Poisson's ratio of the 45 MXenes were observed to vary widely according to their constituent elements, ranging from 90.11 to 198.02 N m−1, 64.00 to 163.40 N m−1, and 0.19 to 0.58, respectively. MXenes with Group-4 transition metals and halogen surface terminations were shown to be both thermodynamically stable and mechanically robust, highlighting the importance of electronegativity difference between constituent elements. Structurally, a smaller volume per atom and minimum bond length were determined to be preferable for obtaining mechanically robust MXenes. The proposed framework, along with an analysis of these two properties of MXenes, demonstrates immense potential for expediting the discovery of stable and robust MXenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have been recognized as high-energy storage alternatives; however, problematic surface reactions due to dendritic Li growth are major obstacles to their widespread utilization. Herein, a 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt (MPS) with asymmetrically functionalized thiol and sulfonate groups as polarizable interface-restructuring molecules is proposed to achieve rapid and longer-operating LMBs. Under a harsh condition of 5 mA cm -2 , Li-Li symmetric cells employing MPS can be cycled over 1200 cycles, outperforming those employing other molecules symmetrically functionalized by thiol or sulfonate groups. The improved performance of the Li|V 2 O 5 full cell is demonstrated by introducing MPS additives. MPS additives offer advantages by flattening the surface, reconfiguring Li nucleation and growth along the stable (110) plane, and forming a durable and conductive solid-electrolyte interface layer (SEI). This study suggests an effective way to develop a new class of electrolyte additives for LMBs by controlling engineering factors, such as functional groups and polarizable properties., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)