The threat of future pandemics has been heightened by the emergence of new influenza viruses. In recent years, researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Medical Center — University of Freiburg have made significant progress in understanding how these viruses interact with host cells.

Led by Professor Christian Sieben’s team at HZI, scientists have developed a novel method to study the initial contact between influenza viruses and host cells. This breakthrough allows researchers to investigate the complex process of viral entry in unprecedented detail.

The researchers immobilized individual viruses on microscopy glass surfaces and then seeded cells on top. This innovative “upside-down” experimental setup enables scientists to analyze the critical moment when viruses interact with cells but do not enter them, stabilizing the initial cell contact for further investigation.

Using high-resolution and super-resolution microscopy, the team demonstrated that contact between the virus and the cell surface triggers a cascade of cellular reactions. The accumulation of local receptors at the binding site, the recruitment of specific proteins, and the dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton are just some of the processes observed in this study.

What’s more remarkable is that researchers applied their method not only to an established influenza A model but also to a novel strain found in bats. The H18N11 virus, which targets MHC class II complexes rather than glycans on the cell surface, was shown to cluster specific MHCII molecules upon contact with the cell.

This groundbreaking research has significant implications for understanding alternative receptors used by new and emerging influenza viruses. The findings provide a critical basis for investigating potential pandemic pathogens in a more targeted manner, identifying new targets for antiviral therapies, and ultimately developing effective treatments against future pandemics.

The EU project COMBINE, launched in 2025 and coordinated by Professor Sieben’s team at HZI, aims to investigate the virus entry process of newly emerging viruses. This research has far-reaching implications for understanding and combating infectious diseases, making it a significant contribution to the global fight against pandemics.

With a significant breakthrough in extending the lifespan of hydrogen fuel cells, researchers at UCLA have made a major step towards making clean, long-haul trucking a reality. Led by Professor Yu Huang, the team has developed a new catalyst design that can push projected fuel cell lifespans to 200,000 hours – nearly seven times the US Department of Energy’s target for 2050.

Hydrogen fuel cells have been considered a promising alternative to batteries for long-haul trucks due to their ability to be refueled as quickly as traditional gasoline. However, one major challenge has been the durability of the catalysts used in these systems. The new design, which embeds ultrafine platinum nanoparticles within protective graphene pockets, addresses this issue by preventing the leaching of alloying elements and maintaining high catalytic activity over time.

The implications of this breakthrough are significant. Heavy-duty trucks account for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas automobile emissions, making them an ideal entry point for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology. By using hydrogen fuel cells in these vehicles, it’s possible to deliver the same performance as conventional batteries while being significantly lighter and requiring less energy to move.

The researchers’ innovative catalyst design holds great promise for the adoption of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles, which would be a crucial step towards reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency in a sector that accounts for a substantial share of transportation energy use. The team’s findings build on their earlier success in developing a fuel cell catalyst for light-duty vehicles, demonstrating a lifespan of 15,000 hours.

The new study, published in Nature Nanotechnology, was led by UCLA Ph.D. graduates Zeyan Liu and Bosi Peng, both advised by Huang, whose research group specializes in developing nanoscale building blocks for complex materials, such as fuel cell catalysts. Xiaofeng Duan, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, and Xiaoqing Pan, a professor of materials science and engineering at UC Irvine, are also authors on the paper.

UCLA’s Technology Development Group has filed a patent on the technology, which has significant implications for the development of clean energy solutions in the transportation sector.

The promise of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries has revolutionized our daily lives, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles. However, their notorious tendency to overheat or catch fire has also raised concerns about safety. A breakthrough in computational modeling by a University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanical engineer may hold the key to resolving this issue.

Weiyu Li, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UW-Madison, has developed a novel model that sheds light on the phenomenon of lithium plating. This process occurs when fast charging triggers metallic lithium to build up on the surface of a battery’s anode, leading to faster degradation or even fire. With her innovative model, Li has gained a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between ion transport and electrochemical reactions that drives lithium plating.

By studying lithium plating on a graphite anode in a lithium-ion battery, Li’s model revealed key relationships between operating conditions, material properties, and the onset of lithium plating. This knowledge has far-reaching implications for researchers seeking to design not only optimal battery materials but also charging protocols that extend battery life.

According to Li, “Using this model, I was able to establish relationships between key factors, such as operating conditions and material properties, and the onset of lithium plating.” Her findings provide a physics-based guidance on strategies to mitigate plating, making it easier for researchers to harness these results without needing additional simulations.

The significance of Li’s research lies in its potential to enable safer and more efficient fast-charging batteries. By adjusting current densities during charging based on the state of charge and material properties, researchers can avoid lithium plating altogether. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the field of battery technology, paving the way for faster, longer-lasting, and safer batteries that power our increasingly connected world.

Li’s model also offers a more comprehensive understanding of lithium plating than previous research, which mainly focused on extreme cases. Her plan to further develop her model to incorporate mechanical factors, such as stress generation, will provide an even more detailed picture of the phenomenon.

The future of fast-charging batteries has never looked brighter, and Li’s innovative computational model is at the forefront of this revolution.