While multidrug-resistant Candida auris poses a global threat to public health, the impact and mechanism of drug resistance on fungal virulence remain unclear. This study reveals that fluconazole-resistant C. auris exhibits enhanced fitness and resistance to macrophage killing under zinc deficiency by mobilizing intracellular zinc. The inhibition of gene encoding Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor 4 (ZCF4) contributes to C. auris resistance to macrophage killing by suppressing the PI3K-AKT- mTOR pathway and downstream matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. Dietary zinc deficiency promotes the virulence of fluconazole-resistant C. auris. This research provides a mechanistic understanding of host-fungal interactions and highlights zinc intervention as a potential nutrient intervention strategy against fungal infection.

Researchers led by Professor Maochang Liu at Xi’an Jiaotong University have developed a photocatalytic system that simultaneously produces hydrogen gas and a valuable industrial chemical from ethanol with 100% selectivity. By anchoring Ru single atoms and creating S vacancies on ultrathin porous CdS nanosheets, the team achieved an 81.5-fold enhancement in hydrogen evolution compared to pristine CdS. The work, published in Science Bulletin, provides a new strategy for solar-driven coproduction of clean fuel and high-value chemicals.

A research team has produced two complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assemblies for cowpea, giving scientists a fuller view of one of the world's important food, vegetable, and forage legumes. 

Driven by a new wave of technological revolution, materials science is transforming. To capture this momentum, the International Conference on Advanced Functional Materials and Technologies (ICAFMT) will be convened in Dongguan, China, from October 23-25, 2026.

ICAFMT26 is dedicated to bridge the gap between advanced materials and intelligent science. By providing a platform for in-depth discussion on new trends, it aims to promote international collaboration and drive global innovation.