Particularly uniform: Monodisperse ferrite microspheres can be synthesized to have diameters of about 200–800 nm (TEM image, left). High‐resolution TEM analysis (image, right and inset) shows that each microsphere is a single crystal. Their hydrophilic and magnetic properties impart to the microparticles many potential uses in electronics and biomedicine.

Ungewöhnlich einheitlich: Monodisperse Ferrit‐Mikrokugeln mit Durchmessern von rund 200–800 nm (TEM‐Bild, links) wurden hergestellt. Gemäß Hochauflösungs‐TEM‐Analyse (Bild rechts und Einschub) ist jede Mikrokugel ein Einzelkristall. Wegen ihrer hydrophilen und magnetischen Eigenschaften sollten die Mikropartikel für viele Anwendungen in der Elektronik und der Biomedizin von Interesse sein.

The outbreak of a novel corona Virus Disease 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China has resulted in more than 1.7 million laboratory confirmed cases all over the world. Recent studies showed that SARS-CoV-2 was likely originated from bats, but its intermediate hosts are still largely unknown. In this study, we assembled the complete genome of a coronavirus identified in 3 sick Malayan pangolins. The molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this pangolin coronavirus (pangolin-CoV-2020) is genetically related to the SARS-CoV-2 as well as a group of bat coronaviruses but do not support the SARS-CoV-2 emerged directly from the pangolin-CoV-2020. Our study suggests that pangolins are natural hosts of Betacoronaviruses. Large surveillance of coronaviruses in pangolins could improve our understanding of the spectrum of coronaviruses in pangolins. In addition to conservation of wildlife, minimizing the exposures of humans to wildlife will be important to reduce the spillover risks of coronaviruses from wild animals to humans. Author summaryRecently, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused a still ongoing pandemic. Epidemiological study suggested this virus was associated with a wet market in Wuhan, China. However, the exact source of this virus is still unknown. In this study, we attempted to assemble the complete genome of a coronavirus identified from two groups of sick PLOS PATHOGENSMalayan pangolins, which were likely to be smuggled for black market trade. The molecular and evolutionary analyses showed that this pangolin coronavirus we assembled was genetically associated with the SARS-CoV-2 but was not likely its precursor. This study suggested that pangolins are natural hosts of coronaviruses. Determining the spectrum of coronaviruses in pangolins can help understand the natural history of coronaviruses in wildlife and at the animal-human interface, and facilitate the prevention and control of coronavirus-associated emerging diseases.

Pangolins are endangered animals in urgent need of protection. Identifying and cataloguing the viruses carried by pangolins is a logical approach to evaluate the range of potential pathogens and help with conservation. This study provides insight into viral communities of Malayan Pangolins (Manis javanica) as well as the molecular epidemiology of dominant pathogenic viruses between Malayan Pangolin and other hosts. A total of 62,508 de novo assembled contigs were constructed, and a BLAST search revealed 3600 ones (≥300 nt) were related to viral sequences, of which 68 contigs had a high level of sequence similarity to known viruses, while dominant viruses were the Sendai virus and Coronavirus. This is the first report on the viral diversity of pangolins, expanding our understanding of the virome in endangered species, and providing insight into the overall diversity of viruses that may be capable of directly or indirectly crossing over into other mammals.

NH 3 synthesis by the electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions is an appealing alternative to the currently employed industrial method-the Haber-Boschp rocess-that requires high temperature and pressure.W er eport single Mo atoms anchored to nitrogendoped porous carbon as ac ost-effective catalyst for the NRR. Benefiting from the optimally high density of active sites and hierarchically porous carbon frameworks,t his catalyst achieves ah igh NH 3 yield rate (34.0 AE 3.6 mg NH 3 h À1 mg cat. À1 )a nd ahigh Faradaic efficiency (14.6 AE 1.6 %) in 0.1m KOHatroom temperature.T hese values are considerably higher compared to previously reported non-precious-metal electrocatalysts. Moreover,t his catalyst displays no obvious current drop during a5 0000 sN RR, and high activity and durability are achieved in 0.1m HCl. The findings provideapromising lead for the design of efficient and robust single-atom non-preciousmetal catalysts for the electrocatalytic NRR.