Researcher Murata's paper has been selected for the cover image of iScience

Researcher Kozue Murata's recently published paper, which demonstrated the risk of heart failure due to persistent infection of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) using human iPS cell-derived cardiac microtissues (iScience 27(1), 108641 (2024) doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108641), has been selected for the cover image of the February issue, 2024 (Volume. 27 Issue. 2) of iScience.

The message conveyed by the cover image is as follows: "Ukiyo-e’s “ukiyo” means “impermanence of life” or “transience and difficulty of existence” in Japanese. The image of a heart engulfed in the turbulent waves of ukiyo-e symbolizes the purpose of this research, sounding an alarm about the emergence of a “heart failure pandemic” rooted in the persistent infections of SARS-CoV-2 discussed by Murata et al. We earnestly hope that the model established in this study will prove valuable for future research on the persistent infection of SARS-CoV-2 and overcome the turbulent waves. "