Review
Cell Biology
Andrea Nortey, Kimberly Garces, Abigail Hackam
Summary: Interleukin-27 is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in immune responses and neuroprotection. It has regulatory effects on cell survival and inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Its role in promoting neuronal survival is mediated through the regulation of cytokines, neuroinflammatory pathways, and oxidative stress.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Giovanni Autore, Luca Bernardi, Serafina Perrone, Susanna Esposito
Summary: Infections of the central nervous system in children are mainly caused by viruses and can be life-threatening. Prompt lumbar puncture and polymerase chain reaction analysis of cerebrospinal fluid are recommended for suspected cases. Treatment for viral CNS infections relies on supportive care, with empiric therapy against herpes simplex virus being started early.
Article
Immunology
Yue Zhang, Sergio Andreu-Sanchez, Nadira Vadaq, Daoming Wang, Vasiliki Matzaraki, Wouter A. A. van der Heijden, Ranko Gacesa, Rinse K. K. Weersma, Alexandra Zhernakova, Linos Vandekerckhove, Quirijn de Mast, Leo A. B. Joosten, Mihai G. G. Netea, Andre J. A. M. van der Ven, Jingyuan Fu
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between gut microbiome and cytokine production capacity in antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-infected individuals. The results showed that compared to the control group, HIV-infected individuals had dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, which was correlated with viral reservoir levels, cytokine production capacity, and sexual behavior. The study also identified two genetically different strains of P. copri, one enriched in the control group and the other enriched in the HIV-infected group, with the control-related strain showing a stronger negative association with cytokine production capacity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ramon Martinez-Mamol, Rosina Giordano-Santini, Eva Kaulich, Ann-Na Cho, Magdalena Przybyla, Md Asrafuzzaman Riyadh, Emilija Robinson, Keng Yih Chew, Rumelo Amor, Frederic A. Meunier, Giuseppe Balistreri, Kirsty R. Short, Yazi D. Ke, Lars M. Ittner, Massimo A. Hilliard
Summary: Viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can infect the brain and cause severe neurological symptoms through the fusion of neurons and glia. This fusion is mediated by the viral fusogen and leads to the formation of multicellular syncytia, as well as the spread of molecules and organelles. Furthermore, the fusion severely compromises neuronal activity. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms by which viruses affect the nervous system and cause neuropathology.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muhammad Junaid, Han Kyoung Choe, Kunio Kondoh, Eun Jeong Lee, Su Bin Lim
Summary: In this study, a new method was used to investigate the molecular characteristics of hypothalamic neurocircuits. The technical validity of the method was verified through a single nuclei RNA-seq dataset, resulting in a deeper understanding of hypothalamic cell types.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jernej Jorgacevski, Maja Potokar
Summary: Neuroinfections of the central nervous system can be caused by various pathogens, with viruses being the most common and potentially deadly. Viral infections not only affect host cells and cellular processes, but also trigger a strong immune response. This response is regulated by microglia and astrocytes, with the latter being one of the first cell types to become infected. Astrocytes are also recognized as potential viral reservoirs and their response can have significant effects on cellular and tissue physiology. This review summarizes current knowledge on virus receptors in astrocytes and their involvement in immune functions of the central nervous system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shirin Hosseini, Martin Korte
Summary: In recent decades, emerging infectious viruses from wildlife or re-emerging ones have posed a serious threat to global health and economies. Neurotropic viruses have evolved mechanisms to exploit immune defenses and cause severe neuronal damage. This review summarizes the roles of microglia and astrocytes in the neurological impairments caused by viral infections.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Clarissa M. D. Mota, Christopher J. Madden
Summary: Inflammatory diseases recruit the immune system to produce cytokines, which can evoke neurally-mediated responses including fever. The cytokine IL-1 beta depends on COX-mediated prostaglandin E2 production, but COX inhibitors do not eliminate IL-1 beta-induced fever. This study investigates the brain circuits responsible for COX-independent, inflammatory fever and identifies the involvement of the rRPa and DMH regions in controlling sympathetic outflow to BAT and the cutaneous vasculature.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Peter G. E. Kennedy
Summary: Immunosuppressed patients are more susceptible to viral infections in the nervous system, and further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of these opportunistic infections and the impact of specific inborn errors in immune responses on viral infections.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Jessica L. Mueller, Rhian Stavely, Ryo Hotta, Allan M. Goldstein
Summary: With the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders in an aging population, there is a critical need to better understand exogenous strategies for nervous system repair. Stem cell therapy offers a promising approach, but is limited by various factors. Researchers propose the use of autologous cells derived from the peripheral nervous system as an alternative source for CNS repair, which has shown neurogenic potential and eliminates concerns around tumorigenic risk, ethical considerations, and immune-mediated rejection.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alessia Filippone, Emanuela Esposito, Deborah Mannino, Nicholas Lyssenko, Domenico Pratico
Summary: Defects in cellular functions related to altered protein homeostasis and accumulation of pathological intracellular material play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Autophagy is an essential mechanism for maintaining neuronal health and preventing cell toxicity and death. The autophagy pathways in neurons are altered in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic injuries to the central nervous system. Understanding the role of altered neuronal autophagy in brain health and developing novel therapeutics is of great importance.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Noah Siddiqui, Kaori Oshima, Joseph A. Hippensteel
Summary: This review explores the pathophysiological changes caused by central nervous system injuries and emphasizes the importance of PGs and GAGs in these injuries. The article discusses the role of PGs and GAGs in acute injury and recovery, as well as potential therapeutic strategies.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taofeng Lu, Lingyun Tao, Haibo Yu, Hui Zhang, Yanjun Wu, Shuguang Wu, Jie Zhou
Summary: A rapid and simple RT-LAMP assay for Mouse reovirus type 3 (Reo-3) detection was developed, showing high efficiency and specificity with no cross-reactivity with other related pathogens. The assay demonstrated visual detection capabilities and achieved 100% concordance with indirect ELISA and RT-PCR when testing clinical blood samples and artificial positive samples from SPF mice. The developed RT-LAMP assay could serve as a valuable tool for more effective Reo-3 detection in laboratory animal quality monitoring.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Carl Christoph Goetzke, Nadine Althof, Hannah Louise Neumaier, Arndt Heuser, Ziya Kaya, Meike Kespohl, Karin Klingel, Antje Beling
Summary: The preclinical model of troponin I-induced myocarditis revealed the significant role of the immunoproteasome (ip) in heart-directed autoimmunity, with viral infection enhancing systemic inflammatory responses. However, targeting the ip with inhibitor ONX 0914 did not alter heart tissue damage or cardiac function in CV-triggered myocarditis, suggesting that ip inhibitors may be effective in treating this condition by modulating systemic inflammation.
BASIC RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rong Zhang, Tingting Miao, Min Qin, Chengsi Zhao, Wei Wang, Chengcheng Zhang, Xinjian Liu, Ying Chen, Ailing Chen, Yong Wang
Summary: This study revealed that NK cells infiltrate into the CNS in response to A. cantonensis infection, exhibiting enhanced cytotoxicity and increased production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. The up-regulation of CX(3)CL1 was found to recruit NK cells into the CNS, exacerbating brain damage caused by A. cantonensis infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Emma S. Winkler, Rita E. Chen, Fahmida Alam, Soner Yildiz, James Brett Case, Melissa B. Uccellini, Michael J. Holtzman, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert, Michael S. Diamond
Summary: The study developed a mouse model for SARS-CoV-2 infection by introducing the human ACE2 gene into the mouse genome, providing insights into viral replication and pathology in mice. Additionally, the study identified the impact of the N501Y mutation in mice on viral replication and pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Runrui Dang, Victor G. J. Rodgers, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Jiayu Liao
Summary: This study identifies the human SUMOylation pathway as a critical host factor for the IBV viral life cycle. Inhibiting this pathway effectively blocks the replication of IBV, providing a novel strategy for the development of anti-viral therapeutics.
Article
Virology
Mundeep K. Kainth, Joanna S. Fishbein, Teresa Aydillo, Alba Escalera, Rachael Odusanya, Kalliopi Grammatikopoulos, Tiffany Scotto, Christine B. Sethna, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Clifford S. Deutschman
Summary: This study investigated antibody and cytokine responses following influenza vaccination in obese children. The results showed that obesity did not alter the efficacy of the vaccine, regardless of metabolic health. However, metabolically unhealthy obese children had decreased IL-13 levels, which may be associated with altered inflammatory response.
Review
Microbiology
Cesar Munoz-Fontela, Lina Widerspick, Randy A. Albrecht, Martin Beer, Miles W. Carroll, Emmie de Wit, Michael S. Diamond, William E. Dowling, Simon G. P. Funnell, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Nora M. Gerhards, Rineke de Jong, Vincent J. Munster, Johan Neyts, Stanley Perlman, Douglas S. Reed, Juergen A. Richt, Ximena Riveros-Balta, Chad J. Roy, Francisco J. Salguero, Michael Schotsaert, Lauren M. Schwartz, Robert A. Seder, Joaquim Segales, Seshadri S. Vasan, Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo, Dan H. Barouch
Summary: Animal models play a crucial role in evaluating the virulence, transmission, and immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 variants and are continuously being improved to better replicate the demographic characteristics of COVID-19.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrey A. Poloznikov, Sergey V. Nikulin, Dmitry M. Hushpulian, Anna Yu. Khristichenko, Andrey I. Osipyants, Andrey F. Asachenko, Olga V. Shurupova, Svyatoslav S. Savin, Sue H. Lee, Irina N. Gaisina, Gregory R. J. Thatcher, Anthony Narciso, Eric P. Chang, Sergey V. Kazakov, Nancy Krucher, Vladimir I. Tishkov, Bobby Thomas, Irina G. Gazaryan
Summary: This study evaluated the differences in action of commercially available 2-oxoglutarate mimetics and branched-tail oxyquinoline inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF PHD). Novel oxyquinoline inhibitors were identified to be more active than existing ones and showed opposite effects on certain signaling pathways.
Review
Virology
Giuseppe Pisanelli, Ugo Pagnini, Giuseppe Iovane, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre
Summary: Paramyxoviruses are negative single-strand RNA viruses that can cause significant diseases in humans and animals. These viruses have evolved different strategies to evade the host's interferon defense mechanism, which is activated upon viral recognition and leads to the production of interferons that reduce viral replication. This article analyzes the current status of the various strategies used by paramyxoviruses to bypass interferon responses.
Article
Microbiology
Aitor Nogales, John Steel, Wen-Chun Liu, Anice C. Lowen, Laura Rodriguez, Kevin Chiem, Andrew Cox, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Randy A. Albrecht, Stephen Dewhurst, Luis Martinez-Sobrido
Summary: The study demonstrates that introducing the L319Q substitution in the PB1 protein of the pH1N1 influenza virus can lead to the generation of a less pathogenic and transmissible attenuated virus, providing a basis for the development of a novel LAIV based on a contemporary pH1N1 strain.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lun Cai, Ali S. Arbab, Tae Jin Lee, Ashok Sharma, Bobby Thomas, Kazuhiko Igarashi, Raghavan Pillai Raju
Summary: The deletion of Bach1 gene improves organ function and survival in sepsis. It enhances antioxidant response, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, preserves mitochondrial function, and regulates gene expression related to lipid metabolism. Bach1 deficiency also improves liver and lung blood flow in septic mice.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sira C. Gunther, Carles Martinez-Romero, Milagros Sempere Borau, Christine T. N. Pham, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Silke Stertz
Summary: This study reveals the importance of cysteine protease cathepsin W (CTSW) in influenza virus replication and identifies the cleavage motif of CTSW substrates. It further discovers the potential proviral role of CTSW in an in vivo model of IAV infection. These findings provide support for the development of drugs targeting CTSW.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuj Ahuja, Navneet Ammal Kaidery, Debashis Dutta, Otis C. Attucks, Eliot H. Kazakov, Irina Gazaryan, Mitsuyo Matsumoto, Kazuhiko Igarashi, Sudarshana M. Sharma, Bobby Thomas
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Although the exact cause is unclear, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and disruption of calcium homeostasis have been proposed as contributing factors. While drugs targeting these pathways have shown promise in preclinical models, a more effective therapeutic approach involving the activation of the Nrf2/Bach1 signaling pathway is being explored. This review discusses the potential benefits of simultaneously inhibiting Bach1 and stabilizing Nrf2 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Alvaro Simba-Lahuasi, Angel Cantero-Camacho, Romel Rosales, Briana Lynn McGovern, M. Luis Rodriguez, Vicente Marchan, Kris M. White, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Jose Gallego
Summary: Researchers have identified and characterized RNA-binding compounds that can inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. These compounds were discovered by screening a small library of antiviral compounds and showed promising activity against SARS-CoV-2. Further investigation revealed that these compounds recognize conserved RNA elements in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. These findings provide new possibilities for developing RNA-targeted antivirals and therapeutic agents against coronaviruses.
Article
Immunology
Sadaf Aslam, Madhusudan Rajendran, Divya Kriti, Andrew Kurland, Jeffrey Johnson, Harm van Bakel, Florian Krammer, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Juan Ayllon
Summary: To improve the production yield of seasonal influenza vaccines, we have identified optimal vaccine seed virus backbones for influenza B virus through research and evaluation in embryonated eggs. This study includes 71 strains of influenza B virus from 1940 to the present, representing the known temporal and genetic variability. By assessing the growth profiles and effectiveness of these strains, we selected three strains with the best performance as vaccine seed virus backbones to increase the production yield of influenza B virus seasonal vaccines.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry M. Hushpulian, Navneet Ammal Kaidery, Debashis Dutta, Sudarshana M. Sharma, Irina Gazaryan, Bobby Thomas
Summary: Nrf2 is a key regulator of cellular stress response, while Bach1 acts as a feedback regulator. Excessive accumulation of Bach1 interferes with Nrf2 activation, making it crucial to stabilize Nrf2 and inhibit Bach1 for optimal therapeutic benefits. Developing small molecule inhibitors of Bach1 could be a promising neurotherapeutic strategy.
Article
Immunology
Sonia Jangra, Jeffrey J. Landers, Gabriel Laghlali, Raveen Rathnasinghe, Prajakta Warang, Seok-Chan Park, Jessica. J. O'Konek, Gagandeep Singh, Katarzyna W. Janczak, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Nandini Arya, Dilara Karadag, Jr James R. Baker, Michael Schotsaert, Pamela T. Wong
Summary: Multiple FDA-approved vaccines provide good protection against severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, immunity can decline quickly, especially in the elderly, and new viral variants are emerging that can evade the immune response induced by infection or vaccination. Intranasal vaccination is more effective in inducing mucosal immune responses than injectable vaccines, which can improve protection and reduce viral transmission.
Review
Immunology
Vicent Tur-Planells, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Sara Cuadrado-Castano, Estanislao Nistal-Villan
Summary: This review provides an overview of non-human-adapted RNA viruses used in cancer therapy and the diverse strategies employed to optimize their therapeutic capabilities. Through this article, we gain insights into the promising advancements in virotherapy and its potential to revolutionize cancer treatment.
