Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenjuan Du, Erik de Vries, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Mikhail Matrosovich, Cornelis A. M. de Haan
Summary: Human influenza A viruses originate from animal viruses, with HA and NA playing important roles in the virus particles, although the role of NA in host adaptation is less understood. NA plays a crucial role in adjusting the HA-NA balance of virus particles and affecting virus replication, likely influencing the viral host range.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Louisa E. Wallace, Mengying Liu, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Erik de Vries, Cornelis A. M. de Haan
Summary: Efficient penetration of the mucus layer is crucial for respiratory viruses to avoid mucociliary clearance before infection. Understanding the balance between receptor binding and destruction with host receptors is essential for efficient infection, especially when establishing in a new host species. The mucus layer is identified as a major determinant and barrier for zoonotic transfer due to its species-specific glycosylation patterns and dynamic interaction with respiratory viruses.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Meiling Dai, Wenjuan Du, Carles Martinez-Romero, Tim Leenders, Tom Wennekes, Guus F. Rimmelzwaan, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Ron A. M. Fouchier, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Erik de Vries, Cornelis A. M. de Haan
Summary: Research shows that the antigenic and enzymatic properties of the influenza A virus neuraminidase are intertwined, with several residues affecting multiple properties. This entanglement may play a crucial role in the evolution of the neuraminidase.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Teresa Cesaro, Yohei Hayashi, Fabian Borghese, Didier Vertommen, Fanny Wavreil, Thomas Michiels
Summary: PKR, known for its role in viral infection response and cellular homeostasis, was found to have novel phosphorylation sites at Ser6 and Ser97 in this study. Modulating the phosphorylation status at these sites can regulate PKR activity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maria Grazia Martina, Ilaria Vicenti, Lisa Bauer, Emmanuele Crespan, Enrico Rango, Adele Boccuto, Noemi Olivieri, Matteo Incerti, Marleen Zwaagstra, Marika Allodi, Simona Bertoni, Elena Dreassi, Maurizio Zazzi, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Giovanni Maga, Marco Radi
Summary: Over half a century after the first antiviral drug was described, old and new viruses still pose a serious threat to global health due to their high mutation rate and rapid resistance to common antiviral drugs. Targeting the lipid kinase PI4KIII beta could be a promising strategy for inhibiting the replication of multiple viruses, although its role in SARS-CoV-2 entry/replication is still debated.
Article
Immunology
Bart L. Haagmans, Danny Noack, Nisreen M. A. Okba, Wentao Li, Chunyan Wang, Theo Bestebroer, Rory de Vries, Sander Herfst, Dennis de Meulder, Elwin Verveer, Peter van Run, Mart M. Lamers, Bart Rijnders, Casper Rokx, Frank van Kuppeveld, Frank Grosveld, Dubravka Drabek, Corine Geurts van Kessel, Marion Koopmans, Berend Jan Bosch, Thijs Kuiken, Barry Rockx
Summary: This study found that prophylactic treatment with high titers of convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibody protected hamsters against COVID-19, reducing weight loss, virus replication in the lungs, and pneumonia. Screening plasma donors for high levels of neutralizing antibodies is crucial for effective treatment.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Virology
Belen Lizcano-Perret, Thomas Michiels
Summary: Picornaviruses disrupt host nucleocytoplasmic trafficking by targeting FG-nucleoporins in the nuclear pore complex, leading to increased viral genome translation and replication. This interference affects innate immune responses and ribosomal machinery availability, facilitating viral RNA translation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Ni, Bas J. H. M. Rosier, Eva A. van Aalen, Eva T. L. Hanckmann, Lieuwe Biewenga, Anna-Maria Makri Pistikou, Bart Timmermans, Chris Vu, Sophie Roos, Remco Arts, Wentao Li, Tom F. A. de Greef, Marcel M. G. J. van Borren, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Berend-Jan Bosch, Maarten Merkx
Summary: RAPPID is a novel immunoassay technology that enables direct sandwich immunoassays to be conducted in solution using ratiometric bioluminescent detection. It provides a fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional immunoassays.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jean Paul ten Klooster, Marianne Bol-Schoenmakers, Kitty van Summeren, Arno L. W. van Vliet, Cornelis A. M. de Haan, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Saertje Verkoeijen, Raymond Pieters
Summary: IL22 plays a crucial role in intestinal defense mechanisms against microbiome and viruses. Bacterial and viral stimuli can induce IL22 production by T cells through distinct signaling pathways, which in turn stimulates the expression of anti-microbial and antiviral factors, ultimately reducing viral infection of neighboring cells.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederic Sorgeloos, Michael Peeters, Yohei Hayashi, Fabian Borghese, Nicolas Capelli, Melissa Drappier, Teresa Cesaro, Didier Colau, Vincent Stroobant, Didier Vertommen, Gregory de Bodt, Stephane Messe, Ignasi Forne, Felix Mueller-Planitz, Jean-Francois Collet, Thomas Michiels
Summary: Microbes have evolved to exploit cellular kinases called RSKs, which play a role in defending against pathogens. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Yersinia use a similar strategy to manipulate RSKs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mathilde Choteau, Anais Scohy, Stephane Messe, Mathieu Luyckx, Melanie Dechamps, Virginie Montiel, Jean Cyr Yombi, Damien Gruson, Nisha Limaye, Thomas Michiels, Laure Dumoutier
Summary: More than a year into the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to be a global health emergency. The role of antibodies in viral clearance and disease severity remains controversial. Patients with severe COVID-19, including those who died, have higher levels of virus-specific antibodies, indicating that fatal infection is not associated with a deficient humoral response. Most recovered patients still have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 more than 3 months after infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Teresa Cesaro, Thomas Michiels
Summary: PKR functions as both a sensor and an effector in the response to viral infections, self-activating after sensing double-stranded RNA molecules in infected cells to exert its antiviral function by blocking translation machinery and inducing apoptosis. Viruses have developed various strategies to counteract the antiviral potency of PKR, ranging from preventing double-stranded RNA recognition upstream from PKR activation to activating eIF2B downstream from PKR targets.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Xiaoyao Yang, Chiara Aloise, Arno L. W. van Vliet, Marleen Zwaagstra, Heyrhyoung Lyoo, Anchun Cheng, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld
Summary: This study investigated the potential involvement of SETD3 in various functions of enterovirus 2A(pro) and found that SETD3 does not play a role in the proteolytic activities of 2A(pro).
Article
Microbiology
Belen Lizcano-Perret, Cecile Lardinois, Fanny Wavreil, Philippe Hauchamps, Gaetan Herinckx, Frederic Sorgeloos, Didier Vertommen, Laurent Gatto, Thomas Michiels
Summary: It has been discovered that certain pathogen proteins can hijack cellular protein kinases to promote their own replication or evade immunity by redirecting them to specific substrates.
Article
Immunology
Shan Zhao, Nancy Schuurman, Wentao Li, Chunyan Wang, Lidwien A. M. Smit, Els M. Broens, Jaap A. Wagenaar, Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld, Berend-Jan Bosch, Herman Egberink
Summary: Research on SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats and dogs developed serologic assays and found a low seroprevalence rate in a study of 500 samples from domestic cats and dogs in the Netherlands.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)