Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rui-Min Qin, Ping Wen, Richard T. Corlett, Yuanye Zhang, Gang Wang, Jin Chen
Summary: Seed dispersal plays a crucial role in the survival of short-lived seeds of Aquilaria sinensis in tropical southwest China. Vespa hornets attract most seeds by consuming elaiosomes and depositing them in damp shade, facilitating germination 166 meters away from the parent tree. Rapid seed dispersal is achieved through the release of volatile compounds that attract hornets and serve as an indirect defense mechanism for the species.
Article
Immunology
Caiyue Ren, Tong Chen, Shishuo Zhang, Qingxia Gao, Jiahui Zou, Peng Li, Biaoxiong Wang, Yaxin Zhao, Aotian Ouyang, Sizhu Suolang, Hongbo Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the gene expression profiles in response to swine H1N1/2009 influenza A virus infection in newborn pig trachea cells. The researchers found that PLK3, a member of the PLK family, was upregulated after infection and played a crucial role in viral replication.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Sirwan Sleman
Summary: Induction of FoxO1 expression by HCMV infection significantly promotes viral replication, with suppression inhibiting viral growth while not affecting DNA synthesis. Depletion or overexpression of FoxO1 has a significant impact on viral transcript expression levels, highlighting its role in enhancing HCMV gene transcription.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Stephanie J. Child, Alexander L. Greninger, Adam P. Geballe
Summary: Rhesus CMV (RhCMV) can replicate in human cells to some extent, with evolved viruses showing improved ability to replicate in human cells possibly due to a specific genomic rearrangement. This suggests that RhCMV is able to adapt and counteract human cellular defenses, providing insights into CMV species-specificity and viral adaptative mechanisms.
Article
Microbiology
Jun Pan, Shulin Wei, Qunnan Qiu, Xinyu Tong, Zeen Shen, Min Zhu, Xiaolong Hu, Chengliang Gong
Summary: This study identified chimeric silkworm-BmCPV RNAs in BmCPV-infected silkworms and confirmed their biological functions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katelyn C. Cook, Elene Tsopurashvili, Jason M. Needham, Sunnie R. Thompson, Ileana M. Cristea
Summary: This study designed a targeted proteomics platform to measure MCS proteins at all organelles simultaneously. Through studying the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, functional virus-driven alterations of MCS were discovered. Comparisons with other virus infections revealed the importance of contact regulation between organelles for virus replication.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zi Liang, Renyu Xue, Xing Zhang, Manman Cao, Sufei Sun, Yunshan Zhang, Min Zhu, Ziyao Zhang, Kun Dai, Jun Pan, Guangli Cao, Chonglong Wang, Xiaolong Hu, Chengliang Gong
Summary: In this study, the beta-Arrestin 2 (BmArrestin 2) gene from the silkworm was cloned and characterized. It was found that BmArrestin 2 is mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of BmArrestin 2 promoted the replication of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) and B. mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV), while silencing the gene inhibited viral replication. Blocking endogenous BmArrestin 2 decreased the invasion of recombinant BmNPV and BmCPV. These findings suggest that BmArrestin 2 could be a potential target for antiviral strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Peter Reuther, Katrin Martin, Mario Kreutzfeldt, Matias Ciancaglini, Florian Geier, Diego Calabrese, Doron Merkler, Daniel D. Pinschewer
Summary: Our study reveals that the systemic persistence of a prototypic noncytolytic RNA virus depends on continuous spread and reinfection. However, undefined cell-intrinsic mechanisms prevent viral persistence at the single-cell level, but lead to profound transcriptomic alterations in virus-cleared cells.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Di Kang, Guorui Zhang, Zhonghui Zhang, Zhancheng Tian, Shandian Gao, Guangyuan Liu, Guiquan Guan, Jianxun Luo, Hong Yin, Junzheng Du
Summary: This study found that the transcription level of ovine ISG15 (oISG15) is upregulated in a time-dependent and BTV multiplicity of infection-dependent manner. Overexpression of oISG15 enhances BTV replication, while knockdown of endogenous oISG15 inhibits BTV replication. The interaction between BTV viral proteins and oISG15 was identified, and oISG15 overexpression was found to stabilize VP4 and NS1 proteins and interfere with the degradation of NS1 via the autophagy pathway.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ting Wang, Chongyang Wang, Jinjie Han, Xiaolan Hou, Ruochen Hu, Wenchi Chang, Lizhen Wang, Xuefeng Qi, Jingyu Wang
Summary: In this study, it was found that FAdV-4 infection increased the expression of beta-catenin and promoted its nuclear translocation, which facilitated FAdV-4 replication. On the other hand, repression of beta-catenin limited FAdV-4 production by inhibiting FAdV-4-induced autophagy. These findings highlight the importance of beta-catenin as a regulator of FAdV-4 replication and suggest it as a potential target for anti-FAdV-4 agents.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Manivel Lodha, Ihsan Muchsin, Christopher Juerges, Vanda Juranic Lisnic, Anne L'Hernault, Andrzej J. Rutkowski, Bhupesh K. Prusty, Arnhild Grothey, Andrea Milic, Thomas Hennig, Stipan Jonjic, Caroline C. Friedel, Florian Erhard, Lars Doelken
Summary: We provide a state-of-the-art reannotation of the lytic gene expression of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Our analysis reveals hundreds of novel transcripts and open reading frames (ORFs), including highly expressed small ORFs and upstream ORFs that regulate the expression of downstream ORFs at the translational level.
Article
Virology
Katarzyna Szymanska-de Wijs, Martina Dezeljin, Boris Bogdanow, Martin Messerle
Summary: Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) spread between cells by reprogramming cellular signaling pathways and restructuring cell architecture. They transfer both genetic information and tegument proteins, enabling the virus to enter cells. The UL25 gene family of CMVs encodes these tegument proteins, which also give rise to related nonstructural proteins. This study focuses on the functions of UL25 family members, particularly the M25 proteins of mouse CMV, and their interference with the p53 tumor suppressor protein's antiviral role and mediation of cytoskeleton rearrangement in infected cells.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Ting Hsieh, Tsung-Lin Tsai, Shen-Yan Huang, Jian-Wen Heng, Yu-Chia Huang, Pei-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Chun Tu, Tai-Ling Chao, Ya-Min Tsai, Pei-Ching Chang, Chien-Kuo Lee, Guann-Yi Yu, Sui-Yuan Chang, Ivan L. L. Dzhagalov, Chia-Lin Hsu
Summary: A growing body of evidence highlights the role of metabolic reprogramming in immune cells to combat infections. However, the regulation of metabolite transporters that support metabolic demands remains poorly understood. This study demonstrates that equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3) is part of the innate immune response and is upregulated upon pathogen invasion. The expression of ENT3 is directly regulated by type I interferon-induced signaling and is required for the entry and replication of several viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lews Caro, Pravrutha Raman, Florian A. Steiner, Michael Ailion, Harmit S. Malik
Summary: The composition and spatial characteristics of ionic liquids have a significant impact on their chemical and physical properties. CenH3 genes play a crucial role in chromosome inheritance during cell division in eukaryotes. Multiple independent duplications of CenH3 genes have been identified in the Caenorhabditis species. Analysis of the genome revealed the duplication of CenH3 genes and other kinetochore genes in Caenorhabditis.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Andrea J. Parsons, Kathryn R. Stein, Kristina E. Atanasoff, Sabrina I. Ophir, Jailene Paredes Casado, Domenico Tortorella
Summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections can cause serious health problems and have more severe consequences in certain populations. This study focuses on the structural elements of CD46 that impact HCMV infection, and suggests that the levels of CD46 expressed on the cell surface are directly related to the infectivity of HCMV.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Virology
Yousef M. O. Alhammad, Anthony R. Fehr
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Collin D. Heer, Daniel J. Sanderson, Lynden S. Voth, Yousef M. O. Alhammad, Mark S. Schmidt, Samuel A. J. Trammell, Stanley Perlman, Michael S. Cohen, Anthony R. Fehr, Charles Brenner
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Virology
Lynden S. Voth, Joseph J. O'Connor, Catherine M. Kerr, Ethan Doerger, Nancy Schwarting, Parker Sperstad, David K. Johnson, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: The macrodomain Mac1 within nonstructural protein 3 of coronaviruses has been identified as essential for viral replication, with targeted mutations revealing multiple functions that contribute to the replication of the model CoV MHV. These findings suggest that Mac1 may be a potential target for anti-CoV therapeutics.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bernhard Luscher, Ivan Ahel, Matthias Altmeyer, Alan Ashworth, Peter Bai, Paul Chang, Michael Cohen, Daniela Corda, Francoise Dantzer, Matthew D. Daugherty, Ted M. Dawson, Valina L. Dawson, Sebastian Deindl, Anthony R. Fehr, Karla L. H. Feijs, Dmitri V. Filippov, Jean-Philippe Gagne, Giovanna Grimaldi, Sebastian Guettler, Nicolas C. Hoch, Michael O. Hottiger, Patricia Korn, W. Lee Kraus, Andreas Ladurner, Lari Lehtio, Anthony K. L. Leung, Christopher J. Lord, Aswin Mangerich, Ivan Matic, Jason Matthews, George-Lucian Moldovan, Joel Moss, Gioacchino Natoli, Michael L. Nielsen, Mario Niepel, Friedrich Nolte, John Pascal, Bryce M. Paschal, Krzysztof Pawlowski, Guy G. Poirier, Susan Smith, Gyula Timinszky, Zhao-Qi Wang, Jose Yelamos, Xiaochun Yu, Roko Zaja, Mathias Ziegler
Summary: ADP-ribosylation, a post-translational modification of proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites, plays diverse roles in cellular processes such as stress responses, signaling, and transcriptional regulation. Recent advances in research have identified a wide range of cellular pathways regulated by ADP-ribosylation, highlighting the importance of understanding this mechanism in cell biology.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Morgan Dasovich, Junlin Zhuo, Jack A. Goodman, Ajit Thomas, Robert Lyle McPherson, Aravinth Kumar Jayabalan, Veronica F. Busa, Shang-Jung Cheng, Brennan A. Murphy, Karli R. Redinger, Yousef M. O. Alhammad, Anthony R. Fehr, Takashi Tsukamoto, Barbara S. Slusher, Jurgen Bosch, Huijun Wei, Anthony K. L. Leung
Summary: Viral macrodomains are crucial for virus replication and pathogenesis, making them a promising target for antiviral therapy. Dasatinib has been identified as a potential ADP-ribosylhydrolase inhibitor, showing effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, but not affecting the closest human homologue MacroD2. This study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying selective inhibitors based on ADP-ribosylhydrolase activity and provides a potential avenue for developing better macrodomain inhibitors as antiviral therapies for SARS-CoV-2 and other viral threats.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anthony K. L. Leung, Diane E. Griffin, Juergen Bosch, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases pose continuous threats to public health. Developing a diverse portfolio of antiviral agents is crucial for effective control. The macrodomain, a drug target critical for the replication and pathogenesis of alphaviruses and coronaviruses, has the potential to block virus replication and restore the host's protective interferon response. Macrodomain inhibitors, with their well-defined binding pocket, offer an attractive target for developing direct acting antivirals and complementing current approaches in combating COVID-19 and future viral threats.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Courtney E. Comar, Clayton J. Otter, Jessica Pfannenstiel, Ethan Doerger, David M. Renner, Li Hui Tan, Stanley Perlman, Noam A. Cohen, Anthony R. Fehr, Susan R. Weiss
Summary: MERS-CoV optimizes its replication by suppressing early innate immune pathways, including interferon production and signaling, through the actions of endoribonuclease (EndoU) and accessory proteins NS4a and NS4b.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anu Roy, Yousef M. Alhammad, Peter McDonald, David K. Johnson, Junlin Zhuo, Sarah Wazir, Dana Ferraris, Lari Lehtio, Anthony K. L. Leung, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: This study focuses on screening for potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 conserved macrodomain (Mac1). Five compounds from three chemotypes were identified, which show inhibitory effects on Mac1-ADP-ribose binding, ADP-ribosylhydrolase activity, and direct Mac1 binding, making them strong candidates for the development of highly effective Mac1 inhibitors.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lavinia M. Sherrill, Elva E. Joya, AnnMarie Walker, Anuradha Roy, Yousef M. Alhammad, Moriama Atobatele, Sarah Wazir, George Abbas, Patrick Keane, Junlin Zhuo, Anthony K. L. Leung, David K. Johnson, Lari Lehtio, Anthony R. Fehr, Dana Ferraris
Summary: A series of amino acid based compounds were designed and synthesized to investigate their inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 macrodomain. Compound 15c was identified as a low-micromolar inhibitor and demonstrated selectivity for coronavirus macrodomains.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: The translation discusses the impact of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on protein functions, focusing on the role of ADP-ribosylation. Specifically, it highlights the importance of PARP14, a MARylating enzyme, in anti-inflammatory and antiviral responses, while also emphasizing the need for further studies to elucidate its specific roles and mechanisms during viral infections.
Article
Microbiology
Cindy Y. Ly, Jessica Pfannenstiel, Anil Pant, Zhilong Yang, Anthony R. Fehr, Maxim S. Rodzkin, David J. Davido
Summary: In this study, aurora kinase inhibitors were found to significantly reduce gene expression and viral replication of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Furthermore, these inhibitors also showed inhibitory effects on the replication of other RNA and DNA viruses. These findings suggest a novel role for aurora kinases in the replication of diverse viruses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Virology
Catherine M. Kerr, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Nancy Schwarting, Joseph J. O'Connor, Jessica J. Pfannenstiel, Emily Giri, Sunil More, Robin C. Orozco, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: PARP12 is an important mediator of the antiviral response to coronaviruses, but additional PARPs or innate immune factors contribute to virus attenuation in mice. PARP12 knockout increases Mac1 mutant virus replication and liver pathology in mice.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Joseph J. O'Connor, Lynden Voth, Jeremiah Athmer, Nicholas M. George, Christopher M. Connelly, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: Testing two commercially available blood collection tube blood-stabilization reagents, cfDNA and CytoChex, it was found that they can rapidly inactivate coronaviruses and effectively preserve viral RNA stability for a certain period of time.
Review
Microbiology
Joseph J. O'Connor, Dana Ferraris, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: This article summarizes the progress in the search for inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Mac1 protein. Various unique chemical inhibitors have been successfully created using high-throughput screening and chemical modifications.
Article
Virology
Yousef M. O. Alhammad, Maithri M. Kashipathy, Anuradha Roy, Jean-Philippe Gagne, Peter McDonald, Philip Gao, Louis Nonfoux, Kevin P. Battaile, David K. Johnson, Erik D. Holmstrom, Guy G. Poirier, Scott Lovell, Anthony R. Fehr
Summary: The Mac1 proteins in SARS-CoV-2 and other CoVs are MAR-hydrolases with similar functions, suggesting compounds targeting these proteins may have broad anti-CoV activity. Understanding the biochemistry and enzyme activity of these proteins is critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)