Article
Biology
Yansheng Li, Mingkai Xu, Yongqiang Li, Wu Gu, Gulinare Halimu, Yuqi Li, Zhichun Zhang, Libao Zhou, Hui Liao, Songyuan Yao, Huiwen Zhang, Chenggang Zhang
Summary: The study developed a recombinant protein named NMHC that induced both cross-protective antibody responses and T cell reactions, effectively protecting mice from multiple influenza virus infections. This vaccine holds promise as a candidate universal broad-spectrum vaccine for the prevention and treatment of multiple influenza viruses.
Article
Virology
Wentao Shen, Qian Wang, Zhengxiang Wang, Minxuan Liu, Yingying Du, Lvfeng Yuan, Lu Han, Krzysztof Smietanka, Hualan Chen, Shuai Xu, Qiyun Zhu
Summary: The H7N9 subtype influenza A viruses pose a serious threat to public health, and there is still a lack of vaccines or drugs for humans against H7N9 influenza viruses. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4H1E8 and 7H9A6, were identified to specifically recognize and neutralize the H7N9 virus. These antibodies inhibit the conformational change of HA and block the HA-mediated membrane fusion, showing promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects against H7N9 virus infection. These findings suggest that these antibodies could be potentially used for the prevention and treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel J. Hagey, Menashe Elazar, Edward A. Pham, Siqi Tian, Lily Ben-Avi, Claire Bernardin-Souibgui, Matthew F. Yee, Fernando R. Moreira, Meirav Vilan Rabinovitch, Rita M. Meganck, Benjamin Fram, Aimee Beck, Scott A. Gibson, Grace Lam, Josephine Devera, Wipapat Kladwang, Khanh Nguyen, Anming Xiong, Steven Schaffert, Talia Avisar, Ping Liu, Arjun Rustagi, Carl J. Fichtenbaum, Phillip S. Pang, Purvesh Khatri, Chien-Te Tseng, Jeffery K. Taubenberger, Catherine A. Blish, Brett L. Hurst, Timothy P. Sheahan, Rhiju Das, Jeffrey S. Glenn
Summary: By targeting conserved RNA secondary structures, researchers have discovered a potential therapeutic approach that can effectively treat multiple viruses and has shown good efficacy and resistance in experiments. These findings are important for antiviral prophylaxis and post-exposure therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Thura, Joel Xuan En Sng, Koon Hwee Ang, Jie Li, Abhishek Gupta, Jimmy Ming Hong, Cheng William Hong, Qi Zeng
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of using the conserved N-protein or its fragments/peptides as novel vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2, showing that N-protein is an excellent immunogen for stimulating the host immune system and robust B-cell activation. The research suggests an unconventional vaccine strategy targeting the conserved N-protein as an alternative vaccine target for coronaviruses, and presents the development of a novel humanized anti-N-protein antibody for potential future treatment of patients infected by various coronaviruses.
BIOSCIENCE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karen Lizbeth Reyes-Barrera, Ruth Elena Soria-Guerra, Rogelio Lopez-Martinez, Leonor Huerta, Nohemi Salinas-Jazmin, Carlos Cabello-Gutierrez, Angel Gabriel Alpuche-Solis
Summary: The study demonstrates that expressing the EB peptide in microalgae could be a promising approach for antiviral therapy, showing significant efficacy in inhibiting the spread and replication of influenza viruses.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Franzi, Gregory Mathez, Soraya Dinant, Charlotte Deloizy, Laurent Kaiser, Caroline Tapparel, Ronan Le Goffic, Valeria Cagno
Summary: Influenza virus is a major cause of respiratory infections worldwide, and finding alternative antiviral strategies is necessary despite the availability of vaccines and antiviral drugs. This study identifies non-steroidal estrogens as potent inhibitors of influenza virus by interacting with the hemagglutinin protein to prevent viral entry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ruipeng Lei, Wooseob Kim, Huibin Lv, Zongjun Mou, Michael J. Scherm, Aaron J. Schmitz, Jackson S. Turner, Timothy J. C. Tan, Yiquan Wang, Wenhao O. Ouyang, Weiwen Liang, Joel Rivera-Cardona, Chuyun Teo, Claire S. Graham, Christopher B. Brooke, Rachel M. Presti, Chris K. P. Mok, Florian Krammer, Xinghong Dai, Ali H. Ellebedy, Nicholas C. Wu
Summary: There is growing recognition of neuraminidase (NA) as a target for influenza vaccines, but its antigenicity is still poorly understood. In this study, we isolated three broadly reactive N2 antibodies from a single vaccine recipient, one of which cross-reacts with NAs from seasonal H3N2 strains spanning five decades. These antibodies confer prophylactic and therapeutic protection in vivo through both Fc effector functions and NA inhibition. Furthermore, the contribution of Fc effector functions to in vivo protection inversely correlates with viral growth inhibition activity in vitro.
Review
Immunology
Chenchen Jiao, Bo Wang, Pucheng Chen, Yongping Jiang, Jinxiong Liu
Summary: By analyzing more than 70 types of broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the HA of influenza A viruses, this review identifies five regions of HA as highly conserved protective epitopes. The findings provide valuable insights for the design of universal influenza vaccines and targeted therapeutic agents.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna A. Zykova, Elena A. Blokhina, Liudmila A. Stepanova, Marina A. Shuklina, Olga O. Ozhereleva, Liudmila M. Tsybalova, Victor V. Kuprianov, Nikolai V. Ravin
Summary: The study developed a universal flu vaccine based on nanoparticles carrying conserved peptides and a T helper epitope. The vaccine induced a strong immune response and provided high protection against influenza virus infection in mice.
Article
Cell Biology
Timothy M. Caradonna, Larance Ronsard, Ashraf S. Yousif, Ian W. Windsor, Rachel Hecht, Thalia Bracamonte-Moreno, Anne A. Roffler, Max J. Maron, Daniel P. Maurer, Jared Feldman, Elisa Marchiori, Ralston M. Barnes, Daniel Rohrer, Nils Lonberg, Thomas H. Oguin, Gregory D. Sempowski, Thomas B. Kepler, Masayuki Kuraoka, Daniel Lingwood, Aaron G. Schmidt
Summary: Pathogens can evade host immune responses by accumulating mutations in surface antigens. A study has shown that an epitope-enriched immunogen can enhance B cell responses to conserved epitopes, leading to a specific immune response against influenza viruses.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Atin Khalaj-Hedayati, Seyedehmaryam Moosavi, Otilia Manta, Mohamed H. Helal, Mohamed M. Ibrahim, Zeinhom M. El-Bahy, Ganden Supriyanto
Summary: This article introduces a conserved peptide that may be used for universal influenza vaccine design. Through epitope mapping and molecular docking analysis, it is found that this peptide binds to multiple human leukocyte antigens, showing potential for application. However, further experiments are needed to evaluate its effectiveness as a vaccine immunogen.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Linyi Alex Gao, Max E. Wilkinson, Jonathan Strecker, Kira S. Makarova, Rhiannon K. Macrae, Eugene Koonin, Feng Zhang
Summary: It has been discovered that antiviral STAND homologs in bacteria and archaea can detect viral proteins and trigger immune responses to prevent infection. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals that these homologs are capable of recognizing multiple viruses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lianghao Huang, Jinyu Wang, Xiaoyao Ma, Lishan Sun, Cui Hao, Wei Wang
Summary: The study found that Piceatannol (PIC) has significant anti-influenza virus activity both in vitro and in vivo, mainly by interacting with HA to block membrane fusion and inhibit viral infection.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yu-Chen Cheng, Shih-Chung Chang
Summary: The study prepared two monoclonal antibodies, 7H6C and YC8, with subtype specificity for H5N8 and H5Nx avian influenza viruses, which can be used for specific detection of HA proteins.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David F. Zeigler, Emily Gage, Christopher H. Clegg
Summary: The study introduced a nanoparticle-based vaccine platform for building broadly protective influenza vaccines targeting conserved epitopes, providing long-lasting immunity. Novel epitopes with higher protective potential were identified using protein sequence and structural information in combination, leading to improved antibody responses.