Article
Microbiology
Madison L. Pletan, Billy Tsai
Summary: This article summarizes recent discoveries in the membrane penetration process of three intensively studied families of non-enveloped viruses, including reoviruses, papillomaviruses, and polyomaviruses. Recent research has revealed how non-enveloped viral proteins disrupt and penetrate cellular endomembranes, which is important for understanding the mechanism by which viruses enter host cells.
Article
Microbiology
Thomas Meunier, Lowiese Desmarets, Simon Bordage, Moussa Bamba, Kevin Hervouet, Yves Rouille, Nathan Francois, Marion Decossas, Valentin Sencio, Francois Trottein, Fezan Honora Tra Bi, Olivier Lambert, Jean Dubuisson, Sandrine Belouzard, Sevser Sahpaz, Karin Seron
Summary: The study identified pheophorbide a (Pba) as a highly active antiviral molecule against SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and other enveloped viruses. Pba inhibits virus entry by directly targeting the viral particle and stiffening the viral membrane. The antiviral activity of Pba is dependent on light exposure. This natural antiviral compound holds potential for COVID-19 therapy and disinfection of SARS-CoV-2-contaminated surfaces.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alba Cano-Vicent, Alberto Tunon-Molina, Miguel Marti, Angel Serrano-Aroca
Summary: Chitosan films were prepared using an acetic acid-based solution and were found to be biocompatible and possess potent antiviral activity against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. In vitro tests showed up to 99.98% and 99.92% viral inactivation against the phi 6 enveloped bacteriophage and MS2 non-enveloped bacteriophage, respectively. This suggests that the chitosan/acetic acid film has great potential for use in biomedical applications requiring biodegradable broad-spectrum antiviral materials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa Moresco, Anna Charatzidou, David M. Oliver, Manfred Weidmann, Sabine Matallana-Surget, Richard S. Quilliam
Summary: Microplastics in wastewater and surface water can quickly be colonized by microbial biofilms, forming "plastisphere" communities. These communities are believed to persist longer and spread further in the environment, potentially acting as vectors for human pathogens. In this study, model viruses were used to quantify the binding and recovery of viruses from biofilm-colonized microplastic pellets. The results showed that viruses associated with biofilm-colonized pellets were more stable compared to those in the water. While the presence of an envelope may limit virus interaction with the plastisphere, the ability to recover both enveloped and non-enveloped infectious viruses from colonized microplastic pellets highlights an additional potential public health risk of surface waters becoming contaminated with microplastics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alberto Tunon-Molina, Alba Cano-Vicent, Angel Serrano-Aroca
Summary: The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for new antimicrobial compounds. This study investigates the antiviral properties of tiger nut milk (TNM) against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The results show that TNM is effective against enveloped viruses and adding sugar improves its antiviral properties against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Irene A. Owusu, Osbourne Quaye, Karla D. Passalacqua, Christiane E. Wobus
Summary: The long-standing paradigm in virology that non-enveloped viruses induce cell lysis to release progeny virions is being challenged by emerging evidence. Some non-enveloped viruses exit cells without inducing cell lysis, and others use both lytic and non-lytic egress mechanisms. Understanding virus cellular egress mechanisms, particularly in enteric RNA viruses, could lead to the development of targeted antiviral therapies to minimize the public health impact of these infections.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Clara Taffoni, Alizee Steer, Johanna Marines, Hanane Chamma, Isabelle K. Vila, Nadine Laguette
Summary: The maintenance of genomic stability in multicellular organisms relies on DNA damage response (DDR), which not only repairs genomic lesions but also plays a role in inflammatory responses. The crosstalk between pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and DDR proteins influences innate immune activation, potentially impacting pathological outcomes. Understanding the molecular determinants of this cooperation will be crucial for future therapeutic approaches.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chihiro Kimura, Seong-Wook Oh, Takashi Fujita, Takashi Watanabe
Summary: Antiviral lignin produced by acidic microwave glycerolysis of sugarcane bagasse exhibits antiviral activity against both nonenveloped and enveloped viruses. The lignin prepared at 200°C showed the strongest antiviral activity and inhibited viral entry to host cells through interactions with the capsid surface.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Claire E. Anderson, Jingyan Tong, Winnie Zambrana, Alexandria B. Boehm, Marlene K. Wolfe
Summary: Respiratory and diarrheal diseases are leading causes of death worldwide. This study evaluated the efficacy of different handwashing methods, including water only, soapy water, short duration, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and towel cleaning, in reducing viruses. The results showed that some alternatives were as effective as recommended methods, while others were not.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maxime Sahun, Angela Privat-Maldonado, Abraham Lin, Naomi De Roeck, Lisa Van der Heyden, Johan Michiels, Gunther Steenackers, Evelien Smits, Kevin K. Arien, Philippe G. Jorens, Peter Delputte, Annemie Bogaerts
Summary: As highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become a growing burden on health, the global economy, and the environment. The control of transmission through contact with contaminated materials is a major challenge, particularly in hospital settings. However, the current disinfection methods in hospitals have several drawbacks, leading to shortages and waste, thus prompting the search for alternative solutions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maxime Sahun, Angela Privat-Maldonado, Abraham Lin, Naomi De Roeck, Lisa Van der Heyden, Michael Hillen, Johan Michiels, Gunther Steenackers, Evelien Smits, Kevin K. Arien, Philippe G. Jorens, Peter Delputte, Annemie Bogaerts
Summary: As highlighted by the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become a growing burden on health, the global economy, and the environment. The control of virus transmission through contact with contaminated materials is a major challenge in hospital settings, and current disinfection methods have limitations. A study found that non-thermal plasma can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 on commonly found healthcare materials, offering a potential alternative solution for rapid, efficient, and low-cost disinfection.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaotang Hao, Jiehan Chen, Mengyuan Xu, Huiying Zheng, Xi Li, Mei Wang, Tiantian Liu
Summary: A new strategy using aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was developed to improve the detection of viruses in environmental samples. The ATPS method demonstrated superior performance in terms of virus recovery and water volume compared to conventional methods.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mikita M. Misiura, Alexander M. Berezhkovskii, Sergey M. Bezrukov, Anatoly B. Kolomeisky
Summary: Trapping by active sites on surfaces plays important roles in various chemical and biological processes, but existing theoretical descriptions do not fully account for the role of surfaces. Surface diffusion is found to be crucial in mediating trapping by active sites.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Warish Ahmed, Aaron Bivins, Asja Korajkic, Suzanne Metcalfe, Wendy J. M. Smith, Stuart L. Simpson
Summary: Two virus concentration methods, AE and NMVP, along with extraction kits were used to quantify PMMoV and SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. The results showed that NMVP workflow produced higher PMMoV concentrations in 58% of samples, while AE workflow produced higher SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in 69% of samples. The concentrations of PMMoV were not sensitive to turbidity, but the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 were strongly correlated with turbidity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Pu, Joey Tianyi Zhou, Ping Liu, Fei Yu, Xiaoyang He, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
Summary: This review focuses on entry inhibitors that target the six-helical bundle core against highly pathogenic enveloped viruses with class I fusion proteins, including retroviruses, coronaviruses, influenza A viruses, paramyxoviruses, and filoviruses. These entry inhibitors, which target viral envelope proteins or host factors, are effective antiviral agents and have been extensively studied.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)