Article
Microbiology
Xiang Liu, Yee-Suan Poo, Juliana C. Alves, Roque P. Almeida, Helen Mostafavi, Patrick Chun Hean Tang, Richard Bucala, Mauro M. Teixeira, Adam Taylor, Ali Zaid, Suresh Mahalingam
Summary: CHIKV has been prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Indian Ocean Islands for decades. There are currently no clinically approved vaccines or specific antiviral drugs targeting CHIKV. The upregulation of IL-17 detected in CHIKV disease patients and the reduced disease seen in IL-17-deficient mice suggest a correlation between IL-17 signaling pathways and CHIKV-induced arthritic inflammation. With an established role in contributing to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, IL-17 signaling plays an important role in alphavirus arthritides.
Article
Microbiology
Lien De Caluwe, Sandra Coppens, Katleen Vereecken, Simon Daled, Maarten Dhaenens, Xaveer Van Ostade, Dieter Deforce, Kevin K. Arien, Koen Bartholomeeusen
Summary: Researchers identified factors that facilitate the entry of CHIKV into human cells using an affinity purification mass spectrometry coupled approach, validating the CD147 protein complex as an entry factor for CHIKV. They also demonstrated the involvement of the CD147 complex in the replication cycle of related alphaviruses.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Julie M. Button, Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Summary: The study found that mutations in the N-terminal domain of Alphavirus capsid proteins affect interactions with the E2 spike protein and core formation. However, interactions between E2 and CP can compensate for defects in cytoplasmic core formation, leading to core or core-like structures in the virion.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shirlene Telmos Silva de Lima, William Marciel de Souza, John Washington Cavalcante, Darlan da Silva Candido, Marcilio Jorge Fumagalli, Jean-Paul Carrera, Leda Maria Simoes Mello, Fernanda Montenegro de Carvalho Araujo, Izabel Leticia Cavalcante Ramalho, Francisca Kalline de Almeida Barreto, Deborah Nunes de Melo Braga, Adriana Rocha Simiao, Mayara Jane Miranda da Silva, Rhaquel de Morais Alves Barbosa Oliveira, Clayton Pereira Silva Lima, Camila de Sousa Lins, Rafael Ribeiro Barata, Marcelo Nunes Pereira Melo, Michel Platini Caldas de Souza, Luciano Monteiro Franco, Fabio Rocha Fernandes Tavora, Daniele Rocha Queiroz Lemos, Carlos Henrique Morais de Alencar, Ronaldo de Jesus, Vagner de Souza Fonseca, Leonardo Hermes Dutra, Andre Luiz de Abreu, Emerson Luiz Lima Araujo, Andre Ricardo Ribas Freitas, Joao Lidio da Silva Goncalves Vianez Junior, Oliver G. Pybus, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo, Nuno Rodrigues Faria, Marcio Roberto Teixeira Nunes, Luciano Pamplona de Goes Cavalcanti, Fabio Miyajima
Summary: The investigation of fatal Chikungunya virus cases in Ceara state, Brazil, revealed co-infections with Dengue and Zika viruses, neurological symptoms as a major presentation in fatal cases, and no unique virus genomic mutation associated with fatal outcomes.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Timothee Laurent, Pravin Kumar, Susanne Liese, Farnaz Zare, Mattias Jonasson, Andreas Carlson, Lars-Anders Carlson
Summary: Alphaviruses, including chikungunya virus (CHIKV), are mosquito-borne viruses that cause serious disease in humans and other mammals. CHIKV has been rapidly spreading in the last 20 years without an approved treatment. Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to image CHIKV spherules, specialized organelles for viral RNA replication, on the plasma membrane of infected cells. They discovered that the viral protein nsP1 serves as a base for a larger protein complex assembly at the neck of the membrane bud. The tomograms also revealed that full-sized spherules contain a single copy of the viral genome in double-stranded form. Additionally, a mathematical model was presented to explain the membrane remodeling of the spherule, which showed good agreement with experimental data.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda M. Avila-Trejo, Lorena I. Rodriguez-Paez, Veronica Alcantara-Farfan, J. Leopoldo Aguilar-Faisal, Toshio Hattori
Summary: Chronic cases of chikungunya fever pose a public health problem in countries where the virus is present. The disease can persist for years, causing debilitating pain and bone erosion. The mechanisms behind tissue damage and the development of different conditions are not fully understood. This review aims to analyze the molecular and cellular factors that contribute to tissue damage in various infectious conditions caused by the chikungunya virus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Cormac J. Lucas, Bennett J. Davenport, Kathryn S. Carpentier, Alex N. Tinega, Thomas E. Morrison
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that two highly conserved phenylalanine residues in the alphavirus E1 glycoprotein are critical for fusion of viral and host cell membranes and viral entry into target cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rubing Chen, Jessica A. Plante, Kenneth S. Plante, Ruimei Yun, Divya Shinde, Jianying Liu, Sherry Haller, Suchetana Mukhopadhyay, Scott C. Weaver
Summary: This study examined whether Asian lineage CHIKV strains are likely to acquire Aedes albopictus-adaptive E2 substitutions and found that these mutations significantly decreased infectivity for A. albopictus in the Asian lineage backbone. Additionally, species-specific factors in mosquitoes were identified to play a role in vector infection efficiency, leading to different effects between Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. The divergence between Asian lineage and IOL CHIKVs has led them onto different adaptive landscapes, affecting their potential to expand their vector host range.
Review
Immunology
Gerardo Montalvo Zurbia-Flores, Arturo Reyes-Sandoval, Young Chan Kim
Summary: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a major global health threat, causing chikungunya fever (CHIKF) characterized by severe arthralgia. Despite its complex epidemiology and misrepresentation of its disease burden worldwide, there is still no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment against CHIKV. This review highlights the clinical relevance of developing chikungunya vaccines, discussing the understanding of disease burden, epidemiological surveillance, and the global emergence of CHIKV infections, as well as recent progress in vaccine development.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Leandro Battini, Daniela M. Fidalgo, Diego E. Alvarez, Mariela Bollini
Summary: This study focused on identifying antiviral compounds targeting the E2-E1 envelope glycoprotein complex of CHIKV, resulting in the discovery of compound 11 as a specific inhibitor with improved antiviral activity and low cytotoxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a potential interaction pattern between compound 11 and the E1-E2 dimer, laying the groundwork for further optimization. The identified binding pocket for compound 11 showed promising antiviral activity and pharmacological profiles, indicating its potential as a CHIKV entry inhibitor.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Natasha M. Kafai, Michael S. Diamond, Julie M. Fox
Summary: Alphaviruses are a group of emerging and reemerging viruses that can cause a range of diseases, from debilitating arthritis to potentially fatal encephalitis. The differences in immune responses contribute to the varying disease progression and outcomes.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lisa Lasswitz, Francisco J. Zapatero-Belinchon, Rebecca Moeller, Kirsten Huelskoetter, Timothee Laurent, Lars-Anders Carlson, Christine Goffinet, Graham Simmons, Wolfgang Baumgaertner, Gisa Gerold
Summary: In this study, CD81 is identified as a host factor for the globally emerging chikungunya virus and related alphaviruses, promoting viral genome replication in human and mouse cells while being dispensable for virus entry. The cholesterol-binding ability of CD81 is crucial for its function as an alphavirus host factor, broadening our understanding of the alphavirus replication process by reprogramming cells into virus replication factories.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Christin Schmidt, Barbara S. Schnierle
Summary: CHIKV is a virus that has spread globally in the last twenty years. Although mortality is low, infection can result in long-term joint pain. Currently, there are no licensed treatments or preventive vaccines against CHIKV infections. However, there have been promising vaccine candidates developed in recent years.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jared Kirui, Yara Abidine, Annasara Lenman, Koushikul Islam, Yong-Dae Gwon, Lisa Lasswitz, Magnus Evander, Marta Bally, Gisa Gerold
Summary: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted RNA virus characterized by acute and chronic arthritis. The transmembrane proteins T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) and Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (Axl) play important roles in the entry of enveloped viruses such as CHIKV.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Pasathorn Yodtaweepornanan, Wanjak Pongsittisak, Panchalee Satpanich
Summary: This study analyzed adults diagnosed with chikungunya infection between 2015 and 2020 at a medical center. It found that 40.4% of the patients developed chronic chikungunya arthritis. The initial number of joints with arthritis, initial VAS scores, and female sex were predictive factors for chronic chikungunya arthritis.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Elizabeth E. McCarthy, Pamela M. Odorizzi, Emma Lutz, Carolyn P. Smullin, Iliana Tenvooren, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Peter W. Hunt, Margaret E. Feeney, Philip J. Norris, Michael P. Busch, H. Matthew, Rachel L. Rutishauser
Summary: This study used mass cytometry to characterize the longitudinal cellular immune response after acute Zika virus infection, finding that high frequencies of multiple activated cell types during acute infection were associated with high neutralizing antibody titers post-infection. In addition, stable immune features were associated with low antibody titers.
Article
Microbiology
Koen K. A. Van Rompay, Katherine J. Olstad, Rebecca L. Sammak, Joseph Dutra, Jennifer K. Watanabe, Jodie L. Usachenko, Ramya Immareddy, Jamin W. Roh, Anil Verma, Yashavanth Shaan Lakshmanappa, Brian A. Schmidt, Clara Di Germanio, Nabeela Rizvi, Hongwei Liu, Zhong-Min Ma, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Larry J. Dumont, A. Mark Allen, Sarah Lockwood, Rachel E. Pollard, Rafael Ramiro de Assis, JoAnn L. Yee, Peter B. Nham, Amir Ardeshir, Jesse D. Deere, Aarti Jain, Philip L. Felgner, Lark L. Coffey, Smita S. Iyer, Dennis J. Hartigan-O'Connor, Michael P. Busch, J. Rachel Reader
Summary: The use of convalescent plasma from COVID-19 survivors as a therapeutic treatment for hospitalized patients showed only moderate efficacy, especially when administered early in infection with high neutralizing antibody titers. A macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection was used to study the potential therapeutic efficacy of convalescent plasma, and the results showed minimal effects on reducing virus replication in the respiratory tract but significant reduction of lung inflammation.
Article
Physiology
Kritika Khanna, Wilfred W. Raymond, Jing Jin, Annabelle R. Charbit, Irina Gitlin, Monica Tang, Adam D. Werts, Edward G. Barrett, Jason M. Cox, Sharla M. Birch, Rachel Martinelli, Hannah S. Sperber, Sergej Franz, Thomas Duff, Markus Hoffmann, Anne Marie Healy, Stefan Oscarson, Stefan Poehlmann, Satish K. Pillai, Graham Simmons, John Fahy
Summary: This study found that thiol drugs have antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting the binding of SARS-2-S to ACE2 and virus entry. Intraperitoneal delivery of cysteamine reduced lung neutrophilic inflammation and alveolar hemorrhage in hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Susan L. Stramer, Marion C. Lanteri, Jaye P. Brodsky, Gregory A. Foster, David E. Krysztof, Jamel A. Groves, Rebecca L. Townsend, Edward Notari, Sonia Bakkour, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Bryan Spencer, Laura Tonnetti, Michael P. Busch
Summary: This study evaluated the use of pathogen reduction technology as a strategy to prevent transfusion-transmitted viral and parasitic infections. The results showed that this technology effectively reduces the infectivity of pathogens and could potentially increase blood availability and reduce deferrals for blood donors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kenneth Danh, Donna Grace Karp, Malvika Singhal, Akshaya Tankasala, David Gebhart, Felipe de Jesus Cortez, Devangkumar Tandel, Peter Robinson, David Seftel, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Anil Bagri, Martin A. Schreiber, Andreas Buser, Andreas Holbro, Manuel Battegay, Mary Kate Morris, Carl Hanson, John R. Mills, Dane Granger, Elitza S. Theel, James R. Stubbs, Laurence M. Corash, Cheng-ting Tsai
Summary: A PCR assay called SONIA is reported for measuring neutralizing antibodies against multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains in fingerprick dried blood spot samples. The assay shows high sensitivity and specificity, and can accurately detect neutralizing antibodies and help understand the impact of immunity, vaccine efficacy, and new variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
David Chmielewski, Michael F. Schmid, Graham Simmons, Jing Jin, Wah Chiu
Summary: Cryogenic electron tomography analysis reveals the assembly process of Chikungunya virus in infected human cells, with non-icosahedral nucleocapsid proteins serving as a scaffold for the assembly of the glycoprotein spike lattice.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Koen K. A. Van Rompay, Lark L. Coffey, JoAnn L. Yee, Anil Singapuri, Jackson Stuart, Marion C. Lanteri, Felicia Santa Maria, Kai Lu, Inderdeep Singh, Sonia Bakkour, Mars Stone, Phillip C. Williamson, Marcus O. Muench, Michael P. Busch, Graham Simmons
Summary: This study demonstrates that the risk of Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion is mainly present in individuals before seroconversion, sensitive nucleic acid amplification testing can identify the majority of infectious plasma, and pathogen reduction technologies are effective in preventing Zika virus transmission.
Article
Biology
Marcus O. Muench, Christopher Nosworthy
Summary: This study performed cell-surface antigen screening on human fetal liver cells using flow cytometry, providing proteomic expression data for developmental hepatology and hematology studies.
BMC RESEARCH NOTES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Marcus O. Muench, Marina E. Fomin, Alan G. Gutierrez, Dolores Lopez-Terrada, Renata Gilfanova, Christopher Nosworthy, Ashley I. Beyer, Gregory Ostolaza, Dina Kats, Kevin L. Matlock, Stefano Cairo, Charles Keller
Summary: By examining fetal livers and pediatric hepatoblastoma cell lines, the researchers discovered that CD203c could be a marker of both hepatoblasts and less differentiated hepatoblastoma tumors. CD203c may play a role in signaling during liver development. Two phenotypes of hepatoblastoma cell lines were identified, with one expressing high levels of CD203c and CD326, and the other showing low expression of these markers.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rachael P. Jackman, Orsolya Darst, Betty Gaillard, Johnson Q. Tran, Mary M. Tomayko, Marcus O. Muench
Summary: The study found that ablative chemotherapy can increase alloantibody responses to allogeneic platelet transfusion, contrary to the hypothesis. This enhanced response was associated with increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Ablative chemotherapy led to rapid lymphocyte depletion, non-specific activation of transitional B cells, and increased serum levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF).
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Paula Saa, Rebecca V. Fink, Sonia Bakkour, Jing Jin, Graham Simmons, Marcus O. Muench, Hina Dawar, Clara Di Germanio, Alvin J. Hui, David J. Wright, David E. Krysztof, Steven H. Kleinman, Angela Cheung, Theresa Nester, Debra A. Kessler, Rebecca L. Townsend, Bryan R. Spencer, Hany Kamel, Jacquelyn M. Vannoy, Honey Dave, Michael P. Busch, Susan L. Stramer, Mars Stone, Rachael P. Jackman, Philip J. Norris
Summary: Unlike respiratory viruses such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the blood of COVID-19 patients. Reports of COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis after blood donation were associated with increased mortality in the general population. The detection rate of RNAemia in blood donors with possible COVID-19-related post-donation information (PDI) reached 9%-15% in late 2020 to early 2021 and decreased to approximately 4% after widespread vaccination. Donors with RNAemia were more likely to report cough, shortness of breath, change in taste, or smell compared to infected donors without detectable RNAemia. No infectious virus was found in plasma samples, indicating a minimal risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 through blood transfusions.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Hematology
Johnson Q. Tran, Marcus O. Muench, Orsolya Darst, Mary Tomayko, Rachael P. Jackman
Meeting Abstract
Hematology
Marcus O. Muench, Jing Jin, Daniel Chaflets, Orsolya Darst, Alvin Hui, Rebecca Townsend, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Sonia Bakkour, Philip J. Norris, Rachael P. Jackman
Meeting Abstract
Hematology
Orsolya Darst, Johnson Q. Tran, Marcus O. Muench, Mary Tomayko, Rachael P. Jackman
Article
Virology
Naiqing Xu, Xinen Tang, Xin Wang, Miao Cai, Xiaowen Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Shunlin Hu, Min Gu, Jiao Hu, Ruyi Gao, Kaituo Liu, Yu Chen, Xiufan Liu, Xiaoquan Wang
Summary: This study found that the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus has a high airborne transmissibility, while the H7N9 virus does not. The Hemagglutinin protein of the H9N2 virus was found to play a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission.
Article
Virology
Samar S. Ewies, Sabry M. Tamam, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim, Sherin R. Rouby
Summary: Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats worldwide. The study provided a clinical description of CE and screened for genetic variation in the B2L gene. Infected sheep exhibited anorexia and oral lesions, while inoculated chicken embryos showed pock lesions. The B2L gene was successfully amplified and found to be highly conserved.
Article
Virology
Yigal Farnoushi, Dan Heller, Avishai Lublin
Summary: In recent years, new variants of avian reovirus (ARV) have caused a variety of symptoms in chickens worldwide, including viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. This study analyzed emerging ARV variants in Israel and found significant genetic diversity. Most ARV isolates in Israel belonged to genotypic cluster 5 (GC5). The study suggests that Israel has not experienced the emergence of new ARV variants since the introduction of the live vaccine (ISR-7585), but ongoing monitoring is needed due to the continuous emergence of ARV variants.
Article
Virology
Shigeru Tajima, Michiyo Kataoka, Yuki Takamatsu, Hideki Ebihara, Chang-Kweng Lim
Summary: Yokose virus (YOKV), a bat-associated flavivirus, was found to replicate at a slower rate in mosquito cells compared to other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Specific nucleotide mutations in the virus were identified to enhance its proliferation ability in mosquito cells.
Article
Virology
Alejandra Borjabad, Baojun Dong, Wei Chao, David J. Volsky, Mary Jane Potash
Summary: This study investigated HIV brain disease using a mouse model, and found that poly I:C can reverse associated cognitive impairment and reduce virus burden. The results also revealed transcriptional changes related to neuronal function and innate immune responses.
Article
Virology
Ching-Hung Lin, Feng-Cheng Hsieh, Meilin Wang, Chieh Hsu, Hsuan-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yao Yang, Hung-Yi Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the synthesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA is not solely determined by the sequence homology between the leader TRS and TRS-B, but also by the disassociation of the coronavirus polymerase from the viral genome. This finding provides a new insight into the transcription mechanism of coronaviruses.
Article
Virology
Nicholas S. Kron, Benjamin W. Neuman, Sathish Kumar, Patricia L. Blackwelder, Dayana Vidal, Delphina Z. Walker-Phelan, Patrick D. I. Gibbs, Lynne A. Fieber, Michael C. Schmale
Summary: Two recent studies documented the genome of a novel virus in marine animals, finding that the virus is widespread in apparently healthy animals but not highly expressed in neurons. The studies also identified viral replication factories and high levels of defective genomes in chronically infected animals.
Article
Virology
Andrew M. Ramey, Laura C. Scott, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Evan J. Buck, Alison R. Williams, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson
Summary: We successfully detected and characterized highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in hunter-harvested wild waterfowl samples from western Alaska. Genomic analysis revealed three independent viral introductions into Alaska. Our findings demonstrate the utility and potential limitations of using molecular processing approaches directly on original swab samples for viral research and monitoring.
Article
Virology
Ting Gong, Dongdong Wu, Yongzhi Feng, Xing Liu, Qi Gao, Xiaoyu Zheng, Zebu Song, Heng Wang, Guihong Zhang, Lang Gong
Summary: This study discovered that quercetin can inhibit PEDV replication both in vivo and in vitro, and alleviate the clinical symptoms and intestinal injury caused by the virus. This provides a new direction for the development of PED antiviral drugs.
Article
Virology
Min Zhu, Hao Zeng, Jianqiao He, Yaohui Zhu, Pingping Wang, Jianing Guo, Jinfan Guo, Huabo Zhou, Yifeng Qin, Kang Ouyang, Zuzhang Wei, Weijian Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: The reassortment between avian H9N2 and Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 viruses may have potentially changed from avian-to-mammals adaptation. This study found that the introduction of EA H1N1 internal genes into H9N2 virus restored the replication capability and resulted in extreme virulence in some cases. This raises new concerns for public health due to the possible coexistence of H9N2 and EA H1N1 viruses in dogs.
