Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hailei Su, Feng Zhou, Ziru Huang, Xiaohua Ma, Kathiresan Natarajan, Minchuan Zhang, Yong Huang, Haibin Su
Summary: This article summarizes and analyzes recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of promising antiviral drugs for COVID-19, focusing on viral targets such as spike glycoprotein and host proteases, aiming to inspire new ideas for drug design and optimization in the future.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Virology
Naveen Duhan, Rakesh Kaundal
Summary: SARS-CoV-2, a novel betacoronavirus strain, has caused a global pandemic with a high death toll. Efforts are being made worldwide to develop vaccines and medicines to reduce the spread and fatality rates of the disease and control the emergence of new variants. Understanding the protein-protein interaction mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 in humans and comparing it with previous strains is crucial for these efforts.
Article
Biology
Leire Egia-Mendikute, Alexandre Bosch, Endika Prieto-Fernandez, So Young Lee, Borja Jimenez-Lasheras, Ana Garcia del Rio, Asier Antonana-Vildosola, Chiara Bruzzone, Maider Bizkarguenaga, Nieves Embade, Ruben Gil-Redondo, Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar, Marcos Lopez-Hoyos, Nicola G. A. Abrescia, Jose M. Mato, Oscar Millet, Asis Palazon
Summary: Egia-Mendikute et al. have developed a multiplexed flow cytometric bead array to detect antibodies reactive to three immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 proteins simultaneously. This assay is more sensitive than ELISA and has superior potential to detect low antibody titers, even in COVID-19-negative individuals.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Noemi Miltner, Tamas Richard Linkner, Viktor Ambrus, Aya S. Al-Muffti, Hala Ahmad, Janos Andras Motyan, Szilvia Benko, Jozsef Tozser, Mohamed Mahdi
Summary: The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in viral infectivity, but its intracellular expression in host cells can lead to differential gene expression and changes in antiviral and immune responses. This highlights potential drawbacks of using the spike protein in vaccination strategies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Thomas R. Carey, Molly Kozminsky, Jennifer Hall, Valerie Vargas-Zapata, Kristina Geiger, Laurent Coscoy, Lydia L. Sohn
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for efficient viral testing. The DIVER method introduced in this study can accurately quantify intact viruses and is robust to sample dilution, making it suitable for sample pooling and clinical validation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jan Richter, Pavlos Fanis, Christina Tryfonos, Dana Koptides, George Krashias, Stavros Bashiardes, Andreas Hadjisavvas, Maria Loizidou, Anastasis Oulas, Denise Alexandrou, Olga Kalakouta, Mihalis Panayiotidis, George M. Spyrou, Christina Christodoulou
Summary: This study conducted whole genome sequencing of 133 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in Cyprus from March 2020 to January 2021, identifying 15 different lineages with the B.1.258 lineage dominating the autumn/winter wave and the B.1.1.7 UK variant rapidly spreading during the same period.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack M. Crook, Ivana Murphy, Daniel P. Carter, Steven T. Pullan, Miles Carroll, Richard Vipond, Andrew A. Cunningham, Diana Bell
Summary: The origin of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, but researchers believe that the natural host of the progenitor sarbecovirus is Asian horseshoe bats. A novel sarbecovirus (RhGB01) was discovered in a British horseshoe bat, showing 77% homology with SARS-CoV-2 and 81% with SARS-CoV. Although RhGB01 lacks hACE2 binding ability, it presents an opportunity for recombination with other sarbecoviruses. The study emphasizes the underestimation of the natural distribution of sarbecoviruses and the importance of preventing transmission to bats during the global vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Urvish Patel, Preeti Malik, Dhaivat Shah, Achint Patel, Mandip Dhamoon, Vishal Jani
Summary: COVID-19 patients with pre-existing cerebrovascular disease have higher risks of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation utilization, and mortality. Meta-analysis indicates that these patients are more likely to have poor outcomes.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nimisha Ghosh, Indrajit Saha, Anna Gambin
Summary: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been disrupting our lives for over two years. To combat the virus and its variants, understanding human-spike protein interactions and predicting new interactions is crucial. This study developed a pipeline to predict human-SARS-CoV-2 interactions and drug-protein interactions, resulting in the identification of potential drugs targeting human proteins.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Li-Yan Zhai, Jing-Fan Liu, Jian-Jin Zhao, Ai-Min Su, Xu-Guang Xi, Xi-Miao Hou
Summary: In recent years, G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been found in many harmful viruses, and G4 ligands have been designed to target these structures, showing promising antiviral effects. This perspective summarizes the diverse roles of RNA G4s in different viruses, introduces small-molecule ligands developed as G4 modulators, and reviews the medical intervention of G4-interacting proteins from both the virus and the host. The challenges and opportunities in G4-based antiviral therapy are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Manvendra Patel, Abhishek Kumar Chaubey, Charles U. Pittman, Todd Mlsna, Dinesh Mohan
Summary: The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 has become a global pandemic, with various sources of viral transmission. Recently, targeted SARS-CoV-2 genome fragments have been detected around the world.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai Kang, Yi Yang, Xiangdong Guan, Yan Kang, Mingyan Zhao, Jianbo Yu, Xiqiu Zeng, Fengjie Xie, Guolin Chen, Kaijiang Yu
Summary: This study investigated the clinical features of COVID-19 cases imported from Russia through the Suifenhe port in China, and identified differences in disease severity, including factors such as gender, age, symptoms, body temperature, and white blood cell count. These findings contribute to the development of targeted prevention and management strategies.
Article
Cell Biology
Chen Yang, Yu Zhang, Xia Zeng, Huijing Chen, Yuchen Chen, Dong Yang, Ziwei Shen, Xiaomu Wang, Xinran Liu, Mingrui Xiong, Hong Chen, Kun Huang, Haian Fu
Summary: Research has identified KIM1 as a novel receptor for SARS-CoV-2, potentially exacerbating renal infection; KIM1 could be further explored as a therapeutic target.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Yan Li, Jiaxin Yang, Siyu Shen, Wei Wang, Nian Liu, Haoran Guo, Wei Wei
Summary: The viral proteins encoded by SARS-CoV-2 can suppress the activity of L1 retrotransposons in host cells. These viral inhibitors modulate the transposition activity of L1 through a complex network, affecting host genome stability and antiviral immune activation.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ming Liu, Bingtai Lu, Yue Li, Shuofeng Yuan, Zhen Zhuang, Guangyu Li, Dong Wang, Liuheyi Ma, Jianheng Zhu, Jinglu Zhao, Chris Chung-Sing Chan, Vincent Kwok-Man Poon, Kenn Ka-Heng Chik, Zhiyao Zhao, Huifang Xian, Jingxian Zhao, Jincun Zhao, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Yuxia Zhang
Summary: This study identifies novel pathways for viral entry and therapeutic targets for controlling emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It suggests that restoring ACE2 surface expression and suppressing infection can be achieved through specific interventions.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Muzna Hussain, Alison Krywanczyk, Eoin Donnellan, Trejeeve Martyn, Ossama Abou Hassan, Saqer Alkharabsheh, Chris Watson, W. H. Tang, Deborah Kwon, Paul Cremer, Feixiong Cheng, Mohamed Kanj, Brian Griffin, Carmela Tan, E. Rene Rodriguez, Mazen Hanna, Wael Jaber, Patrick Collier
Summary: The presence of atrial wall uptake (AU) on 99mTc-PyP scans is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), independent of ATTR-CA diagnosis and sex. Overlooking AU on these scans may result in missing early disease manifestation or an additional predictor for the development of AF.
CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feixiong Cheng, Nurcan Tuncbag
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Grace E. Weber, Maria Khrestian, Elizabeth D. Tuason, Yvonne Shao, Jagan Pillai, Stephen Rao, Hao Feng, Yadi Zhou, Feixiong Cheng, Tara M. DeSilva, Shaun Stauffer, James B. Leverenz, Lynn M. Bekris
Summary: This study explores the relationship between human plasma sTREM2 and inflammatory activity in AD. The results suggest that there are different patterns of inflammatory activity across AD stages, indicating early-stage alterations in peripheral sTREM2-related inflammatory activity in AD. Three inflammatory factors exhibit lower levels in AD and a change in the relationship with sTREM2.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer E. Dawson, Iris Nira Smith, William Martin, Krishnendu Khan, Feixiong Cheng, Charis Eng
Summary: PTEN, a chief regulator of cellular processes and a major tumor suppressor gene, remains elusive in terms of its structure and regulation of protein stability, post-translational modifications, and protein-protein interactions. In this study, multiple methods were employed to investigate the structure and molecular behavior of PTEN's PBD. The findings suggest that the PBD exists in multiple conformations, highlighting the importance of understanding how these specific conformational substates contribute to PTEN function, disease pathogenesis, and modulation of its tumor suppressor activity.
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Muzna Hussain, Alison Krywanczyk, Eoin Donnellan, Trejeeve Martyn, Ossama Abou Hassan, Saqer Alkharabsheh, Chris Watson, W. H. Tang, Deborah Kwon, Paul Cremer, Feixiong Cheng, Mohamed Kanj, Brian Griffin, Carmela Tan, E. Rene Rodriguez, Mazen Hanna, Wael Jaber, Patrick Collier
CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feixiong Cheng, Daniel Geschwind
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Bykova, Yuan Hou, Charis Eng, Feixiong Cheng
Summary: Advancements in sequencing technologies have allowed for a closer examination of variations in the non-coding regions of the human genome. By correlating these variations with multi-omic data, we can gain a better understanding of the relationship between non-coding DNA and trait expression, and potentially identify medicines for disease modification. However, the functional consequences of non-coding variants are largely unknown, and recent developments in functional genomics and computational approaches aim to shed light on their potential roles.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Pengyue Zhang, Yuan Hou, Wanzhu Tu, Noll Campbell, Andrew A. Pieper, James B. Leverenz, Sujuan Gao, Jeffrey Cummings, Feixiong Cheng
Summary: The study found that moderate to high exposure to telmisartan was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease in African Americans, but not in non-Hispanic European Americans. The medication possession ratio and average hypertension daily dosage of telmisartan were significantly associated with a stronger reduction in the incidence of both Alzheimer's disease and dementia in African Americans.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jielin Xu, Chengsheng Mao, Yuan Hou, Yuan Luo, Jessica L. Binder, Yadi Zhou, Lynn M. Bekris, Jiyoung Shin, Ming Hu, Fei Wang, Charis Eng, Tudor Oprea, Margaret E. Flanagan, Andrew A. Pieper, Jeffrey Cummings, James B. Leverenz, Feixiong Cheng
Summary: This study presents a deep learning framework called NETTAG, which utilizes network topology and multi-genomic findings to identify disease-associated genes and drug repurposing for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Through NETTAG, the researchers identified 156 AD-risk genes enriched in druggable targets and discovered four drugs associated with reduced likelihood of AD incidence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
William J. Massey, Venkateshwari Varadharajan, Rakhee Banerjee, Amanda L. Brown, Anthony J. Horak, Rachel C. Hohe, Bryan M. Jung, Yunguang Qiu, E. Ricky Chan, Calvin Pan, Renliang Zhang, Daniela S. Allende, Belinda Willard, Feixiong Cheng, Aldons J. Lusis, J. Mark Brown
Summary: We previously showed that knocking down Mboat7 in liver and adipose tissue led to high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis, hyperinsulinemia, and systemic insulin resistance. Further studies demonstrated that hepatocyte-specific deletion of Mboat7 promoted fatty liver and NAFLD progression without affecting insulin sensitivity, indicating a potential cell autonomous role. Here, we found that Mboat7 function in adipocytes also contributes to diet-induced metabolic disturbances including hyperinsulinemia and systemic insulin resistance. Our findings suggest that Mboat7 plays a significant role in both liver and adipose tissue in regulating insulin resistance in mice.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2023)
Correction
Cell Biology
Jiansong Fang, Pengyue Zhang, Yadi Zhou, Chien-Wei Chiang, Juan Tan, Yuan Hou, Shaun Stauffer, Lang Li, Andrew A. A. Pieper, Jeffrey Cummings, Feixiong Cheng
Article
Clinical Neurology
A. Xavier Garcia, Jielin Xu, Feixiong Cheng, Eytan Ruppin, Alejandro A. Schaffer
Summary: This study re-analyzed three single-cell transcriptomics datasets and found that excitatory neurons have more differentially expressed genes in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to unaffected controls. Synaptic transmission and related pathways are altered in a sex-specific analysis of excitatory neurons. X-chromosome genes and genes with heterogeneous X-inactivation status may contribute to the higher incidence of Alzheimer's disease in females.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Pengyue Zhang, Howard J. Edenberg, John Nurnberger, Dongbing Lai, Feixiong Cheng, Yunlong Liu
Summary: This study found that alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Specifically, in the White population, AUD was significantly associated with an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease. In Black, White, and Hispanic individuals, AUD was associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.
ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT & DISEASE MONITORING
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jessica Castrillon, Yin Huang, Yuan Hou, Yadi Zhou, Jonathan D. Smith, Mina K. Chung, Feixiong Cheng