Article
Immunology
Laura C. Van Eyndhoven, Eleni Chouri, Nikita Subedi, Jurjen Tel
Summary: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a rare type of immune cells with specialized functions in producing large amounts of type I interferon (IFN-I) and exerting cytotoxic effects. Studies show that only a small percentage of pDCs respond to activation by toll-like receptors with IFN alpha secretion and upregulation of cytotoxic markers. The early IFN-producing pDCs, known as first responders, exhibit high expression of PD-L1 and TRAIL, while IFN-I primed cells increase IFN alpha production but do not significantly enhance cytotoxicity. Through droplet-based microfluidics, researchers observed that first responders play a key role in orchestrating population-wide IFN-I responses and have a high cytotoxic potential.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shawna L. Semple, Sarah K. W. Au, Rajesh A. Jacob, Karen L. Mossman, Stephanie J. DeWitte-Orr
Summary: In mammalian cells, soaking with gene-specific long dsRNA can generate an antiviral effect, which has significant biological implications and may serve as a novel therapeutic platform.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Sebastian Wirsching, Marina Machtakova, Frauke Borgans, Leah Pretsch, Michael Fichter, Maximiliano L. Cacicedo, Heloise Therien-Aubin, Katharina Landfester, Stephan Gehring
Summary: Childhood mortality is a significant issue, with a large number of deaths attributed to preventable infectious diseases. The study demonstrates the superior ability of the TLR7/8 agonist R848 in activating the immune system of both adults and neonates. Furthermore, R848 can be efficiently delivered along with antigens using nanocapsules, offering new possibilities for vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rachana Mishra, Progyaparamita Saha, Srinivasa Raju Datla, Pranav Mellacheruvu, Muthukumar Gunasekaran, Sameer Ahmad Guru, Xubin Fu, Ling Chen, Roberto Bolli, Sudhish Sharma, Sunjay Kaushal
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic potential of allogenic rat cardiac progenitor cells in post-myocardial infarction cardiac dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiaoheng Li, Qiqi Zhu, Zina Wen, Kaimin Yuan, Zhijian Su, Yiyan Wang, Ying Zhong, Ren-Shan Ge
Summary: This study demonstrates that luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgens regulate the function of immature Leydig cells in rats through different transcriptional pathways. LH up-regulated the expression of specific genes, while androgens showed opposite effects on certain genes. Ultimately, LH and androgens play distinct roles in the regulation of Leydig cell function.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Xueran Guo, Chengwei He, Shuzi Xin, Han Gao, Boya Wang, Xiaohui Liu, Sitian Zhang, Fengrong Gong, Xinyi Yu, Luming Pan, Fangling Sun, Jingdong Xu
Summary: This review summarizes the latest research on the development and functional characteristics of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). They play a crucial role in intestinal disorders and participate in intestinal immune responses through the generation of interferon and the presentation of antigens.
IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elena Winheim, Tabea Eser, Flora Deak, Mohamed I. M. Ahmed, Olga Baranov, Linus Rinke, Katharina Eisenacher, Antonio Santos-Peral, Hadi Karimzadeh, Michael Pritsch, Clemens Scherer, Maximilian Muenchhoff, Johannes C. Hellmuth, Michael Von Bergwelt-Baildon, Laura Olbrich, Michael Hoelscher, Andreas Wieser, Inge Kroidl, Simon Rothenfusser, Christof Geldmacher, Anne B. Krug
Summary: Dysregulation of myeloid cell compartment is observed in severe COVID-19 patients. In this study, the response of circulating dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes was compared between SARS-CoV-2 infected outpatients and individuals receiving yellow fever vaccine virus. The majority of COVID-19 outpatients showed similarities in their immune response with YF17D vaccination, while a subgroup of patients exhibited dysregulated activation of blood DCs and monocytes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mercedes Viettri, Gerson Caraballo, Maria Elena Sanchez, Aurora Espejel-Nunez, Abigail Betanzos, Vianney Ortiz-Navarrete, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Porfirio Nava, Juan E. Ludert
Summary: This study compared the growth and dissemination of Zika virus (ZIKV) with dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV-17D) in cells. The results showed that ZIKV has a greater ability to infect cells and inhibits the immune and chemical responses of cells.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Virology
Carolin Brand, Gabrielle Deschamps-Francoeur, Kristen M. Bullard-Feibelman, Michelle S. Scott, Brian J. Geiss, Martin Bisaillon
Summary: As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses rely heavily on host cells for replication and dysregulate cellular processes for their benefit. The present study used RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry to investigate the complex interactions between viruses and host cells. Changes in the transcriptome and proteome of infected cells were compared to mock-infected cells, revealing significant alterations in mRNA and protein abundance, as well as modulation of alternative splicing. Interestingly, there was a disconnect between the changes in the transcriptome and those in the proteome of infected cells.
Letter
Immunology
Mathieu Paul Rodero, Stephane Pelleau, Anne Welfringer-Morin, Darragh Duffy, Isabelle Melki, Brigitte Bader-Meunier, Vincent Bondet, Cyril Gitiaux, Julie Bonigen, Antoine Fayand, Laurence Courdavault Vagh Weinmann, Emmanuel Mahe, Jean Luc Charuel, Marie-Alexandra Alyanakian, Jean Philippe Herbeuval, Michael White
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Odile Launay, Cecile Artaud, Marie Lachatre, Mohand Ait-Ahmed, Jelle Klein, Liem Binh Luong Nguyen, Christine Durier, Bastiaan Jansen, Yvonne Tomberger, Nathalie Jolly, Anna Grossmann, Houda Tabbal, Jeremy Brunet, Marion Gransagne, Zaineb Choucha, Damien Batalie, Ana Delgado, Matthias Mullner, Roland Tschismarov, Pieter-Jan Berghmans, Annette Martin, Katrin Ramsauer, Nicolas Escriou, Christiane Gerke
Summary: This study conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I trial in France and Belgium to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of V591, a measles vector-based vaccine candidate for COVID-19. The results showed that V591 had a good safety profile at both dose levels, but the immunogenicity was not sufficient to support further development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Lesage, Maxime Chazal, Guillaume Beauclair, Damien Batalie, Silvia Cerboni, Elodie Couderc, Aurianne Lescure, Elaine Del Nery, Frederic Tangy, Annette Martin, Nicolas Manel, Nolwenn Jouvenet
Summary: Establishing the interferon-mediated antiviral state is crucial for defending against viral infection. This study identified several genes that modulate the replication of RNA viruses, including Zika virus, Hepatitis C virus, and SARS-CoV-2, in an interferon-dependent manner, opening new possibilities for targeted therapies.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicolas Vabret, Valerie Najburg, Alexander Solovyov, Ramya Gopal, Christopher McClain, Petr Sulc, Sreekumar Balan, Yannis Rahou, Guillaume Beauclair, Maxime Chazal, Hugo Varet, Rachel Legendre, Odile Sismeiro, Raul Y. Sanchez David, Lise Chauveau, Nolwenn Jouvenet, Martin Markowitz, Sylvie van der Werf, Olivier Schwartz, Frederic Tangy, Nina Bhardwaj, Benjamin D. Greenbaum, Anastassia V. Komarova
Summary: This study reveals the role of endogenous RNA in antiviral immunity, particularly in interaction with RLRs during different types of RNA virus infections. Specific endogenous RNAs bind to RLRs and induce immune response, indicating the importance of endogenous ligands in PRR activation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Boris Bonaventure, Antoine Rebendenne, Ana Luiza Chaves Valadao, Mary Arnaud-Arnould, Segolene Gracias, Francisco Garcia de Gracia, Joe McKellar, Emmanuel Labaronne, Marine Tauziet, Valerie Vivet-Boudou, Eric Bernard, Laurence Briant, Nathalie Gros, Wassila Djilli, Valerie Courgnaud, Hugues Parrinello, Stephanie Rialle, Mickael Blaise, Laurent Lacroix, Marc Lavigne, Jean-Christophe Paillart, Emiliano P. Ricci, Reiner Schulz, Nolwenn Jouvenet, Olivier Moncorge, Caroline Goujon
Summary: DDX42 has been identified as an intrinsic antiviral inhibitor, restricting HIV-1 and other RNA viruses. It does not impact the replication of several negative-strand RNA viruses, suggesting a specific mode of action on target cells.
Article
Microbiology
Kevin Hervouet, Martin Ferrie, Maliki Ankavay, Claire Montpellier, Charline Camuzet, Virginie Alexandre, Aicha Dembele, Cecile Lecoeur, Arnold Thomas Foe, Peggy Bouquet, David Hot, Thibaut Vausselin, Jean-Michel Saliou, Sophie Salome-Desnoulez, Alexandre Vandeputte, Laurent Marsollier, Priscille Brodin, Marlene Dreux, Yves Rouille, Jean Dubuisson, Cecile-Marie Aliouat-Denis, Laurence Cocquerel
Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and can become chronic in immunocompromised individuals. The ORF2 protein encoded by the HEV genome plays a crucial role in the virus lifecycle and interactions with the host. This study identified an Arginine-Rich Motif (ARM) in the N-terminal region of ORF2 that controls the fate and functions of different isoforms of ORF2. The ARM regulates nuclear translocation, signal peptide topology, glycosylation, and host cell membrane interactions of ORF2.
Article
Microbiology
Jim Zoladek, Julien Burlaud-Gaillard, Maxime Chazal, Sophie Desgraupes, Patricia Jeannin, Antoine Gessain, Nathalie Pardigon, Mathieu Hubert, Philippe Roingeard, Nolwenn Jouvenet, Philippe Afonso
Summary: Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that can cause severe neurological disorders. A study found peptides derived from claudin proteins that can inhibit Zika virus infection and also have antiviral effects against other flaviviruses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biology
Vincent Grass, Emilie Hardy, Kassian Kobert, Soheil Rastgou Talemi, Elodie Decembre, Coralie Guy, Peter Markov, Alain Kohl, Mathilde Paris, Anja Bockmann, Sara Munoz-Gonzalez, Lee Sherry, Thomas Hofer, Bastien Boussau, Marlene Dreux
Summary: This study investigates the genetic evolution of Zika virus (ZIKV) in a controlled host cell environment. The results show that serially passaged ZIKV acquired increased infectivity and developed resistance to TLR3-induced antiviral response. This adaptation is cell-type specific and is likely due to a reduced time-lag between infection and viral replication. Deep-sequencing analysis identified mutations that temporally coincided with the acquisition of the adapted phenotype. Functional validation of a specific mutation in ZIKV envelope (E) protein confirmed its role in the adapted phenotype. Overall, this work provides insights into how ZIKV adapts to host cells and evades immune responses.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nikaia Smith, Celine Posseme, Vincent Bondet, Jamie Sugrue, Liam Townsend, Bruno Charbit, Vincent Rouilly, Violaine Saint-Andre, Tom Dott, Andre Rodriguez Pozo, Nader Yatim, Olivier Schwartz, Minerva Cervantes-Gonzalez, Jade Ghosn, Paul Bastard, Jean Laurent Casanova, Tali-Anne Szwebel, Benjamin Terrier, Niall Conlon, Cliona O'Farrelly, Cliona Ni Cheallaigh, Nollaig M. Bourke, Darragh Duffy
Summary: The interferon response is linked to the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and is a crucial part of the immune response to COVID-19. This study stratifies patients based on COVID-19 severity and assesses the interferon response, revealing defective responses in severe infection. The study also highlights the importance of assay variables and confounding factors that affect interferon detection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Leadisaelle Hosanna Lenguiya, Matthieu Fritz, Daphne de Riols De Fonclare, Sandrine Corbet, Pierre Becquart, Christophe Mbou, Ruben Junias Nguie, Wivine Salva Mouellet, Jordy Exauce Lyelet Demboux, N'kaya-Tobi, Pembe Issamou Mayengue, Felix Koukouikila-Koussounda, Meriadeg Ar M. Gouilh, Eric M. Leroy, Fabien Roch Niama
Summary: We conducted a ten-month study on dogs and cats living in COVID-19-positive households in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, and found the simultaneous circulation of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2. This highlights the potential risk of interspecies transmission and the importance of a One Health approach to prevent transmission to wildlife and humans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manon Venet, Margarida Sa Ribeiro, Elodie Decembre, Alicia Bellomo, Garima Joshi, Celia Nuovo, Marine Villard, David Cluet, Magali Perret, Remi Pescamona, Helena Paidassi, Thierry Walzer, Omran Allatif, Alexandre Belot, Sophie Trouillet-Assant, Emiliano P. Ricci, Marlene Dreux
Summary: The authors demonstrate that in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, the function of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) is impaired, leading to reduced production of type I interferon and possibly lower viral control. This study suggests that pDC activation is essential to control SARS-CoV-2 infection, and failure to develop this response could be important in understanding severe cases of COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Romain Volle, Lingjie Luo, Richter Razafindratsimandresy, Serge Alain Sadeuh-Mba, Ionela Gouandjika-Valisache, Paul Horwood, Veasna Duong, Philippe Buchy, Marie-Line Joffret, Zhong Huang, Erwin Duizer, Javier Martin, Lisa A. Chakrabarti, Philippe Dussart, Nolwenn Jouvenet, Francis Delpeyroux, Mael Bessaud
Summary: Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) strains belonging to different genogroups exhibit similar antigenicity and can cross-neutralize each other.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Illich Manfred Mombo, Oceane Rieu, Matthieu Fritz, Larson Boundenga, Telstar Ndong Mebaley, Clark Mbou-Boutambe, Leadisaelle Hosanna Lenguiya, Gael Darren Maganga, Virginie Rougeron, Franck Prugnolle, Frederic Thomas, Eric M. Leroy
Summary: Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that infect various animals, including humans. This study aimed to detect coronaviruses in wild great apes and mandrills in Gabon. However, no coronaviruses were found in the fecal samples collected from 2009 to 2012. Further research is needed to investigate the presence of coronaviruses in these primates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anvita Bhargava, Ugo Szachnowski, Maxime Chazal, Dominika Foretek, Vincent Caval, Sophie -Marie Aicher, Juliana Pipoli da Fonseca, Patricia Jeannin, Guillaume Beauclair, Marc Monot, Antonin Morillon, Nolwenn Jouvenet
Summary: Investigations on cellular responses to viral infection often suffer from inaccurate and low-resolution gene expression interpretations due to the use of mixed cell populations or single-cell RNA sequencing. This study conducted deep polyA+ transcriptome analyses and RNA profiling on lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, sorted based on the expression of the viral spike protein. The findings revealed a significant reduction in mRNAs and lncRNAs, including transcripts encoding antiviral factors like interferons. Lack of interferon signaling may explain the poor transcriptomic response in bystander cells co-cultured with infected cells. However, the NF-kappa B pathway and inflammatory response remained active in infected cells.
Letter
Immunology
Novy Charel Bobouaka Bonguili, Matthieu Fritz, Leadisaelle Hosanna Lenguiya, Pembe Issamou Mayengue, Felix Koukouikila-Koussounda, Louis Regis Dossou-Yovo, Cynthia Nkoua Badzi, Eric M. Leroy, Fabien R. Niama
Summary: Retrospective antibody testing of 937 blood samples collected from September 2019 to February 2020 revealed unexpected early circulation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in Congo before the first officially reported case in March 2020.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
