Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Asmaa Abo Elgoud Said, Ahmed H. Afifi, Taha F. S. Ali, Mamdouh Nabil Samy, Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen, Mostafa A. Fouad, Eman Zekry Attia
Summary: Chemical investigation of Aptenia cordifolia roots extract resulted in isolation and identification of eight known compounds. The basic ethyl acetate fraction showed high activity against HCV with an IC50 value of 2.4 mu g mL(-1), and some compounds exhibited strong binding to the active site of NS3/4A helicase.
Article
Microbiology
Rebecca L. Casazza, Drake T. Philip, Helen M. Lazear
Summary: IFN-lambda has antiviral effects during pregnancy, but its effects depend on the gestational stage. Infection with ZIKV earlier in pregnancy enhances transplacental transmission. IFN-lambda signaling in maternal tissues causes fetal resorption and intrauterine growth restriction in dams with robust ZIKV infection. Maternal IFN-lambda signaling also contributes to pregnancy pathology induced by poly(I.C) treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Chih-Hung Chuang, Tian-Lu Cheng, Wei-Chun Chen, Yi-Jung Huang, Hsin-Ell Wang, Yen-Chen Lo, Yuan-Chin Hsieh, Wen-Wei Lin, Ya-Ju Hsieh, Chien-Chih Ke, Kang-Chieh Huang, Jin-Ching Lee, Ming-Yii Huang
Summary: The study developed a protease-activatable retention probe for tracking the activity of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease. This probe can be detected using positron emission topography (PET) imaging to monitor the distribution and activity of NS3/4A protease.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahesh Samantaray, Ramya Pattabiraman, T. P. Krishna Murthy, Amutha Ramaswamy, Manikanta Murahari, Swati Krishna, S. Birendra Kumar
Summary: In this study, a structure-based drug design approach was used to screen a large library of natural compounds against the NS3-4A protease of Hepatitis C Virus. Molecular dynamic simulations and Free Energy Landscape analysis showed that certain compounds had favorable binding affinities and formed stable associations with the target protease through hydrogen bonding. These compounds have the potential to be further validated through biological evaluation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chandrika Senthilkumaran, Andrea L. Kroeker, Gregory Smith, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, Brad Collignon, Elizabeth Ramirez-Medina, Paul A. Azzinaro, Bradley S. Pickering, Fayna Diaz-San Segundo, Hana M. Weingartl, Teresa de los Santos
Summary: This study tested the use of a specific viral vector to deliver porcine interferon and limit Ebola virus replication and shedding in pigs. The results showed that treated pigs did not develop clinical symptoms, had reduced viral load and shedding, and displayed an upregulation of immune and inflammatory responses. This treatment approach has the potential to limit the spread of Ebola virus in pigs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thitiya Boonma, Bodee Nutho, Nitchakan Darai, Thanyada Rungrotmongkol, Nadtanet Nunthaboot
Summary: A156T mutation in HCV NS3/4A serine protease leads to drug resistance, and the newly approved drugs paritaprevir and glecaprevir exhibit different resistance profiles against this mutation. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations reveal that the binding affinities of paritaprevir and glecaprevir to A156T NS3/4A are significantly reduced compared to their wild-type complexes. The main contributions for the higher resistance of glecaprevir are the weak interactions with specific amino acids in NS3 protein and destabilized protein binding surface.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Priyanka Talukdar, Beth F. Junecko, Daniel S. Lane, Pauline Maiello, Joshua T. Mattila
Summary: IFN-λ is expressed in granulomas and may influence myeloid cell function and immunity in tuberculosis. The expression of IFN-λ varies in different granuloma microenvironments, primarily expressed by macrophages and neutrophils, with differences in subcellular localization.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Gulce Sari, Claudia E. Mulders, Jingting Zhu, Gertine W. van Oord, Zongdi Feng, Jolanda J. C. Kreeft-Voermans, Andre Boonstra, Thomas Vanwolleghem
Summary: PegIFN lambda is well tolerated in mice and leads to clearance of a persistent HEV infection in liver-humanized mice. The study found that human liver cells express the IFN lambda receptor and are responsive to pegIFN lambda. Dose escalation studies showed that a dose of 0.3 mg/kg pegIFN lambda treatment resulted in complete clearance of HEV antigen and HEV RNA from the liver in 8 out of 9 liver-humanized mice, demonstrating the potential efficacy of pegIFN lambda in treating chronic HEV infections.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Julius Beer, Stefania Crotta, Angele Breithaupt, Annette Ohnemus, Jan Becker, Benedikt Sachs, Lisa Kern, Miriam Llorian, Nadine Ebert, Fabien Labroussaa, Tran Thi Nhu Thao, Bettina Salome Trueeb, Joerg Jores, Volker Thiel, Martin Beer, Jonas Fuchs, Georg Kochs, Andreas Wack, Martin Schwemmle, Daniel Schnepf
Summary: The study reveals that advanced age is correlated with severe COVID-19 due to impaired immune response, specifically the diminished IFN-gamma response and excessive virus replication. It suggests that immunotherapy combining IFN-gamma and IFN-lambda could benefit highly vulnerable individuals.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Virology
Laura A. Novotny, John Grayson Evans, Lishan Su, Haitao Guo, Eric G. Meissner
Summary: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major global health issue, with current approved treatments having limited efficacy. New therapeutics, such as Lambda interferons, are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic HBV infection.
Article
Immunology
Sheng-Hsuan Wang, Bai-Jiun Kuo, Tzu-Chuan Ho, Shu-Wen Wan, Ko-Lun Yen, Po-Hui Huang, Oscar Guey Chuen Perng, Po-Lin Chen, Yu-Wen Chien, Yu-Chih Lo
Summary: This study found that dengue patients have elevated levels of serum FLCs, which are associated with disease severity. The study suggests that λ-FLCs can serve as serum markers for identifying and classifying dengue disease. Additionally, the study reveals that the elevation of serum λ-FLCs is mediated through NS3 protease-mediated antibody cleavage.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vishal S. Patil, Darasaguppe R. Harish, Umashankar Vetrivel, Subarna Roy, Sanjay H. Deshpande, Harsha V. Hegde
Summary: This study investigates the interactions of phytochemicals from Terminalia chebula with HCV and human proteins using network pharmacology and structural bioinformatics techniques. The results show that chebulagic acid and 1,2,3,4,6-Pentagalloyl glucose have potent inhibitory activity against HCV NS3/4A and can potentially modulate the host immune system. These findings suggest that tannins from T. chebula could be potential drugs for the treatment of HCV and immune-related diseases.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
T. Ghiasi, S. Ahmadi, E. Ahmadi, M. R. Talei Bavil Olyai, Z. Khodadadi
Summary: Robust QSAR models were developed using CORAL software to predict IC50 values of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease inhibitors, with models based on TF2 statistically more significant and reliable than those based on TF1.
SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Lea Meyer, Isoline Duquenois, Stacy Gellenoncourt, Marie Pellerin, Ailona Marcadet-Hauss, Nicole Pavio, Virginie Doceul
Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis worldwide. Swine are the main reservoir of zoonotic HEV and can control the virus pathogenesis. Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) can restrict the replication of HEV.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Manjarika De, Anand Bhushan, Sreedhar Chinnaswamy
Summary: Human IFN-lambda 4 is expressed by individuals with the Delta G variant allele at rs368234815 and may influence immune responses through immunomodulation. Studies indicate that IFN-lambda 4 has lower specific activity compared to IFN-lambda 3 in certain environments, potentially playing a role in promoting Th2-biased immune responses.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yu Yan, Xuesong Wang, Peilan Lou, Zhenzheng Hu, Panke Qu, Dapeng Li, Qingchao Li, Yongfen Xu, Junqi Niu, Yongning He, Jin Zhong, Huang Zhong
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Weihong Zhang, Yongfen Xu, Fanfan Zhao, Marion Tarbe, Shuru Zhou, Weihong Wang, Shengyuan Zhang, Wei Zhang, Qiuping Xu, Lina Shi, Feng Yuan, Xinwen Lin, Shuai Liu, Jing Sun, Jincun Zhao, Yaling Yang, Xiaozhen Liang, Jin Zhong, Gang Long, Chengfeng Qin, Qibin Leng, Hong Tang
Article
Immunology
Chunyan Yi, Jing Xia, Lan He, Zhiyang Ling, Xuesong Wang, Yu Yan, Jiangjun Wang, Xinhao Zhao, Weiguo Fan, Xiaoyu Sun, Ronghua Zhang, Sheng Ye, Rongguang Zhang, Yongfen Xu, Liyan Ma, Yaguang Zhang, Honglin Zhou, Zhong Huang, Junqi Niu, Gang Long, Junxia Lu, Jin Zhong, Bing Sun
Summary: The study aims to induce broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that bind to the viral envelope glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The 8D6 antibody generated in this study shows broadly neutralizing activity by targeting a conserved epitope on the E2 protein. Reconstruction of the 8D6 inferred germline (iGL) demonstrated potential binding affinity and neutralization activity.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mingzhe Guo, Liqing Ye, Tao Yu, Lin Han, Qingchao Li, Peilan Lou, Tianyu Gan, Xia Jin, Hui Xiao, Guangxun Meng, Jin Zhong, Yongfen Xu
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yue Qi, Lin Han, Yanfei Qi, Xia Jin, Bo Zhang, Junqi Niu, Jin Zhong, Yongfen Xu
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Virology
Yimin Tong, Qingchao Li, Rui Li, Yongfen Xu, Yu Pan, Junqi Niu, Jin Zhong
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Ling Xu, Dandan Yu, Yu-Lin Yao, Tianle Gu, Xiao Zheng, Yong Wu, Rong-Hua Luo, Yong-Tang Zheng, Jin Zhong, Yong-Gang Yao
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaohui Ju, Yunkai Zhu, Yuyan Wang, Jingrui Li, Jiaxing Zhang, Mingli Gong, Wenlin Ren, Sai Li, Jin Zhong, Linqi Zhang, Qiangfeng Cliff Zhang, Rong Zhang, Qiang Ding
Summary: A BSL-2 cell culture system for production of replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like-particles was developed. This system allows for the complete viral life cycle to be achieved and enhances biosafety measures. High-throughput antiviral screening was conducted, leading to the discovery of new drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Immunology
Zhenliang He, Sichao Ye, Yifan Xing, Yaming Jiu, Jin Zhong
Summary: UNC93B1 acts as a trafficking chaperone for endosomal Toll-like receptors, while also playing a distinct role in cytosolic DNA-triggered cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Deficiency of UNC93B1 enhances innate immune responses to cytosolic DNA stimulation and DNA virus infection. UNC93B1 negatively regulates STING-mediated signaling responses by controlling the protein level of STING and its interaction with STING.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tianyu Gan, Dihan Zhou, Yi Huang, Shuqi Xiao, Ziyue Ma, Xiaoyou Hu, Yimin Tong, Huimin Yan, Jin Zhong
Summary: By establishing a new EBOV reverse genetics system, the process of studying viral replication can be simplified, allowing for the continuous propagation and infection of subviral particles in cell populations, providing a new tool for EBOV research.
Review
Virology
Steve Leumi, Mohamed El Kassas, Jin Zhong
Summary: Genotype 4 (GT4) accounts for 13% of global hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, predominantly in the Middle East and Africa, with recent spread to Europe. Understanding of the molecular features and appropriate therapeutics for HCV-GT4 is limited, requiring more basic research to develop research tools and better therapeutics.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuqiang Zhang, Yunpeng Dai, Jiaxin Wang, Yan Xu, Zhe Li, Jinfeng Lu, Yongfen Xu, Jin Zhong, Shou-Wei Ding, Yang Li
Summary: The entry of virus-derived small-interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) into the bloodstream through extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a mechanism for systemic antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) in mice. Vaccination with a live-attenuated virus deficient in RNAi suppression induces the production of stable vsiRNAs that confer protective immunity against virus infection.
Article
Microbiology
Wenlin Ren, Xiaohui Ju, Mingli Gong, Jun Lan, Yanying Yu, Quanxin Long, Devin J. Kenney, Aoife K. O'Connell, Yu Zhang, Jin Zhong, Guocai Zhong, Florian Douam, Xinquan Wang, Ailong Huang, Rong Zhang, Qiang Ding
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and B.1.618, recently identified in India, have shown increased transmissibility and evasive immune properties. These variants exhibit enhanced binding affinity with ACE2 orthologs in mice, marmosets, and koalas, while still using human ACE2 with no or slightly increased efficiency. The P681R mutation in these variants facilitates spike cleavage and viral entry. Additionally, the mutations E484Q, T478K, Delta 145-146, or E484K reduce their sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies but they remain sensitive to entry inhibitors like ACE2-Ig decoy receptor. These findings highlight the rapid spread of these variants and suggest the potential use of ACE2-Ig as a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy.
Article
Virology
Chaolun Liu, Mingzhe Guo, Lin Han, Jie Lu, Xiaogang Xiang, Qing Xie, Janin Nouhin, Veasna Duong, Yimin Tong, Jin Zhong
Summary: Despite the development of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a challenge to human public health. This study shows that a novel GT-6a HCV replicon can easily develop resistance to sofosbuvir (SOF), calling for attention to potential drug resistance in HCV GT-6a patients during DAAs therapies.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Yifan Xing, Ran Chen, Feng Li, Bin Xu, Lin Han, Chaolun Liu, Yimin Tong, Yaming Jiu, Jin Zhong, Guo-Chun Zhou
Summary: In this study, a novel anti-HCV agent called HXL-10 was identified through screening using the HCV infection cell culture system. HXL-10 demonstrated potent antiviral activity with low cytotoxicity and high specificity. Mechanistic studies showed that HXL-10 might inhibit HCV assembly by targeting host functions. This research provides a new approach for developing antiviral drugs targeting host functions involved in HCV infection.