Article
Virology
Huimin Bai, Michiyo Kataoka, Yasushi Ami, Yuriko Suzaki, Naokazu Takeda, Masamichi Muramatsu, Tian-Cheng Li
Summary: Rabbit hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a novel HEV which belongs to genotype 3 in the Orthohepevirus A species. Through expressing truncated rabbit HEV ORF2 proteins, two types of virus-like particles were obtained, with RsVLPs showing stronger antigenic cross-reactivity against different HEV genotypes. Immunization with RsVLPs completely protected rabbits from challenge by rabbit HEV, suggesting potential for vaccine development.
Article
Biophysics
Akhilesh Babu Ganganboina, Kenshin Takemura, Wenjing Zhang, Tian-Cheng Li, Enoch Y. Park
Summary: The study successfully developed a viral capsid-nanoparticle hybrid structure by incorporating quantum dots into virus-like particles for HEV antibody detection. The newly developed method provides an efficient route for highly sensitive and specific antibody detection in clinical diagnosis research, utilizing QDs-encapsulated VLPs as useful fluorescence emitters for biosensing platform construction.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Virology
Tominari Kobayashi, Masaharu Takahashi, Satoshi Ohta, Shigeo Nagashima, Putu Prathiwi Primadharsini, Mulyanto, Satoshi Kunita, Kazumoto Murata, Hiroaki Okamoto
Summary: This study expressed nine truncated forms of rat HEV ORF2 proteins in E. coli, with the 357-614 protein self-assembling most efficiently. The purified 357-614 protein formed VLPs with a diameter of 21-52 nm, showing potential for developing VLP-based vaccines for HEV prevention in a rat model and for preventing rat HEV infection in humans.
Article
Virology
Putu Prathiwi Primadharsini, Shigeo Nagashima, Takashi Nishiyama, Masaharu Takahashi, Kazumoto Murata, Hiroaki Okamoto
Summary: Bioluminescent reporter viruses are important tools in molecular virological research and have been widely used in studying viral life cycles and developing antiviral drugs. This study developed the HEV-nanoKAZ system and successfully applied it in drug screening to identify four hit drugs with anti-HEV activity.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yu-Feng Cao, Yong-Fei Zhou, Dan-Ying Zhao, Jun-Liang Chang, Jian-Guang Tang, Dong-Ying Chang, Xue-mei Zhang, Xin-Ping Wang
Summary: Hepatitis E is an emerging zoonotic disease with no specific treatments available. Developing a vaccine is crucial, and in this study, a truncated ORF2 encoded protein was expressed and tested for immunogenicity. Mice immunized with the protein showed a higher level of antibody production, and different injection methods and dosages had varying effects. The results suggest that the protein may be a potential candidate for future HEV vaccine development.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yinhe Xia, Kai Liu, Fei Wang, Zhou Xu, Yuesheng Wang, Rongling Zong, Yemin Xu, Ping Li, Bin Deng, Maolei Xu, Gang Chen
Summary: Influenza epidemics pose a continuous threat to global health. This study developed a novel virus-like particle (VLP) platform that mimics viral infection processes and provides protection against influenza. The VLPs induce cellular and antibody immune responses, ameliorate lung virus titers and pathology, and confer full protection against various influenza viruses.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rushi Liu, Chufan Tan, Junwen Wu, Ye Xu, Xiaofeng Li, Zhihong Zhong, Sang Li, Yilan Qiu, Bo Feng
Summary: HEV is an infectious disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals, posing a serious threat to global biological safety and property. Development of a HEV vaccine is crucial for the prevention of viral hepatitis worldwide. The study explores HEV-like structures to develop functional vaccines against HEV infection. Recombinant capsid protein p27 was expressed and used to form virus-like particles (VLP) for immunization, showing promising results.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksander Strugala, Jakub Jagielski, Karol Kamel, Grzegorz Nowaczyk, Marcin Radom, Marek Figlerowicz, Anna Urbanowicz
Summary: The study investigated the self-assembly principles of virus-like particles (VLPs) and their influencing factors, including ionic strength, pH, and encapsulated cargo. Empty VLP assembly was significantly influenced by pH, while the ionic strength of the buffer also played an important role. The structured tRNA was found to profoundly increase the stability of VLPs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Andrea Palombieri, Federica Di Profio, Vittorio Sarchese, Paola Fruci, Elisabetta Suffredini, Vito Martella, Carolina Veneri, Giusy Bonanno Ferraro, Pamela Mancini, Giuseppina La Rosa, Barbara Di Martino
Summary: This study detected the presence of rat hepevirus in sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants in Abruzzo, Italy, and found a clear geographic/Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)-related pattern.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
JinZhu Ma, HuaLei Wang, XueXing Zheng, HongXia Wu, SongTao Yang, XianZhu Xia
Summary: The study demonstrates that WEEV virus-like particles (VLPs) produced from insect cells using recombinant baculoviruses are immunogenic and capable of inducing a strong immune response in mice, suggesting a promising vaccine candidate against WEEV infection.
BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Beom Jeung Hwang, Yohan Jang, Soon Bin Kwon, Ji Eun Yu, Jongkwan Lim, Young Hoon Roh, Baik L. Seong
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a high-priority vaccine platform against emerging viral infections, with RNA and tRNA playing crucial roles in protein folding and antigen assembly.
Article
Microbiology
Gabriela Brzuska, Boguslaw Szewczyk, Ewelina Krol
Summary: This study demonstrates the influence of vaccination schedules and adjuvants on the immunogenicity of recombinant ZIKV virus-like particles. The findings can be used in the design of new vaccines against not only ZIKV but also other important viral pathogens.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Delphine Parraud, Sebastien Lhomme, Jean Marie Peron, Isabelle Da Silva, Suzanne Tavitian, Nassim Kamar, Jacques Izopet, Florence Abravanel
Summary: Despite a high seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in immunocompromised patients in South-Western France, HEV-C virus did not circulate in the human population in this region.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biology
Altaira D. Dearborn, Ashish Kumar, Joseph Marcotrigiano
Summary: A domain in the ORF1 polyprotein of the hepatitis E virus, previously believed to be a protease, is actually a zinc-binding domain.
Article
Immunology
Diego Pazos-Castro, Clemence Margain, Zulema Gonzalez-Klein, Carmen Yuste-Calvo, Maria Garrido-Arandia, Lucia Zurita, Vanesa Esteban, Jaime Tome-Amat, Araceli Diaz-Perales, Fernando Ponz
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be used as potential platforms for delivery of cargos in nanomedicine. In this study, VLPs derived from Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) were genetically coupled to Pru p 3 to investigate their potential in the treatment of food allergy. The results showed that the VLP-Complex effectively reduced allergic responses in mice without causing toxicity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Kisho Noda, Yoshimi Tsuda, Fumiya Kozawa, Manabu Igarashi, Kenta Shimizu, Jiro Arikawa, Kumiko Yoshimatsu
Summary: The amino acid characteristics at position 1891 of the L protein are critical for its function, especially with respect to the charge status. Substitutions with basic amino acids enhance polymerase activity, while substitutions with acidic amino acids decrease this activity. Mutations to other neutral amino acids show no significant effect on activity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takeo Minamikawa, Takaaki Koma, Akihiro Suzuki, Takahiko Mizuno, Kentaro Nagamatsu, Hideki Arimochi, Koichiro Tsuchiya, Kaoru Matsuoka, Takeshi Yasui, Koji Yasutomo, Masako Nomaguchi
Summary: The study quantified the irradiation dose of DUV-LED required to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and analyzed the inactivation effects at different wavelengths.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Takaaki Koma, Cheng Huang, Adrian Coscia, Steven Hallam, John T. Manning, Junki Maruyama, Aida G. Walker, Milagros Miller, Jeanon N. Smith, Michael Patterson, Jonathan Abraham, Slobodan Paessler
Summary: This study revealed the critical role of specific glycans on GPC in arenavirus pathogenicity, providing insights for rational design of vaccines against hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses in this group.
Article
Virology
Takaaki Koma, Masaru Yokoyama, Osamu Kotani, Naoya Doi, Nina Nakanishi, Hayato Okubo, Shun Adachi, Akio Adachi, Hironori Sato, Masako Nomaguchi
Summary: A single amino acid adaptive mutation in the V3 loop tip of Env-gp120 was found to selectively control the interactions between gp120 and CD4/CCR5 receptors in a host cell species-specific manner, influencing viral replication ability and cell tropism. This discovery may significantly advance our understanding of the HIV-1 entry mechanism and contribute to the development of effective antiviral strategies.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Shumpei P. Yasuda, Kenta Shimizu, Takaaki Koma, Nguyen Thuy Hoa, Mai Quynh Le, Zhuoxing Wei, Devinda S. Muthusinghe, Sithumini M. W. Lokupathirage, Futoshi Hasebe, Tetsu Yamashiro, Jiro Arikawa, Kumiko Yoshimatsu
Summary: Experimentally infected rats showed transient IgM production followed by increased IgG response and avidity maturation, while naturally infected rats had simultaneous high rates of IgM and IgG antibodies, with most of them developing chronic infection. IgG avidity in female rats was associated with decreased viral load in the lungs, in contrast to male rats where no relationship was observed.
Review
Physics, Applied
Takeo Minamikawa, Takaaki Koma, Akihiro Suzuki, Kentaro Nagamatsu, Takeshi Yasui, Koji Yasutomo, Masako Nomaguchi
Summary: This paper provides an overview of virus inactivation technology using deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode (DUV-LED) and discusses the impact of DUV-LED irradiation on SARS-CoV-2.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Masahiro Kajihara, Martin Simuunza, Ngonda Saasa, George Dautu, Akina Mori-Kajihara, Yongjin Qiu, Ryo Nakao, Yoshiki Eto, Hayato Furumoto, Bernard M. Hang'ombe, Yasuko Orba, Hirofumi Sawa, Edgar Simulundu, Shuetsu Fukushi, Shigeru Morikawa, Masayuki Saijo, Jiro Arikawa, Swithine Kabilika, Mwaka Monze, Victor Mukonka, Aaron Mweene, Ayato Takada, Kumiko Yoshimatsu
Summary: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne viral disease with significant genetic diversity, as evidenced by the detection of a genetic reassortant virus in cattle and ticks in Zambia. Further epidemiologic studies and monitoring are needed to understand the risk and transmission patterns of CCHFV in the region.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rigel Suzuki, Daichi Yamasoba, Izumi Kimura, Lei Wang, Mai Kishimoto, Jumpei Ito, Yuhei Morioka, Naganori Nao, Hesham Nasser, Keiya Uriu, Yusuke Kosugi, Masumi Tsuda, Yasuko Orba, Michihito Sasaki, Ryo Shimizu, Ryoko Kawabata, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Hiroyuki Asakura, Mami Nagashima, Kenji Sadamasu, Kazuhisa Yoshimura, Hirofumi Sawa, Terumasa Ikeda, Takashi Irie, Keita Matsuno, Shinya Tanaka, Takasuke Fukuhara, Kei Sato
Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly in several countries and has shown lower fusogenicity and attenuated pathogenicity compared to the Delta variant.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akatsuki Saito, Takashi Irie, Rigel Suzuki, Tadashi Maemura, Hesham Nasser, Keiya Uriu, Yusuke Kosugi, Kotaro Shirakawa, Kenji Sadamasu, Izumi Kimura, Jumpei Ito, Jiaqi Wu, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Mutsumi Ito, Seiya Yamayoshi, Samantha Loeber, Masumi Tsuda, Lei Wang, Seiya Ozono, Erika P. Butlertanaka, Yuri L. Tanaka, Ryo Shimizu, Kenta Shimizu, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Ryoko Kawabata, Takemasa Sakaguchi, Kenzo Tokunaga, Isao Yoshida, Hiroyuki Asakura, Mami Nagashima, Yasuhiro Kazuma, Ryosuke Nomura, Yoshihito Horisawa, Kazuhisa Yoshimura, Akifumi Takaori-Kondo, Masaki Imai, Shinya Tanaka, So Nakagawa, Terumasa Ikeda, Takasuke Fukuhara, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Kei Sato
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the B.1.617.2/Delta variant has been found to be highly fusogenic and more pathogenic in infected hamsters compared to prototypic SARS-CoV-2. The P681R mutation in the spike protein of this variant enhances viral fusogenicity and pathogenicity.
Article
Virology
Devinda S. Muthusinghe, Kenta Shimizu, Sithumini M. W. Lokupathirage, Zhouoxing Wei, Yomani D. Sarathkumara, G. R. Amanda Fonseka, Pavani Senarathne, Nobuo Koizumi, Tomonori Kawakami, Akio Koizumi, Chaminda Wickramasinghe, Hideki Ebihara, Keita Matsuno, Yoshimi Tsuda, Jiro Arikawa, Chandika D. Gamage, Kumiko Yoshimatsu
Summary: Genetic evidence from small mammals in a CKDu hotspot area of Sri Lanka revealed the presence of two THAIV-related hantaviruses, carried by rodents and Mus animals, suggesting a potential role in the induction of CKDu.
Article
Virology
Emily K. Mantlo, Junki Maruyama, John T. Manning, Timothy G. Wanninger, Cheng Huang, Jeanon N. Smith, Michael Patterson, Slobodan Paessler, Takaaki Koma
Summary: This study reveals the importance of glycans and specific residues in the GPC of arenaviruses for virulence. By rational design of mutations, the researchers successfully attenuated the highly pathogenic MACV and provided insights for the development of potential vaccines for highly pathogenic arenaviruses. Furthermore, they found that a specific residue substitution greatly impaired MACV replication in neuronal cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shinsuke Toba, Akihiko Sato, Makoto Kawai, Yoshiyuki Taoda, Yuto Unoh, Shinji Kusakabe, Haruaki Nobori, Shota Uehara, Kentaro Uemura, Keiichi Taniguchi, Masanori Kobayashi, Takeshi Noshi, Ryu Yoshida, Akira Naito, Takao Shishido, Junki Maruyama, Slobodan Paessler, Michael J. Carr, William W. Hall, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Jiro Arikawa, Keita Matsuno, Yoshihiro Sakoda, Michihito Sasaki, Yasuko Orba, Hirofumi Sawa, Hiroshi Kida
Summary: The study identified a potential antiviral drug that can effectively inhibit the replication of bunyaviruses and influenza viruses, suggesting its broad-spectrum clinical utility in treating severe hemorrhagic fevers and influenza.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Virology
Zhouoxing Wei, Kenta Shimizu, Rakiiya S. Sarii, Devinda S. Muthusinghe, Sithumini M. W. Lokupathirage, Junko Nio-Kobayashi, Kumiko Yoshimatsu
Summary: This study compared the pathological differences between KHF4 and KHF5 in mice. It was found that KHF5 infection caused pneumonia and edema in the lungs, as well as renal hemorrhage. Additionally, KHF5 infection led to an increase in white blood cell levels and neutrophil count.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Noriko Tosa, Tomoko Ishida, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Nobuhito Hayashimoto, Kanae Shiokawa, Akira Takakura, Jiro Arikawa
Summary: The study developed a multiplex immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of antibodies to major infectious diseases in rats, showing high sensitivity and specificity, and applicability to diluted blood samples.
EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
(2021)