Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emilie Giraud, Chloe Otero del Val, Celia Caillet-Saguy, Nada Zehrouni, Cecile Khou, Joel Caillet, Yves Jacob, Nathalie Pardigon, Nicolas Wolff
Summary: The study revealed that the PBM of NS5 from West Nile virus interacts with PDZ-containing proteins in human cells, playing a crucial role in viral replication. Knockdown of specific PDZ-containing proteins resulted in decreased WNV replication, highlighting the significance of these interactions in the virus life cycle.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Folashade Agusto, Daniel Bond, Adira Cohen, Wandi Ding, Rachel Leander, Allis Royer
Summary: We constructed an epidemic model for West Nile virus, considering the interaction between bird hosts, mosquito vectors, and the use of insecticides. We derived the basic reproduction number and formulated optimal control problems to balance the cost and benefit of vector and disease control. Numerical simulations were performed to study the impact of control strategies on the system.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seishu Gen, Yu Matsumoto, Tsukasa Suzuki, Jun Inoue, Yuji Yamamoto
Summary: The tumor-suppressor protein TSC2 is regulated by insulin, energy, oxygen, and growth factors, and its dysfunction can lead to cell growth through activation of mTORC1. Methionine affects TSC2 stability and localization, and interacts with insulin signaling through TSC2 to modulate cell growth pathways.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Henry Querfurth, Han-Kyu Lee
Summary: mTOR is involved in regulating energy metabolism, neuronal growth, insulin signaling, and autophagy, playing both beneficial and pathogenic roles in neurodegenerative diseases. Balanced actions of mTOR complexes may have implications for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Frontotemporal dementia, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Beyond rapamycin, rapalogs with improved tolerability and delivery modes hold promise in treating age-related conditions.
MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Erica Azevedo Costa, Marta Giovanetti, Lilian Silva Catenacci, Vagner Fonseca, Flavia Figueira Aburjaile, Flavia L. L. Chalhoub, Joilson Xavier, Felipe Campos de Melo Iani, Marcelo Adriano da Cunha e Silva Vieira, Danielle Freitas Henriques, Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros, Maria Isabel Maldonado Coelho Guedes, Beatriz Senra Alvares da Silva Santos, Aila Solimar Goncalves Silva, Renata de Pino Albuquerque Maranhao, Nieli Rodrigues da Costa Faria, Renata Farinelli de Siqueira, Tulio de Oliveira, Karina Ribeiro Leite Jardim Cavalcante, Noely Fabiana Oliveira de Moura, Alessandro Pecego Martins Romano, Carlos F. Campelo de Albuquerque, Lauro Cesar Soares Feitosa, Jose Joffre Martins Bayeux, Raffaella Bertoni Cavalcanti Teixeira, Osmaikon Lisboa Lobato, Silvokleio da Costa Silva, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Rivaldo Venancio da Cunha, Jose Lourenco, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara
Summary: The study found new genetic evidence of WNV circulation in southern and northeastern states of Brazil, with a climate-informed theoretical perspective highlighting the potential transmission pathways. The scarcity of existing data on WNV in Brazil and the need for active surveillance to prepare for future epidemics with human spill-over potential were also emphasized.
Article
Virology
Alanna C. Tseng, Vivek R. Nerurkar, Kabi R. Neupane, Helmut Kae, Pakieli H. Kaufusi
Summary: NS3 protein needs to cooperate with NS2B to be properly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and exhibit enzymatic activity, and NS2B may also play an additional role in recruiting NS3. Targeting the interaction between NS2B and NS3 could be a potential avenue for antiviral drug discovery.
Article
Immunology
Robert E. Snyder, Gail Sondermeyer Cooksey, Vicki Kramer, Seema Jain, Duc J. Vugia
Summary: WNV-associated hospitalizations in California were substantial and costly, with higher incidence in males, elderly persons, and patients with underlying conditions. WNV remains a costly and severe public health threat in California.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mohamed El-Tanani, Hamdi Nsairat, Alaa A. Aljabali, Angel Serrano-Aroca, Vijay Mishra, Yachana Mishra, Gowhar A. Naikoo, Walhan Alshaer, Murtaza M. Tambuwala
Summary: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a signalling system, is necessary for various cell proliferation activities. It recognizes PI3KAKT stress signals as a serine-threonine kinase. The abnormal regulation of mTOR pathway has been proven to be crucial in cancer growth and advancement. This review primarily discusses the normal functions of mTOR as well as its abnormal roles in cancer development.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Talgat Nurmakhanov, Yerlan Sansyzbaev, Boris Atshabar, Vladimir Berlin, Damir Kobzhasarov, Olzhas Yeskhojayev, Anna Vilkova, Timur Ayazbayev, Alexey Andryuchshenko, Fyodor Bidashko, John Hay, Alexandr Shvetsov
Summary: The West Nile virus is prevalent in southern Russia and parts of Western Kazakhstan, with a small percentage of Culex modestus mosquitoes carrying the virus and around 5% of the local human population testing positive for West Nile virus IgG.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Katharina Joechle, Jessica Guenzle, Claus Hellerbrand, Pavel Strnad, Thorsten Cramer, Ulf Peter Neumann, Sven Arke Lang
Summary: mTORC2, a key effector of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, is associated with tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. The central subunit Rictor of mTORC2 is upregulated in various cancers, linked to advanced tumor stages and poor prognosis, highlighting its significance in cancer development and treatment.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wan -Xiang Li, Shou-Wei Ding
Summary: The antiviral defense directed by the RNAi pathway employs distinct specificity and effector mechanisms compared with other immune responses. The specificity of antiviral RNAi is programmed by siRNAs processed from virus-derived double-stranded RNA by Dicer endonuclease. Argonaute-containing RNA-induced silencing complex loaded with the viral siRNAs acts as the effector to mediate specific virus clearance by RNAi. Recent studies have provided evidence for the production and antiviral function of virus-derived siRNAs in both undifferentiated and differentiated mammalian cells infected with a range of RNA viruses when the cognate virus-encoded suppressor of RNAi (VSR) is rendered nonfunctional. In this review, we discuss the function, mechanism, and evolutionary origin of the validated mammalian VSRs and cell culture assays for their identification.
TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ning Liu, Ying Yang, Xuemeng Si, Hai Jia, Yunchang Zhang, Da Jiang, Zhaolai Dai, Zhenlong Wu
Summary: L-proline plays a crucial role in embryogenesis, placental development, and fetal growth. This study revealed that proline enhances cell viability, activates the mTORC1 signaling pathway, and modulates the intracellular redox environment. Proline regulates the expression of proline transporters and enzymes involved in redox balance, indicating its potential therapeutic benefits in various developmental processes.
Article
Immunology
Edmilson F. De Oliveira-Filho, Carlo Fischer, Beatrice Sarah Berneck, Ianei O. Carneiro, Arne Kuehne, Angelica C. de Almeida Campos, Jorge R. L. Ribas, Eduardo Martins Netto, Carlos Roberto Franke, Sebastian Ulbert, Jan Felix Drexler
Summary: A study in northeastern Brazil found a West Nile virus seroprevalence of 4.5% among sampled equids from 2013-2018. Mathematical modeling confirmed higher seroprevalence near avian migratory routes and areas with forest loss, indicating increased risk for zoonotic infections in disturbed areas.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Veronica V. Rezelj, Lucia Carrau, Fernando Merwaiss, Laura Levi, Diana Erazo, Quang Dinh Tran, Annabelle Henrion-Lacritick, Valerie Gausson, Yasutsugu Suzuki, Djoshkun Shengjuler, Bjoern Meyer, Thomas Vallet, James Weger-Lucarelli, Veronika Bernhauerova, Avi Titievsky, Vadim Sharov, Stefano Pietropaoli, Marco A. Diaz-Salinas, Vincent Legros, Nathalie Pardigon, Giovanna Barba-Spaeth, Leonid Brodsky, Maria-Carla Saleh, Marco Vignuzzi
Summary: Arthropod-borne viruses, such as Zika virus, pose a significant threat to global public health. Innovative strategies utilizing defective viral genomes (DVGs) have shown promise in interfering with virus replication and reducing transmission in mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors. This study presents a method combining experimental evolution and computational analysis to identify fit DVGs that can serve as potential human therapeutics and vector control strategies to mitigate arbovirus transmission and disease.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Umberto Molini, Giovanni Franzo, Hannah Nel, Siegfried Khaiseb, Charles Ntahonshikira, Bernard Chiwome, Ian Baines, Oscar Madzingira, Federica Monaco, Giovanni Savini, Nicola D'Alterio
Summary: The study revealed the exposure of WNV in Namibian donkeys, indicating its circulation throughout the country with regional differences, and the effectiveness of donkeys as sentinels for infection surveillance.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Michael T. Melia, Armando Paez, Gail Reid, Lisa M. Chirch, Vera P. Luther, Brian G. Blackburn, Federico Perez, Emily Abdoler, Daniel R. Kaul, Susan Rehm, Nada Harik, Alice Barsoumian, Anna K. Person, Heather Yun, J. David Beckham, Susan Boruchoff, Paloma F. Cariello, James B. Cutrell, Christopher J. Graber, Dong Heun Lee, Eileen Maziarz, Molly L. Paras, Raymund R. Razonable, Roseanne Ressner, Anne Chen, Brian Chow, Gerome Escota, Erica Herc, Andrew Johnson, Ryan C. Maves, Obinna Nnedu, Heather Clauss, Prathit Kulkarni, Paul S. Pottinger, Jose A. Serpa, Tanaya Bhowmick, Marvin Bittner, Darcy Wooten, Beata Casanas, Rachel Shnekendorf, Emily A. Blumberg
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Patrik Brundin, Avindra Nath, J. David Beckham
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Virology
Hadrian Sparks, Brendan Monogue, Benjamin Akiyama, Jeffrey Kieft, J. David Beckham
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jonathan S. Schultz, Hadrian Sparks, J. David Beckham
Summary: Arboviruses causing neurological infections in humans are continuously emerging and spreading to new regions, highlighting the importance of understanding their epidemiological and clinical features for timely diagnosis and control. Ongoing research is needed to develop rapid and accurate diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to address future outbreaks.
CURRENT OPINION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Lakshmi Chauhan, Jack Pattee, Joshay Ford, Chris Thomas, Kelsey Lesteberg, Eric Richards, Carl A. Bernas, Michele Loi, Larry Dumont, Kyle Annen, Mary Berg, Mercedes Zirbes, Vijaya Knight, Amanda Miller, Timothy C. Jenkins, Tellen D. Bennett, Daniel Monkowski, Rebecca S. Boxer, J. David Beckham
Summary: A multicenter, prospective, cohort-controlled trial found that convalescent plasma therapy did not show benefit in time to discharge or inpatient mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin M. Akiyama, Monica E. Graham, Zoe O'Donoghue, J. David Beckham, Jeffrey S. Kieft
Summary: Mosquito-borne flaviviruses (MBFVs) contain structured RNA elements known as dumbbells (DBs) in their 3' UTRs, which regulate the translation and replication of viral RNA genome. The DB pseudoknot stabilizes long-range RNA conformational changes to control the switch between translation and replication during the viral lifecycle. Single-molecule FRET suggests that the DB pseudoknot is a stable element with important regulatory functions.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Moriah J. J. Castleman, Megan M. M. Stumpf, Nicholas R. R. Therrien, Mia J. J. Smith, Kelsey E. E. Lesteberg, Brent E. E. Palmer, James P. P. Maloney, William J. J. Janssen, Kara J. J. Mould, J. David Beckham, Roberta Pelanda, Raul M. M. Torres
Summary: Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a loss of B cell tolerance, leading to systemic inflammation and increased autoreactive antibodies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jonathan D. Krett, J. David Beckham, Kenneth L. Tyler, Amanda L. Piquet, Lakshmi Chauhan, Carla J. Wallace, Daniel M. Pastula, Ronak K. Kapadia
Summary: Neurohospitalists, with their expertise in acute neurology, play a vital role in diagnosing and managing acute viral infections that affect the nervous system. This comprehensive review aims to provide practical diagnostic and therapeutic insights for busy neurohospitalists, focusing on several acute viral infections.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Brendan Monogue, Yixi Chen, Hadrian Sparks, Ranya Behbehani, Andrew Chai, Alexander J. Rajic, Aaron Massey, B. K. Kleinschmidt-Demasters, Matthieu Vermeren, Tilo Kunath, J. David Beckham
Summary: The normal function of alpha-synuclein in neurons is not clearly defined. This study found that alpha-synuclein functions in neurons to support immune signaling by co-localizing to the nucleus with interferon signaling proteins following interferon stimulation.
Article
Immunology
Chelsea Iwamoto, Kelsey E. Lesteberg, Molly M. Lamb, Diva M. Calvimontes, Kejun Guo, Bradley S. Barrett, Kaylee L. Mickens, Lindsey M. Duca, Jose Monzon, Anna N. Chard, Gerber Guzman, Edgar Barrios, Neudy Rojop, Kareen Arias, Melissa Gomez, Claudia Paiz, Guillermo Antonio Bolanos, Kathryn M. Edwards, Emily Zielinski Gutierrez, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Edwin J. Asturias, Mario L. Santiago, J. David Beckham, Daniel Olson
Summary: Essential agricultural workers face increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission. A cohort study in Guatemala found that coughing and working as a packer or packing manager were associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers decreased rapidly, highlighting the need for comprehensive prevention strategies, including vaccination, in the workplace.
Article
Immunology
Moriah J. Castleman, Megan M. Stumpf, Nicholas R. Therrien, Mia J. Smith, Kelsey E. Lesteberg, Brent E. Palmer, James P. Maloney, William J. Janssen, Kara J. Mould, J. David Beckham, Roberta Pelanda, Raul M. Torres
Summary: The study verifies the association between severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and a decrease in DN1 cell frequency and an increase in DN2 and DN3 cell frequency. It further demonstrates that DN subsets are activated and show changes in immunoglobulin class isotype frequency and functional BCR signaling during severe viral infection. Increases in overall systemic inflammation and specific pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly correlate with shifts in DN1, DN2, and DN3 subsets. Importantly, the reduction in DN1 cell frequency and expansion of the DN3 population during severe infection significantly correlate with increased levels of serum autoantibodies, suggesting the impact of systemic inflammation on the frequency of Double Negative subsets and their contribution to autoreactive antibody production.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Monica E. Graham, Camille Merrick, Benjamin M. Akiyama, Matthew J. Szucs, Sarah Leach, Jeffery S. Kieft, J. David Beckham
Summary: The researchers made targeted mutations in the dumbbell region of the Zika virus RNA structure and found that these mutations significantly weakened the virus, reducing its ability to produce non-coding RNA that is necessary for infection, virus-induced cell death, and evasion of the host immune system. These findings suggest that targeted mutations in the flavivirus dumbbell RNA structure could be an important approach for developing future vaccine candidates.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Daniel M. Pastula, Matthew J. Copeland, Markus C. Hannan, Samuel Rapaka, Takashi Kitani, Elizabeth Kleiner, Adrienne Showler, Cindy Yuen, Elizabeth M. Ferriman, Jennifer House, Shannon O'Brien, Alexis Burakoff, Bhavik Gupta, Kelli M. Money, Elizabeth Matthews, J. David Beckham, Lakshmi Chauhan, Amanda L. Piquet, Rebecca N. Kumar, Carlo S. Tornatore, Kia Padgett, Kevin O'Laughlin, Anil T. Mangla, Princy N. Kumar, Kenneth L. Tyler, Siobhan M. O'Connor
Summary: Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a poxvirus that has spread to 96 countries where monkeypox was not previously reported, with most cases occurring among men who have sex with men. The current outbreak of monkeypox in the United States has shown different symptoms compared to previous outbreaks, with neuroinvasive disease being rare. This report describes two cases of encephalomyelitis in patients with monkeypox during the current U.S. outbreak. It is important to report suspected cases of neurological complications from acute MPXV infection to improve understanding and treatment options during this outbreak.
MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elizabeth Matthews, J. David Beckham, Amanda L. Piquet, Kenneth L. Tyler, Lakshmi Chauhan, Daniel M. Pastula
Summary: This article reviews the eight human herpesviruses and their recent advances in relation to encephalitis, including diagnosis, treatment, complications, and management.
CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Rebekah C. Kading, Aaron C. Brault, J. David Beckham
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2020)