Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yongkun Chen, Laura Graf, Tao Chen, Qijun Liao, Tian Bai, Philipp P. Petric, Wenfei Zhu, Lei Yang, Jie Dong, Jian Lu, Ying Chen, Juan Shen, Otto Haller, Peter Staeheli, Georg Kochs, Dayan Wang, Martin Schwemmle, Yuelong Shu
Summary: Research shows a strong association between rare variants in the MX1 gene and H7N9 infection in humans. The identified MxA protein variants lost the ability to inhibit avian IAVs, exerting a dominant-negative effect on wild-type MxA's antiviral function, possibly leading to an MxA null phenotype in heterozygous carriers. This study provides genetic evidence for the crucial role of MX1-based antiviral defense in controlling zoonotic IAV infections in humans.
Article
Virology
Wentao Shen, Qian Wang, Zhengxiang Wang, Minxuan Liu, Yingying Du, Lvfeng Yuan, Lu Han, Krzysztof Smietanka, Hualan Chen, Shuai Xu, Qiyun Zhu
Summary: The H7N9 subtype influenza A viruses pose a serious threat to public health, and there is still a lack of vaccines or drugs for humans against H7N9 influenza viruses. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4H1E8 and 7H9A6, were identified to specifically recognize and neutralize the H7N9 virus. These antibodies inhibit the conformational change of HA and block the HA-mediated membrane fusion, showing promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects against H7N9 virus infection. These findings suggest that these antibodies could be potentially used for the prevention and treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoine Guillon, Deborah Brea-Diakite, Adeline Cezard, Alan Wacquiez, Thomas Baranek, Jerome Bourgeais, Frederic Picou, Virginie Vasseur, Lea Meyer, Christophe Chevalier, Adrien Auvet, Jose M. Carballido, Lydie Nadal Desbarats, Florent Dingli, Andrei Turtoi, Audrey Le Gouellec, Florence Fauvelle, Amelie Donchet, Thibaut Crepin, Pieter S. Hiemstra, Christophe Paget, Damarys Loew, Olivier Herault, Nadia Naffakh, Ronan Le Goffic, Mustapha Si-Tahar
Summary: Research has shown that influenza virus infection causes significant changes in lung metabolism, leading to the accumulation of succinate in respiratory fluids. Succinate exhibits powerful antiviral activity by inhibiting influenza virus replication and reducing metabolic disruptions and inflammatory responses. Administering succinate intranasally to mice reduces viral loads in the lungs and improves survival rates. The antiviral mechanism involves succinylation of viral nucleoproteins, which alters their interactions with viral RNA.
Article
Microbiology
Chiara Medaglia, Arnaud Charles-Antoine Zwygart, Paulo Jacob Silva, Samuel Constant, Song Huang, Francesco Stellacci, Caroline Tapparel
Summary: Influenza viruses have high genetic variability and can quickly develop resistance mutations. Combination therapy with two drugs can reduce the risk of resistance emergence. Combining interferon lambda with oseltamivir can delay the emergence of drug-resistant influenza virus variants.
Article
Biology
Katina D. Hulme, Anjana C. Karawita, Cassandra Pegg, Myrna J. M. Bunte, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Conor J. Bloxham, Silvie Van den Hoecke, Yin Xiang Setoh, Bram Vrancken, Monique Spronken, Lauren E. Steele, Nathalie A. J. Verzele, Kyle R. Upton, Alexander A. Khromykh, Keng Yih Chew, Maria Sukkar, Simon Phipps, Kirsty R. Short
Summary: Influenza virus variants are more prevalent in pregnant and/or obese individuals due to their impaired interferon response. The non-allergic, paucigranulocytic subtype of asthma is associated with impaired type I interferon production, leading to increased disease severity and emergence of influenza virus variants in asthmatic mice. Asthmatic patients may be more susceptible to severe influenza and could potentially be a source of new influenza virus variants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Karen Lizbeth Reyes-Barrera, Ruth Elena Soria-Guerra, Rogelio Lopez-Martinez, Leonor Huerta, Nohemi Salinas-Jazmin, Carlos Cabello-Gutierrez, Angel Gabriel Alpuche-Solis
Summary: The study demonstrates that expressing the EB peptide in microalgae could be a promising approach for antiviral therapy, showing significant efficacy in inhibiting the spread and replication of influenza viruses.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Franzi, Gregory Mathez, Soraya Dinant, Charlotte Deloizy, Laurent Kaiser, Caroline Tapparel, Ronan Le Goffic, Valeria Cagno
Summary: Influenza virus is a major cause of respiratory infections worldwide, and finding alternative antiviral strategies is necessary despite the availability of vaccines and antiviral drugs. This study identifies non-steroidal estrogens as potent inhibitors of influenza virus by interacting with the hemagglutinin protein to prevent viral entry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza, Nicole Brock, Jessica A. Belser, Xiangjie Sun, Claudia Pappas, Terrence M. Tumpey, Taronna R. Maines
Summary: The analysis of 14 diverse influenza viruses in ferrets reveals that efficient ferret-to-ferret transmission via air is directly associated with robust emission of virus-laden particles at early times. The measurement of viral load in the air is typically not a component of routine studies using the ferret transmission model, but our findings show that transmissible viruses display fast release into the air. This suggests that quantification of viral RNA in the air represents a useful addition to assessments of new influenza virus strains.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Joe James, Stephanie M. Meyer, Huynh A. Hong, Chau Dang, Ho T. Y. Linh, William Ferreira, Paidamoyo M. Katsande, Linh Vo, Daniel Hynes, William Love, Ashley C. Banyard, Simon M. Cutting
Summary: This study found that nasal dosing using heat-stable spores can reduce clinical symptoms of influenza infection and decrease viral shedding in animals. This approach may have important implications for influenza prophylaxis in both humans and animals.
Article
Microbiology
Aartjan J. W. te Velthuis, Tatiana G. Zubkova, Megan Shaw, Andrew Mehle, David Boltz, Norbert Gmeinwieser, Holger Stammer, Jens Milde, Lutz Mueller, Victor Margitich
Summary: Enisamium showed significant efficacy in treating viral respiratory infections, including reducing influenza virus shedding, accelerating patient recovery, and alleviating disease symptoms. The metabolite of Enisamium, VR17-04, was identified to inhibit influenza virus RNA synthesis more effectively than the parent compound, suggesting its potential as an inhibitor of influenza virus RNA polymerase in improving patient outcomes.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Xiao-Xin Wu, Song-Jia Tang, Shu-Hao Yao, Yu-Qin Zhou, Lan-Lan Xiao, Lin-Fang Cheng, Fu-Ming Liu, Nan-Ping Wu, Hang-Ping Yao, Lan-Juan Li
Summary: The study investigated the viral distribution and pathological changes in the main organs of mice after experimental infection with highly pathogenic H7N9 virus. The results showed that acute diffuse lung injury was the initial pathogenesis in highly pathogenic H7N9 virus infection, which could also lead to multiple organ infection and injury. The emergence of viremia in mice was synchronous with lung infection.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shengsheng Lu, Xi Xie, Jianan Hu, Haixing Lin, Fangfang Li, Runhong Zhou, Jiayin Guo, Shaohua Wu, Jian He
Summary: Three novel norsesquiterpenoids were isolated from the culture broth of a Streptomyces strain inhabiting the feces of giant pandas. These compounds exhibited potent antiviral activity against influenza A virus.
Article
Immunology
Christine M. Oshansky, James King, Di Lu, James Zhou, Corrina Pavetto, Gary Horwith, Karen Biscardi, Bai Nguyen, John J. Treanor, Li-Mei Chen, Brett Jepson, Rick A. Bright, Robert A. Johnson, Vittoria Cioce, Ruben O. Donis
Summary: The study reported on the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant influenza vaccine derived from highly pathogenic A(H7N9) virus in healthy adults. Most study groups met the FDA licensure criterion, with high seroprotection rate, and showed high cross-reactivity to heterologous viruses from the first epidemic wave of 2013.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hung-Yen Cheng, Chung-Chan Lee, Yu-Chung Chang, Chi-Neu Tsai, Hsun-Ching Chao, Yin-Tai Tsai, Chia-Hsin Hsieh, Sin-Sheng Su, Shih-Yen Chen
Summary: The study investigated viral shedding in gastroenteritis in children caused by emerging norovirus strains, showing that viral load increased from days 2 to 9 and declined gradually thereafter, with most shedding ceasing by day 15. Different NoV variants had varying shedding periods and viral loads, with the emergence of GII.P16-GII.2 variants observed during the study period, highlighting the need for continuous surveillance due to their enhanced epidemic risk.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenyan Li, Tongtong Li, Zhao Chi, Song Tao, Mi Yao, Chuangfeng Zhang, Yunlong Hou, Zhenhua Jia
Summary: XELH is a promising therapeutic option against childhood respiratory viral infections, as it has demonstrated antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.
PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Ye Zheng, Mingzhu Xu, Dong Zeng, Haitao Tong, Yuhan Shi, Yanling Feng, Xiaonan Zhang
Summary: This study revealed the differential expression and localization of HBsAg and HBV DNA in tumor tissue and surrounding tissue of HBV-related HCC patients. These findings provide insight into the complex mechanisms of HBV-induced tumorigenesis.
DIAGNOSTIC PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Malik Peiris, Stanley Perlman
Summary: The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) primarily spreads to humans through dromedary camels in Africa, the Middle East, and Central or South Asia, with limited human-to-human transmission. Only cases in humans from the Arabian Peninsula have been reported so far, and no zoonotic MERS cases have been found in Africa or Asia, despite the high density of infected camels. Further investigation into this disparity is crucial due to the pandemic potential of MERS-CoV.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Chris Ka Pun Mok, David S. Hui, Malik Peiris
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zhong Fang, Yi Zhang, Zhaoqin Zhu, Cong Wang, Yao Hu, Xiuhua Peng, Dandan Zhang, Jun Zhao, Bisheng Shi, Zhongliang Shen, Min Wu, Chunhua Xu, Jieliang Chen, Xiaohui Zhou, Youhua Xie, Hui Yu, Xiaonan Zhang, Jianhua Li, Yunwen Hu, Maya Kozlowski, Antonio Bertoletti, Zhenghong Yuan
Summary: HBV exposure in children usually leads to chronic infection and the detection of HBsAg-specific CD8(+) T cells is rare. This study found that mMDSCs migrate to the thymus and eliminate HBsAg-specific CD8(+) thymocytes, resulting in specific tolerance to HBV.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qiaofang Chu, Jianhua Li, Jieliang Chen, Zhenghong Yuan
Summary: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) changes miRNA packaging into extracellular vesicles (EVs) to facilitate its replication, and the EV miRNAs are associated with antiviral function, revealing a novel mechanism for HBV replication.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mingzhu Xu, Chang Li, Jiahui Ding, Min Wu, Yijie Tang, Zhenghong Yuan, Xiaonan Zhang
Summary: The expression of HBV surface proteins regulates the release of viral particles, with overproduction of LHBs inhibiting surface protein release while overexpression of M/SHBs improving secretion of enveloped viral particles.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tim K. Tsang, Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera, Vicky J. Fang, Jessica Y. Wong, Eunice Y. Shiu, Hau Chi So, Dennis K. M. Ip, J. S. Malik Peiris, Gabriel M. Leung, Benjamin J. Cowling, Simon Cauchemez
Summary: This study analyzes influenza antibody dynamics and develops an algorithm to improve the identification of influenza virus infections. The authors find that HAI titers increase after infection but decrease by 14% per year. Children have a higher infection risk compared to younger adults, and a higher pre-epidemic HAI titer provides greater protection against infection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Xiaonan Zhang, Yijie Tang, Min Wu, Cong Wang, Lyuyin Hu, Zhanqing Zhang
Summary: Over 240 million people worldwide are chronically infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), a hepatotropic DNA virus. Although progress has been made in HBV research, our understanding of its virology and immunobiology is still incomplete. Recent discovery of serum HBV RNA in patients with chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) challenges existing theories. Furthermore, HBV infection may lead to the formation of capsid-derived immune complexes, which could contribute to liver disease.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Stanley Perlman, Malik Peiris
Summary: Decades of research on coronaviruses and studying SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic have provided a great deal of knowledge, but there are still many unanswered questions and areas that need further research.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jiahui Ding, Zhigang Yi, Wenjing Zai, Min Wu, Baohui Chen, Qiliang Cai, Xiaonan Zhang, Zhenghong Yuan
Summary: Understanding the formation and maintenance of HBV cccDNA has been a challenging task due to the lack of reliable assay systems and its resistance to genetic modification. In this study, a live-cell imaging system was established to visualize the behavior of cccDNA in real time. The accessibility of cccDNA to dCas9-based imaging was found to be regulated by HBx. Observable cccDNA molecules were substantially lost during cell division and randomly distributed to daughter cells. This system provides a unique platform to investigate the intranuclear dynamics of cccDNA.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tim K. Tsang, Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera, Vicky J. Fang, Jessica Y. Wong, Eunice Y. Shiu, Hau Chi So, Dennis K. M. Ip, J. S. Malik Peiris, Gabriel M. Leung, Benjamin J. Cowling, Simon Cauchemez
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haogao Gu, Ahmed Abdul Quadeer, Pavithra Krishnan, Daisy Y. M. Ng, Lydia D. J. Chang, Gigi Y. Z. Liu, Samuel M. S. Cheng, Tommy T. Y. Lam, Malik Peiris, Matthew R. McKay, Leo L. M. Poon
Summary: Limited data is available on the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 within hosts and its relationship with vaccination. The authors found that variant of Concern (VOC) samples have more sequence variations than non-VOC samples, and breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals do not increase non-silent mutations. The study highlights the importance of understanding within-host diversity and the impact of vaccination on viral evolution.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Michael Kwan Leung Yu, Sophelia Hoi Shan Chan, Samuel Cheng, Daniel Leung, Sau Man Chan, Amy Suen Ka Yan, Wilfred Hing Sang Wong, Malik Peiris, Yu Lung Lau, Jaime S. Rosa Duque
Summary: Hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination is common for patients with neuromuscular diseases due to the lack of safety and efficacy data in this high-risk population. This study examined the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and evaluated the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccines in patients with neuromuscular diseases. The results showed that both vaccines were safe and effective for these patients.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Ihab El Masry, Salim Al Makhladi, Mohsin Al Abdwany, Afrah Al Subhi, Hatim Eltahir, Samuel Cheng, Malik Peiris, Emma Gardner, Sophie Von Dobschuetz, Baba Soumare, Madhur Dhingra, Keith Sumption, Markos Tibbo
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection in livestock species in Oman was investigated, and serological evidence of infection in cattle, sheep, goats, and dromedary camel was provided. Integrated data analysis of epidemiologically linked human and animal cases should be conducted to understand the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and associated risks.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)