Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Gustavo Hernandez-Mejia, Esteban A. Hernandez-Vargas
Summary: The research team developed a stochastic model that successfully represents antibody cross-reactive data and validated it with cross-reaction data of different influenza strains. They found that changes in time of infection and the B-cells population are important for successful antibody cross-reaction, while the affinity threshold of B-cells between consecutive infections is a necessary condition.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Matthijs Raadsen, Justin Du Toit, Thomas Langerak, Bas van Bussel, Eric van Gorp, Marco Goeijenbier
Summary: Thrombocytopenia, a common finding in viral infections, is often associated with signs of an infectious disease. Different mechanisms and roles of platelets in viral infections are being explored in current literature.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy Maxmen
Summary: Studies on headless sea squirts are raising questions about the evolution of vertebrate body plans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mahdi Aminikhah, Jukka T. Forsman, Esa Koskela, Tapio Mappes, Jussi Sane, Jukka Ollgren, Sami M. Kivela, Eva R. Kallio
Summary: This study in Finland found that rodent population dynamics were associated with approximately 3-year cycles of human LB and PUUV infections incidence, with complex time lags in the relationship between LB and rodent abundance fluctuations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Dimitrova, Alexander Gershunov, Morgan C. Levy, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: Climate-sensitive infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, are increasingly concerning due to global warming. This study investigates the association between precipitation shocks and diarrhea symptoms in young children in low- and middle-income countries. The findings suggest that droughts are positively associated with diarrhea in tropical savanna regions, while heavy precipitation events increase the risk of diarrhea in humid subtropical regions. Various social factors, such as stool disposal practices and water disinfection, modify these associations. The study emphasizes the importance of targeted public health interventions based on local climate conditions and the type of precipitation shock.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Gabriela Lupusoru, Andreea Gabriella Andronesi, Mircea Lupusoru, Ioana Ailincai, Ruxandra Sfeatcu, Ileana Vacaroiu, Mihaela Banu, Camelia Achim, Gener Ismail
Summary: This study reported two cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome diagnosed in Romania, where the role of kidney needle biopsy in establishing the diagnosis was emphasized. The rarity of this infection in South-Eastern Europe and the difficulties encountered in diagnosing the disease were also highlighted. Furthermore, the key literature data on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of this infection were reviewed.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Annamaria Paolini, Rebecca Borella, Sara De Biasi, Anita Neroni, Marco Mattioli, Domenico Lo Tartaro, Cecilia Simonini, Laura Franceschini, Gerolamo Cicco, Anna Maria Piparo, Andrea Cossarizza, Lara Gibellini
Summary: Cell death mechanisms play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy cellular environment, but dysregulation of these processes during viral infections can contribute to disease pathology. In COVID-19 patients, lymphopenia and monocytopenia are important factors in immunopathogenesis, and the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Further research is needed to develop new therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel M. Guerra, David J. Pagliarini
Summary: Defining the subcellular locations and interacting partners of proteins can accelerate their functional characterization. A new in vivo tagging approach allows for the localization of mitochondrial matrix proteins and reveals a connection between a key oxidoreductase and coenzyme Q biosynthesis.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Antti Vaheri, Teemu Smura, Hanna Vauhkonen, Jussi Hepojoki, Tarja Sironen, Tomas Strandin, Johanna Tietavainen, Tuula Outinen, Satu Maekelae, Ilkka Poersti, Jukka Mustonen
Summary: The clinical outcome of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) infection varies widely, with some cases being asymptomatic and others leading to severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and even death. The severity of the infection may be influenced by genetic factors such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and genes related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and complement system. Autoimmune phenomena, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and individual differences in ocular and central nervous system manifestations are also associated with PUUV infection.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael Gross
Summary: Despite being often viewed as the most 'primitive' of multicellular animals, sponges play a crucial role in the early evolution of complex life and are important for marine ecology and environmental health. Their unique abilities in biomineralisation could also inspire advancements in modern materials science.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karl Deisseroth
Summary: Following the 2021 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, Deisseroth reflects on the international collaboration, basic mechanistic and structural discoveries of light-sensitive microbial proteins, the exploration of brain cell function, and the mysteries of psychiatry.
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.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sima Singh, Arshid Numan, Dinesh Sharma, Rahul Shukla, Amit Alexander, Gaurav Kumar Jain, Farhan Jalees Ahmad, Prashant Kesharwani
Summary: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and 2020 has led to a new era of communicable infectious diseases, with the emergence of Hantavirus infection posing a new public health emergency. Hantavirus, a zoonotic pathogen, causes two major clinical manifestations - HFRS and HCPS. Despite the lack of effective treatments or vaccines, public awareness and precautionary measures can help reduce the spread of the virus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
James G. Shepherd, Andrew E. Blunsum, Stephen Carmichael, Katherine Smollett, Hector Maxwell-Scott, Eoghan C. W. Farmer, Jane Osborne, Alasdair MacLean, Shirin Ashraf, Rajiv Shah, Rory Gunson, Ana da Silva Filipe, Emma J. Aarons, Emma C. Thomson
Summary: A case of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Seoul virus in a woman in Scotland was described, with whole-genome sequencing showing the virus belonged to a lineage characterized by recent international expansion likely driven by trade in pet rats.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Valentijn Vergote, Lies Laenen, Raf Mols, Patrick Augustijns, Marc Van Ranst, Piet Maes
Summary: The study showed that chloroquine is effective in preventing Hantaan virus infection and disease, reducing virus levels and mortality rates.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Xiaobo Huang, Luz E. Cabrera, Pirkka T. Pekkarinen, Kirsten Nowlan, Tomas Strandin, Anu Kantele, Olli Vapalahti, Santtu Heinonen, Eliisa Kekalainen
Summary: This study evaluated and compared the performance of four commercial whole blood cryopreservation kits and found that PROT-1, Transfix, and Cytodelics maintained the distribution of major leukocyte subsets and the activated phenotypes of neutrophils. Cytodelics also allowed reliable detection of lymphopenia and granulocyte expansion in longitudinal clinical samples from acute COVID-19 patients.
Article
Infectious Diseases
L. Tervo, T. Outinen, T. Kiekara, J. Tietavainen, A. Paakkala, I Porsti, H. Huhtala, S. Makela, J. Mustonen
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the amount and distribution of fluid collections in patients with acute PUUV infection and their association with symptoms and clinical findings. Results showed that fluid collections were found in all patients. The amount of intraperitoneal fluid correlated positively with CRP levels and inversely with serum creatinine concentrations. Back pain was associated with higher creatinine levels but not with the presence of fluids.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sohvi Kaariainen, Jukka Ollgren, Timothee Dub, Outi Laine, Marjatta Sinisalo, Jussi Hepojoki, Tomas Strandin, Eliisa Kekalainen, Jussi Sane, Outi Lyytikainen
Summary: This study found that there is an increased risk of lymphoid malignancies, specifically mature B cell neoplasms, during 3-<12 months and 1-<5 years after PUUV infection. This suggests an association between PUUV infection and lymphoid malignancies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Visa Nurmi, Chanice Knight, Lise Estcourt, Jussi Hepojoki, Abigail A. Lamikanra, Hoi P. Tsang, David J. Roberts, Fernando P. Polack, Peter Simmonds, Klaus Hedman, Damian Alvarez-Paggi, Heli Harvala
Summary: Convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19 has shown significant therapeutic effect when administered early, but has generally been ineffective. Comparing the plasma used in two clinical trials and convalescent vaccinees, it was found that the initial patient serostatus is an important predictor of treatment efficacy. However, convalescent vaccinee plasma showed higher titers and avidity, making it preferable for future treatments.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shahid Rehan, Dale Tranter, Phillip P. P. Sharp, Gregory B. B. Craven, Eric Lowe, Janet L. L. Anderl, Tony Muchamuel, Vahid Abrishami, Suvi Kuivanen, Nicole A. A. Wenzell, Andy Jennings, Chakrapani Kalyanaraman, Tomas Strandin, Matti Javanainen, Olli Vapalahti, Matthew P. P. Jacobson, Dustin McMinn, Christopher J. J. Kirk, Juha T. Huiskonen, Jack Taunton, Ville O. O. Paavilainen
Summary: This study describes a cyclic depsipeptide called KZR-8445 that selectively disrupts the biogenesis of secretory and membrane proteins in a signal peptide-dependent manner by targeting the Sec61 translocon. KZR-8445 effectively inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells and demonstrates therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. The binding of KZR-8445 stabilizes the lateral gate helices of Sec61, preventing the movement of select signal peptides into the lipid bilayer and providing a framework for the discovery of novel therapeutics that modulate Sec61-mediated protein biogenesis in a targeted manner.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Eva Mittler, Alexandra Serris, Emma S. Esterman, Catalina Florez, Laura C. Polanco, Cecilia M. O'Brien, Megan M. Slough, Janne Tynell, Remigius Groning, Yan Sun, Dafna M. Abelson, Anna Z. Wec, Denise Haslwanter, Markus Keller, Chunyan Ye, Russel R. Bakken, Rohit K. Jangra, John M. Dye, Clas Ahlm, C. Garrett Rappazzo, Rainer G. Ulrich, Larry Zeitlin, James C. Geoghegan, Steven B. Bradfute, Simone Sidoli, Mattias N. E. Forsell, Tomas Strandin, Felix A. Rey, Andrew S. Herber, Laura M. Walker, Kartik Chandran, Pablo Guardado-Calvo
Summary: We isolated a monoclonal broadly neutralizing antibody from a Puumala virus-experienced human donor and determined its structure when bound to the viral fusion complex. The antibody recognizes conserved sequences in the fusion loop of the Gc protein and the main chain of variable Gn sequences, thereby locking the Gn/Gc heterodimer in its prefusion conformation. We optimized the antibody variant to overcome its limited potency against the divergent Andes virus at endosomal acidic pH, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for pan-hantavirus treatment.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tobias L. Freitag, Riku Fagerlund, Nihay Laham Karam, Veli-Matti Leppanen, Hasan Ugurlu, Ravi Kant, Petri Makinen, Ahmed Tawfek, Sawan Kumar Jha, Tomas Strandin, Katarzyna Leskinen, Jussi Hepojoki, Tapio Kesti, Lauri Kareinen, Suvi Kuivanen, Emma Koivulehto, Aino Sormunen, Svetlana Laidinen, Ayman Khattab, Paivi Saavalainen, Seppo Meri, Anja Kipar, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Kari Alitalo, Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Kalle Saksela
Summary: Intranasal administration of adenoviral vector vaccines can induce mucosal immunity and protect mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection, supporting the potential of this approach for preventing transmission of the virus.
Article
Virology
Antti Vaheri, Teemu Smura, Hanna Vauhkonen, Jussi Hepojoki, Tarja Sironen, Tomas Strandin, Johanna Tietavainen, Tuula Outinen, Satu Maekelae, Ilkka Poersti, Jukka Mustonen
Summary: The clinical outcome of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) infection varies widely, with some cases being asymptomatic and others leading to severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and even death. The severity of the infection may be influenced by genetic factors such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and genes related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and complement system. Autoimmune phenomena, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and individual differences in ocular and central nervous system manifestations are also associated with PUUV infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna R. Maekelae, Hasan Ugurlu, Liina Hannula, Ravi Kant, Petja Salminen, Riku Fagerlund, Sanna Maeki, Anu Haveri, Tomas Strandin, Lauri Kareinen, Jussi Hepojoki, Suvi Kuivanen, Lev Levanov, Arja Pasternack, Rauno A. Naves, Olli Ritvos, Pamela oesterlund, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Anja Kipar, Juha T. Huiskonen, Ilona Rissanen, Kalle Saksela
Summary: The authors describe a small antibody-like protein, TriSb92, that can prevent infection by diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. In cell culture and mice, intranasal treatment with TriSb92 before or shortly after exposure to the virus showed protective effects. This highly manufacturable and stable trimeric antibody-mimetic has the potential to be used as a nasal spray for protecting susceptible individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tanja Thiele, Francesca Baggio, Barbara Prahauser, Andres Ruiz Subira, Eleni Michalopoulou, Anja Kipar, Udo Hetzel, Jussi Hepojoki
Summary: Boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) is caused by reptarenavirus infection, and not all infected snakes demonstrate inclusion bodies (IBs). The genetic divergence of reptarenaviruses complicates diagnostics. We used metatranscriptomics to identify the reptarenavirus segments and developed an effective RT-PCR to detect infected individuals.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vilja Pietiainen, Minttu Polso, Ede Migh, Christian Guckelsberger, Maria Harmati, Akos Diosdi, Laura Turunen, Antti Hassinen, Swapnil Potdar, Annika Koponen, Edina Gyukity Sebestyen, Ferenc Kovacs, Andras Kriston, Reka Hollandi, Katalin Burian, Gabriella Terhes, Adam Visnyovszki, Eszter Fodor, Zsombor Lacza, Anu Kantele, Pekka Kolehmainen, Laura Kakkola, Tomas Strandin, Lev Levanov, Olli Kallioniemi, Lajos Kemeny, Ilkka Julkunen, Olli Vapalahti, Krisztina Buzas, Lassi Paavolainen, Peter Horvath, Jussi Hepojoki
Summary: We have developed a miniaturized immunofluorescence assay (mini-IFA) that utilizes machine learning-guided image analysis to measure antibody response against different viral antigens. This method allows simultaneous measurement of IgM, IgA, and IgG responses and can differentiate between vaccine-induced and infection-induced antibody responses. The assay has the potential for clinical diagnostics.
CELL REPORTS METHODS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mikael Knip, Anna Parviainen, Maaret Turtinen, Anna But, Taina Harkonen, Jussi Hepojoki, Tarja Sironen, Rommel Iheozor-Ejiofor, Hasan Ugurlu, Kalle Saksela, Johanna Lempainen, Jorma Ilonen, Olli Vapalahti
Summary: An observational cohort study in Finland found that the incidence of type 1 diabetes among children under 15 years old significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase may be attributed to the effects of lockdown and physical distancing, rather than a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
