Article
Microbiology
Huiyi Li, Shun Liu, Qing Feng, Rilin Deng, Jingjing Wang, Xintao Wang, Renyun Tian, Yan Xu, Shengwen Chen, Qian Liu, Luoling Wang, Xinran Li, Mengyu Wan, Yousong Peng, Songqing Tang, Binbin Xue, Haizhen Zhu
Summary: The study reveals that TRIM21 negatively regulates the PKR-eIF2 alpha signaling pathway, providing new insights into the host antiviral response. TRIM21 promotes K6-linked polyubiquitination of the PKR phosphatase PP1 alpha, resulting in PKR dephosphorylation and release of translational inhibition. Furthermore, TRIM21 plays a role in restricting viral infection by reversing PKR-dependent translational inhibition of various antiviral factors.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Julie Lucifora, Dulce Alfaiate, Caroline Pons, Maud Michelet, Ricardo Ramirez, Floriane Fusil, Fouzia Amirache, Axel Rossi, Anne-Flore Legrand, Emilie Charles, Serena Vegna, Rayan Farhat, Michel Rivoire, Guillaume Passot, Nicolas Gadot, Barbara Testoni, Charlotte Bach, Thomas F. Baumert, Anastasia Hyrina, Rudolf K. Beran, Fabien Zoulim, Andre Boonstra, Hildegard Buening, Eloi R. Verrier, Francois-Loic Cosset, Simon P. Fletcher, Anna Salvetti, David Durantel
Summary: This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying how HDV interferes with HBV in patients with chronic coinfection. The researchers found that HDV induces the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), and these genes are upregulated in HDV/HBV-coinfected patients. Inhibiting the hepatocyte's response to interferon partially restores the levels of HBV.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lenka Stejskal, Mphatso D. Kalemera, Charlotte B. Lewis, Machaela Palor, Lucas Walker, Tina Daviter, William D. Lees, David S. Moss, Myrto Kremyda-Vlachou, Zisis Kozlakidis, Giulia Gallo, Dalan Bailey, William Rosenberg, Christopher J. R. Illingworth, Adrian J. Shepherd, Joe Grove
Summary: This study reveals that the hypervariable region-1 (HVR-1) of the fusion proteins E1E2 in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has an autoinhibitory function that controls the activity of the proteins. The mechanism is turned off by host receptor interactions, allowing virus entry. Mutations or deletion of HVR-1 results in enhanced virus entry but increased sensitivity to neutralising antibodies.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Penglei Jiang, Hongyu Jia, Xinyue Qian, Tian Tang, Yingli Han, Zhaoru Zhang, Lingli Jiang, Zebin Yu, Lin Zheng, Guodong Yu, Huan Cai, Shanyan Zhang, Xiaoli Zhang, Jueqing Gu, Chanyuan Ye, Lisha Yang, Yingfeng Lu, Heng Liu, Xiaoqing Lu, Ciliang Jin, Yue Ren, Miaomiao Lu, Lingling Xu, Jiong Yu, Xi Jin, Yida Yang, Pengxu Qian
Summary: This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the transcriptomic landscape of peripheral immune cells in CHB patients before and after PegIFN-alpha therapy. The study identified specific cell subsets associated with CHB and found that PegIFN-alpha treatment could decrease hyperactivated monocytes, increase long-lived naive/memory T cells, and enhance effector T cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the treatment altered the transcriptional profiles of immune cells and enhanced innate antiviral response.
Article
Cell Biology
Pauline Esteves, Benoit Allard, Alexis Celle, Isabelle Dupin, Elise Maurat, Olga Ousova, Matthieu Thumerel, Jean-William Dupuy, Thierry Leste-Lasserre, Roger Marthan, Pierre-Olivier Girodet, Thomas Trian, Patrick Berger
Summary: This study shows that asthmatic bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) cells enhance the replication of rhinovirus (RV) in bronchial epithelium through increased production of CCL20. Additionally, these asthmatic BSM cells downregulate the antiviral pathway PKR, leading to increased susceptibility of the bronchial epithelium to RV infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Boyue Zhang, Ting Cai, Hongling He, Xuezhe Huang, Guie Chen, Yanqin Lai, Yongwen Luo, Shile Huang, Jun Luo, Xiaofeng Guo
Summary: Rabies is a highly fatal zoonotic disease with no effective treatment available. Recent studies have shown that the tripartite-motif protein (TRIM) family plays a role in regulating viral replication. Specifically, tripartite-motif protein 21 (TRIM21) has been found to be upregulated in the brain tissue of mice infected with rabies virus and its knockdown inhibits viral replication. Knockdown of interferon-alpha and interferon-beta further modulates the inhibition of viral replication caused by TRIM21 knockdown. TRIM21 regulates RABV replication via the IRF7-IFN axis, highlighting its potential as a target for rabies treatment or management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Yung-Ju Yeh, Ching-Ping Tseng, Sheng-Da Hsu, His -Yuan Huang, Michael M. C. Lai, Hsien-Da Huang, Ju-Chien Cheng
Summary: MicroRNA let-7b is induced by HCV infection and directly targets the HCV genome to regulate HCV replication. Through targeting negative regulators of IFN signaling, let-7b enhances IFN expression and signaling to limit HCV replication in the early stage of infection. This study sheds new insight into the role of let-7b in combating HCV infection and understanding the initial defense mechanisms against RNA viruses.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Matteo Nazzareno Barbaglia, James Michael Harris, Artem Smirnov, Michela Emma Burlone, Cristina Rigamonti, Mario Pirisi, Rosalba Minisini, Andrea Magri
Summary: 17β-estradiol induces an interferon-mediated antiviral state in hepatocytes, pre-activating immune response signaling to control and suppress viral spread.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephanie Jacquet, Michelle Culbertson, Chi Zhang, Adil El Filali, Clement De la Myre Mory, Jean-Baptiste Pons, Ondine Filippi-Codaccioni, M. Elise Lauterbur, Barthelemy Ngoubangoye, Jeanne Duhayer, Clement Verez, Chorong Park, Clara Dahoui, Clayton M. Carey, Greg Brennan, David Enard, Andrea Cimarelli, Stefan Rothenburg, Nels C. Elde, Dominique Pontier, Lucie Etienne
Summary: Several bat species act as asymptomatic reservoirs for highly pathogenic viruses. The PKR gene in bats has evolved under positive selection and repeated genomic duplications, leading to specific antiviral functions against poxviruses. This study provides insights into the evolutionary conflict and adaptation between bats and viruses.
Article
Oncology
Harrys A. Torres, Anna S. Lok, Maria E. Suarez-Almazor, Carla L. Warneke, Ahmed Kaseb, Ethan Miller, Erich M. Sturgis, Jessica T. Foreman, Georgios Angelidakis, Sairah Ahmed, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Felipe Samaniego, Ernest T. Hawk, Jessica P. Hwang
Summary: This study compared the performance of selective HCV screening strategies for cancer patients receiving systemic anticancer therapy between 2013-2014. The results showed that combined screening had the highest sensitivity for detecting anti-HCV patients, but still missed 5% of them. These findings support the universal HCV screening to identify all HCV-infected cancer patients.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rocio Seoane, Yessica Y. Llamas-Gonzalez, Santiago Vidal, Ahmed El Motiam, Yanis Hichem Bouzaher, Danae Fonseca, Rosa Farras, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Jose Gonzalez-Santamaria, Carmen Rivas
Summary: Active hypusine-modified eIF5A plays a critical role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and immune response. Virus infection and double-stranded RNA viral mimic stimulation induce hypusination of eIF5A. Activation of eIF5A is crucial for the replication of various RNA viruses. Inhibiting hypusination of eIF5A may induce upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress marker proteins and interferon, leading to broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiahui Ding, Paulomi Aldo, Cai M. Roberts, Paul Stabach, Hong Liu, Yuan You, Xuemin Qiu, Jiwon Jeong, Anthony Maxwell, Brett Lindenbach, Demetrios Braddock, Aihua Liao, Gil Mor
Summary: The study identified ISG20 as a key component in controlling Zika virus infection and successfully developed a recombinant ISG20-Fc protein that could potentially serve as an antiviral treatment option for high-risk populations, especially pregnant women.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Juanjuan Zhao, Fengyun Chu, Hualin Xu, Mengmeng Guo, Shan Shan, Wen Zheng, Yijing Tao, Ya Zhou, Yan Hu, Chao Chen, Tao Ren, Lin Xu
Summary: miR-7 plays a crucial role in autoimmune hepatitis, negatively regulating the activation and function of CD4(+) T cells to impact the pathogenesis of immune-mediated liver diseases.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yadong Wang, Yangyang Hu, Xing Zhang, Yue Luo, Luyuan Ma, Jingjing Lu, Qianfei Liang, Chengjun Xu, Caiyan Zhao, Calvin Q. Pan
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between IP-10 and treatment response in patients with CHC treated with direct-acting antiviral agents. The results showed that IP-10 levels decreased gradually during the treatment and baseline IP-10 level and the decline at 12 weeks were independent predictors of SVR.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Virology
Mousumi Khatun, Jinsong Zhang, Ranjit Ray, Ratna B. Ray
Summary: HCV infection downregulates lncRNA Linc-Pint expression, while overexpression of Linc-Pint upregulates interferon expression, playing a crucial role in host innate immune responses.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fotios Komaitis, Katerina Kalliampakou, Maria Botou, Marios Nikolaidis, Chrysanthi Kalloniati, Dimitrios Skliros, Baoguo Du, Heinz Rennenberg, Grigoris D. Amoutzias, Stathis Frillingos, Emmanouil Flemetakis
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2020)
Editorial Material
Virology
Sebastien Nisole, Aure Saulnier, Anne Gatignol
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niki Vassilaki, Efseveia Frakolaki, Katerina I. Kalliampakou, Panagiotis Sakellariou, Ioly Kotta-Loizou, Ralf Bartenschlager, Penelope Mavromara
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ryan P. Goguen, Olivier Del Corpo, Camille M. G. Malard, Aicha Daher, Sergio P. Alpuche-Lazcano, Michelle J. Chen, Robert J. Scarborough, Anne Gatignol
Summary: The expression of short hairpin RNAs in cells has therapeutic potential for diseases like HIV, with different promoters leading to variable levels of shRNA and potency. Among the studied promoters, the U6 promoter is the most accurate in positioning the +1 start site for shRNA expression. Expression level is the main determinant of shRNA potency.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
George Mpekoulis, Efseveia Frakolaki, Styliani Taka, Anastasios Ioannidis, Alice G. Vassiliou, Katerina Kalliampakou, Kostas Patas, Ioannis Karakasiliotis, Vassilis Aidinis, Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou, Emmanouil Angelakis, Dido Vassilacopoulou, Niki Vassilaki
Summary: In COVID-19 patients, there was a significant increase in the expression of L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) gene, while non-infected and influenza-infected individuals did not show the same. Short ACE2 (dACE2), ISG56, and EPO also showed significant increases in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sergio P. Alpuche-Lazcano, James Salibaid, Vivian V. Costa, Gabriel H. Campolina-Silva, Fernanda M. Marim, Lucas S. Ribeiro, Volker Blank, Andrew J. Mouland, Mauro M. Teixeira, Anne Gatignol
Summary: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection results in dysregulation of neural transcription factors and downregulation of microRNAs, specifically miR-7013-5p, leading to neuronal dysfunction. This study highlights the importance of the RNA interference pathway in ZIKV-induced pathology.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Virology
George Mpekoulis, Vassilina Tsopela, Georgios Panos, Vasileios Siozos, Katerina Kalliampakou, Efseveia Frakolaki, Constantinos D. Sideris, Alice G. Vassiliou, Diamantis C. Sideris, Dido Vassilacopoulou, Niki Vassilaki
Summary: The biosynthesis and uptake of catecholamines restrict HCV replication in hepatocytes, while HCV has developed ways to reduce catecholamine production. Additionally, the effect of catecholamines on HCV is strongly related with oxidative stress, and strategies that lower cytosolic catecholamine levels positively affect the virus.
Article
Virology
George Mpekoulis, Vassilina Tsopela, Anna Chalari, Katerina Kalliampakou, Georgios Panos, Efseveia Frakolaki, Raphaela S. Milona, Diamantis C. Sideris, Dido Vassilacopoulou, Niki Vassilaki
Summary: This study reveals the association between catecholamine biosynthesis/metabolism and Dengue virus replication. The production and uptake of biogenic amines impede DV replication, while the virus reduces catecholamine biosynthesis, metabolism, and transport. Altering the expression of L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) enhances virus replication, suggesting a negative effect of DDC on DV. In addition, the study demonstrates that dopamine uptake, rather than dopamine signaling, is responsible for the negative effect on DV.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hirofumi Ohashi, Takayuki Hishiki, Daisuke Akazawa, Kwang Su Kim, Joohyeon Woo, Kaho Shionoya, Kana Tsuchimoto, Shoya Iwanami, Saya Moriyama, Hitomi Kinoshita, Souichi Yamada, Yudai Kuroda, Tsukasa Yamamoto, Noriko Kishida, Shinji Watanabe, Hideki Hasegawa, Tadaki Suzuki, Ken Maeda, Shuetsu Fukushi, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Shingo Iwami, Koichi Watashi
Summary: The study quantified the intrinsic sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.2 and BA.1 to neutralizing antibodies and antiviral drugs compared with other variants. Results showed diverse sensitivities of these variants to antibodies and differences in drug responses.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michelle J. Chen, Anne Gatignol, Robert J. Scarborough
Summary: This review examines the development of RNA technologies for treating HIV-1 infections over the past three decades, assessing their efficacy and safety. RNA-based therapies have the potential to be long-term and effective treatments for inhibiting HIV-1 through gene therapy.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Shogo Nakajima, Hirofumi Ohashi, Daisuke Akazawa, Shiho Torii, Rigel Suzuki, Takasuke Fukuhara, Koichi Watashi
Summary: Echinocandin antifungal drugs, including micafungin and its derivatives, showed potent antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, as well as other viruses. The derivatives Mi-2 and Mi-5 exhibited stronger antiviral activity than micafungin, indicating their potential as antiviral agents. These compounds were found to inhibit intracellular virus replication and retained their activity against drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study provides valuable evidence for the development of antiviral drugs using micafungin derivatives.
Article
Cell Biology
George Mpekoulis, Katerina I. Kalliampakou, Raphaela S. Milona, Despoina Lagou, Anastasios Ioannidis, Edison Jahaj, Christos T. Chasapis, Dionysis Kefallinos, Ioannis Karakasiliotis, Anastasia Kotanidou, Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou, Dido Vassilacopoulou, Alice G. Vassiliou, Emmanouil Angelakis, Niki Vassilaki
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with the expression of the dopamine biosynthetic enzyme L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC). The expression of DDC is negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in mild/no symptom COVID-19 patients, but significantly reduced in severe/critical cases, suggesting its potential as a marker of COVID-19 severity.
Article
Immunology
Daisuke Akazawa, Hirofumi Ohashi, Takayuki Hishiki, Takeshi Morita, Shoya Iwanami, Kwang Su Kim, Yong Dam Jeong, Eun-Sil Park, Michiyo Kataoka, Kaho Shionoya, Junki Mifune, Kana Tsuchimoto, Shinjiro Ojima, Aa Haeruman Azam, Shogo Nakajima, Hyeongki Park, Tomoki Yoshikawa, Masayuki Shimojima, Kotaro Kiga, Shingo Iwami, Ken Maeda, Tadaki Suzuki, Hideki Ebihara, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Koichi Watashi
Summary: In a drug repurposing study, 132 approved drugs were screened using an MPXV infection cell system, and potential drug candidates were identified. Atovaquone was predicted to have clinical impact through mathematical modeling. This research suggests that Atovaquone could be a potential treatment candidate for mpox.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Fumiyoshi Okano, Takanori Saito, Yoshitaka Minamida, Shinichi Kobayashi, Takayoshi Ido, Yasushi Miyauchi, Ukei Wasai, Daisuke Akazawa, Masahiko Kume, Masaki Ishibashi, Ke Jiang, Alexandra Aicher, Christopher Heeschen, Tetsu Yonehara
Summary: CAPRIN-1, expressed on the cell membrane surface, is a promising target for cancer treatment. It is present in highly tumorigenic cancer stem cells and metastatic cancer cells induced by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A therapeutic humanized anti-CAPRIN-1 antibody (TRK-950) has been developed and shown to bind specifically to cancer cells and exhibit antitumor effects. Clinical studies of TRK-950, including a phase I study and a phase Ib study in combination with approved drugs, are underway.
CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robert J. Scarborough, Ryan P. Goguen, Camille M. G. Malard, Olivier Del Corpo, Michelle J. Chen, Aicha Daher, Anne Gatignol