Article
Microbiology
Tejaswini S. Reddi, Philipp E. Merkl, So-Yon Lim, Norman L. Letvin, David M. Knipe
Summary: TRIM22 is a novel restriction factor that can combat DNA viruses, particularly HSV-1, and is not degraded by viral ICP0 protein. It also inhibits other types of herpesviruses and different genetic variants of TRIM22 show varying levels of effectiveness against HSV-1.
Article
Microbiology
Johannes Schweininger, Myriam Scherer, Franziska Rothemund, Eva-Maria Schilling, Sonja Worz, Thomas Stamminger, Yves A. Muller
Summary: Cytomegaloviruses have evolved a species-specific IE1 protein tertiary structure to effectively bind and inactivate the important cellular restriction factor PML, forming a barrier to cross-species transmission. The highly conserved fold of IE1 maximizes the efficacy of PML targeting in a species-specific manner, illustrating the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts.
Article
Virology
Marlene Buckmaster, Stephen P. Goff
Summary: Zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a potent antiviral molecule that inhibits the replication of various viruses. This study identifies Riplet as a cofactor that enhances the antiviral activity of ZAP. Riplet interacts with ZAP through specific domains and its ubiquitin ligase activity is not required for stimulating ZAP-mediated virus inhibition.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandra B. Samal, Todd J. Green, Jamil S. Saad
Summary: This study reveals the detailed structure of the myrMA lattice and its role in Env incorporation during HIV-1 particle assembly. It was found that substitution of MA residues Leu13 and Leu31 induced a conformational change in myrMA, which may destabilize the trimer-trimer interactions within the lattice.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Virology
Behdokht Jan Fada, Eleazar Reward, Haidong Gu
Summary: ND10, also known as PML-NBs, are dynamic membraneless subnuclear domains involved in key cellular processes such as DNA damage response, transcription regulation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, and antiviral defenses.
Review
Virology
Alexandra P. M. Cloherty, Anusca G. Rader, Brandon Compeer, Carla M. S. Ribeiro
Summary: HIV-1 treatment remains a global health concern, with recent studies suggesting human TRIM5 alpha as a restriction factor with diverse antiviral functions, including mediating HIV-1 degradation and acting as a viral sensor. Autophagy modulation shows therapeutic potential in intervening chronic HIV-1 infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carolyn M. Highland, Aaron Tan, Clifton L. Ricana, John A. G. Briggs, Robert A. Dick
Summary: In this study, the authors used cryoelectron tomography and single particle analysis to reveal detailed structural information of the HIV-1 capsid lattice, including both hexamers and pentamers. They also discovered the critical role of inositol hexakisphosphate in pentamer formation and determined the structure of the capsid lattice bound to the antiretroviral drug GS-6207. The combination of lattice templating and single particle analysis proved to be a robust strategy for studying retroviral capsid structure and interactions with host proteins and antiviral compounds.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Paola Frattaroli, Teresa A. Chueng, Obinna Abaribe, Folusakin Ayoade
Summary: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) can complicate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in individuals living with HIV, presenting as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The manifestation of PML can be simultaneous or delayed worsening, with a rare occurrence of cerebellar involvement. Steroids may be considered as a treatment option, but the optimal duration remains unclear.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James C. V. Stacey, Aaron Tan, John M. Lu, Leo C. James, Robert A. Dick, John A. G. Briggs
Summary: Using single-particle cryoEM, researchers have determined the structure of the mature HIV-1 CA pentamer and hexamer from conical CA-IP6 polyhedra. Comparison of these structures revealed that the conical HIV-1 capsid has different host-protein binding properties at different positions on its surface, which may facilitate cell entry and represent an evolutionary advantage of conical morphology.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kun Qu, Zunlong Ke, Vojtech Zila, Maria Anders-Oesswein, Barbel Glass, Frauke Muecksch, Rainer Mueller, Carsten Schultz, Barbara Mueller, Hans-Georg Kraeusslich, John A. G. Briggs
Summary: The study found that MA rearranges between different hexameric lattices in the maturation process of HIV-1, binding with lipid extending out of the membrane in mature HIV-1. The data suggest that proteolytic maturation of HIV-1 assembles the viral capsid and repurposes the membrane-bound MA lattice for cell entry or post-entry function, resulting in the removal of up to 2500 lipids from the viral membrane.
Article
Virology
Robert Z. Zhang, Vincent Mele, Lia Robben, Melissa Kane
Summary: Understanding the genetic basis for the production of protective antiviral immune responses is crucial for the development of new vaccines and adjuvants. Additionally, characterizing the genetic and phenotypic variability in inbred mice has implications for the selection of strains for targeted mutagenesis, choice of controls, and for a broader understanding of the requirements for protective immunity.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Robert E. Sealy, Barry Dayton, David Finkelstein, Julia L. Hurwitz
Summary: It has been 40 years since the recognition of AIDS symptoms, with no licensed HIV-1 vaccine and over half a million deaths annually due to AIDS. A conventional vaccine strategy categorizes viruses and their surface antigens into groups, forming vaccine cocktails, which could be a potential approach for HIV-1 vaccine design. Collaborating an antibody-instructed envelope cocktail with new vaccine vectors may lead to a successful HIV-1 vaccine.
Review
Immunology
Wilson Lewis Mandala, Michael K. P. Liu
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 has higher morbidity and mortality compared to other coronaviruses. HIV-1-infected individuals are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Global vaccine deployment is uneven, and the emergence of variants suggests COVID-19 will remain a high-risk infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Balaji Olety, Paul Peters, Yuanfei Wu, Yoshiko Usami, Heinrich Gottlinger
Summary: The study demonstrates that the propagation of HIV-1 is critically dependent on BST2, even in the absence of its ability to counteract BST2. Gene editing and cell sorting experiments confirm the dependence on BST2, indicating a key role of innate antiviral immunity component in HIV-1 replication.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ruofan Wang, Ashton T. Belew, Vasudevan Achuthan, Najib El Sayed, Jeffrey J. DeStefano
Summary: Recent analyses have shown that certain subtypes of HIV-1 have higher fidelity in low Mg2+ conditions, while some RTs demonstrate higher fidelity at physiological Mg2+ levels. Sequencing methods have revealed the mutation profiles of HIV-1 RT under different Mg2+ concentrations.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Adriana Svrlanska, Anna Ruhland, Manfred Marschall, Nina Reuter, Thomas Stamminger
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Bernd Jahrsdoerfer, Joris Kroschel, Carolin Ludwig, Victor Max Corman, Tatjana Schwarz, Sixten Koerper, Markus Rojewski, Ramin Lotfi, Christof Weinstock, Christian Drosten, Erhard Seifried, Thomas Stamminger, Hans Juergen Gross, Hubert Schrezenmeier
Summary: This study provides a comparative validation of 4 anti-SARS-CoV-2 platforms, with Euroimmun and Roche platforms showing the highest sensitivities for screening individuals at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Patrick Koenig, Adriana Svrlanska, Clarissa Read, Sabine Feichtinger, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: Autophagy, a catabolic process, plays a significant role in HCMV replication by controlling the release of viral particles. In particular, the autophagy-initiating protein kinase ULK1 and other constituents of the ULK1 complex are upregulated during HCMV infection. Disruption of ULK1 kinase activity impairs viral particle release, suggesting ULK1 as a potential target for antiviral drug development.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Sigrun Haege, Eric Sonntag, Adriana Svrlanska, Eva Maria Borst, Anne-Charlotte Stilp, Deborah Horsch, Regina Mueller, Barbara Kropff, Jens Milbradt, Thomas Stamminger, Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt, Manfred Marschall
Summary: Research has shown that pUL50 plays a crucial role in nuclear egress of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), but mutations in phosphorylation sites of pUL50 have minimal impact on the virus's replication capabilities.
Review
Virology
Eva-Maria Schilling, Myriam Scherer, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: Cellular restriction factors act as important innate immune barriers against viruses, including HCMV. Multiple RFs have been identified to counteract HCMV infection, affecting different steps of the viral replication cycle. Understanding the interplay between host RFs and viral antagonists is essential for developing new approaches to combat HCMV infection.
Article
Pediatrics
Burkhard Toenshoff, Barbara Mueller, Roland Elling, Hanna Renk, Peter Meissner, Hartmut Hengel, Sven F. Garbade, Meinhard Kieser, Kathrin Jeltsch, Jurgen Grulich-Henn, Julia Euler, Maximilian Stich, Kristine Chobanyan-Juergens, Maria Zernickel, Ales Janda, Lena Woelfle, Thomas Stamminger, Thomas Iftner, Tina Ganzenmueller, Christian Schmitt, Tessa Goerne, Vibor Laketa, Sylvia Olberg, Anna Plaszczyca, Mirko Cortese, Ralf Bartenschlager, Constantin Pape, Roman Remme, Daniela Huzly, Marcus Panning, Sebastian Weigang, Sebastian Giese, Kevin Ciminski, Jakob Ankerhold, Georg Kochs, Martin Schwemmle, Rupert Handgretinger, Charlotte M. Niemeyer, Corinna Engel, Winfried V. Kern, Georg Friedrich Hoffmann, Axel R. Franz, Philipp Henneke, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Hans-Georg Kraeusslich
Summary: A study conducted in southwest Germany showed that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections was low among children aged 1 to 10, suggesting that they are unlikely to have significantly contributed to the pandemic. Large-scale testing provides a basis for informed political decision-making during a pandemic.
Article
Immunology
Niklas M. Fritz, Thomas Stamminger, Martina Ramsperger-Gleixner, Annika Kuckhahn, Regina Mueller, Michael Weyand, Christian Heim
Summary: The study investigates the role of MCMV GPCR M33 in the development of CAV using a murine aortic transplant model. The results suggest that M33 plays an important role as a viral effector mechanism contributing to the development of CAV.
TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Eva-Maria Schilling, Myriam Scherer, Franziska Rothemund, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: FEN1 plays a critical role in viral infections, especially in HCMV infection where IE1 can manipulate FEN1 to facilitate viral DNA replication. This discovery may lead to new antiviral therapeutic options to combat HCMV infections.
Article
Oncology
Sandy Haidar Ahmad, Fatima Al Moussawi, Ranim El Baba, Zeina Nehme, Sebastien Pasquereau, Amit Kumar, Chloe Molimard, Franck Monnien, Marie-Paule Algros, Racha Karaky, Thomas Stamminger, Mona Diab Assaf, Georges Herbein
Summary: Research suggests a close link between HCMV and breast tumor development, with the presence of the UL69 gene in CTH cells and tumor biopsies further highlighting the direct role of HCMV in oncogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Isabella Hanka, Thomas Stamminger, Martina Ramsperger-Gleixner, Annika V. Kuckhahn, Regina Mueller, Michael Weyand, Christian Heim
Summary: The study found that CMV infection accelerates chronic airway rejection, while deletion of the chemokine receptor M33 attenuates rejection.
TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Franziska Rothemund, Myriam Scherer, Eva-Maria Schilling, Johannes Schweininger, Yves A. Muller, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: The study analyzed the functions of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early 1 (IE1) protein and rat CMV IE1 (rIE1) protein, and found that their interactions with cellular proteins PML and FEN1 were species-specific. It was also discovered that both IE1 proteins can antagonize human STAT2, but different regions of the viral proteins were involved in the interaction. Additionally, the study revealed that the binding of PML, FEN1, and STAT2 was conserved between primate and rodent proteins, but rIE1 lacked chromatin tethering function.
Article
Virology
Maja C. Mezger, Carina Conzelmann, Tatjana Weil, Pascal von Maltitz, Dan P. J. Albers, Jan Munch, Thomas Stamminger, Eva-Maria Schilling
Summary: Screening of a protein kinase inhibitor library identified SB431542 as a compound that interferes with SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5). ALK5 inhibition downregulates furin expression induced by TGF-beta and reduces spike-mediated cell-cell fusion, thereby attenuating SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and cell-cell spread. This suggests that ALK5 inhibitors may be a potential therapy option for COVID-19, especially in cases with TGF-beta dominated cytokine storm.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Una Ebong, Susanne Martina Buettner, Stefan A. Schmidt, Franziska Flack, Patrick Korf, Lynn Peters, Beate Gruener, Steffen Stenger, Thomas Stamminger, Hans Kestler, Meinrad Beer, Christopher Kloth
Summary: This study implemented an AI-based software prototype for the detection of COVID-19 pneumonia and differentiation between other types of pneumonia in lung CT datasets. The software achieved a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 50% for detecting COVID-19, but the human radiologist achieved a higher specificity of 97.2%.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Schuetz, Regina Mueller, Eileen Socher, Christina Wangen, Florian Full, Emanuel Wyler, Diana Wong, Myriam Scherer, Thomas Stamminger, Sunwen Chou, William D. Rawlinson, Stuart T. Hamilton, Heinrich Sticht, Manfred Marschall
Summary: The complex host interaction network of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) involves the regulatory protein kinase pUL97 and human cyclins. The study found that cyclin H is a crucial determinant of pUL97 kinase activity and viral replication efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sven Seitz, Anna Theresa Heusel, Thomas Stamminger, Myriam Scherer
Summary: PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) play a cell type-specific antiviral role against HCMV infection, with PML and Daxx having contrasting effects at different stages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)