Article
Cell Biology
Wan Zhou, Qiang Liu, Wei Wang, Xiao-Jing Yuan, Chun-Chun Xiao, Shan-Dong Ye
Summary: This study identified CCR5 as a potential therapeutic target and screened DB05494 as a potential drug for T2DM treatment through single-cell RNA expression profile analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular docking.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Simone Giovannozzi, Jonas Demeulemeester, Rik Schrijvers, Rik Gijsbers
Summary: STAT1 gain-of-function (GOF) leads to primary immunodeficiency with characteristic symptoms. Different mutation-specific mechanisms are identified in vitro. GOF mutants up-regulate an additional set of genes compared to wild-type STAT1 upon IFN gamma stimulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tianlei Qiu, Linhe Huo, Yajie Guo, Min Gao, Guoliang Wang, Dong Hu, Cheng Li, Zhanwu Wang, Guiming Liu, Xuming Wang
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the common resistome and its potential mobility and hosts in animal manure and composts. The results showed that composting can help mitigate ARGs in animal manure by altering bacterial hosts, but persistent ARGs can still escape removal due to their broad host range and association with mobile genetic elements.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Ivana Struzinska, Nikola Hajkova, Jan Hojny, Eva Krkavcova, Romana Michalkova, Jiri Dvorak, Kristyna Nemejcova, Radoslav Matej, Jan Laco, Jana Drozenova, Pavel Fabian, Jitka Hausnerova, Gabor Mehes, Petr Skapa, Marian Svajdler, David Cibula, Filip Fruhauf, Michaela Kendall Bartu, Pavel Dundr
Summary: This study investigated the molecular aberrations in primary ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) through genomic and transcriptomic analysis. The findings revealed potentially diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic gene mutations, as well as the favorable outcomes of POLE mutation and MSI-High OCCC. Additionally, the study identified potential therapeutic targets for OCCC through the molecular landscape analysis.
DIAGNOSTIC PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lukas Kaufmann, Johannes Pilic, Lisa Auinger, Anna-Lena Mayer, Jasmin Blatterer, Johann Semmler-Bruckner, Safdar Abbas, Khurram Rehman, Muhammad Ayaz, Wolfgang F. Graier, Roland Malli, Erwin Petek, Klaus Wagner, Ali Al Kaissi, Muzammil Ahmad Khan, Christian Windpassinger
Summary: Restrictive dermopathy (RD) is a lethal condition caused by loss-of-function mutations in ZMPSTE24, while mutations preserving residual enzymatic activity lead to mandibuloacral dysplasia with type B lipodystrophy (MADB) phenotype. A new homozygous loss-of-function mutation in ZMPSTE24 was identified in two consanguineous Pakistani families with MADB. Functional analysis revealed that alternative translation initiation sites were utilized, preventing complete loss of protein function and explaining the relatively mild phenotype in affected patients. Our findings suggest considering the creation of new potential start codons in other disease-associated genes with N-terminal mutations.
Article
Virology
Hui Li, Shuyi Wang, Fang-Hua Lee, Ryan S. Roark, Alex Murphy, Jessica Smith, Chengyan Zhao, Juliette Rando, Neha Chohan, Yu Ding, Eunlim Kim, Emily Lindemuth, Katharine J. Bar, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei, Brandon F. Keele, Jeffrey D. Lifson, Mark G. Lewis, Thomas N. Denny, Barton F. Haynes, Beatrice H. Hahn, George M. Shaw
Summary: The study demonstrates the successful construction of SHIVs with bulky aromatic substitutions at residue 375, allowing efficient replication in rhesus macaques and effective transmission across rectal, vaginal, penile, oral, or intravenous routes. These SHIVs can serve as a model for HIV-1 infection studies in preclinical monkey trials.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Adam J. Kleinman, Ranjit Sivanandham, Paola Sette, Egidio Brocca-Cofano, Colin McAndrews, Brandon F. Keele, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: A study found that a functional cure for HIV might be possible by eliminating a small population of cells containing intact virus, rather than the entire reservoir which mostly comprised defective proviruses. However, the chemotherapeutic agent Cyclophosphamide (Cy) showed adverse effects when administered with antiretroviral therapy (ART), discouraging further investigation of Cy as an HIV cure agent. This study highlights the complexities and challenges in developing a cure for HIV.
AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Quentin Le Hingrat, Irini Sereti, Alan L. Landay, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: CD4(+) T-cell depletion is a key feature of AIDS in both HIV and SIV infections, occurring early and being most significant at mucosal sites. The clinical outcome is associated with mucosal CD4(+) T-cell recovery during chronic infection, while immune activation and inflammation play critical roles in CD4(+) T-cell depletion.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
J. Taaffe, J. Croda, H. Moultrie, D. S. Silva, A. Rosenthal, M. Farhat
Summary: The article summarizes discussions from an expert workshop on using real-world data from national TB care programs for research, including challenges, opportunities, and digital data availability in Brazil and South Africa. It posits that with standardized data collection, improved data management, and increased collaboration, more TB programmatic data can be utilized for research with measurable public health impact.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Virology
Adam J. Kleinman, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: Curing HIV infection is crucial to improve the quality of life of patients, who currently require lifelong antiretroviral therapy. This review discusses different SIV strains and their animal hosts used in cure research, as well as the life cycle and pathogenesis of HIV/SIV. It also emphasizes the role of chronic immune activation and inflammation in disease progression and comorbidities, comparing pathogenic and nonpathogenic infections in natural hosts of SIVs. Furthermore, various HIV cure strategies, particularly immunological therapies and shock and kill approaches, are explored.
Review
Immunology
Anna J. Jasinska, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: CCR5 is a chemokine receptor that plays a central role in immune responses and inflammation. It is involved in the pathogenesis of various health conditions, including HIV infection. Natural loss-of-function mutations of CCR5 can render individuals resistant to HIV. In addition, many African nonhuman primate species have developed strategies to minimize the effects of SIV infection by modulating CCR5 activity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Adam J. Kleinman, Sindhuja Sivanandham, Paola Sette, Ranjit Sivanandham, Benjamin B. Policicchio, Cuiling Xu, Ellen Penn, Egidio Brocca-Cofano, Quentin Le Hingrat, Dongzhu Ma, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: The pursuit of an HIV cure is important due to the prevalence of comorbidities among HIV patients. The shock and kill approach is one of the most investigated strategies. In this study, the use of romidepsin, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, was tested in a rhesus macaque model. The results showed that repeated use of romidepsin gradually reduced viral reactivation. With enhanced immune responses, there was a reduction in the viral reservoir. These findings suggest the importance of restoring the immune system for cure strategies.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Fang Lu, Urvi Zankharia, Olga Vladimirova, Yanjie Yi, Ronald G. Collman, Paul M. Lieberman
Summary: HIV-infected macrophages have a unique epigenetic control pattern, with viral genomes maintained in a noncanonical bivalent state. These findings may contribute to the discovery of new mechanisms for controlling chronic HIV expression in infected macrophages.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Emilia A. A. Hermann, Amin Motahari, Eric A. A. Hoffman, Norrina Allen, Alain G. G. Bertoni, David A. A. Bluemke, Ali Eskandari, Sarah E. E. Gerard, Junfeng Guo, Grant T. T. Hiura, David W. W. Kaczka, Erin D. D. Michos, Prashant Nagpal, Jim Pankow, Sanjiv Shah, Benjamin M. M. Smith, Karen Hinckley Stukovsky, Yifei Sun, Karol Watson, R. Graham Barr
Summary: The study found that pulmonary blood volume decreases substantially with advanced age in older adults, and this is independently associated with greater symptom scores.
CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristian Apetrei, Preston A. Marx, John W. Mellors, Ivona Pandrea
Summary: 'Infodemia' refers to the widespread and rapid dissemination of information, misinformation, and disinformation about a specific subject. This phenomenon makes it difficult for the public to distinguish between accurate and false information, eroding trust in scientists and governments and creating barriers to pandemic control. Therefore, it is important to prioritize measures to address future misinfodemics.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Ivona Pandrea, Kelsie Brooks, Rahul P. P. Desai, Minali Tare, Jason M. M. Brenchley, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: The diversity and location of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract can directly affect viral disease pathogenesis. Infections such as HIV, SIV, and SARS-CoV-2 can cause gastrointestinal pathology, and therapeutic interventions targeting the gastrointestinal tract may improve patient outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Emilia A. Hermann, Benjamin Lee, Pallavi P. Balte, Vanessa Xanthakis, Beth D. Kirkpatrick, Mary Cushman, Elizabeth Oelsner
Summary: This study investigates the association between self-reported postvaccination symptoms and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response among participants from the Framingham Heart Study, contributing to the Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research study.
Article
Respiratory System
Gina Hong, Scott G. Daniel, Jung-Jin Lee, Kyle Bittinger, Laurel Glaser, Lisa M. Mattei, Daniel J. Dorgan, Denis Hadjiliadis, Steven M. Kawut, Ronald G. Collman
Summary: The respiratory tract fungal microbiome in adults with cystic fibrosis is associated with lung function, exacerbation status, medication use, and CFTR modulator use. Further research is necessary to better understand fungal diversity in the CF airway and its impact on lung health.
JOURNAL OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Carter Merenstein, Ayannah S. Fitzgerald, Layla A. Khatib, Jevon Graham-Wooten, Frederic D. Bushman, Ronald G. Collman
Summary: Reusing disposable face masks for 7 days did not significantly affect the facial skin or oropharyngeal microbiome compared to using fresh masks daily, despite a higher level of bacterial contamination. The impact of mask reuse on the host is still understudied.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Yanjie Yi, Urvi Zankharia, Joel A. Cassel, Fang Lu, Joseph M. Salvino, Paul M. Lieberman, Ronald G. Collman
Summary: Three drugs that can suppress HIV-1 expression in macrophages have been discovered through high-throughput screening. These drugs can reduce virus expression and alter the epigenetic profiles of the virus genome. The significance of this research lies in the potential to identify new drugs for treating HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders or preventing viral rebound without relying on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to achieve ART-free remission or cure.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)