Article
Virology
Julie M. Button, Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Summary: The study found that mutations in the N-terminal domain of Alphavirus capsid proteins affect interactions with the E2 spike protein and core formation. However, interactions between E2 and CP can compensate for defects in cytoplasmic core formation, leading to core or core-like structures in the virion.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Anthony Torres-Ruesta, Rhonda Sin-Ling Chee, Lisa F. P. Ng
Summary: Alphaviruses are mosquito-borne pathogens that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including arthritis and encephalitis. Susceptible populations historically develop long-lasting antibody responses after large outbreaks, indicating the potential for vaccines. However, little is known about humoral responses triggered by other emerging alphaviruses, which is crucial for improving diagnostics and vaccine development.
Review
Microbiology
Zeinab Elmasri, Benjamin L. Nasal, Joyce Jose
Summary: Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses that cause moderate to fatal diseases in humans and animals. There are currently no approved vaccines or antivirals to treat these infections. Alphaviruses induce various structural modifications in infected cells, such as replication spherules, cytopathic vacuoles, and filopodial extensions. Understanding virus-host interactions at the cellular level could lead to the identification of new targets for antiviral therapies.
Article
Virology
Ming Wang, Zhenzhao Sun, Chenxi Cui, Shida Wang, Decheng Yang, Zhibin Shi, Xinyu Wei, Pengfei Wang, Weiyao Sun, Jing Zhu, Jiaqi Li, Bingchen Du, Zaisi Liu, Lili Wei, Chunguo Liu, Xijun He, Xiangxi Wang, Xinzheng Zhang, Jingfei Wang
Summary: This study reports the cryo-EM structure of GETV and reveals its conformational polymorphism of envelope glycoproteins. The identification of N-glycosylation sites and the structure analysis provide insights into the structure and assembly of alphaviruses, as well as the differences in biology and pathogenicity among related viruses.
Article
Microbiology
David Chmielewski, Michael F. Schmid, Graham Simmons, Jing Jin, Wah Chiu
Summary: Cryogenic electron tomography analysis reveals the assembly process of Chikungunya virus in infected human cells, with non-icosahedral nucleocapsid proteins serving as a scaffold for the assembly of the glycoprotein spike lattice.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
News Item
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer Greaves
Summary: Acyl protein thioesterases play a critical role in regulating S-acylation by removing acyl chains from proteins. A cytosolic deacylase, APT2, is S-acylated by zDHHC3 and zDHHC7, and is involved in deforming the lipid bilayer to extract acyl chains and capture them within a hydrophobic pocket.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
News Item
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian Qiu, Bryan C. Dickinson
Summary: The lipidation cycling of N-Ras is crucial for its trafficking and function, and a novel S-depalmitoylation inhibitor has been found to induce membrane mislocalization of N-Ras, shedding light on its function and potentially paving the way for a new cancer therapeutic strategy.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Chenhui Ma, Kuntai Dang, Qiankun Xie, Javed Hussain Sahito, Baiyu Yuan, Jiong Wan, Xiaoqian Qiu, Jiawen Zhao, Yanan Lin, Shujun Meng, Liqin Mu, Dong Ding, Huili Yang, Yadong Xue, Xiaoyang Chen, Xuehai Zhang, Jihua Tang
Summary: Maize is highly valued in China for its use as both food and feed. The Huang-Huai-Hai region is an important maize cultivation area, where the wheat-maize rotation system requires a suitable reproductive period for maize. This study identifies the key role of the ZmIAA29 gene in maize flowering, showing its regulation of plant growth and development through pathways related to signal transduction and key genes involved in maize flowering.
Article
Microbiology
Nicole N. Haese, Nicholas A. May, Sharon Taft-Benz, Omar Moukha-Chafiq, Nikhil Madadi, Sixue Zhang, Shuklendu D. Karyakarte, Kevin J. Rodzinak, Theresa H. Nguyen, Michael Denton, Aaron D. Streblow, Nichole A. Towers, Lynn Rasmussen, Robert J. Bostwick, Joseph A. Maddry, Subramaniam Ananthan, Corinne E. Augelli-Szafran, Mark J. Suto, Wes Sanders, Nathaniel Moorman, Victor DeFilippis, Mark T. Heise, Ashish K. Pathak, Daniel N. Streblow, Thomas E. Morrison
Summary: A quinolinone compound was found to have antiviral activity against VEEV and other alphaviruses, inhibiting the early-to-mid stage of viral replication. Deep sequencing and reverse genetics studies identified unique resistance mutations in the nsP2 gene that conferred VEEV resistance on this chemical series, while computational modeling indicated potential docking alignment for the compounds.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco S. Mesquita, Laurence Abrami, Lucie Bracq, Nattawadee Panyain, Vincent Mercier, Beatrice Kunz, Audrey Chuat, Joana Carlevaro-Fita, Didier Trono, F. Gisou van der Goot
Summary: This study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a change in the transcriptional start site of the zdhhc20 gene, resulting in an extended version of the ZDHHC20 enzyme that enhances the acylating activity of the Spike protein, leading to increased fusion between the virus and host cells. Additionally, the study also revealed that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks an existing cell damage response pathway to optimize its fusion glycoprotein.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xiang Liu, Yee-Suan Poo, Juliana C. Alves, Roque P. Almeida, Helen Mostafavi, Patrick Chun Hean Tang, Richard Bucala, Mauro M. Teixeira, Adam Taylor, Ali Zaid, Suresh Mahalingam
Summary: CHIKV has been prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Indian Ocean Islands for decades. There are currently no clinically approved vaccines or specific antiviral drugs targeting CHIKV. The upregulation of IL-17 detected in CHIKV disease patients and the reduced disease seen in IL-17-deficient mice suggest a correlation between IL-17 signaling pathways and CHIKV-induced arthritic inflammation. With an established role in contributing to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, IL-17 signaling plays an important role in alphavirus arthritides.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rhian Jones, Gabriel Bragagnolo, Rocio Arranz, Juan Reguera
Summary: Positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, such as coronaviruses, flaviviruses and alphaviruses, replicate and transcribe within virus-induced membranous organelles in host cells. The remodeling of host-cell membranes for organelle formation allows concentration of metabolites and proteins for viral RNA synthesis, while preventing detection by the cellular innate immune system. The structure of non-structural protein 1 (nsP1) of the alphavirus chikungunya virus reveals the mechanism of RNA capping and membrane binding, providing insights into viral replication complex formation and potential antiviral strategies.
Article
Virology
Lukasz Kedzierski, Abigail Er Qi Tan, Isabelle Jia Hui Foo, Sandra E. Nicholson, John K. Fazakerley
Summary: SOCS5 plays a crucial role in regulating anti-viral immunity in the brain, influencing the critical balance between immunopathology and virus persistence, thus affecting the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of neurotropic virus infections.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Jinxing Zheng, Yuntao Song, Fei Liu, Xufeng Liu, Kun Lu, Lei Zhu, Weiwei Xu, Guang Shen, Chao Fang, Cheng Li, Ming Li, Haiyang Liu
Summary: China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) is a national scientific research project aimed at building a fusion energy production facility with an initial power of 2 x10(8) W and eventually reaching a relevant power level of 1 x10(9) W for DEMO. This paper presents the engineering design of the TF coil case (TFCC), as well as the structural design of internal joints, external joints, conductor, and insulation system of the TF winding pack (WP). Additionally, a cooling system is designed based on the thermal load, and auxiliary structures are included to ensure the normal operation of the TF magnet.
FUSION ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jarrett R. Remsberg, Radu M. Suciu, Noemi A. Zambetti, Thomas W. Hanigan, Ari J. Firestone, Anagha Inguva, Amanda Long, Nhi Ngo, Kenneth M. Lum, Cassandra L. Henry, Stewart K. Richardson, Marina Predovic, Ben Huang, Melissa M. Dix, Amy R. Howell, Micah J. Niphakis, Kevin Shannon, Benjamin F. Cravatt
Summary: The covalent inhibitor ABD957 selectively impairs N-Ras depalmitoylation in AML cells, showing potential as a targeted therapy for NRAS-mutant cancers. It acts on dynamically palmitoylated proteins at the plasma membrane, causing partial effects on N-Ras palmitoylation with greater proteome selectivity compared to Palmostatin M. Additionally, ABD957 inhibits N-Ras signaling and AML cell growth, synergizing with MEK inhibition.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James E. Corban, Jolene Ramsey
Summary: Characterization of the Proteus mirabilis bacteriophage Privateer isolated from Texas wastewater treatment plant activated sludge revealed genetic features and evolutionary relationships of structural proteins with other prolate podophages.
Article
Microbiology
Ashley Holt, Jesse Cahill, Jolene Ramsey, Cody Martin, Chandler O'Leary, Russell Moreland, Lori T. Maddox, Thushara Galbadage, Riti Sharan, Preeti Sule, Jeffrey D. Cirillo, Ry Young
Summary: We provide evidence that phiKT produces an antimicrobial peptide for outer membrane disruption during lysis. This protein, designated a disruptin, is a new paradigm for phage lysis and has no similarities to other known lysis genes. The phiKT disruptin may represent the first genetically tractable antimicrobial peptide, facilitating mechanistic analyses.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jolene Ramsey, Brenley McIntosh, Daniel Renfro, Suzanne A. Aleksander, Sandra LaBonte, Curtis Ross, Adrienne E. Zweifel, Nathan Liles, Shabnam Farrar, Jason J. Gill, Ivan Erill, Sarah Ades, Tanya Z. Berardini, Jennifer A. Bennett, Siobhan Brady, Robert Britton, Seth Carbon, Steven M. Caruso, Dave Clements, Ritu Dalia, Meredith Defelice, Erin L. Doyle, Iddo Friedberg, Susan M. R. Gurney, Lee Hughes, Allison Johnson, Jason M. Kowalski, Donghui Li, Ruth C. Lovering, Tamara L. Mans, Fiona McCarthy, Sean D. Moore, Rebecca Murphy, Timothy D. Paustian, Sarah Perdue, Celeste N. Peterson, Birgit M. Pruss, Margaret S. Saha, Robert R. Sheehy, John T. Tansey, Louise Temple, Alexander William Thorman, Saul Trevino, Amy Cheng Vollmer, Virginia Walbot, Joanne Willey, Deborah A. Siegele, James C. Hu
Summary: The primary scientific literature provides information on gene function in a human-readable format, while Gene Ontology annotations capture this information in a machine-readable format. Manual annotations based on evidence directly from scientific literature improve data accessibility and provide novel insights into evolution across different organisms. The Community Assessment of Community Annotation with Ontologies (CACAO) project involved undergraduates in annotating scientific literature, contributing unique entries to public resources and expanding data value for research scientists worldwide.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jake S. Chamblee, Jolene Ramsey, Yi Chen, Lori T. Maddox, Curtis Ross, Kam H. To, Jesse L. Cahill, Ry Young
Summary: Host cell lysis is the final step of bacteriophage infection cycle. Mu phage lacks a holin protein for cell lysis and instead uses a releasin protein gp25 for the release of endolysins. This study provides insights into the mechanism of lysis in Mu phage and its evolutionary implications.
Article
Microbiology
Mike Feiss, Sankar Adhya, Costa Georgopoulos, Roger W. Hendrix, Graham F. Hatfull, Eddie B. Gilcrease, Sherwood R. Casjens, Jolene Ramsey, Ry Young
Summary: Recombinational hybrids between phage lambda and its relatives played a crucial role in the early days of molecular biology. In this study, we present the complete genome sequences of lambdoid phages 21 and 434, as well as three lambda hybrids. Additionally, we describe 434B, where the entire lysis gene region was replaced by cryptic prophage sequences.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andrew Talcott, Russell Moreland, Jolene Ramsey, James Clark, Isla Hernandez, Mei Liu, Ben Burrowes
Summary: The Streptomyces genus is a major producer of clinically useful natural antibiotics, and the sipho-phage Sentinel described in this study utilizes Streptomyces sp. strain Mg1 as a host. With a 50,272-bp genome and 83 protein-coding genes, it shows similarity to other Streptomyces phages in the Arequatrovirus genus.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jolene Ramsey, Helena Rasche, Cory Maughmer, Anthony Criscione, Eleni Mijalis, Mei Liu, James C. Hu, Ry Young, Jason J. Gill
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Michael Chung, Yicheng Xie, Heather Newkirk, Mei Liu, Jason J. Gill, Jolene Ramsey
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Alison Vicary, Heather Newkirk, Russell Moreland, Carlos F. Gonzalez, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey, Justin Leavitt
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Loraine Melbern, Kathryn Broussard, Russell Moreland, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey, Justin Leavitt
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Jason Snowden, Heather Newkirk, Russell Moreland, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey, Justin Leavitt
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Soren Campbell, Cameron Atkison, Russell Moreland, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey, Justin Leavitt
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Kameron D. Garza, Heather Newkirk, Russell Moreland, Carlos F. Gonzalez, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey, Justin Leavitt
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Maximilian Russo, Tram Le, Russell Moreland, Carlos F. Gonzalez, Mei Liu, Jolene Ramsey
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Kathryn Klotz, Abby Korn, Heather Newkirk, Mei Liu, Jason J. Gill, Jolene Ramsey
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Article
Virology
Naiqing Xu, Xinen Tang, Xin Wang, Miao Cai, Xiaowen Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Shunlin Hu, Min Gu, Jiao Hu, Ruyi Gao, Kaituo Liu, Yu Chen, Xiufan Liu, Xiaoquan Wang
Summary: This study found that the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus has a high airborne transmissibility, while the H7N9 virus does not. The Hemagglutinin protein of the H9N2 virus was found to play a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission.
Article
Virology
Samar S. Ewies, Sabry M. Tamam, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim, Sherin R. Rouby
Summary: Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats worldwide. The study provided a clinical description of CE and screened for genetic variation in the B2L gene. Infected sheep exhibited anorexia and oral lesions, while inoculated chicken embryos showed pock lesions. The B2L gene was successfully amplified and found to be highly conserved.
Article
Virology
Yigal Farnoushi, Dan Heller, Avishai Lublin
Summary: In recent years, new variants of avian reovirus (ARV) have caused a variety of symptoms in chickens worldwide, including viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. This study analyzed emerging ARV variants in Israel and found significant genetic diversity. Most ARV isolates in Israel belonged to genotypic cluster 5 (GC5). The study suggests that Israel has not experienced the emergence of new ARV variants since the introduction of the live vaccine (ISR-7585), but ongoing monitoring is needed due to the continuous emergence of ARV variants.
Article
Virology
Shigeru Tajima, Michiyo Kataoka, Yuki Takamatsu, Hideki Ebihara, Chang-Kweng Lim
Summary: Yokose virus (YOKV), a bat-associated flavivirus, was found to replicate at a slower rate in mosquito cells compared to other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Specific nucleotide mutations in the virus were identified to enhance its proliferation ability in mosquito cells.
Article
Virology
Alejandra Borjabad, Baojun Dong, Wei Chao, David J. Volsky, Mary Jane Potash
Summary: This study investigated HIV brain disease using a mouse model, and found that poly I:C can reverse associated cognitive impairment and reduce virus burden. The results also revealed transcriptional changes related to neuronal function and innate immune responses.
Article
Virology
Ching-Hung Lin, Feng-Cheng Hsieh, Meilin Wang, Chieh Hsu, Hsuan-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yao Yang, Hung-Yi Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the synthesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA is not solely determined by the sequence homology between the leader TRS and TRS-B, but also by the disassociation of the coronavirus polymerase from the viral genome. This finding provides a new insight into the transcription mechanism of coronaviruses.
Article
Virology
Nicholas S. Kron, Benjamin W. Neuman, Sathish Kumar, Patricia L. Blackwelder, Dayana Vidal, Delphina Z. Walker-Phelan, Patrick D. I. Gibbs, Lynne A. Fieber, Michael C. Schmale
Summary: Two recent studies documented the genome of a novel virus in marine animals, finding that the virus is widespread in apparently healthy animals but not highly expressed in neurons. The studies also identified viral replication factories and high levels of defective genomes in chronically infected animals.
Article
Virology
Andrew M. Ramey, Laura C. Scott, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Evan J. Buck, Alison R. Williams, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson
Summary: We successfully detected and characterized highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in hunter-harvested wild waterfowl samples from western Alaska. Genomic analysis revealed three independent viral introductions into Alaska. Our findings demonstrate the utility and potential limitations of using molecular processing approaches directly on original swab samples for viral research and monitoring.
Article
Virology
Ting Gong, Dongdong Wu, Yongzhi Feng, Xing Liu, Qi Gao, Xiaoyu Zheng, Zebu Song, Heng Wang, Guihong Zhang, Lang Gong
Summary: This study discovered that quercetin can inhibit PEDV replication both in vivo and in vitro, and alleviate the clinical symptoms and intestinal injury caused by the virus. This provides a new direction for the development of PED antiviral drugs.
Article
Virology
Min Zhu, Hao Zeng, Jianqiao He, Yaohui Zhu, Pingping Wang, Jianing Guo, Jinfan Guo, Huabo Zhou, Yifeng Qin, Kang Ouyang, Zuzhang Wei, Weijian Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: The reassortment between avian H9N2 and Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 viruses may have potentially changed from avian-to-mammals adaptation. This study found that the introduction of EA H1N1 internal genes into H9N2 virus restored the replication capability and resulted in extreme virulence in some cases. This raises new concerns for public health due to the possible coexistence of H9N2 and EA H1N1 viruses in dogs.