Article
Fisheries
Cheng-Yan Mou, Yang Wang, Peng Yu, Zhi Li, Zhong-Wei Wang, Xi-Yin Li, Shun Li, Long-Feng Lu, Jin-Feng Tong, Qi-Ya Zhang, Xiao-Juan Zhang, Li Zhou, Jian-Fang Gui
Summary: This study used CRISPR/Cas9 editing to uncover the functional differences of two duplicated viperin homeologs in hexaploid gibel carp and their antiviral mechanisms against C. auratus herpesvirus (CaHV). It is the first time to clarify the important role of viperin in the battle between teleost and virus in vivo and explain the evolutionary divergence of a duplicated gene in a recurrent polyploid fish.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sonia Khan Sony, Tanushri Kaul, Khaled Fathy Abdel Motelb, Arulprakash Thangaraj, Jyotsna Bharti, Rashmi Kaul, Rachana Verma, Mamta Nehra
Summary: Globally, CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing has revolutionized crop advancements, with the development of glyphosate-resistant rice lines showing increased glyphosate resistance, enhanced aromatic amino acids, and improved grain yields. The strategy involves site-specific amino acid substitutions and modification of the OsEPSPS gene through CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. The results provide a novel weed management approach without yield penalties and a higher chance of commercial release.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Stefan J. Tekel, Nicholas Brookhouser, Kylie Standage-Beier, Xiao Wang, David A. Brafman
Summary: The introduction of transient reporters of editing enrichment (TREE) has enabled highly efficient single-base editing of human cells using a transient episomal fluorescent reporter, allowing for rapid generation of clonal editing efficiencies exceeding 80% in biallelic or multiplexed edited isogenic human pluripotent stem cell lines within approximately 3-4 weeks.
Article
Virology
Anna D. Dorsch, Julia E. Holper, Kati Franzke, Luca M. Zaeck, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Barbara G. Klupp
Summary: The molecular mechanism of herpesvirus nucleocapsid translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is not fully understood. While the viral nuclear egress complex (NEC) assists in budding and scission from the inner nuclear membrane, it is not enough for efficient fusion with the outer nuclear membrane. The cellular machinery may be involved in this process, as no other viral protein has been found essential for nuclear egress.
Review
Virology
Isadora Zhang, Zoe Hsiao, Fenyong Liu
Summary: Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can cause cold sores or keratitis in healthy individuals, but severe complications in immune-compromised or neonatal patients. Current therapies can block viral replication but have limited effect on viral latency, necessitating the development of new strategies. Genome editing methods like homing endonucleases and CRISPR/Cas systems show promise in inhibiting HSV-1 infection.
Article
Microbiology
Xiaofeng Wu, Hao Wu, Hongxia Wang, Li Luo, Jiao Wang, Beili Wu, Qigai He, Gang Cao, Yingying Lei, Xi Chen, Jinxia Dai
Summary: This study developed a new strategy to construct a herpesvirus based bivalent vaccine with high-level expression of foreign immunogen, specifically targeting the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen protein. The vaccine candidate showed promising results in mice and pigs, eliciting high titers of specific antibodies and demonstrating protective effects against PRV challenge, suggesting potential for clinical application. This approach could be applied to other multivalent vaccines, paving the way for cost-effective vaccine production.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Sabina Andreu, Ines Ripa, Beatriz Praena, Jose Antonio Lopez-Guerrero, Raquel Bello-Morales
Summary: PRV infection in swine can cause Aujeszky's disease, leading to significant economic losses. Studies suggest that VPD, a derivative of valproic acid, may be a promising antiviral drug against PRV infection, offering a potential alternative to nucleoside analogues.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmarie. C. C. Ryan, Leslie. M. M. Huggins, Joshua. D. D. Podlevsky
Summary: CRISPR arrays and Cas proteins are adaptive immune systems in bacteria and archaea, defending against genetic elements. The reprogrammable guide RNA of single effector CRISPR-Cas systems greatly facilitates gene-editing but complicates PCR tests. These systems are derived from human microflora and pathogens, making detection of gene-editor exposure difficult. To overcome false positives, a DNA displacement assay has been developed to specifically detect gene-editors without cross-reacting with bacterial CRISPRs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yulin Mu, Chengxiao Zhang, Taihua Li, Feng-Jie Jin, Yun-Ju Sung, Hee-Mock Oh, Hyung-Gwan Lee, Long Jin
Summary: Lactobacillus, important in food production and probiotics, can benefit from CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing to improve strain efficiency and achieve traceless genome modification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zsolt Bodai, Alena L. Bishop, Valentino M. Gantz, Alexis C. Komor
Summary: Programmable double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) can be harnessed for precision genome editing through manipulation of the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway. This study introduces a general strategy called the double tap method, which improves HDR-mediated precision editing efficiency by taking advantage of the reproducible nature of indel sequences. The method utilizes multiple gRNAs, including a primary gRNA that targets the wild-type genomic sequence and one or more secondary gRNAs that target the most common indel sequence(s).
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Zhiquan Liu, Siyu Chen, Wanhua Xie, Hao Yu, Liangxue Lai, Zhanjun Li
Summary: Researchers have revisited and engineered a compact Cas9 orthologue derived from Neisseria cinerea (NcCas9) for efficient genome editing in mammal cells. NcCas9 can recognize a PAM sequence (N4GYAT) that existing Cas9s cannot, and by optimizing its architecture and spacer length, editing efficacy is improved. NcCas9-derived Base editors can efficiently generate base conversions, and six anti-CRISPR proteins were identified as off-switches for NcCas9. NcCas9 successfully generated efficient editing of mouse embryos by microinjection of NcCas9 mRNA and the corresponding sgRNA.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Julia Popova, Victoria Bets, Elena Kozhevnikova
Summary: Genome editing has practical applications in farm animals, improving production traits, economic value, and disease resistance. It also has potential in biomedical research and drug production, as well as xenograft donors. Recent advancements in site-specific nucleases and embryological delivery methods have revolutionized transgenesis, providing efficient and reliable tools for genome engineering in agriculture.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hui Kwon Kim, Goosang Yu, Jinman Park, Seonwoo Min, Sungtae Lee, Sungroh Yoon, Hyongbum Henry Kim
Summary: This study identified factors affecting PE2 efficiency through high-throughput evaluation and developed three computational models to predict pegRNA efficiency, which can be applied to edits of various types and positions. Spearman's correlations between 0.47 and 0.81 were found when testing the accuracy of the predictions using independent test data sets.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Siwei Chen, Deng Chen, Bin Liu, Hidde J. Haisma
Summary: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering has extensive applications in basic biology, biotechnology, and medicine. However, the low gene modification efficiency and uncontrollable prolonged Cas9 activity hinder its further use. Researchers have explored small molecules with clinical potential to precisely modulate CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing activity.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Juhee Lee, Yoo Kyung Kang, Eonju Oh, Juhee Jeong, San Hae Im, Duk Ki Kim, Haeshin Lee, Sang-Gyu Kim, Keehoon Jung, Hyun Jung Chung
Summary: The study presents a cancer gene therapy strategy based on NanoRNP that efficiently blocks the PD-L1 immune checkpoint and induces an antitumor effect in vivo without the need for combination therapy. In vivo results demonstrate that NanoRNP can induce indels in target cells at high frequencies, significantly suppressing tumor growth.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Tuhina Neogi, Christine Peloquin, Priyanka Ballal, Cindy Germaine Boer
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Rheumatology
Priyanka Ballal, Christine Peloquin, Cindy Germaine Boer, Tuhina Neogi
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Olivia Swann, Louisa Pollock, Karl A. Holden, Alasdair P. S. Munro, Aisleen Bennett, Thomas C. Williams, Lance Turtle, Cameron J. Fairfield, Thomas M. Drake, Saul N. Faust, Ian P. Sinha, Damian Roland, Elizabeth Whittaker, Shamez N. Ladhani, Jonathan S. Nguyen-Van-Tam, Michelle Girvan, Chloe Donohue, Cara Donegan, Rebecca G. Spencer, Hayley E. Hardwick, Peter J. M. Openshaw, J. Kenneth Baillie, Ewen M. Harrison, Annemarie B. Docherty, Malcolm G. Semple
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of hospitalized children and young people with SARS-CoV-2 during the UK's second wave. The results showed that patients in the second wave had lower PEWS, less antibiotic use, and fewer respiratory and cardiovascular support compared to the first wave. However, there was no change in the proportion of patients admitted to critical care. At least 20% of patients in this cohort had asymptomatic/incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Ingrid A. Szilagyi, Costanza L. Vallerga, Cindy G. Boer, Dieuwke Schiphof, M. Arfan Ikram, Sita M. A. Bierma-Zeinstra, Joyce B. J. van Meurs
Summary: This study aimed to identify biomarkers for radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) severity and progression. They found several proteins associated with overall OA burden, with CRTAC1 being the most compelling and robust biomarker for OA severity and progression.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexander Grundmann, Chieh-Hsi Wu, Marc Hardwick, J. Kenneth Baillie, Peter J. M. Openshaw, Malcolm G. Semple, Dankmar Bohning, Sarah Pett, Benedict D. Michael, Rhys H. Thomas, Ian Galea
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of treatment with dexamethasone, remdesivir, or both on neurological complications in acute COVID-19. The study found that treatment with dexamethasone, remdesivir, or both was associated with a lower frequency of neurological complications in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with the greatest benefit observed in patients who received both drugs together.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Matthew K. Siggins, Kate Davies, Rosie Fellows, Ryan S. Thwaites, J. Kenneth Baillie, Malcolm G. Semple, Peter J. M. Openshaw, Wioleta M. Zelek, Claire L. Harris, B. Paul Morgan
Summary: This study is the largest comprehensive study of complement in COVID-19 to date. It demonstrates the important role of complement in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. Early-onset, uncontrolled activation of complement is a ubiquitous feature of COVID-19, further exacerbated in severe cases. These findings provide novel insights into the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 and inform strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Article
Microbiology
Ann Kathrin Ahrens, Hans-Christoph Selinka, Claudia Wylezich, Hubert Wonnemann, Ole Sindt, Hartmut H. H. Hellmer, Florian Pfaff, Dirk Hoeper, Thomas C. C. Mettenleiter, Martin Beer, Timm C. C. Harder
Summary: Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have a wide host range and can occasionally be transmitted to humans. Surface water plays a crucial role in AIV epidemiology as it serves as a reservoir in aquatic wild birds. However, environmental samples often have low virus loads, making further subtype and pathotype testing difficult. Passive surveillance based on oral and cloacal swabs of diseased and dead wild birds remains the most sensitive method.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Virology
Kyriakos Tsangaras, Jens Mayer, Omar Mirza, Anisha Dayaram, Damien P. Higgins, Benn Bryant, Michelle Campbell-Ward, Cheryl Sangster, Andrea Casteriano, Dirk Hoper, Martin Beer, Alex D. Greenwood
Summary: Through high-throughput sequencing of DNA and cDNA from Southern white rhinoceros, gammaretroviruses were detected in the genomes of the white and black rhinoceroses. These viruses were not found in other perissodactyls. The newly identified proviruses were designated as SimumERV and DicerosERV. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close evolutionary relationship between these rhinoceros gammaretroviruses and those found in rodents, potentially indicating an African origin for these viruses.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Elisabeth Woehnke, Barbara G. Klupp, Sandra Blome, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Axel Karger
Summary: African swine fever, caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), is spreading globally and posing a threat to pig husbandry. The virus has a strategy to shut down host protein synthesis, which has been observed in infected cells. However, it was unclear whether this shutdown was selective for specific host proteins. This study used a mass spectrometric approach to measure protein synthesis rates and found that ASFV infection had varying effects on the synthesis of different host proteins, with a strong shutoff observed for RNA metabolism proteins and a strong induction of proteins related to the innate immune system.
Review
Virology
Elsayed M. Abdelwhab, Thomas C. Mettenleiter
Summary: Poultry and swine are the main reservoirs for animal influenza viruses, with more infections occurring between them and humans compared to other animals. Transmission can occur through direct contact with animals or through mixing vessel hosts. High vigilance is needed in order to prevent the next pandemic caused by animal influenza viruses.
Article
Immunology
Lisa Wendt, Matthew J. Pickin, Bianca S. Bodmer, Sven Reiche, Lucie Feneant, Julia E. Hoelper, Walter Fuchs, Allison Groseth, Thomas Hoenen
Summary: By analyzing the m(6)A methylation pattern of hemorrhagic fever viruses, it was found that METTL3 interacts with their nucleoproteins and transcriptional activators to support viral RNA synthesis. This interaction and its importance for RNA synthesis and protein expression were also observed in other hemorrhagic fever viruses. Loss of m(6)A methylation had negative effects on viral RNA synthesis, independent of innate immune sensing.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Bianca S. Bodmer, Melina Vallbracht, Dmitry S. Ushakov, Lisa Wendt, Petr Chlanda, Thomas Hoenen
Summary: This study investigates the formation of inclusion bodies (IBs) in Ebola virus (EBOV) and confirms that EBOV IBs are liquid organelles. The oligomerization of EBOV nucleoprotein plays a crucial role in their formation, while VP35 alters their liquid behavior.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Dana A. Thal, Thomas C. Mettenleiter
Summary: Zoonotic diseases are infections that can be transmitted between humans and vertebrate animals. They have significant social and economic costs globally. One Health recognizes the close relationship between human, animal, and ecosystem health, making zoonotic disease control an integral part of this concept. However, there are still gaps in implementing One Health as a unified approach across sectors and disciplines, and improvement is needed in networking with environmental sciences. Learning from current situations and identifying best practice examples will help in continuously developing and improving One Health concepts for the control of zoonoses.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hannah Goldswain, Xiaofeng Dong, Rebekah Penrice-Randal, Muhannad Alruwaili, Ghada T. Shawli, Tessa Prince, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Jayna Raghwani, Nadine Randle, Benjamin Jones, I'ah Donovan-Banfield, Francisco J. Salguero, Julia A. Tree, Yper Hall, Catherine Hartley, Maximilian Erdmann, James Bazire, Tuksin Jearanaiwitayakul, Malcolm G. Semple, Peter J. M. Openshaw, J. Kenneth Baillie, Stevan R. Emmett, Paul Digard, David A. Matthews, Lance Turtle, Alistair C. Darby, Andrew D. Davidson, Miles W. Carroll, Julian A. Hiscox
Summary: The mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 varies between the dominant viral genome sequence and minor genomic variant population. The emergence of D614G substitution in the spike protein is associated with increased transmissibility. The P323L substitution in the viral polymerase is also observed, but not under strong selective pressure.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shangfan Hu, Yoko Fujita-Fujiharu, Yukihiko Sugita, Lisa Wendt, Yukiko Muramoto, Masahiro Nakano, Thomas Hoenen, Takeshi Noda
Summary: In this study, the structure of the Lloviu virus nucleoprotein-RNA helical complex was determined using cryoelectron microscopy. The results showed that the N-terminal region of the nucleoprotein determines the helical arrangement, and identified amino acids involved in helical assembly and viral RNA synthesis. These findings advance our understanding of filovirus nucleocapsid formation and have implications for antiviral therapeutics development.