Editorial Material
Microbiology
Tom Gallagher
Summary: A recent study has identified protein complexes, including VPS29, that play a crucial role in creating favorable environments for virus entry into endocytic vesicles. Without VPS29, endosomes lack the necessary protease activities to support the entry of certain viruses. These findings provide valuable insights into the virus-host interactions and may have implications for developing targeted therapies against coronaviruses.
Article
Microbiology
Enya Qing, Tom Kicmal, Binod Kumar, Grant M. Hawkins, Emily Timm, Stanley Perlman, Tom Gallagher
Summary: Adaptive changes in the coronavirus spike proteins, especially in the N-terminal domains, can increase SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-mediated membrane fusion and cell entry, leading to amplified virus-cell binding. However, these changes may also reduce interdomain associations, making spike proteins susceptible to irreversible inactivation on virus-like particles.
Review
Microbiology
Nicholas Murgolo, Alex G. Therien, Bonnie Howell, Daniel Klein, Kenneth Koeplinger, Linda A. Lieberman, Gregory C. Adam, Jessica Flynn, Philip McKenna, Gokul Swaminathan, Daria J. Hazuda, David B. Olsen
Summary: This article discusses the key molecular and cellular interactions involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection to support current and future drug discovery efforts. While there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for COVID-19, potential antiviral compounds have been identified through drug repurposing screens.
Article
Cell Biology
Elena Poggio, Francesca Vallese, Andreas J. W. Hartel, Travis J. Morgenstern, Scott A. Kanner, Oliver Rauh, Flavia Giamogante, Lucia Barazzuol, Kenneth L. Shepard, Henry M. Colecraft, Oliver Biggs Clarke, Marisa Brini, Tito Cali
Summary: COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has a wide range of clinical phenotypes and was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. As of February 2023, there have been almost 670 million confirmed cases and 6.8 million deaths worldwide. The E protein of SARS-CoV-2 may be an important candidate for vaccine development and clinical management of COVID.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Rajeev Rudraraju, Matthew J. Gartner, Jessica A. Neil, Elizabeth S. Stout, Joseph Chen, Elise J. Needham, Michael See, Charley Mackenzie-Kludas, Leo Yi Yang Lee, Mingyang Wang, Hayley Pointer, Kathy Karavendzas, Dad Abu-Bonsrah, Damien Drew, Yu Bo Yang Sun, Jia Ping Tan, Guizhi Sun, Abbas Salavaty, Natalie Charitakis, Hieu T. Nim, Peter D. Currie, Wai-Hong Tham, Enzo Porrello, Jose M. Polo, Sean J. Humphrey, Mirana Ramialison, David A. Elliott, Kanta Subbarao
Summary: This study explores the molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung and heart. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 play crucial roles in the infection process, and the host responses differ significantly between lung and cardiac cells. The study also identifies potential antiviral compounds and highlights the importance of evaluating drug efficacy in relevant cell types.
Article
Virology
Gary R. Whittaker, Susan Daniel, Jean K. Millet
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significance of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in shaping scientific research in 2020, with a specific focus on its spike (S) protein. This complex glycoprotein plays a crucial role in immunological responses, virus pathogenesis, and virus entry mechanisms. Understanding these processes is essential for current work on SARS-CoV-2 and for developing potential therapies.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Emanuel K. Peter, Alexander Schug
Summary: This article investigates the binding processes of a hexapeptide YKYRYL on the ACE2 receptor and its inhibitory effect on the activation of CoV-2 spike protein, suggesting it as a possible treatment option to prevent viral activation.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alvin Phan, Hugo Avila, J. Andrew MacKay
Summary: COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Researchers have genetically engineered a fusion of a coat protein with a thermo-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) to study its therapeutic opportunities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miao-Miao Zhao, Wei-Li Yang, Fang-Yuan Yang, Li Zhang, Wei-Jin Huang, Wei Hou, Chang-Fa Fan, Rong-Hua Jin, Ying-Mei Feng, You-Chun Wang, Jin-Kui Yang
Summary: CTSL plays a crucial role in COVID-19 patients, with its levels positively correlated with disease severity. Research showed that CTSL promotes SARS-CoV-2 virus entry into cells, and the CTSL inhibitor amantadine can inhibit this process, providing a direction for the development of new anti-COVID-19 drugs.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Abou-Hamdan, R. Saleh, S. Mani, P. Dournaud, M. Metifiot, M. L. Blondot, M. L. Andreola, F. Abdel-sater, M. De Reggi, P. Gressens, M. Laforge
Summary: Research has shown that pantethine reduces the infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 in cells, inhibits viral protein expression, and suppresses the expression of related genes. This study suggests that pantethine could be a potential new therapeutic drug for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and long COVID syndrome.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Zhen Fu, Yixin Xiang, Yanan Fu, Zhelin Su, Yubei Tan, Mengfang Yang, Yuanyuan Yan, Hakimeh Baghaei Daemi, Yuejun Shi, Shengsong Xie, Limeng Sun, Guiqing Peng
Summary: DYRK1A is identified as a critical host factor for the replication of multiple coronaviruses, providing insights into virus-host interactions and facilitating the development of new antiviral drugs.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunlong Ma, Zilei Xia, Michael Dominic Sacco, Yanmei Hu, Julia Alma Townsend, Xiangzhi Meng, Juliana Choza, Haozhou Tan, Janice Jang, Maura Gongora, Xiujun Zhang, Fushun Zhang, Yan Xiang, Michael Thomas Marty, Yu Chen, Jun Wang
Summary: This study introduces a rational design of covalent SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors with novel cysteine reactive warheads, demonstrating potent enzymatic inhibition, antiviral activity, and improved target specificity compared to existing compounds. The promising lead candidates exhibit high selectivity over host proteases and are valuable chemical probes for target validation and potential drug development against SARS-CoV-2.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nirmal Kumar, Irshad Maajid Taily, Charandeep Singh, Sahil Kumar, Raju S. Rajmani, Debajyoti Chakraborty, Anshul Sharma, Priyanka Singh, Krishan Gopal Thakur, Raghavan Varadarajan, Rajesh P. Ringe, Prabal Banerjee, Indranil Banerjee
Summary: This study identified a new class of endocytosis inhibitors, 1,3-diphenylurea derivatives (DPUDs), that broadly restricted the entry and replication of various SARS-CoV-2 and IAV strains. DPUDs did not induce significant cytotoxicity at effective concentrations against viral infections. The inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, utilized by both SARS-CoV-2 and IAV for cellular entry, was the major effect of DPUDs.
Review
Virology
Asim Z. Abbasi, Dania A. Kiyani, Syeda M. Hamid, Muhammad Saalim, Ammad Fahim, Nasir Jalal
Summary: The expression of the TMPRSS2 gene in host cells may affect the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 and the outcomes of infection, especially with different expressions in various ethnic groups leading to varying disease susceptibilities. This gene may serve as a potential target in COVID-19 treatment.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Miao-Miao Zhao, Yun Zhu, Li Zhang, Gongxun Zhong, Linhua Tai, Shuo Liu, Guoliang Yin, Jing Lu, Qiong He, Ming-Jia Li, Ru-Xuan Zhao, Hao Wang, Weijin Huang, Changfa Fan, Lei Shuai, Zhiyuan Wen, Chong Wang, Xijun He, Qiuluan Chen, Banghui Liu, Xiaoli Xiong, Zhigao Bu, Youchun Wang, Fei Sun, Jin-Kui Yang
Summary: This study identifies two previously unidentified Cathepsin L (CTSL) cleavage sites in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. CTSL cleavage promotes the adoption of a specific conformation by the spike protein, facilitating receptor binding and membrane fusion. Inhibitors targeting CTSL not only block viral infection in cells, but also reduce live virus infection in lung tissues. CTSL-specific inhibitors show promising effects in preventing live virus infection in animal models. Inhibition of CTSL cleavage could be a potential strategy for developing mutation-resistant therapies.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Hui Chen, Zhao Li, Sheng Feng, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Emily Hutson, Stefen Andrianus, Laurel J. Glaser, Kyle G. Rodino, Jianing Qian, Dinesh Jayaraman, Ronald G. Collman, Abigail Glascock, Frederic D. Bushman, Jae Seung Lee, Sara Cherry, Alejandra Fausto, Susan R. Weiss, Hyun Koo, Patricia M. Corby, Alfonso Oceguera, Una O'Doherty, Alfred L. Garfall, Dan T. Vogl, Edward A. Stadtmauer, Ping Wang
Summary: The study developed a high-sensitivity SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection assay to track antigen burden in respiratory samples from different populations. Results showed that the assay accurately detects acute infections, with different outcomes observed in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, making it useful for screening and monitoring patients' antigen burden.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Arturo Casadevall, Susan R. Weiss, Michael J. Imperiale
Summary: The origins of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are being debated between a natural and a lab accident hypothesis, and while science can provide important information, it may not offer a definitive answer.
Article
Microbiology
Abhishek Asthana, Christina Gaughan, Beihua Dong, Susan R. Weiss, Robert H. Silverman
Summary: The 2',5'-PEs are metal ion-independent enzymes that cleave 2-5A, helping viruses escape immune responses. These enzymes specifically degrade 2',5'-oligoadenylate activators of the antiviral enzyme RNase L.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhiqiang Ku, Xuping Xie, Edgar Davidson, Xiaohua Ye, Hang Su, Vineet D. Menachery, Yize Li, Zihao Yuan, Xianwen Zhang, Antonio E. Muruato, Ariadna Grinyo i Escuer, Breanna Tyrell, Kyle Doolan, Benjamin J. Doranz, Daniel Wrapp, Paul F. Bates, Jason S. McLellan, Susan R. Weiss, Ningyan Zhang, Pei-Yong Shi, Zhiqiang An
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Substance Abuse
Susan R. B. Weiss, Nora D. Volkow
Article
Substance Abuse
Krista M. Lisdahl, Susan Tapert, Kenneth J. Sher, Raul Gonzalez, Sara Jo Nixon, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, Kevin P. Conway, Alex Wallace, Ryan Sullivan, Kelah Hatcher, Christine Kaiver, Wes Thompson, Chase Reuter, Hauke Bartsch, Natasha E. Wade, Joanna Jacobus, M. D. Albaugh, N. Allgaier, A. P. Anokhin, K. Bagot, F. C. Baker, M. T. Banich, D. M. Barch, A. Baskin-Sommers, F. J. Breslin, S. A. Brown, V Calhoun, B. J. Casey, B. Chaarani, L. Chang, D. B. Clark, C. Cloak, R. T. Constable, L. B. Cottler, R. K. Dagher, M. Dapretto, A. Dick, E. K. Do, N. U. F. Dosenbach, G. J. Dowling, D. A. Fair, P. Florsheim, J. J. Foxe, E. G. Freedman, N. P. Friedman, H. P. Garavan, D. G. Gee, M. D. Glantz, P. Glaser, M. R. Gonzalez, K. M. Gray, S. Grant, F. Haist, S. Hawes, S. G. Heeringa, R. Hermosillo, M. M. Herting, J. M. Hettema, J. K. Hewitt, C. Heyser, E. A. Hoffman, K. D. Howlett, R. S. Huber, M. A. Huestis, L. W. Hyde, W. G. Iacono, A. Isaiah, M. Y. Ivanova, R. S. James, T. L. Jernigan, N. R. Karcher, J. M. Kuperman, A. R. Laird, C. L. Larson, K. H. LeBlanc, M. F. Lopez, M. Luciana, B. Luna, H. H. Maes, A. T. Marshall, M. J. Mason, E. McGlade, A. S. Morris, C. Mulford, B. J. Nagel, G. Neigh, C. E. Palmer, M. P. Paulus, D. Pecheva, D. Prouty, A. Potter, L. Puttler, N. Rajapakse, J. M. Ross, M. Sanchez, C. Schirda, J. Schulenberg, C. Sheth, P. D. Shilling, E. R. Sowell, N. Speer, L. Squeglia, C. Sripada, J. Steinberg, M. T. Sutherland, R. Tomko, K. Uban, S. Vrieze, S. R. B. Weiss, D. Wing, D. A. Yurgelun-Todd, R. A. Zucker, Mary M. Heitzeg
Summary: The ABCD Study found that most 9-10 year olds had used caffeine, with a portion also experimenting with alcohol, and very rare use of other substances. Variables linked with early childhood alcohol sipping and caffeine use were associated with demographic factors, externalizing symptoms, and parental history of alcohol misuse.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Developmental
Elizabeth A. Hoffman, Kimberly LeBlanc, Susan R. B. Weiss, Gayathri J. Dowling
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander M. Price, Robert T. Steinbock, Chao Di, Katharina E. Hayer, Yize Li, Christin Herrmann, Nicholas A. Parenti, Jillian N. Whelan, Susan R. Weiss, Matthew D. Weitzman
Summary: It is discovered that DNA viruses do not produce detectable levels of dsRNA during infection, contrary to previous beliefs. However, when infected with DNA virus mutants defective for viral RNA processing, cells show abundant dsRNA within the nucleus. DNA viruses actively limit dsRNA formation by promoting efficient splicing and mRNA processing to escape detection and restriction by host innate immune sensors of pathogenic nucleic acids.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Virology
Olivia C. Lenz, Andrew D. Marques, Brendan J. Kelly, Kyle G. Rodino, Stephen D. Cole, Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera, Susan R. Weiss, Frederic D. Bushman, Elizabeth M. Lennon
Summary: This study detected and sequenced a SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in fecal samples from a domestic house cat previously exposed to a SARS-CoV-2 positive owner. The results reveal the ongoing spillover infections of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and emphasize the importance of collecting fecal samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing in animals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Courtney E. Comar, Clayton J. Otter, Jessica Pfannenstiel, Ethan Doerger, David M. Renner, Li Hui Tan, Stanley Perlman, Noam A. Cohen, Anthony R. Fehr, Susan R. Weiss
Summary: MERS-CoV optimizes its replication by suppressing early innate immune pathways, including interferon production and signaling, through the actions of endoribonuclease (EndoU) and accessory proteins NS4a and NS4b.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Virology
Bradley S. Hollidge, Mary-Virginia Salzano, John M. Ibrahim, Jonathan W. Fraser, Valentina Wagner, Nicole E. Leitner, Susan R. Weiss, Friedemann Weber, Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano, Samantha S. Soldan
Summary: La Crosse virus (LACV) is a common pathogen in the United States that causes encephalitis and meningitis. The Gc glycoprotein of LACV plays a crucial role in the neuropathogenesis of encephalitis. The fusion peptide is identified as a determinant of neuroinvasion, but not neurovirulence. Targeting mutations in the fusion peptide could be a potential strategy for live-attenuated virus vaccines.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John Kee, Samuel Thudium, David M. Renner, Karl Glastad, Katherine Palozola, Zhen Zhang, Yize Li, Yemin Lan, Joseph Cesare, Andrey Poleshko, Anna A. Kiseleva, Rachel Truitt, Fabian L. Cardenas-Diaz, Xianwen Zhang, Xuping Xie, Darrell N. Kotton, Konstantinos D. Alysandratos, Johnathan A. Epstein, Pei-Yong Shi, Wenli Yang, Edward Morrisey, Benjamin A. Garcia, Shelley L. Berger, Susan R. Weiss, Erica Korb
Summary: Research reveals that the ORF8 protein of SARS-CoV-2 functions as a mimic of histone H3, disrupting the epigenetic regulation of host cells. This finding provides insight into how SARS-CoV-2 controls host cell epigenome and sheds light on the association between the absence of ORF8 and decreased severity of COVID-19.
Article
Microbiology
Long C. Nguyen, David M. Renner, Diane Silva, Dongbo Yang, Nicholas Parenti, Kaeri M. Medina, Vlad Nicolaescu, Haley Gula, Nir Drayman, Andrea Valdespino, Adil Mohamed, Christopher Dann, Kristin Wannemo, Lydia Robinson-Mailman, Alan Gonzalez, Leticia Stock, Mengrui Cao, Zeyu Qiao, Raymond E. Moellering, Savas Tay, Glenn Randall, Michael F. Beers, Marsha Rich Rosner, Scott A. Oakes, Susan R. Weiss
Summary: This study focused on the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1 alpha) pathway, which is part of the host unfolded protein response to virus-induced stress. The researchers found that while MERS-CoV and HCoV-OC43 fully activate the IRE1 alpha kinase and RNase activities, SARS-CoV-2 only partially activates IRE1 alpha, promoting its kinase activity but not RNase activity. Based on changes in IRE1 alpha-dependent gene expression during infection, the study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the RNase activation of IRE1 alpha as a strategy to evade detection by the host immune system.
Meeting Abstract
Hematology
Kandace Gollomp, Irina Chernysh, Anh T. P. Ngo, Nathan Levine, Sergey Zaytsev, Veronica Bochenek, Lubica Rauova, Nicholas Parenti, Susan R. Weiss, John W. Weisel, Douglas B. Cines, Mortimer Poncz
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clayton J. Otter, Alejandra Fausto, Li Hui Tan, Alisha S. Khosla, Noam A. Cohen, Susan R. Weiss
Summary: This study compares the replication and cytotoxicity of several coronaviruses in human nasal epithelial cells. The results show that different viruses have different replication abilities and cytotoxic effects, and the status of nasal epithelial cells (such as asthma inflammation) also affects the availability of viral receptors and replication.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)