Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susanne Wegmann, Sarah L. DeVos, Bryan Zeitler, Kimberly Marlen, Rachel E. Bennett, Marta Perez-Rando, Danny MacKenzie, Qi Yu, Caitlin Commins, Riley N. Bannon, Bianca T. Corjuc, Alison Chase, Lisa Diez, Hoang-Oanh B. Nguyen, Sarah Hinkley, Lei Zhang, Alicia Goodwin, Annemarie Ledeboer, Stephen Lam, Irina Ankoudinova, Hung Tran, Nicholas Scarlott, Rainier Amora, Richard Surosky, Jeffrey C. Miller, Ashley B. Robbins, Edward J. Rebar, Fyodor D. Urnov, Michael C. Holmes, Amy M. Pooler, Brigit Riley, H. Steve Zhang, Bradley T. Hyman
Summary: The study demonstrates that reducing tau protein expression using gene-silencing technology can effectively rescue neuronal damage in an Alzheimer's disease model, with sustained effects and no detectable side effects. This approach shows promise for the treatment of tau-related human brain diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Jin Gao, Xiao-Jing Wu, Xiao-Nan Zheng, Ting-Ting Li, Yong-Jie Kou, Xin-Cheng Wang, Meng Wang, Xing-Quan Zhu
Summary: This study investigates the biological functions of eight ZFP genes in the lytic cycle and pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The results show that certain ZFP genes play essential roles in the sexual reproductive stage of T. gondii, and RH Delta 273150 strain has significantly lower replication efficiency.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruize Sun, Jue Wang, Juan Feng, Bin Cao
Summary: Zinc is an essential micronutrient for both plant and animal growth, playing a critical role in the development of the central nervous system. Zinc deficiency can lead to various diseases and pathological conditions, including cognitive impairment and premature aging. This study reviews the important effects of zinc in cognitive impairment and aging, explores its molecular mechanism, and highlights potential interventions for zinc-related aging and cognitive impairments.
Review
Microbiology
Guanming Wang, Chunfu Zheng
Summary: Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are a large family of structurally diverse proteins characterized by zinc ion coordinating, playing important roles in host-virus interactions and viral infections by recognizing viral genomes and host mRNAs. They can exert multiple functions in antiviral immunity.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Aoxing Tang, Jingyu Tang, Qiuhong Miao, Jie Zhu, Hongyuan Guo, Chuncao Liu, Chunchun Meng, Chuanfeng Li, Zongyan Chen, Guangqing Liu
Summary: The study reveals the significant antiviral properties of ZAP against Small Ruminant Morbillivirus, inhibiting viral replication by directly targeting viral RNA. This extends the understanding of ZAP's viral targets and the mechanism of SRMV replication.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Li Song, Weitao Li, Xuewei Chen
Summary: A recent study demonstrates the role of the rice TF APIP5 in immune regulation, expanding our understanding of plant TFs beyond their transcription factor functions.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Sohei Makita, Hiroaki Takatori, Hiroshi Nakajima
Summary: Post-transcriptional regulation of inflammatory genes is mediated by ZFP36 family proteins, which bind to mRNA and lead to target mRNA decay. Despite structural similarities, ZFP36 family members have distinct functions and regulate different target mRNAs, likely due to cell-type-specific expression patterns.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Suttipun Sungsuwan, Supasek Kadkanklai, Wuttichai Mhuantong, Anan Jongkaewwattana, Peera Jaru-Ampornpan
Summary: Coronaviruses pose threats to agriculture and human health, and understanding how they evade host defense can help manage infections. Zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) has antiviral effects against coronaviruses. The virus uses its own nucleocapsid protein to interact with ZAP and counteract its activity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Diego Forni, Uberto Pozzoli, Rachele Cagliani, Mario Clerici, Manuela Sironi
Summary: CpG and UpA dinucleotides are under-represented in vertebrate genomes compared to invertebrate genomes. Vertebrate-infecting viruses tend to have a stronger bias against CpG, especially single-stranded (ss) RNA(+) viruses, while ssRNA(-) viruses show no specific bias related to the host clade. CpG depletion is not likely driven by the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) and CpG dinucleotides tend to be preferentially depleted in A/U-rich contexts in both vertebrate- and invertebrate-infecting viruses. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 reveals a depletion of CpG dinucleotides in specific viral open reading frames (ORFs). The study provides insights into viral evolution and the modulation of CpG for generating attenuated viruses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Virology
Jessica E. Packard, Jill A. Dembowski
Summary: DNA replication in HSV-1 involves a combination of viral and cellular factors, such as UL9, ICP8, UL30, UL42, and UL5/UL8/UL52 proteins, as well as accessory factors to coordinate viral DNA replication with other processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhuoying Feng, Fanghang Zhou, Miaomiao Tan, Tingting Wang, Ying Chen, Wenwen Xu, Bin Li, Xin Wang, Xin Deng, Ming-Liang He
Summary: HSV-1 infection enhances the expression of m6A modification-related genes to facilitate viral replication, while inhibiting m6A modification reduces viral replication and reproduction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Priego Moreno, Javier Miralles Fuste, Melanie Kaiser, Julia Su Zhou Li, Joe Nassour, Candy Haggblom, Eros Lazzerini Denchi, Jan Karlseder
Summary: The appropriate regulation of telomere length homeostasis is crucial for genome integrity. The telomere-binding protein TZAP has been suggested to regulate telomere length through telomere trimming, but the molecular mechanisms are not understood. In this study, we found that TZAP can efficiently bind to telomeres in the absence of ATRX/DAXX and induce telomere dysfunction and ALT-like activity, resulting in the generation of t-circles and c-circles in a BTR-dependent manner.
Article
Microbiology
Zhen Wu, Tao Hu, Weiqiong Chen, Yao Cheng, Mingshu Wang, Renyong Jia, Dekang Zhu, Mafeng Liu, Xinxin Zhao, Qiao Yang, Ying Wu, Shaqiu Zhang, Juan Huang, Sai Mao, Xumin Ou, Qun Gao, Di Sun, Anchun Cheng, Shun Chen
Summary: This study investigates the role of flavivirus NS2B in viral proliferation. By mutating specific amino acids, the researchers found that the G92A mutation blocks virus release and assembly without affecting viral replication.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Miao Zeng, Shun Chen, Wei Zhang, Yanping Duan, Bowen Jiang, Xin Pan, Mingshu Wang, Renyong Jia, Dekang Zhu, Mafeng Liu, Xinxin Zhao, Qiao Yang, Ying Wu, Shaqiu Zhang, Juan Huang, Xumin Ou, Sai Mao, Bin Tian, Qun Gao, Anchun Cheng
Summary: Manipulation of the nuclear localization sequence of TMUV NS5 can attenuate viral replication and production, as well as affect its interaction with other cellular proteins and interferon production.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huiling Kang, Jingyuan Cong, Chenlong Wang, Wenxin Ji, Yuhui Xin, Ying Qian, Xuemei Li, Yutao Chen, Zihe Rao
Summary: The study presents the cryo-EM structure of the complex of JUNV L protein with Z protein, revealing insights into how Z protein regulates JUNV L during viral life cycle and RNA synthesis. This work sheds light on the mechanism of JUNV transcription, replication, and regulation, providing a basis for the design of antivirals against viral infections.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Natalie Fowlkes, Kelli Clemons, Paul J. F. Rider, Ramesh Subramanian, Nobuko Wakamatsu, Ingeborg Langohr, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
COMPARATIVE MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Zheng Wu, Qingwei Huo, Liang Ren, Fengping Dong, Mengyang Feng, Yue Wang, Yuting Bai, Bernhard Luscher, Sheng-Tian Li, Guan-Lei Wang, Cheng Long, Yun Wang, Gangyi Wu, Gong Chen
Article
Cell Biology
Jean Christopher Chamcheu, Stephane Esnault, Vagar M. Adhami, Andrea L. Noll, Sergette Banang-Mbeumi, Tithi Roy, Sitanshu S. Singh, Shile Huang, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Hasan Mukhtar
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Andrew C. Lewin, Lyndon M. Coghill, Gillian J. McLellan, Ellison Bentley, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shan K. Naidu, Rafiq Nabi, Nagarjuna R. Cheemarla, Brent A. Stanfield, Paul J. Rider, Nithya Jambunathan, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Renee Carter, Fabio Del Piero, Ingeborg Langohr, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
Article
Virology
Farhana Musarrat, Vladimir Chouljenko, Achyut Dahal, Rafiq Nabi, Tamara Chouljenko, Seetharama D. Jois, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Virology
Farhana Musarrat, Vladimir Chouljenko, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
Summary: Herpes simplex virus 1 utilizes cellular motor proteins and kinase pathways for intracellular virion transport, with Akt and kinase C inhibitors blocking virus entry and virion capsid transport. UL37 and Vp5 viral proteins are crucial for dynein-dependent transport of virion capsids, while Akt and kinase C do not directly phosphorylate or activate dynein during infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tithi Roy, Samuel T. Boateng, Sergette Banang-Mbeumi, Pankaj K. Singh, Pratik Basnet, Roxane-Cherille N. Chamcheu, Federico Ladu, Isabel Chauvin, Vladimir S. Spiegelman, Ronald A. Hill, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Anthony L. Walker, Jean Fotie, Siva Murru, Mario Sechi, Jean Christopher Chamcheu
Summary: Novel flavonol-based derivatives targeting skin cancers were synthesized and characterized, showing significant inhibitory effects on human skin cancer cell lines. These compounds were found to induce apoptosis of cancer cells by regulating key molecular targets, presenting promising therapeutic potential for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Jared S. Rudd, Farhana Musarrat, Konstantin G. Kousoulas
Summary: BoHV-1 infects bovine-derived neuronal cells and can be efficiently studied using FBBC-1 cells. The study provides insights into virus entry and spread mechanisms in a neuronal cell culture system.
Review
Virology
Ifeanyi Kingsley Uche, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Paul J. F. Rider
Summary: The development of cancer disrupts anti-tumor immunity needed for surveillance and elimination of tumor cells, with immunotherapy aiming to restore or establish these responses. However, a significant proportion of patients do not respond equally to immunotherapies, partially due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Current research focuses on mechanisms of immunosuppression in the TME, with the goal of promoting anti-tumor immune responses.
Article
Neurosciences
Anton Malyshev, Iuliia A. Sukhanova, Alexander S. Zlobin, Vasilina R. Gedzun, Vsevolod V. Pavshintsev, Ekaterina V. Vasileva, Arthur O. Zalevsky, Igor I. Doronin, Nikita A. Mitkin, Andrey Golovin, Maxim L. Lovat, Georgy Kovalev, Yurii A. Zolotarev, Askar R. Kuchumov, Gennady A. Babkin, Bernhard Luscher
Summary: The study aimed to develop better anxiolytics and antidepressants by focusing on GABA(A) receptors and the alpha 2 delta auxiliary subunit of V-gated Ca2+ channels as potential targets. A novel tetrapeptide, LCGA-17, was developed through structural bioinformatics with predicted affinity to GABA(A) receptors and alpha 2 delta, displaying anxiolytic-like properties in behavioral screens. The results suggest that LCGA-17 is a novel candidate anxiolytic and antidepressant that may act through alpha 2 delta, potentially with synergism by GABA(A) receptors.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tithi Roy, Samuel T. Boateng, Sergette Banang-Mbeumi, Pankaj K. Singh, Pratik Basnet, Roxane-Cherille N. Chamcheu, Federico Ladu, Isabel Chauvin, Vladimir S. Spiegelman, Ronald A. Hill, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Anthony L. Walker, Jean Fotie, Siva Murru, Mario Sechi, Jean Christopher Chamcheu
Summary: This study identifies a panel of novel fisetin analogs that may be developed as potential therapeutic agents for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, providing in-depth biological characterization data to support further research and experimental screening.
Article
Virology
Ifeanyi Kingsley Uche, Natalie Fowlkes, Luan Vu, Tatiane Watanabe, Mariano Carossino, Rafiq Nabi, Fabio del Piero, Jared S. Rudd, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Paul J. F. Rider
Summary: Oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) uses viral infection to release tumor antigens, promoting antitumor immune responses. VC2, a modified herpes simplex virus, shows clinical potential in a mouse melanoma model and may be an effective treatment for human and animal cancers.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Sarah J. Jefferson, Mengyang Feng, URee Chon, Yao Guo, Yongsoo Kim, Bernhard Luscher
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2020)
Article
Psychiatry
Colleen McSweeney, Fengping Dong, Miranda Chen, Jessica Vitale, Li Xu, Nicole Crowley, Bernhard Luscher, Donghua Zou, Yingwei Mao
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2020)