Review
Immunology
Sarah Straub, Natalia G. Sampaio
Summary: Early detection of infection is crucial for our immune system. Mammalian cells have receptors that detect viral RNA, and activation of these receptors can induce immune responses. However, it is now known that these receptors can also be activated without infection, leading to pathological effects. In this review, we discuss recent findings on sterile activation of cytosolic RNA receptors and their roles in disease pathogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Marc G. Ghany, Maria Buti, Pietro Lampertico, Hannah M. Lee
Summary: Representatives from academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy groups convened under the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in June 2022 to achieve consensus on chronic HBV and HDV treatment endpoints. The conference focused on the primary goal of guiding clinical trials aiming to cure HBV and HDV, and reached agreements on key points such as preferred endpoints for trials, suitable patient candidates, and the role of novel biomarkers and existing therapies.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Bin Zhang, Haijun Han, Xinyi Zhao, Andria N. Li, Yan Wang, Wenji Yuan, Zhongli Yang, Ming D. Li
Summary: By performing whole-genome exon sequencing analysis on 300 Chinese HBV-infected families, this study identified variants and genes associated with HBV infection. The rs76438938 SNP in the KNG1 gene was found to significantly increase the risk for HBV infection and promote HBV replication. Additionally, KNG1 was shown to inhibit the expression of type I and III interferons by competitively binding HSP90A with MAVS, thereby further promoting HBV replication. Furthermore, the rs76438938-C allele was found to improve the therapeutic effect of IFN-α and -11 in HBV infection.
Article
Biology
Frank W. Soveg, Johannes Schwerk, Nandan S. Gokhale, Karen Cerosaletti, Julian R. Smith, Erola Pairo-Castineira, Alison M. Kell, Adriana Forero, Shivam A. Zaver, Katharina Esser-Nobis, Justin A. Roby, Tien-Ying Hsiang, Snehal Ozarkar, Jonathan M. Clingan, Eileen T. McAnarney, Amy El Stone, Uma Malhotra, Cate Speake, Joseph Perez, Chiraag Balu, Eric J. Allenspach, Jennifer L. Hyde, Vineet D. Menachery, Saumendra N. Sarkar, Joshua J. Woodward, Daniel B. Stetson, John Kenneth Baillie, Jane H. Buckner, Michael Gale, Ram Savan
Summary: An isoform of oligoadenylate synthetase 1, OAS1 p46, is targeted to the endomembrane system, enhancing antiviral activity against certain RNA viruses including flaviviruses, picornaviruses, and SARS-CoV-2. The OAS1 splice-site SNP responsible for production of OAS1 p46 isoform correlates with protection from severe COVID-19, suggesting early control of SARS-CoV-2 replication through OAS1 p46 is crucial for determining COVID-19 severity.
Review
Virology
Anders Boyd, Lorenza N. C. Dezanet, Karine Lacombe
Summary: Functional cure, defined by the loss of HBsAg, is the ultimate therapeutic goal for individuals infected with HBV, including those with HIV co-infection. Factors such as HBV infection phase, genotypes, and immune response may impact the achievement of functional cure in this population, highlighting the need for novel therapeutics specifically evaluated for HIV-HBV co-infected individuals.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yu-Min Huang, Weu Wang, Po-Pin Hsieh, Hsin-Hung Chen
Summary: The genetic effect of obesity plays a significant role in the development of an obesogenic environment. Genes rs712221 and rs2016520 are associated with obesity and show a synergistic effect, increasing the risk of obesity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shaowen Jiang, Minghao Cai, Zhenglan Zhang, Cong Qian, Jiexiao Wang, Ziqiang Li, Qing Guo, Huijuan Zhou, Haiguang Xin, Wei Cai, Hui Wang, Simin Guo, Yan Huang, Qing Xie
Summary: Off-treatment HBsAg reversion often occurs after IFN-induced HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. It is not clear whether HBV vaccination can prevent this reversion in CHB patients. This study found that the 5-year cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion was significantly higher in the IFN-induced group compared to the NA-induced or spontaneous clearance groups. However, CHB patients with strong responses to HBV vaccination had a significantly lower incidence of reversion compared to those with weak responses or without vaccination.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Harry van Drimmelen, Nico Lelie
Summary: This study examined whether the performance evaluation requirements for HBV-DNA and HBsAg assays are reasonable and proposed a better-defined regulation for NAT blood screening assays in the EU market.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Marc G. Ghany, Wendy C. King, Amanda S. Hinerman, Anna SF. Lok, Mauricio Lisker-Melman, Raymond T. Chung, Norah Terrault, Harry L. A. Janssen, Mandana Khalili, William M. Lee, Daryl T. Y. Lau, Gavin A. Cloherty, Richard K. Sterling
Summary: This study examined the predictive ability of HBV RNA and HBcrAg for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and found that they could predict key events such as not sustained inactive carrier phase, ALT flare, HBeAg loss, and HBsAg loss. However, their addition to readily available markers provided only small improvements in predictive ability.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yong Chuan Tan, Guan Huei Lee, Daniel Q. Huang, Seng Gee Lim
Summary: HDV uses the HBV surface antigen to enter hepatocytes and is associated with accelerated fibrosis progression and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Current HBV antiviral agents have poor activity against HDV, therefore the search for drugs that can cure both HBV and HDV is needed.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yang Sun, Ye Lv, Hui-Wen Ren, Guan-Yu Wang, Li-Na Xuan, Yi-Yang Luo, Zhi-Lin Luan
Summary: The study found a significant association between MAP3K4 and schizophrenia in the Northeast Chinese Han population, with certain SNPs showing strong correlation with the disease.
METABOLIC BRAIN DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hailing Zhang, Dongliang Zhang, Shasha Zhang, Hao Liu, Han Wang, Cong Wang, Deying Zou, Bo Hu, Shizhen Lian, Shiying Lu, Xue Bai
Summary: The interferon (IFN) response is the first line of defense against viral invasion and plays a central role in immune response regulation. IFN-epsilon, a newly discovered type I IFN, is constitutively expressed in epithelial cells and has important functions in mucosal immunity. This study evaluated the biological activity of the mink-IFN (MiIFN)-epsilon gene and its antiviral role against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in epithelial cells.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yaneli Juarez-Vicuna, Julia Perez-Ramos, Laura Adalid-Peralta, Fausto Sanchez, Laura Aline Martinez-Martinez, Maria del Carmen Ortiz-Segura, Edgar Pichardo-Ontiveros, Adrian Hernandez-Diazcouder, Luis M. Amezcua-Guerra, Julian Ramirez-Bello, Fausto Sanchez-Munoz
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with various genetic factors contributing to its onset and progression. The rs12979860 SNP in IFN lambda 3/4 has been associated with SLE susceptibility in certain populations, but this study found no significant association in Mexican individuals. However, a relationship was found between IFN lambda 3/4 genotypes and OASL expression in PBMCs from SLE patients.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saumendra N. Sarkar, Munesh K. Harioudh, Lulu Shao, Joseph Perez, Arundhati Ghosh
Summary: Oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) are interferon-stimulated genes that play a crucial role in protecting hosts from viral infections. In addition to their well-known function of degrading viral RNA, recent studies have revealed alternative antiviral mechanisms of OAS proteins. Moreover, some OAS proteins have been linked to broader functions beyond viral infection.
JOURNAL OF INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Virology
Mary C. Kuhns, Vera Holzmayer, Anne L. McNamara, Mark Anderson, Gavin A. Cloherty
Summary: This study provides quantitative molecular and serological data on acute hepatitis B using traditional and novel HBV markers. Results show heterogenous seroconversion profiles which offer insights into the spectrum of acute hepatitis B profiles compared to the typical representation.
