Spotlight
Genetic Diversity and Evolution
- Genetic Diversity and EvolutionGenome Number and Size Polymorphism in Zika Virus Infectious Units
The arthropod-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) infects humans and can cause severe neurological sequelae, particularly in fetuses infected in utero. How this virus has been able to spread across vast geological ranges and evolve in new host populations is not yet understood.
Virus-Cell Interactions
- Virus-Cell InteractionsEncephalomyocarditis Virus Abrogates the Interferon Beta Signaling Pathway via Its Structural Protein VP2
Encephalomyocarditis virus is an important pathogen that can cause encephalitis, myocarditis, neurological diseases, and reproductive disorders. It also causes huge economic losses for the swine industry worldwide.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsInduction of HOX Genes by Hepatitis C Virus Infection via Impairment of Histone H2A Monoubiquitination
Recently sustained virologic response can be achieved by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in most hepatitis C patients. Unfortunately, DAA therapy does not completely eliminate a risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Virus-Cell InteractionsHuman Parainfluenza Virus Type 2 V Protein Modulates Iron Homeostasis
hPIV-2 V protein interferes with interaction between FTH1 and NCOA4 and inhibits NCOA4-mediated ferritin degradation, leading to the inhibition of iron release to the cytoplasm. This iron homeostasis modulation allows infected cells to avoid apoptotic cell death, resulting in effective growth of hPIV-2.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsHost Range of Influenza A Virus H1 to H16 in Eurasian Ducks Based on Tissue and Receptor Binding Studies
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) circulate in wild birds worldwide. From wild birds, the viruses can cause outbreaks in poultry and sporadically and indirectly infect humans.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsThe ESCRT-I Subunit Tsg101 Plays Novel Dual Roles in Entry and Replication of Classical Swine Fever Virus
CSF, caused by CSFV, is a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) notifiable disease and causes significant financial losses to the pig industry globally. The ESCRT machinery plays an important regulatory role in several members of the genera Flavivirus and Hepacivirus within the family Flaviviridae, such as hepatitis C virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and dengue virus.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsInducible Guanylate-Binding Protein 7 Facilitates Influenza A Virus Replication by Suppressing Innate Immunity via NF-κB and JAK-STAT Signaling Pathways
So far, few studies have mentioned the distinct function of guanylate-binding protein 7 (GBP7) on virus infection. Here, we reported that GBP7 expression was significantly upregulated in the lungs of mice, human PBMCs, and A549 cells during IAV infection.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsSingle-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals a Heterogeneous Cellular Response to BK Virus Infection
The outcome of viral infection is determined by the ability of the virus to redirect cellular systems toward progeny production countered by the ability of the cell to block these viral actions. Thus, an infected culture consists of thousands of cells, each fighting its own individual battle.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsA PolyQ Membrane Protein of Vibrio cholerae Acts as the Receptor for Phage Infection
Receptor recognition and binding by bacteriophage are the first step for its infection of bacterial cells. In this study, we found the Vibrio cholerae subtyping phage VP1 uses a polyQ protein named VcpQ (V. cholerae polyQ protein) as the receptor for VP1 infection.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsPhosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate Mediates the Establishment of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Replication Complexes in Association with Early Endosomes
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infects chicks and is the causative agent of Gumboro disease. During IBDV outbreaks in recent decades, the emergence of very virulent variants and the lack of effective prevention/treatment strategies to fight this disease have had devastating consequences for the poultry...
- Virus-Cell InteractionsRoles of Cholesterol in Early and Late Steps of the Nipah Virus Membrane Fusion Cascade
Cholesterol has been implicated in various steps of the viral life cycle for different enveloped viruses. Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic enveloped virus in the Henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family, capable of causing a high mortality rate in humans and high morbidity in domestic and agriculturally important animals.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsThe Autophagy-Initiating Protein Kinase ULK1 Phosphorylates Human Cytomegalovirus Tegument Protein pp28 and Regulates Efficient Virus Release
The catabolic program of autophagy represents a powerful immune defense against viruses that is, however, counteracted by antagonizing viral factors. Understanding the exact interplay between autophagy and HCMV infection is of major importance since autophagy-related proteins emerged as promising targets for pharmacologic intervention.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsDDIT3 Targets Innate Immunity via the DDIT3-OTUD1-MAVS Pathway To Promote Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Replication
Extensive studies have demonstrated roles of DDIT3 in apoptosis and autophagy during viral infection. However, the role of DDIT3 in innate immunity remains largely unknown.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsDiverse Populations of Extracellular Vesicles with Opposite Functions during Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection
Extracellular vesicles mediate cell-to-cell communication and convey messages important for cell homeostasis. Pathways of EV biogenesis are often hijacked by pathogens to facilitate their dissemination and to establish a favorable microenvironment for the infection.
- Virus-Cell InteractionsPhosphorylation of Influenza A Virus NS1 at Serine 205 Mediates Its Viral Polymerase-Enhancing Function
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) still pose a major threat to human health worldwide. As a zoonotic virus, IAV can spontaneously overcome species barriers and even reside in new hosts after efficient adaptation.
Cellular Response to Infection
- Cellular Response to InfectionFowl Adenovirus Serotype 4 Induces Hepatic Steatosis via Activation of Liver X Receptor-α
Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is an important hepatotropic adenovirus in chicken, but the underlying mechanism of FAdV-4-induced hepatic injury remains unclear. We report here that infection with FAdV-4 induced the accumulation of oil droplets (triglycerides) in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, a typical indicator of steatosis, in the livers of chickens.
- Cellular Response to InfectionIdentification of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid and Spike T-Cell Epitopes for Assessing T-Cell Immunity
The development of specific and validated immunologic tools is critical for understanding the level and duration of the cellular response induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccines against this novel coronavirus disease. To contribute to this effort, we employed an immunoinformatics analysis pipeline to define 57 SARS-CoV-2 immunogenic peptides within topologically important regions of the nucleocapsid (NC) and spike (S) proteins...
- Cellular Response to InfectionIdentification and Complete Validation of Prognostic Gene Signatures for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancers: Integrated Approach Covering Different Anatomical Locations
Persistent infection with high-risk HPV interferes with cell function regulation and causes cell mutations, which accumulate over the long term and eventually develop into cancer. Results of pathway enrichment analysis presumably showed this accumulation of intracellular damage during the chronic HPV-infected state.
Pathogenesis and Immunity
- Pathogenesis and ImmunityPlasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Mediate Control of Ross River Virus Infection via a Type I Interferon-Dependent, MAVS-Independent Mechanism
Arthritogenic alphaviruses, including Ross River virus (RRV), are human pathogens that cause debilitating acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease and are a significant public health burden. Using an attenuated RRV with enhanced susceptibility to host innate immune responses has revealed key cellular and molecular mechanisms that can mediate control of attenuated RRV infection and that are evaded by more virulent RRV strains.
... - Pathogenesis and ImmunitySequence Evaluation and Comparative Analysis of Novel Assays for Intact Proviral HIV-1 DNA...
The intact proviral DNA assay (IPDA) and quadruplex PCR (Q4PCR) represent major advances in accurately quantifying and characterizing the replication-competent HIV reservoir. This study compares the two novel approaches for measuring intact HIV proviral DNA in samples from 39 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed people living with HIV, thereby informing ongoing efforts to deplete the HIV reservoir in cure-related trials.
- Pathogenesis and ImmunityTranscriptional Analysis of Lymphoid Tissues from Infected Nonhuman Primates Reveals the Basis for Attenuation and Immunogenicity of an Ebola Virus Encoding a Mutant VP35 Protein
Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) infection causes a severe and often fatal disease characterized by inflammation, coagulation defects, and organ failure driven by a defective host immune response. Lymphoid tissues are key sites of EBOV pathogenesis and the generation of an effective immune response to infection.
- Pathogenesis and ImmunityProtein Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP2 Suppresses Host Innate Immunity against Influenza A Virus by Regulating EGFR-Mediated Signaling
Viral immune evasion is the most important strategy whereby viruses evolve for their survival. This work shows that influenza A virus (IAV) suppressed the antiviral innate immunity through downregulation of IFNs and ISGs by activating EGFR/ERK signaling.
- Pathogenesis and ImmunityEffect of Difference in Consensus Sequence between HIV-1 Subtype A/E and Subtype B Viruses on Elicitation of Gag-Specific CD8+ T Cells and Accumulation of HLA-Associated Escape Mutations
HIV-1 mutations escaped from HIV-specific CD8+ T cells are mostly detected as HLA-associated mutations. A diversity of HLA-associated mutations is somewhat distinct to each race and region, since HLA allele distribution differs among them.
- Pathogenesis and ImmunityCRISPR/Cas9-Constructed Pseudorabies Virus Mutants Reveal the Importance of UL13 in Alphaherpesvirus Escape from Genome Silencing
Alphaherpesviruses have mastered various strategies to persist in an immunocompetent host, including the induction of latency and reactivation in peripheral nervous system (PNS) ganglia. We recently discovered that the molecular mechanism underlying escape from latency by the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) relies on a structural viral tegument protein.
- Pathogenesis and ImmunitySubstantial Attenuation of Virulence of Tembusu Virus Strain PS Is Determined by an Arginine at Residue 304 of the Envelope Protein
TMUV-related disease emerged in 2010 and has a significant economic impact on the duck industry. Although the disease was originally recognized to affect adult ducks, increasing evidence has shown that TMUV also causes severe disease of young ducklings.