Microbiology, Virology & Host Pathogen Interaction
- Age-related differences in immune dynamics during SARS-CoV-2 infection in rhesus macaques
Increased age is a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Multi-omics profiling in rhesus macaques suggests that aging may delay or impair cellular immune responses and the return to immune homeostasis.
- Preclinical and randomized phase I studies of plitidepsin in adults hospitalized with COVID-19
This proof-of-concept study shows that plitidepsin, a marine peptide that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication, has a favorable safety profile and may be an efficacious treatment for patients with COVID-19.
- Sensitive visualization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA with CoronaFISH
We design an RNA-FISH method to target the plus and minus strands of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and apply it to image the virus in cell lines, lung tissue, and nasal swabs, by fluorescence and electron microscopy.
- Artemisinin-independent inhibitory activity of Artemisia sp. infusions against different Plasmodium stages including relapse-causing hypnozoites
Infusions from two Artemisia species, one containing artemisinin, the other not, equally inhibit pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages of different Plasmodium species, including two relapsing species.
- TICAM-1/TRIF associates with Act1 and suppresses IL-17 receptor–mediated inflammatory responses
TICAM-1/TRIF, a TLR3 adaptor molecule, associates with Act1 to inhibit the interaction between IL-17RA and Act1, resulting in attenuated IL-17-mediated inflammatory responses.
- Existence of log-phase Escherichia coli persisters and lasting memory of a starvation pulse
The authors characterize the growth condition dependence of survival of bacteria exposed to lethal antibiotics for a week. 1-h starvation pulse is shown to cause an increase in survival for days.
- Elevation in sphingolipid upon SARS-CoV-2 infection: possible implications for COVID-19 pathology
SARS-CoV-2 infection alters the levels of sphingolipids early post infection. This phenomenon is reflected by increased levels of sphingolipids, including gangliosides, in infected cells, as well as in serum in a SARS-CoV-2 murine model.
- Structural basis of membrane recognition of Toxoplasma gondii vacuole by Irgb6
Upon Toxoplasma gondii infection, Irgb6 is recruited to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) where Irgb6 disrupts it. We solved the atomic structures of Irgb6 in two distinct nucleotide states, revealing a unique PVM-binding interface sensitive to GTPase cycling.
- Structure of Aedes aegypti procarboxypeptidase B1 and its binding with Dengue virus for controlling infection
Using high-resolution structure, we have characterized the substrate specificity of Aedes aegypti procarboxypeptidase B1 and provided mechanistic insights into the binding and inhibition of DENV
- Gut microbiota–derived short-chain fatty acids protect against the progression of endometriosis
This study revealed that gut-derived n-butyrate protects against endometriosis by activating the expression of RAP1GAP GTPase to inhibit the RAP1 oncogenic pathway, indicating n-butyrate is linked with intestinal microbiota and endometriosis disease.