virus receptor

MOTIVATION: Charged amino acid residues on the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been shown to influence its binding to different cell surface receptors, its non-specific electrostatic interactions with the environment, and its structural stability and conformation. It is therefore important to obtain a good understanding of amino acid mutations that affect the total charge on the spike protein which have arisen across different SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the course of the virus' evolution...

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic spurred numerous research endeavors to comprehend the virus and mitigate its global severity. Understanding the binding interface between the virus and human receptors is pivotal to these efforts and paramount to curbing infection and transmission. Here we employ atomic force microscopy and steered molecular dynamics simulation to explore SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) variants and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), examining the impact of mutations at key residues upon binding affinity...

In this study, the interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and the hydroxychloroquine/Silybum marianum (HCQ/SM) mixture was investigated using various techniques. The observed high binding constant (Kb ) and Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV ) indicate a strong binding affinity between the HCQ/SM mixture and HSA. The circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed that HCQ/SM induced conformational changes in the secondary structure of HSA, leading to a decrease in the α-helical content. UV-Vis analysis exhibited a slight redshift, indicating that the HCQ/SM mixture could adapt to the flexible structure of HSA...

Aedes albopictus, a virus-vector pest, is primarily controlled through the use of insecticides. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of resistance in Ae. albopictus in terms of chlorpyrifos neurotoxicity to Ae. albopictus and its effects on the olfactory system. We assessed Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATP levels, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), Monoamine oxidase (MAO), odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), and olfactory receptor (OR7) gene expression in Ae. albopictus using various assays including Y-shaped tube experiments and DanioVision analysis to evaluate macromotor behavior...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a significant threat to human health globally. It is crucial to develop a vaccine to reduce the effect of the virus on public health, economy, and society and regulate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Influenza B virus (IBV) can be used as a vector that does not rely on the current circulating influenza A strains. In this study, we constructed an IBV-based vector vaccine by inserting a receptor-binding domain (RBD) into a non-structural protein 1 (NS1)-truncated gene (rIBV-NS110-RBD)...

The immune escape of Omicron variants significantly subsides by the third dose of an mRNA vaccine. However, it is unclear how Omicron variant-neutralizing antibodies develop under repeated vaccination. We analyze blood samples from 41 BNT162b2 vaccinees following the course of three injections and analyze their B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoires at six time points in total. The concomitant reactivity to both ancestral and Omicron receptor-binding domain (RBD) is achieved by a limited number of BCR clonotypes depending on the accumulation of somatic hypermutation (SHM) after the third dose...

The Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH), derived from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass", postulates that organisms must continually adapt in response to each other to maintain relative fitness. Within the context of host-pathogen interactions, the RQH implies an evolutionary arms race, wherein viruses evolve to exploit hosts and hosts evolve to resist viral invasion. This study delves into the dynamics of the RQH in the context of virus-cell interactions, specifically focusing on virus receptors and cell receptors...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has posed significant challenges to global health. While much attention has been directed towards understanding the primary mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, emerging evidence suggests co-infections or superinfections with other viruses may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in severe cases of COVID-19. Among viruses that have been reported in patients with SARS-CoV-2, seropositivity for Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is associated with increased COVID-19 risk and hospitalization...

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, leading to 6.8 million deaths. Numerous variants have emerged since its outbreak, resulting in its significantly enhanced ability to spread among humans. As with many other viruses, SARS‑CoV‑2 utilizes heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) on the surface of host cells to facilitate viral attachment and initiate cellular entry through the ACE2 receptor. Therefore, interfering with virion-HS interactions represents a promising target to develop broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics...

Coxsackievirus-A10 (CV-A10), responsible for the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) pandemic, could cause serious central nervous system (CNS) complications. The underlying molecular basis of CV-A10 and host interactions inducing neuropathogenesis is still unclear. The Hippo signaling pathway, historically known for a dominator of organ development and homeostasis, has recently been implicated as an immune regulator. However, its role in host defense against CV-A10 has not been investigated. Herein, it was found that CV-A10 proliferated in HMC3 cells and promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines...

BACKGROUND: The innate immune cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 can affect T cell immunity, a critical factor in host defense. In a previous study, we identified a subset of human CD4+ T cells which express IL-1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1). However, the expression of such receptor by viral antigen-specific CD4+ T cells and its biological implication remain largely unexplored. This led us to investigate the implication of IL-1R1 in the development of viral antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses in humans, including healthy individuals and patients with primary antibody deficiency (PAD), and animals...

UNLABELLED: Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and fatal immunosuppressive disease caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). As an obligate intracellular parasite, IBDV infection is strictly regulated by host factors. Knowledge on the antiviral activity and possible mechanism of host factors might provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of IBD. In this study, RNA-sequencing results indicated that many host factors were induced by IBDV infection, among which the expression levels of OASL (2´,5´-oligadenylate synthetase-like protein) was significantly upregulated...

Sarcoma is derived from mesenchymal neoplasms and has numerous subtypes, accounting for 1% of all adult malignancies and 15% of childhood malignancies. The prognosis of metastatic or recurrent sarcoma remains poor. The current study presents two cases of sarcoma enrolled in a phase I dose escalation trial for solid tumor, who had previously failed all standard therapies. These patients were treated with VG161, an immune-stimulating herpes simplex virus type 1 oncolytic virus with payloads of IL-12, IL-15 and IL-15 receptor α unit, and a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 blocking peptide...

SARS-CoV-2-induced excessive inflammation in brain leads to damage of blood-brain barrier, hypoxic-ischemic injury, and neuron degeneration. The production of inflammatory cytokines by brain microvascular endothelial cells and microglia is reported to be critically associated with the brain pathology of COVID-19 patients. However, the cellular mechanisms for SARS-CoV-2-inducing activation of brain cells and the subsequent neuroinflammation remain to be fully delineated. Our research, along with others', has recently demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2-induced accumulation and activation of mast cells (MCs) in mouse lung could further induce inflammatory cytokines and consequent lung damages...

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a hematologic condition characterized by decreased circulating platelets, resulting in bruising, bleeding gums, and internal bleeding. This disorder can be categorized into two primary forms based on the duration of symptoms and underlying causes. Acute ITP primarily affects young children, typically between the ages of two and six, but it can also impact older children and adults. Viral infections like chickenpox, respiratory infections, or gastroenteritis often precede it...

Introduction: The Epstein-Barr virus has been associated with a considerable number of autoimmune diseases. We have previously demonstrated that EBV DNA enhances the production of IL-17A, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, via endosomal Toll-like receptor signalling. Methods: We used RNA-seq to analyze the transcriptional profile of mouse immune cells treated with EBV DNA. Results: We observed that EBV DNA upregulates an IL-17A-centric network of mediators. Ensemble Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (EGSEA) showed enriched expression of sets involved in inflammatory responses including IFNγ and TNF-α-associated pathways as well as proinflammatory diseases...

Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has presented unprecedented challenges to the world. Changes after acute COVID-19 have had a significant impact on patients with neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to explore the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases by examining the main pathways of central nervous system infection of SARS-CoV-2. Research has indicated that chronic inflammation and abnormal immune response are the primary factors leading to neuronal damage and long-term consequences of COVID-19...

Acute lung injury (ALI) is generally caused by severe respiratory infection and characterized by overexuberant inflammatory responses and inefficient pathogens-containing, the two major processes wherein alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a central role. Dysfunctional mitochondria have been linked with distorted macrophages and hence lung disorders, but few treatments are currently available to correct these defects. Plant-derive nanovesicles have gained significant attention because of their therapeutic potential, but the targeting cells and the underlying mechanism remain elusive...

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection being the leading cause. This study aims to investigate the role of HBV in HCC pathogenesis involving glucose metabolism. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) OIP5-AS1 was significantly downregulated in HBV-positive HCC patients, and its low expression indicated a poor prognosis. This lncRNA was primarily localized in the cytoplasm, acting as a tumor suppressor. HBV protein X (HBx) repressed OIP5-AS1 expression by inhibiting a ligand-activated transcriptional factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)...

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating disease that lacks effective treatment options and is characterized by severe pulmonary vascular remodeling. Pulmonary arterial endothelial cell (PAEC) dysfunction drives the initiation and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels, a family of Ca2+ -permeable channels, play an important role in various diseases. However, the effect and mechanism of TRPCs on PH development have not been fully elucidated...