Publications by authors named "Alexandre P Fernandes"
Genome Biol Evol
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The innate immune system in mammals relies on a complex network of proteins, particularly the E3-ubiquitin ligase TRIM family, which plays a key role in fighting off retroviruses like HIV.
- - Genes such as TRIM5 and TRIM22 are crucial for restricting HIV, but many mammalian species lack these genes entirely, indicating variation in their immune defenses.
- - A comprehensive analysis of mammalian genomes reveals significant evolutionary differences in TRIM gene accumulation across species, suggesting that the immune systems of eutherians have adapted uniquely to combat retrovirus infections.
Article Synopsis
- The innate immune system in mammals includes proteins like TRIM5 and TRIM22, which have been found to restrict various viruses that infect primates.
- This study focuses on the evolution of these proteins in bat genomes, revealing dynamic gene expansion and a low conservation of gene structure among bat species.
- Notably, certain bat species show duplicated versions of these genes, which is unique and may help explain bats' role as virus reservoirs linked to zoonotic diseases.
Article Synopsis
- Chemokine receptors, particularly CCR2 and CCR5, play a crucial role in how pathogens like HIV-1 infect host cells by attaching to these proteins.
- Recent research has shown that gene conversion events have occurred in CCR2 and CCR5 across various bat species, potentially providing them with an evolutionary advantage against pathogens.
- Four independent cases of recombination in CCR2 and CCR5 were identified among different bat species, suggesting that these genetic changes may help bats combat viruses that depend on these receptors for cell entry.
