Emergence, Tropism, Disease, and Treatment of Australian Bat Lyssavirus Infections in Humans.

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA rhabdovirus capable of causing fatal acute encephalitis in humans with similar pathogenesis to its closest serologic relative, rabies virus (RABV). In this review, we describe emergence and classification of ABLV, its known virology, reservoirs, and hosts, as well as both the pathogenesis and treatment approaches currently employed for presumed infections. ABLV was first identified in New South Wales, Australia in 1996 and emerged in humans months later in Queensland, Australia.

An RSV Live-Attenuated Vaccine Candidate Lacking G Protein Mucin Domains Is Attenuated, Immunogenic, and Effective in Preventing RSV in BALB/c Mice.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading viral respiratory pathogen in infants. The objective of this study was to generate RSV live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) candidates by removing the G-protein mucin domains to attenuate viral replication while retaining immunogenicity through deshielding of surface epitopes.

Methods: Two LAV candidates were generated from recombinant RSV A2-line19F by deletion of the G-protein mucin domains (A2-line19F-G155) or deletion of the G-protein mucin and transmembrane domains (A2-line19F-G155S).

Targeting novel structural and functional features of coronavirus protease nsp5 (3CL, M) in the age of COVID-19.

Coronavirus protease nsp5 (M, 3CL) remains a primary target for coronavirus therapeutics due to its indispensable and conserved role in the proteolytic processing of the viral replicase polyproteins. In this review, we discuss the diversity of known coronaviruses, the role of nsp5 in coronavirus biology, and the structure and function of this protease across the diversity of known coronaviruses, and evaluate past and present efforts to develop inhibitors to the nsp5 protease with a particular emphasis on new and mostly unexplored potential targets of inhibition. With the recent emergence of pandemic SARS-CoV-2, this review provides novel and potentially innovative strategies and directions to develop effective therapeutics against the coronavirus protease nsp5.