Publications by authors named "Cristina Dorobantu"

Background And Aims: Numerous HCV entry factors have been identified, and yet information regarding their spatiotemporal dynamics is still limited. Specifically, one of the main entry factors of HCV is occludin (OCLN), a protein clustered at tight junctions (TJs), away from the HCV landing site. Thus, whether HCV particles slide toward TJs or, conversely, OCLN is recruited away from TJs remain debated.

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The biosynthetic secretory pathway is particularly challenging to investigate as it is underrepresented compared to the abundance of the other intracellular trafficking routes. Here, we combined the retention using selective hook (RUSH) to a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing approach (eRUSH) and identified Rab7-harboring vesicles as an important intermediate compartment of the Golgi-to-plasma membrane transport of neosynthesized transferrin receptor (TfR). These vesicles did not exhibit degradative properties and were not associated to Rab6A-harboring vesicles.

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Background Information: Claudin-1 (CLDN1) is a four-span transmembrane protein localised at cell-cell tight junctions (TJs), playing an important role in epithelial impermeability and tissue homoeostasis under physiological conditions. Moreover, CLDN1 expression is up-regulated in several cancers, and the level of CLDN1 expression has been proposed as a prognostic marker of patient survival.

Results: Here, we generated and characterised a novel reporter cell line expressing endogenous fluorescent levels of CLDN-1, allowing dynamic monitoring of CLDN-1 expression levels.

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The enterovirus genus of the picornavirus family includes a large number of important human pathogens such as poliovirus, coxsackievirus, enterovirus A71, and rhinoviruses. Like all other positive-strand RNA viruses, genome replication of enteroviruses occurs on rearranged membranous structures called replication organelles (ROs). Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ (PI4KB) is required by all enteroviruses for RO formation.

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Endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) complex proteins regulate biogenesis and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which enable cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system essential for development and adult function. We recently showed human loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in ESCRT-III member CHMP1A cause autosomal recessive microcephaly with pontocerebellar hypoplasia, but its mechanism was unclear. Here, we show Chmp1a is required for progenitor proliferation in mouse cortex and cerebellum and progenitor maintenance in human cerebral organoids.

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Article Synopsis
  • Enteroviruses, part of the Picornaviridae family, are significant pathogens causing various diseases, and currently, there are no approved antiviral treatments available.
  • Researchers are focusing on developing antiviral therapies by targeting critical steps in the virus life cycle, such as replication organelle formation, which is essential for their genome replication.
  • TTP-8307, an inhibitor of enterovirus replication, works by inhibiting the OSBP activity within the PI4KIIIβ-PI4P-OSBP pathway, showcasing antiviral effects not only against enteroviruses but also against other OSBP-dependent viruses like hepatitis C virus.
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Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), like hepatitis C virus (HCV), requires phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIα (PI4KA) for genome replication. Here, we demonstrate that tyrphostin AG1478, a known epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, also inhibits PI4KA activity, both in vitro and in cells. AG1478 impaired replication of EMCV and HCV but not that of an EMCV mutant previously shown to escape PI4KA inhibition.

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Positive-strand RNA [(+)RNA] viruses are true masters of reprogramming host lipid trafficking and synthesis to support virus genome replication. Via their membrane-associated 3A protein, picornaviruses of the genus Enterovirus (e.g.

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Article Synopsis
  • Viruses with positive-sense RNA genomes, like picornaviruses and coronaviruses, manipulate host cell membranes to form structures called replication organelles (ROs) that assist in viral genome amplification.
  • ROs are specialized compartments that combine viral proteins and essential host factors, creating a favorable environment for the virus's replication process.
  • The paper discusses how picornaviruses utilize membrane contact sites to exchange lipids between ROs and other organelles, highlighting a similar strategy used by other +RNA viruses.
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Cardioviruses, including encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and the human Saffold virus, are small non-enveloped viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae, a large family of positive-sense RNA [(+)RNA] viruses. All (+)RNA viruses remodel intracellular membranes into unique structures for viral genome replication. Accumulating evidence suggests that picornaviruses from different genera use different strategies to generate viral replication organelles (ROs).

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PI4KIIIβ recruitment to Golgi membranes relies on GBF1/Arf and ACBD3. Enteroviruses such as poliovirus and coxsackievirus recruit PI4KIIIβ to their replication sites via their 3A proteins. Here, we show that human rhinovirus (HRV) 3A also recruited PI4KIIIβ to replication sites.

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Unlabelled: Members of the Enterovirus (poliovirus [PV], coxsackieviruses, and human rhinoviruses) and Kobuvirus (Aichi virus) genera in the Picornaviridae family rely on PI4KIIIβ (phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase IIIβ) for efficient replication. The small membrane-anchored enteroviral protein 3A recruits PI4KIIIβ to replication organelles, yet the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Recently, it was shown that kobuviruses recruit PI4KIIIβ through interaction with ACBD3 (acyl coenzyme A [acyl-CoA]-binding protein domain 3), a novel interaction partner of PI4KIIIβ.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Grape seed extracts (GSEs) exhibited both antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities in yeast cells with different antioxidant system defects, showing varying effects on cellular growth and recovery from hydrogen peroxide damage.
  • - In prostate cancer PC3 and HBV-replicating HepG2 2.2.15 cells, red grape seed extract (RW) demonstrated higher cytotoxicity compared to white grape seed extract (WW), which depended on the dosage and duration of treatment.
  • - Despite their cytotoxic effects, GSEs did not exhibit any antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in treated HepG2 2.2.15 cells, highlighting their selective action based on the cellular context.
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Liver infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), a DNA virus of the Hepadnaviridae family, leads to severe disease, such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The early steps of the viral life cycle are largely obscure and the host cell plasma membrane receptors are not known. HepaRG is the only proliferating cell line supporting HBV infection in vitro, following specific differentiation, allowing for investigation of new host host-cell factors involved in viral entry, within a more robust and reproducible environment.

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Previous reports have shown that cholesterol depletion of the membrane envelope of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) impairs viral infection of target cells. A potential function of this lipid in later steps of the viral life cycle remained controversial, with secretion of virions and subviral particles (SVP) being either inhibited or not affected, depending on the experimental approach employed to decrease the intracellular cholesterol level. This work addressed the role of host cell cholesterol on HBV replication, assembly, and secretion, using an alternative method to inhibition of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis pathway.

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