Publications by authors named "G Lasso"
Article Synopsis
- Understanding bat coronaviruses (CoVs) is vital for preventing future pandemics, so researchers created modified viruses to study how these bat CoVs enter cells.
- They discovered a surprising change in a specific region of the virus that improved its ability to bind to a human receptor, enhancing its entry into cells.
- The study reveals how bat CoVs might adapt to jump between species and suggests strategies to target vulnerabilities in these viruses for potential prevention measures.
Article Synopsis
- Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is causing a global outbreak, raising questions about different antibody responses from vaccination versus actual infection.
- A study found that convalescent individuals (those who recovered from MPXV) had higher neutralizing antibodies against the virus compared to vaccinated and non-infected people one month after exposure.
- Both groups experienced a significant decrease in antibody levels after eight months, indicating a need for improved vaccine strategies to ensure longer-lasting immunity and reduce breakthrough infections.
Understanding the zoonotic risks posed by bat coronaviruses (CoVs) is critical for pandemic preparedness. Herein, we generated recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (rVSVs) bearing spikes from divergent bat CoVs to investigate their cell entry mechanisms. Unexpectedly, the successful recovery of rVSVs bearing the spike from SHC014, a SARS-like bat CoV, was associated with the acquisition of a novel substitution in the S2 fusion peptide-proximal region (FPPR).
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- Scientists are studying two viruses, Andes virus (ANDV) and Sin Nombre virus (SNV), which can cause serious illness in people but don't have any approved treatments yet.
- They found that a protein called Protocadherin-1 (PCDH1) is important for these viruses to enter human cells, meaning it could be a target for new medicines.
- By changing one tiny part of this protein, researchers were able to protect hamsters from getting sick, suggesting that modifying PCDH1 might help create ways to fight these viruses.