Publications by authors named "Jessica Plante"
After decades of inactivity throughout the Americas, western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) recently re-emerged in South America, causing a large-scale outbreak in humans and horses. WEEV binds protocadherin 10 (PCDH10) as a receptor; however, nonpathogenic strains no longer bind human or equine PCDH10 but retain the ability to bind avian receptors. Highly virulent WEEV strains can also bind the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) as alternative receptors.
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- Recent yellow fever outbreaks in Brazil were linked to mosquito transmission but showed no human outbreaks due to a lack of vaccination and presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
- The study tested if immunity from dengue and Zika viruses impacts yellow fever virus (YFV) spread in monkeys, finding that prior infections reduced YFV levels in the blood.
- These findings suggest that immunity from other flaviviruses might help prevent the amplification and spread of yellow fever in populations already exposed to dengue and Zika.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was isolated from humans in an outbreak of a febrile illness during July and August 2015 in the central valleys of Chiapas, Mexico. Sera obtained from 80 patients were tested for CHIKV RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and for IgM and IgG antibodies by an enzyme linked immunoassay and a commercial indirect immunofluorescence test for CHIKV and dengue virus (DENV). Of the 80 patients, 67 were positive, including 50 for RNA and 17 for IgM.
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- First-generation COVID-19 vaccines based on the spike (S) protein have decreased in effectiveness against new Omicron variants, highlighting the need for more broadly protective vaccines.
- Researchers developed a new mRNA vaccine targeting the nucleocapsid (N) protein and tested its efficacy alone and in combination with the existing S-based vaccine in hamsters.
- Results showed that the combined mRNA vaccines (mRNA-S+N) provided complete protection against Omicron variants, suggesting their potential as a comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine.
Article Synopsis
- Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) used to cause significant outbreaks in humans and horses but has become less virulent over time, raising questions about the reasons for this change and the potential for re-emergence of deadly strains.
- Researchers identified protocadherin 10 (PCDH10) as a key receptor for WEEV, which ancient strains could bind to, while contemporary strains show reduced binding abilities indicating a shift in the virus’s host adaptation.
- The study suggests that PCDH10 not only facilitates infection in neurons but also that a soluble form can protect against WEEV, offering insights for future medical treatments and risk assessments of the virus.
Article Synopsis
- - SARS-CoV-2 is continuously evolving, posing challenges to existing vaccines and treatments, which has led to the development of a new pipeline for creating effective VHH antibodies and bispecifics to neutralize various virus variants.
- - High-affinity VHH antibodies were discovered through targeted phage library techniques, resulting in a bispecific construct that effectively combats multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, showing enhanced resistance to antigenic escape.
- - The new tetravalent bispecific platform enables speedy development and production of antibodies, providing flexible and potent responses to emerging variants, making it a promising method for ongoing viral management.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers studied the effects of pre-existing immunity from related viruses like dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) on YFV infection using a mouse model.
- * Findings indicate that immunity from DENV-2 and ZIKV can significantly reduce YFV levels in mice, mostly through humoral immune responses, suggesting a need to reevaluate YFV outbreak risks considering existing flavivirus immunity.
Article Synopsis
- Ilhéus virus (ILHV) is an arbovirus found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, first identified in 1944, with limited studies on its pathogenesis and vector competence.
- Researchers developed a murine model to study ILHV, demonstrating that it can cause severe neurological disease in mice, particularly in immunocompromised and age-specific groups.
- The virus was shown to replicate efficiently in various vertebrate and invertebrate cell lines, and studies suggest that certain mosquito species can effectively transmit ILHV, indicating a risk of the virus emerging in new regions.
Article Synopsis
- G3BP1 and G3BP2 are proteins that help form stress granules in cells during stress, like viral infections, but SARS-CoV-2's nucleocapsid (N) protein stops this process.
- The study identifies a specific mutation (N-F17A) in the N protein that prevents its interaction with G3BP1/2, leading to an inability to inhibit stress granule formation.
- This disruption results in lower viral replication and reduced illness in experimental models, showing that the G3BP1-N interaction is crucial for SARS-CoV-2’s ability to replicate and cause disease.
Article Synopsis
- Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can lead to severe diseases, including chronic arthritis and, in rare cases, neurological issues and death, primarily transmitted by mosquitoes.
- A comprehensive study revealed that deaths from CHIKV are linked to multi-organ infections, serious brain damage, and higher levels of inflammation in the body compared to survivors.
- The research also found that CHIKV infection disrupts the blood-brain barrier, leading to increased permeability and changes in protein expression, enhancing our understanding of CHIK pathophysiology and fatal outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Recent yellow fever outbreaks in Brazil were linked to spillover infections from wildlife, not human amplification, and the lack of yellow fever in Asia is puzzling.
- * Researchers tested if immunity from dengue and Zika viruses affects the transmission of yellow fever virus.
- * They found that prior immunity to dengue and Zika reduces yellow fever viremia in macaques, lowering the chance of mosquitoes spreading the virus and thus decreasing the risk of urban outbreaks.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers tested two vaccines for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in cynomolgus macaques using an aerosol infection model.
- Both vaccines, MVA-BN-EEEV (monovalent) and MVA-BN-WEV (multivalent), triggered strong and lasting immune responses that protected the monkeys against lethal EEEV exposure.
- The results showed that the vaccinated macaques had nearly complete protection from viral presence in their bodies and no significant brain damage, suggesting the vaccines are effective against aerosolized EEEV infections.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 interacts with host proteins to enhance viral replication and evade immune responses, with a focus on its NSP3 protein.
- Researchers discovered that NSP3 binds to fragile X mental retardation proteins (FMRPs), and mutations preventing this binding lead to reduced virus replication and lower viral levels in lungs.
- The study highlights how NSP3 disrupts the normal function of FMRPs by competing with another protein, shedding light on both viral mechanisms and potential links to fragile X syndrome.
Dynamics of chikungunya virus transmission in the first year after its introduction in Brazil: A cohort study in an urban community.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
December 2023
Background: The first chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks during the modern scientific era were identified in the Americas in 2013, reaching high attack rates in Caribbean countries. However, few cohort studies have been performed to characterize the initial dynamics of CHIKV transmission in the New World.
Methodology/principal Findings: To describe the dynamics of CHIKV transmission shortly after its introduction in Brazil, we performed semi-annual serosurveys in a long-term community-based cohort of 652 participants aged ≥5 years in Salvador, Brazil, between Feb-Apr/2014 and Nov/2016-Feb/2017.
The emergence of highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) that are resistant to the current COVID-19 vaccines highlights the need for continued development of broadly protective vaccines for the future. Here, we developed two messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines, TU88mCSA and ALCmCSA, using the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike sequence, optimized 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs), and LNP combinations. Our data showed that these nanocomplexes effectively activate CD4 and CD8 T cell responses and humoral immune response and provide complete protection against WA1/2020, Omicron BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnosmia, a total or partial loss of the ability to smell, is one of the most frequently documented sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Persistent anosmia is associated with a decrease in quality of life. Here, we assess the impact of virus lineage and vaccination status on anosmia development in the golden Syrian hamster model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComplete genome sequence of Koutango virus strain DakAnD5443 isolated from in 1968.
Microbiol Resour Announc
November 2023
Koutango virus (KOUV), a close relative of West Nile virus, is highly neuroinvasive in animal models and has been associated with human disease. The complete genome of the KOUV prototype strain DakAnD5443 is reported here and may facilitate development of infectious clones for further characterization of this novel flavivirus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses interact with numerous host factors to facilitate viral replication and to dampen antiviral defense mechanisms. We currently have a limited mechanistic understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 binds host factors and the functional role of these interactions. Here, we uncover a novel interaction between the viral NSP3 protein and the fragile X mental retardation proteins (FMRPs: FMR1 and FXR1-2).
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- The Omicron subvariant BA.5 became the dominant strain globally, surpassing earlier subvariants due to its ability to evade immune responses and bind more effectively to receptors.
- A study using male Syrian hamsters assessed how well different COVID-19 vaccine regimens, including Janssen and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, protect against BA.5 after primary vaccination and boosters.
- Results showed that a single high or low dose of the Janssen vaccine offers longer-lasting immunity compared to two doses of Pfizer, and boosters like Novavax enhance immunity and reduce viral replication more effectively.
Article Synopsis
- G3BP1 and G3BP2 are proteins that help form stress granules when cells face stress, like during a virus attack.
- The study investigates how G3BP1 interacts with the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 and what happens when this interaction is disrupted.
- A mutation in the N protein (F17) impairs its ability to interact with G3BP1, leading to reduced viral replication and disease severity, implying that this interaction helps the virus evade the cellular stress response.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants show over 30 new amino acid mutations, particularly in the spike protein, with three specific mutations in a less-studied region (CTS1) being the focus of this research.
- The study created a triple mutant (YKH) that increased spike protein processing and a single N679K mutant, which resulted in lower viral replication and less disease severity.
- Despite being a loss-of-function mutation, N679K showed enhanced replication in the upper airway compared to wild-type virus in hamsters, suggesting it may affect the virus's transmissibility.
Understanding the molecular basis of innate immune evasion by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important consideration for designing the next wave of therapeutics. Here, we investigate the role of the nonstructural protein 16 (NSP16) of SARS-CoV-2 in infection and pathogenesis. NSP16, a ribonucleoside 2'--methyltransferase (MTase), catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to mRNA as part of the capping process.
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- Ilheus virus (ILHV) is a flavivirus carried by mosquitoes and found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, primarily affecting birds as its main host.
- Researchers analyzed ten strains of ILHV, finding significant conservation in the untranslated genomic regions, while the open reading frame showed considerable variation.
- The study establishes a basis for future ILHV research, focusing on transmission, disease potential, and risks of emergence.
Unlabelled: Understanding the molecular basis of innate immune evasion by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important consideration for designing the next wave of therapeutics. Here, we investigate the role of the nonstructural protein 16 (NSP16) of SARS-CoV-2 in infection and pathogenesis. NSP16, a ribonucleoside 2'- methyltransferase (MTase), catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to mRNA as part of the capping process.
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