Publications by authors named "John E Mamatis"
The development of antivirals with an extended spectrum of activity is an attractive possibility to protect against future emerging coronaviruses (CoVs). Cyclosporine A (CsA), a clinically approved immunosuppressive drug, has established antiviral activity against diverse unrelated viruses, including several CoVs. However, its antiviral mechanisms of action against CoV infection have remained elusive, precluding the rational design of non-immunosuppressive derivatives with improved antiviral activities.
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- SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, may harm lung cells by damaging mitochondria, leading to cell death and impaired oxygen regulation in the body.
- The study investigated how SARS-CoV-2 and its proteins affect cell processes like apoptosis (cell death), mitochondrial function, and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (the body’s way to control blood flow in response to low oxygen).
- Findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 disrupts mitochondrial functions and activates pathways that promote cell death, affecting energy production and overall lung health very shortly after infection.
Cellular cyclophilins (Cyps) such as cyclophilin A (CypA) have emerged as key players at the virus-host interface. As host factors required for the replication of many unrelated viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and coronaviruses (CoVs), Cyps are attractive targets for antiviral therapy. However, a clear understanding of how these viruses exploit Cyps to promote their replication has yet to be elucidated.
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