Copy number variation and population-specific immune genes in the model vertebrate zebrafish.

Copy number variation in large gene families is well characterized for plant resistance genes, but similar studies are rare in animals. The zebrafish () has hundreds of NLR immune genes, making this species ideal for studying this phenomenon. By sequencing 93 zebrafish from multiple wild and laboratory populations, we identified a total of 1513 NLRs, many more than the previously known 400.

Entry of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 into Epidermis and Dermal Fibroblasts Is Independent of the Scavenger Receptor MARCO.

To enter host cells, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) initially attaches to cell surface glycosaminoglycans, followed by the requisite binding to one of several cellular receptors, leading to viral internalization. Although virus-receptor interactions have been studied in various cell lines, the contributions of individual receptors to uptake into target tissues such as mucosa, skin, and cornea are not well understood. We demonstrated that nectin-1 acts as a major receptor for HSV-1 entry into murine epidermis, while herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) can serve as an alternative receptor.