Publications by authors named "Laura Staliunaite"
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) produce type I interferons (IFNs) after sensing viral/bacterial RNA or DNA by toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 or TLR9, respectively. However, aberrant pDCs activation can cause adverse effects on the host and contributes to the pathogenesis of type I IFN-related autoimmune diseases. Here, we show that heparin interacts with the human pDCs-specific blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA-2) but not with related lectins such as DCIR or dectin-2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerpesviruses are large DNA viruses and include important human and veterinary pathogens. Their genomes can be cloned as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and genetically engineered in Escherichia coli using BAC recombineering methods. While the recombineering methods are efficient, the initial BAC-cloning step remains laborious.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Researchers focused on cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) in Natal multimammate mice, a species found in sub-Saharan Africa and linked to zoonotic diseases like Lassa virus (LASV).
- They isolated infectious CMVs from these mice and sequenced multiple genomes, identifying three distinct CMV types (MnatCMV1, MnatCMV2, and MnatCMV3) and discovering cases of coinfection.
- The findings help understand CMV diversity and are aimed at developing a vaccine based on MnatCMVs to combat LASV in its animal reservoir.