Publications by authors named "Ruth J Parsons"

The pre-fusion coronavirus HKU1 spike binds host sialoglycans and proteinaceous receptor TMPRSS2 for cell entry. In this issue of Cell, three papers by Fernández et al., McCallum et al.

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A recombinant lineage of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, named XBB, appeared in late 2022 and evolved descendants that successively swept local and global populations. XBB lineage members were noted for their improved immune evasion and transmissibility. Here, we determine cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of XBB.

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A critical roadblock to HIV vaccine development is the inability to induce B cell lineages of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in humans. In people living with HIV-1, bnAbs take years to develop. The HVTN 133 clinical trial studied a peptide/liposome immunogen targeting B cell lineages of HIV-1 envelope (Env) membrane-proximal external region (MPER) bnAbs (NCT03934541).

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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant of concern, first identified in November 2021, rapidly spread worldwide and diversified into several subvariants. The Omicron spike (S) protein accumulated an unprecedented number of sequence changes relative to previous variants. In this review, we discuss how Omicron S protein structural features modulate host cell receptor binding, virus entry, and immune evasion and highlight how these structural features differentiate Omicron from previous variants.

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Clostridioides difficile is a bacterial pathogen that causes a range of clinical disease from mild to moderate diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, and toxic megacolon. Typically, C. difficile infections (CDIs) occur after antibiotic treatment, which alters the gut microbiota, decreasing colonization resistance against C.

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