Publications by authors named "Victoria Hunszinger"
Host-directed antivirals (HDAs) represent an attractive treatment option and a strategy for pandemic preparedness, especially due to their potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity and high barrier to resistance development. Particularly, dual-targeting HDAs offer a promising approach for antiviral therapy by simultaneously disrupting multiple pathways essential for viral replication. Izumerogant (IMU-935) targets two host proteins, (i) the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ isoform 1 (RORγ1), which modulates cellular cholesterol metabolism, and (ii) the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which is involved in de novo pyrimidine synthesis.
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- The viral protein R (Vpr), found in all primate lentiviruses, impacts immune responses and cell-cycle regulation, but its role remains debated.
- Research indicates that the absence of Vpr leads to slower viral replication, heightened immune activation, and improved B and T cell responses in rhesus macaques infected with SIV.
- Overall, Vpr appears to facilitate viral immune evasion and pathogenicity, suggesting that targeting Vpr could enhance immune control over viral replication.
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a tightly regulated cellular process integral to homeostasis and innate immunity. As such, dysregulation of autophagy is associated with cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. While numerous factors that promote autophagy have been characterized, the key mechanisms that prevent excessive autophagy are less well understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFType I interferon (IFN) signalling is tightly controlled. Upon recognition of DNA by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), stimulator of interferon genes (STING) translocates along the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi axis to induce IFN signalling. Termination is achieved through autophagic degradation or recycling of STING by retrograde Golgi-to-ER transport.
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- - Non-persistent viruses can cause temporary infections that activate immune responses, but some individuals may experience lingering symptoms or new issues after recovery, known as post-acute sequelae (PAS).
- - Conditions like chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders, and neurological complications can arise from these lingering effects, particularly highlighted by cases of long COVID (PASC).
- - The persistent inflammation following the acute infection phase may contribute significantly to PAS, and the text discusses current understandings of immune signaling pathways involved, along with future treatment and prevention strategies.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evades most innate immune responses but may still be vulnerable to some. Here, we systematically analyze the impact of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on interferon (IFN) responses and autophagy. We show that SARS-CoV-2 proteins synergize to counteract anti-viral immune responses.
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