Publications by authors named "W Hafezi"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on finding inhibitors that prevent the fusion of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with host cell membranes, utilizing a virus-free cell culture system to model the fusion process.
  • - Researchers identified aescin, a saponin mixture, as a specific inhibitor of HSV-1 membrane fusion, achieving significant reductions in viral entry and spread in cell assays.
  • - Analytical methods revealed the main compounds present in aescin and their varying functionalities, with aescin IA showing promising inhibitory properties against HSV-1.
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Determining SARS-CoV-2 immunity is critical to assess COVID-19 risk and the need for prevention and mitigation strategies. We measured SARS-CoV-2 Spike/Nucleocapsid seroprevalence and serum neutralizing activity against Wu01, BA.4/5 and BQ.

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Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and cost benefit of a rapid molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) device detecting COVID-19 within a traumatological emergency department.

Background: Despite continuous withdrawal of COVID-19 restrictions, hospitals will remain particularly vulnerable to local outbreaks which is reflected by a higher institution-specific basic reproduction rate. Patients admitted to the emergency department with unknown COVID-19 infection status due to a- or oligosymptomatic COVID-19 infection put other patients and health care workers at risk, while fast diagnosis and treatment is necessary.

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Membrane fusion constitutes an essential step in the replication cycle of numerous viral pathogens, hence it represents an important druggable target. In the present study, we established a virus-free, stable reporter fusion inhibition assay (SRFIA) specifically designed to identify compounds interfering with virus-induced membrane fusion. The dual reporter assay is based on two stable Vero cell lines harboring the third-generation tetracycline (Tet3G) transactivator and a bicistronic reporter gene cassette under the control of the tetracycline responsive element (TRE3G), respectively.

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SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause severe pneumonia (COVID-19). There is evidence that patients with comorbidities are at higher risk of a severe disease course. The role of immunosuppression in the disease course is not clear.

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