Phospho-eIF4E stimulation regulates coronavirus entry by selective expression of cell membrane-residential factors.

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E can regulate cellular translation via phosphorylation on serine 209. In a recent study, by two rounds of TMT relative quantitative proteomics, we found that phosphorylated eIF4E (p-eIF4E) favors the translation of selected mRNAs, and the encoded proteins are mainly involved in ECM-receptor, focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt signaling. The current paper is focused on the relationship between p-eIF4E and the downstream host cell proteins, and their presumed effect on efficient entry of PEDV.

Small molecule RAF265 as an antiviral therapy acts against HSV-1 by regulating cytoskeleton rearrangement and cellular translation machinery.

Host-targeting antivirals (HTAs) have received increasing attention for their potential as broad-spectrum antivirals that pose relatively low risk of developing drug resistance. The repurposing of pharmaceutical drugs for use as antivirals is emerging as a cost- and time- efficient approach to developing HTAs for the treatment of a variety of viral infections. In this study, we used a virus titer method to screen 30 small molecules for antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1).

Virus Dynamics and Decay in Evaporating Human Saliva Droplets on Fomites.

The transmission of most respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, occurs via virus-containing respiratory droplets, and thus, factors that affect virus viability in droplet residues on surfaces are of critical medical and public health importance. Relative humidity (RH) is known to play a role in virus survival, with a U-shaped relationship between RH and virus viability. The mechanisms affecting virus viability in droplet residues, however, are unclear.

Cellular protein GLTSCR2: A valuable target for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals.

Viral infection induces translocation of the nucleolar protein GLTSCR2 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, resulting in attenuation of the type I interferon IFN-β. Addressing the role of GLTSCR2 in viral replication, we detect that knocking down GLTSCR2 by shRNAs results in significant suppression of viral replication in mammalian and chicken cells. Injection of chicken embryo with the GLTSCR2-specific shRNA-1370 simultaneously or 24 h prior to infection with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) substantially reduces viral replication in chicken embryo fibroblasts.

In vitro and in vivo broad antiviral activity of peptides homologous to fusion glycoproteins of Newcastle disease virus and Marek's disease virus.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) of paramyxovirus and Marek's disease virus (MDV) of herpesvirus, two of the most serious threats to the poultry industry, can give rise to complex co-infections that hinder diagnosis and prevention. In the current study, two different peptides, derived from the MDV gH (gHH2L) and gB (gBH3), respectively, exhibit antiviral activity against NDV in vitro. The potent inhibitory effect of heptad repeat 2 from fusion glycoprotein of the NDV on MDV infection also has been demonstrated.

A cholesterol tag at the N terminus of the relatively broad-spectrum fusion inhibitory peptide targets an earlier stage of fusion glycoprotein activation and increases the peptide's antiviral potency in vivo.

In previous work, we designed peptides that showed potent inhibition of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infections in chicken embryos. In this study, we demonstrate that peptides modified with cholesterol or 3 U of polyethylene glycol (PEG3) conjugated to the peptides' N termini showed even more promising antiviral activities when tested in animal models. Both cholesterol- and cholesterol-PEG3-tagged peptides were able to protect chicken embryos from infection with different serotypes of NDV and IBV when administered 12 h prior to virus inoculation.

Interaction domain of glycoproteins gB and gH of Marek's disease virus and identification of an antiviral peptide with dual functions.

Our previous study reported that both glycoproteins gB and gH of the herpesvirus Marek's disease virus (MDV) contain eleven potential heptad repeat domains. These domains overlap with α-helix-enriched hydrophobic regions, including the gH-derived HR1 (gHH1) and HR3 (gHH3) and gB-derived HR1 (gBH1) regions, which demonstrate effective antiviral activity, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of less than 12 µM. Plaque formation and chicken embryo infection assays confirmed these results.

Characterisation and evaluation of antiviral recombinant peptides based on the heptad repeat regions of NDV and IBV fusion glycoproteins.

Mixed virus infections can cause livestock losses that are more devastating than those caused by single virus infections. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), serious threats to the poultry industry, can give rise to complex mixed infections that hinder diagnosis and prevention. In this study, we show that newly designed peptides, which are based on the heptad repeat (HR) region of the fusion glycoproteins from NDV and IBV, have more potent antiviral activity than the mother HR peptides.