New Blog: Paper reading seminar

This page introduces papers read by students taking classes in my laboratory.

https://zero1010010.blogspot.com/

The methyltransferase dmain of the Respiratory Syncytial virus L protein catalyzes cap N7 and 2'-O-methylation

The genome replication and mRNA transcription of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are both performed by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase L protein. The L protein catalyzes all required enzymatic activity for generating mRNA including mRNA capping and cap methylation. This paper biochemically demonstrated that RSV L catalyzes the N7- and 2'-O-methyation of the cap structure of a short RNA sequence that corresponds to the 5' end of viral mRNA via the methyltransferase with the C-terminal domain.

In vivo characterization of the novel ebolavirus Bombali virus suggests a low pathogenic potential for humans

Bombali virus (BOMV) is a novel ebolavirus whose genome sequence was found in free-tailed bats. Although the infectious virus has not been isolated, the authors rescued the recombinant BOMV by a reverse genetics engineering using artificially generated nucleotides. The BOMV showed slower growth property in cultured cells compared with pathogenic Zaire ebolavirus. BOMV showed lower pathogenesis when it was inoculated to HLA-A2-transgenic, NOD-scid-IL-2gamma receptor-knockout mice reconstituted with human haematopoiesis than the Zaire ebolavirus. These results indicate that the BOMV may show low pathogenesis to humans.

Maternal immunization using a protein subunit vaccine mediates passive immunity against Zaire ebolavirus in a murine model

Clinical trials of Ebola vaccine did not include pregnant or nursing women, resulting in a gap in knowledge of vaccine-elicited maternal antibody. In this study, using pregnant mice model, authors revealed that the Ebola protein subunit vaccine can elicit robust humoral immune responses, and they can be transferred to pups and breastmilk. The intramuscular protein subunit vaccine may elicit Ebola-specific IgG capable of being transferred across the placenta as well as into the breastmilk.

A South American mouse Morbillivirus provides insight into a clade of rodent-borne Morbilliviruses

A novel paramyxovirus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus has been identified in public RNA seq datasets of South American long-haired and olive field mice, which is named Ratón oliváceo morbillivirus. This virus is characterized by unusually large intergenic regions and the presence of an accessory gene between F and H genes. Thus, the genome architecture consists of 3'-N-P/V/C-M-F-hp-H-L-5'.

Tissue replication and mucosal swab detection of Sosuga virus in Syrian hamsters in the absence of overt tissue pathology and clinical disease

Sosuga virus was firstly reported as a causative agent for human febrile illness who is a field worker in South Sudan and Uganda in 2012. The Sosuga virus was detected from Egyptian rousette bat in Uganda. The intranasal and intraperitoneal infection of Sosuga virus to Syrian hamsters resulted in viral replication in blood and tissues including liver, spleen, kidney and lung. The Syrian hamsters showed susceptibility to Sosuga virus in the absence of clinical signs and significant histopathological findings in tissues.

Human-to-human transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus through potential ocular exposure to infectious blood

SFTS was first reported in 2009 in China and subsequently endemic to South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Myanmar. Because this disease is transmitted by human to human, the personal protective equipments (PPEs) have been recommended to prevent SFTS transmission when the risk for the exposure from patient's blood exists. Five secondary transmitted patients were reported in China, all of which had been wearing gloves and masks when exposed to the blood of infected individuals but none of them wore goggles or face shields for eye protection. The ocular route was suggested as a highly possible mode of transmission.