Generation and Characterization of a Nanobody Against SARS-CoV

Virologica Sinica - The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has caused global panic in 2003, and the risk of SARS-CoV outbreak still exists. However, no...     

Serological tests for COVID-19: Potential opportunities

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel betacoronavirus, caused a pandemic leading to a standstill of nearly all global activities. There are some controversies on the production of specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies after the infection with SARS-CoV-2. This paper seeks to elaborate on the potential application of IgM and IgG antibodies and the viral antigens for the diagnosis and the course of the disease as well as the recurrence of positive nucleic acid tests after discharge.     

Interferon lambda 4 signals via the IFNλ receptor to regulate antiviral activity against HCV and coronaviruses

The IFNL4 gene is a recently discovered type III interferon, which in a significant fraction of the human population harbours a frameshift mutation abolishing the IFNλ4 ORF. The expression of IFNλ4 is correlated with both poor spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and poor response to treatment with type I interferon. Here, we show that the IFNL4 gene encodes an active type III interferon, named IFNλ4, which signals through the IFNλR1 and IL‐10R2 receptor chains. Recombinant IFNλ4 is antiviral against both HCV and coronaviruses at levels comparable to IFNλ3. However, the secretion of IFNλ4 is impaired compared to that of IFNλ3, and this impairment is not due to a weak signal peptide, which was previously believed. We found that IFNλ4 gets N‐linked glycosylated and that this glycosylation is required for secretion. Nevertheless, this glycosylation is not required for activity. Together, these findings result in the paradox that IFNλ4 is strongly antiviral but a disadvantage during HCV infection.     

Alternative autophagy,brefeldin A and viral trafficking pathways

Two topics that have attracted recent attention in the field of autophagy concern the source of the membrane that is used to form the autophagosome during macroautophagy and the role of noncanonical autophagic pathways. The 2 topics may converge when considering the intersection of autophagy with viral infection. We suggest that noncanonical autophagy, which is sensitive to treatment with brefeldin A, may converge with the infectious cycles of certain DNA and RNA viruses that utilize membrane from the ER and cis-Golgi.     

大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR检测方法的建立与应用

目的建立快速检测实验大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR方法。方法根据大鼠冠状病毒N基因、仙台病毒L基因设计特异性引物;经过双重PCR优化,特异性和敏感性的检测,建立双重PCR体系。应用该PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本和实验动物组织样本,并与ELISA方法比对。结果双重PCR扩增出大鼠冠状病毒(168 bp)和仙台病毒(262 bp)目的条带,PCR扩增产物测序结果利用核酸BLAST功能进行同源序列对比,仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒同源性分别为100%和99%。仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒的检测下限为1.56×10~2 copies/μL。特异性检测对小鼠肝炎病毒扩增,产生片段大小近似大鼠冠状病毒产物。应用建立的双重PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本,30份DNA标本均被检出;检测94份实验动物肺组织样本,结果均阴性。结论建立的双重PCR方法操作简单、快速、特异性强、灵敏度高,能够实现对实验动物仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒病原体的快速检测。     

Unexpected Receptor Functional Mimicry Elucidates Activation of Coronavirus Fusion

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The Emergence of the Spike Furin Cleavage Site in SARS-CoV-2

Compared with other SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs), SARS-CoV-2 possesses a unique furin cleavage site (FCS) in its spike. This has stimulated discussion pertaining to the origin of SARS-CoV-2 because the FCS has been observed to be under strong selective pressure in humans and confers the enhanced ability to infect some cell types and induce cell–cell fusion. Furthermore, scientists have demonstrated interest in studying novel cleavage sites by introducing them into SARSr-CoVs. We review what is known about the SARS-CoV-2 FCS in the context of its pathogenesis, origin, and how future wildlife coronavirus sampling may alter the interpretation of existing data.