A. Finzi

The combination of three CD4-induced antibodies targeting highly conserved Env regions with a small CD4-mimetic achieves potent ADCC activity

This paper combines three CD4-induced antibodies with a CD4-mimetic to achieve potent ADCC activity against HIV-1-infected cells.

CD4 downregulation precedes Env expression and protects HIV-1-infected cells from ADCC mediated by non-neutralizing antibodies

The paper shows CD4 downregulation precedes Env expression in HIV-1-infected cells, making them resistant to non-neutralizing antibody-mediated ADCC.

Metformin Enhances Antibody-Mediated Recognition of HIV-Infected CD4+ T-Cells by Decreasing Viral Release

This study shows metformin reduces HIV-1 virion release and increases antibody recognition of infected CD4+ T-cells by modulating BST2 and Bcl-2 expression in HIV-positive individuals on ART.

Temperature-dependent Spike-ACE2 interaction of Omicron subvariants is associated with viral transmission

This study examines how temperature affects Spike-ACE2 interactions in Omicron subvariants and links these interactions to viral transmission efficiency.

Combinatorial Regimens Augment Drug Monotherapy for SARS-CoV-2 Clearance in Mice

This study evaluates DAAs and their combinations for SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice, finding that dual-targeting regimens outperform monotherapies.

Piperidine CD4-mimetic compounds expose vulnerable Env epitopes sensitizing HIV-1-infected cells to ADCC

The paper describes piperidine-based CD4-mimetic compounds that expose HIV-1 Env epitopes, increasing sensitivity to ADCC by targeting Asp368.

Elevated binding and functional antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in infants versus mothers

The paper compares SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses between infants and mothers, finding higher binding and functional antibody levels in infants, particularly in the fusion peptide region.

Anthracyclines inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study identifies anthracyclines as potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors through a microbial metabolite screening effort, showing they inhibit viral infection via different mechanisms.

Indoline CD4-mimetic Compounds Mediate Potent and Broad HIV-1 Inhibition and Sensitization to Antibody-dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

This study designs and evaluates indoline-based CD4-mimetic compounds that inhibit HIV-1 more potently and broadly than existing indane-based compounds and sensitize HIV-1 to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Identification of broad, potent antibodies to functionally constrained regions of SARS-CoV-2 spike following a breakthrough infection

This study identifies four broad, potent monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that neutralize multiple variants, including Omicron and XBB.1.5, targeting conserved regions with high functional constraint.

A germline-targeting chimpanzee SIV envelope glycoprotein elicits a new class of V2-apex directed cross-neutralizing antibodies

This study identifies a new class of V2-directed cross-neutralizing antibodies targeting a cryptic epitope in occluded-open HIV and SIV Env trimers.

A third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in people receiving hemodialysis overcomes B cell defects but elicits a skewed CD4+ T cell profile

A long interval between priming and boosting SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine doses enhances B cell responses with limited impact on T cell immunity

This study shows that a longer interval between SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine doses enhances B cell responses but has minimal impact on T cell immunity.

Molecular basis for antiviral activity of pediatric neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor binding domain

This study identifies two potent neutralizing antibodies, EH3 and EH8, from a pediatric patient that cross-neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants and provide in vivo protection against the Delta VOC.

Small CD4 mimetics sensitize HIV-1-infected macrophages to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

The paper shows that small CD4 mimetics expose ADCC epitopes on HIV-1-infected macrophages, making them susceptible to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

An S1 subunit vaccine and combination adjuvant (COVAC-1) elicits robust protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in African green monkeys

COVAC-1, an S1 subunit vaccine with adjuvant, protects African green monkeys from SARS-CoV-2 challenge by reducing viral load and pathology in the respiratory tract.

The Fc-effector function of COVID-19 convalescent plasma contributes to SARS-CoV-2 treatment efficacy in mice

This study shows that CCPs with high Fc-effector activity, rather than just neutralizing ability, are more effective in treating SARS-CoV-2 in mice.

Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein variants selected for resistance to a CD4-mimetic compound

This study identifies HIV-1 Env variants resistant to CD4-mimetic compounds and BMS-806 by analyzing mutations that confer resistance and their effects on viral fitness and inhibitor sensitivity.

SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF8 decreases antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF8 reduces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by binding CD16a and decreasing CD16 surface levels on monocytes and NK cells.

Highly divergent white-tailed deer SARS-CoV-2 with potential deer-to-human transmission

The paper identifies a highly divergent SARS-CoV-2 lineage in white-tailed deer with evidence of deer-to-human transmission.

HIV-1 Vpu restricts Fc-mediated effector functions in vivo

This study shows that HIV-1 Vpu reduces nnAb recognition and ADCC resistance, with nnAb Fc-effector functions dependent on Env's open conformation.

Identification of a SARS-CoV-2 host metalloproteinase-dependent entry pathway differentially used by SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern Alpha, Delta, and Omicron

This study identifies a MMP2/9-dependent entry pathway for SARS-CoV-2 and variants, showing differential usage and reduced activity in Omicron.

VE607 Stabilizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike In the "RBD-up" Conformation and Inhibits Viral Entry

VE607 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection by stabilizing the RBD in the 'up' conformation and blocking S-ACE2 interaction across multiple variants.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike recognition by plasma from individuals receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-weeks interval between doses

This study evaluates how plasma from individuals with a 16-week interval between BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine doses recognizes and neutralizes the Omicron Spike compared to other variants.

Temporal associations of B and T cell immunity with robust vaccine responsiveness in a 16-week interval BNT162b2 regimen

The paper examines B and T cell immunity responses to a 16-week interval BNT162b2 vaccine regimen, finding robust immune memory and functional associations between immune components.

Detection of the HIV-1 accessory proteins Nef and Vpu by flow cytometry represents a new tool to study their functional interplay within a single infected CD4+ T cell

The paper develops a flow cytometry method to detect HIV-1 Nef and Vpu in CD4+ T cells, showing Vpu cannot compensate for Nef absence in ADCC susceptibility.

HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins proteolytic cleavage protects infected cells from ADCC mediated by plasma from infected individuals

This study shows that HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins proteolytic cleavage protects infected cells from ADCC by reducing the exposure of uncleaved Env to non-neutralizing antibodies.

SARS-CoV-2 variants exhibit increased kinetic stability of open spike conformations as an evolutionary strategy

This study uses smFRET to show SARS-CoV-2 variants have more open Spike conformations and slower transitions, increasing their stability and transmission efficiency.

An anti-SARS-CoV-2 non-neutralizing antibody with Fc-effector function defines a new NTD epitope and delays neuroinvasion and death in K18-hACE2 mice

Covid-19 vaccine immunogenicity in people living with HIV-1

This study evaluates mRNA vaccine immunogenicity in HIV-positive individuals, finding similar anti-RBD IgG responses to controls in those with CD4 counts >250 cells/mm3, but significantly lower responses in those with <250 cells/mm3.