A. Kipar

The effect of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir on SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity in severe models of COVID-19.

This study examines how molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir affect SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity in immunocompromised mice, finding reduced viral load and specific mutations but no major consensus sequence changes.

Regulatory T cells control type 1-driven immunopathology restraining GM-CSF-producing helper T cells

This study identifies GM-CSF-producing helper T cells as drivers of immunopathology, showing Treg cells restrain them to prevent tissue damage in mice.

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 lacking initiating and internal methionine codons within ORF10 is attenuated in vivo

This study shows that a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus lacking ORF10 start and internal methionine codons is attenuated in hamsters, with reduced lower respiratory tract viral titre and increased reversion to wild-type.

Complete Protection from SARS-CoV-2 Lung Infection in Mice Through Combined Intranasal Delivery of PIKfyve Kinase and TMPRSS2 Protease Inhibitors

This study shows that combining PIKfyve and TMPRSS2 inhibitors intranasally protects mice from SARS-CoV-2 lung infection and reduces cell death.

Reptarenavirus Co- and Superinfection in Cell Culture Sheds Light on the S and L Segment Accumulation in Captive Snakes

This study investigates reptarenavirus co- and superinfection in cell cultures, finding no competition between closely related viruses but reduced replication of closely related segments in persistently infected cells.

Nanobody engineering for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and detection

This study engineers nanobodies to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants and develop a detection assay, showing high potency against some variants but limitations against others.

Boid Inclusion Body Disease (BIBD) Is Also a Disease of Wild Boa Constrictors

This paper identifies reptarenavirus infection and Boid Inclusion Body Disease (BIBD) in wild and captive boa constrictors in Costa Rica, showing the disease occurs in wild populations and suggesting boas may contribute to natural virus circulation.

Ronapreve (REGN-CoV; casirivimab and imdevimab) reduces the viral burden and alters the pulmonary response to the SARS-CoV 2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in K18-hACE2 mice using an experimental design reflective of a treatment use case

This study evaluates Ronapreve's efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in mice, showing reduced viral burden and altered pulmonary response for Delta but not Omicron.

Intranasal inhibitor broadly blocks SARS-CoV-2 including recent highly immunoevasive Omicron subvariants

This paper describes a novel intranasal inhibitor, TriSb92, that effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and recent Omicron subvariants, offering protection against infection in mice.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 Variant leads to less severe disease than Pango B and Delta variants strains in a mouse model of severe COVID-19

This study compares the severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529, Pango B, and Delta variants in a mouse model, finding Omicron causes less severe disease with lower viral load and inflammation.

Evaluation of intranasal nafamostat or camostat for SARS-CoV-2 chemoprophylaxis in Syrian golden hamsters

This study evaluates intranasal nafamostat and camostat for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian golden hamsters, finding nafamostat effective in keeping viral RNA undetectable for 7 days.

Single-dose immunisation with a multimerised SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) induces an enhanced and protective response in mice

This paper demonstrates that a multimerised SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine using a stable scaffold provides enhanced antibody responses and complete protection in mice.

Neuroinvasion and neurotropism by SARS-CoV-2 variants in the K18-hACE2 mouse

This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 variant neuroinvasion in K18-hACE2 mice, finding CNS spread in all variants except Omicron, with microglial activation and immune cell apoptosis observed.

Naturally-acquired immunity in Syrian Golden Hamsters provides protection from re-exposure to emerging heterosubtypic SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351

This study shows that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian Golden Hamsters protects against re-exposure to variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, suggesting immunity may limit disease from emerging variants.

Arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria

This study shows that arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria, affecting their morphology and potentially modulating immune responses.

Sequential infection with influenza A virus followed by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) leads to more severe disease and encephalitis in a mouse model of COVID-19.

This study shows that sequential infection with influenza A virus followed by SARS-CoV-2 in mice leads to more severe disease and encephalitis compared to single infections.

Experimental Reptarenavirus Infection of Boa constrictor and Python regius

This study experimentally infects pythons and boas with reptarenavirus via different routes, finding infection without inclusion bodies and suggesting other factors contribute to BIBD pathogenesis.

Identification of Reptarenaviruses, Hartmaniviruses and a Novel Chuvirus in Captive Brazilian Native Boa Constrictors with Boid Inclusion Body Disease

The paper identifies novel reptarenaviruses, hartmaniviruses, and a chuvirus in Brazilian captive boas with Boid Inclusion Body Disease using metatranscriptomic analysis.

Python nidoviruses, more than respiratory pathogens

This study investigates python nidoviruses, finding they infect multiple tissues beyond the respiratory tract and spread systemically via monocytes, challenging previous understanding of their tropism and disease patterns.

The WD and linker domains of ATG16L1 required for non canonical autophagy limit lethal influenza A virus infection at epithelial surfaces.

This study shows that non-canonical autophagy, mediated by the WD and linker domains of ATG16L1, protects against lethal influenza A virus infection by limiting viral replication and inflammation in airway epithelial cells.

A novel experimental system reveals immunoregulatory responses as mediators of persistent orthohantavirus infections in a rodent reservoir host

This study develops an experimental system to investigate immunoregulatory responses in bank voles infected with PUUV, revealing that virus-induced interleukin-10 promotes persistent infections by suppressing immune responses.

Snake deltavirus utilizes envelope proteins of different viruses to generate infectious particles

This study shows snake deltavirus can use various helper viruses or viral glycoproteins to generate infectious particles, expanding the known range of helper viruses beyond hepatitis B virus.

Identification of a novel deltavirus in Boa constrictor

The paper identifies a novel deltavirus, sHDV, in Boa constrictor, showing it replicates independently of HBV and spreads via vertical and horizontal transmission.