G. Lasso

Distinct pathway for evolution of enhanced receptor binding and cell entry in SARS-like bat coronaviruses

The paper investigates how SARS-like bat coronaviruses evolve enhanced receptor binding and cell entry through specific genetic substitutions.

Two point mutations in protocadherin-1 disrupt Andes hantavirus recognition and afford protection against lethal infection

The paper identifies two point mutations in PCDH1 that disrupt ANDV recognition and protect against lethal infection in Syrian hamsters.

Genotype-specific Features Reduce the Susceptibility of South American Yellow Fever Virus Strains to Vaccine-Induced Antibodies

This study shows that South American yellow fever virus strains are less susceptible to vaccine-induced antibodies due to genetic changes in the glycoprotein E.

A combination of RBD and NTD neutralizing antibodies limits the generation of SARS-CoV-2 spike neutralization-escape mutants

This paper identifies NTD-targeting neutralizing antibodies and shows that combining RBD and NTD antibodies reduces the emergence of neutralization-escape mutants.

The evolutionary history of ACE2 usage within the coronavirus subgenus Sarbecovirus

This study investigates the evolutionary history of ACE2 usage in sarbecoviruses, showing that ACE2 usage in SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 likely arose through recombination with SARS-CoV-1 relatives, not SARS-CoV-2.

A sweep of earth's virome reveals host-guided viral protein structural mimicry; with implications for human disease

The paper identifies over 6 million instances of viral protein structural mimicry across diverse hosts, revealing host-guided strategies and implications for human disease.

A replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus for studies of SARS-CoV-2 spike-mediated cell entry and its inhibition

This paper develops a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to assess neutralizing antibodies in convalescent sera and validate its utility for vaccine and therapeutic development.

A virion-based assay for glycoprotein thermostability reveals key determinants of filovirus entry and its inhibition

This paper introduces an ELISA-based assay to measure the thermostability of filovirus glycoproteins, revealing how proteolytic cleavage, acid pH, and small-molecule inhibitors affect GP stability and viral entry.