A. Kleger

Host factor PLAC8 is required for pancreas infection by SARS-CoV-2

This study shows that PLAC8 is required for SARS-CoV-2 infection of the pancreas and links pancreatic enzyme levels to COVID-19 severity.

Aged human iPSC-RPE organoid cultures display hallmarks of drusen formation

This study develops an in vitro model of aged human iPSC-derived RPE organoids that display AMD-like features including drusen formation and age-related alterations.

Spike mutation T403R allows bat coronavirus RaTG13 to use human ACE2

The paper shows that a single amino acid mutation in the Spike protein of bat coronavirus RaTG13 enables it to use human ACE2 for infection.

Human stem cell-based retina-on-chip as new translational model for validation of AAV retinal gene therapy vectors

The paper evaluates seven AAV vectors using a human stem cell-derived Retina-on-chip model to assess their efficacy, kinetics, and cell tropism.

A feedback-loop between telomerase activity and stemness factors regulates PDAC stem cells

This study shows that telomerase activity and stemness factors form a feedback loop that maintains pancreatic cancer stem cells, and disrupting this loop reduces their tumorigenic potential.

Decreased calmodulin recruitment triggers PMCA4 dysfunction and pancreatic injury in cystic fibrosis

This study shows that reduced CFTR expression in pancreatic ductal cells decreases calmodulin recruitment, leading to PMCA4 dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for cystic fibrosis.

IFITM proteins promote SARS-CoV-2 infection and are targets for virus inhibition

This study shows that IFITM proteins are required for SARS-CoV-2 infection and can be targeted to inhibit viral entry and replication.

Evidence of SARS-CoV2 entry protein ACE2 in the human nose and olfactory bulb

This study identifies ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in human nasal and olfactory tissues, supporting their role in SARS-CoV-2 entry via the olfactory pathway.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection

The paper identifies 1-antitrypsin as a specific inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2, showing it blocks viral infection of human airway epithelium at physiological concentrations.

Remdesivir but not famotidine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in human pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal organoids

This study uses human intestinal organoids to show that remdesivir inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication, while famotidine does not.