C. Y. Chiu

The circulating phageome reflects bacterial infections

The paper shows that circulating phageome in cfDNA reflects bacterial infections and can distinguish between pathogenic and contaminant bacteria.

Longitudinal comparison of the developing gut virome in infants and their mothers

This study compares the gut virome of 53 infants and their mothers over three years, finding distinct viral compositions and ongoing maturation of the infant virome.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike triggers barrier dysfunction and vascular leak via integrins and TGF-β signaling

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein causes barrier dysfunction and vascular leak through integrins and TGF-β signaling, independent of viral replication and ACE2.

The B.1.427/1.429 (epsilon) SARS-CoV-2 variants are more virulent than ancestral B.1 (614G) in Syrian hamsters

This study shows that the B.1.427/1.429 (epsilon) SARS-CoV-2 variants cause more severe disease and higher viral loads in the upper respiratory tract in Syrian hamsters compared to the ancestral B.1 (614G) strain.

Two sides of a coin: a Zika virus mutation selected in pregnant rhesus macaques promotes fetal infection in mice but at a cost of reduced fitness in nonpregnant macaques and diminished transmissibility by vectors

This paper identifies a ZIKV mutation, M1404I, that enhances fetal infection in mice but reduces viral fitness and transmissibility in nonpregnant macaques and mosquitoes.

A comparative 'omics approach to candidate pathogenicity factor discovery in the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri

This study uses -omics approaches to identify candidate pathogenicity factors in Naegleria fowleri by comparing it to its non-pathogenic relative Naegleria gruberi.

Serological and metagenomic interrogation of cerebrospinal fluid implicates enteroviruses in pediatric acute flaccid myelitis

This study identifies high levels of enterovirus antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute flaccid myelitis compared to controls, suggesting a causal role for non-polio enteroviruses.

Experimental Zika Virus Infection in the Pregnant Common Marmoset Induces Spontaneous Fetal Loss and Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities

This study infects pregnant marmosets with Zika virus, leading to fetal loss and neurodevelopmental issues, mirroring human congenital ZIKV disease.

Experimental Zika Virus Infection in a New World Monkey Model Reproduces Key Features of the Human Disease

This study infects marmosets with Zika virus and finds they exhibit key features of human disease, including asymptomatic infection and viral persistence in lymph nodes.