D. Forni

Tangled genetic relationships within the Fusobacterium genus

The paper analyzes genetic diversity and recombination in Fusobacterium, revealing mosaic genomes and taxonomic classification issues, with implications for disease associations like colorectal cancer.

SARS-CoV-2 ORF3c impairs mitochondrial respiratory metabolism, oxidative stress and autophagic flow

This study identifies ORF3c as a SARS-CoV-2 protein that disrupts mitochondrial metabolism, increases oxidative stress, and blocks autophagy, potentially contributing to disease progression.

Variola virus is as old as the earliest historical lines of evidence suggest

The paper estimates the emergence of variola virus (VARV) to be earlier than 3,800 years ago, resolving a debate between molecular dating and historical records.

Simplexviruses successfully adapt to their host by fine-tuning immune responses

This study identifies positive selection in herpes simplex virus glycoproteins that influence immune escape mechanisms and HLA-G expression, explaining their adaptation to hominins.

Antigenic variation of SARS-CoV-2 in response to immune pressure

The paper analyzes SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity to show that B cell epitopes are more variable than non-epitope regions, while T cell epitopes show reduced variability, suggesting immune evasion strategies.