H. Mou

Airway basal stem cells are necessary for the maintenance of functional intraepithelial airway macrophages.

This study shows that airway basal stem cells maintain intraepithelial airway macrophages via Notch signaling, enabling localized allergic inflammation in the trachea but not distal lung tissues.

Blocking HXA3-mediated neutrophil elastase release during S. pneumoniae lung infection limits pulmonary epithelial barrier disruption and bacteremia

This study identifies HXA3 as a driver of neutrophil transmigration and elastase release during pneumococcal infection, showing that blocking these processes reduces epithelial damage and bacteremia.

Age-related STAT3 signaling regulates severity of respiratory syncytial viral infection in human bronchial epithelial cells

The paper shows that age-related STAT3 signaling impairment in neonatal bronchial epithelial cells increases RSV infection severity, while SARS-CoV-2 is unaffected by age.

CRISPR-induced exon skipping of β-catenin reveals tumorigenic mutants driving distinct subtypes of liver cancer

This study shows CRISPR/Cas9 can induce exon skipping in β-catenin, creating gain-of-function mutations that drive distinct liver cancer subtypes in mice and are found in human HCC patients.

Alveolar regeneration following viral infection is independent of tuft cells

This study shows that alveolar regeneration after viral infection occurs independently of tuft cells, with ectopic basal progenitor cells generating alveolar epithelial cells through distinct differentiation paths.

Identification of Potent Small Molecule Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Entry

This study identifies small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry through high-throughput screening and validates Calpeptin as a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and some variants.

Engineering well-expressed, V2-immunofocusing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein membrane trimers for use in heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimens

This paper engineers HIV-1 envelope trimers with enhanced V2 and fusion peptide neutralization sensitivity for vaccine development.

The D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduces S1 shedding and increases infectivity

The paper compares the D614G mutation in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, finding it reduces S1 shedding and increases infectivity without affecting ACE2 binding or neutralization.

An engineered receptor-binding domain improves the immunogenicity of multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

This paper shows that an engineered RBD with glycosylation sites improves immunogenicity and expression efficiency in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Dietary suppression of MHC-II expression in intestinal stem cells enhances intestinal tumorigenesis

The paper shows that a high fat diet reduces MHC-II expression in intestinal stem cells, promoting tumorigenesis by altering immune recognition.

Hydroxychloroquine-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 entry is attenuated by TMPRSS2

This paper shows hydroxychloroquine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry via cathepsin L but not TMPRSS2, and that combining it with a TMPRSS2 inhibitor enhances antiviral effects.

Mutations from bat ACE2 orthologs markedly enhance ACE2-Fc neutralization of SARS-CoV-2

The SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain elicits a potent neutralizing response without antibody-dependent enhancement

This study shows that immunization with SARS-CoV-2 RBD elicits potent neutralizing antibodies without antibody-dependent enhancement in rodents.

Club cell TRPV4 as a damage sensor driving lung allergic inflammation

The paper identifies TRPV4 in club cells as a sensor for junction damage that drives lung allergic inflammation through calcium and calcineurin signaling.

Tissue-specific Genome Editing in vivo by MicroRNA-repressible Anti-CRISPR Proteins

This paper develops a method to achieve tissue-specific genome editing in vivo using microRNA-repressible anti-CRISPR proteins to limit Cas9 activity to target tissues.