L. Cicin-Sain

DNA methylation profiling identifies TBKBP1 as potent amplifier of cytotoxic activity in CMV-specific human CD8+ T cells

The paper identifies TBKBP1 as a key gene whose demethylation enhances cytotoxic activity in CMV-specific CD8+ T cells, suggesting it as a therapeutic target.

Dynamic monitoring of viral gene expression reveals rapid antiviral effects of CD8 T cells recognizing the HCMV-pp65 antigen

This study develops ARMATA, a method to measure antiviral T-cell activity against HCMV, revealing pp65 antigen recognition occurs before the late virus cycle phase.

NFAT signaling is indispensable for persistent memory responses of MCMV-specific CD8+ T cells

This study shows that NFATc1 and NFATc2 are essential for the long-term inflation of MCMV-specific CD8 T cells during viral latency, but not for acute infection responses.

TMPRSS2 is essential for SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron infection

The paper shows TMPRSS2 is essential for SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron infection in mice, highlighting its role as an antiviral target.

A single-dose MCMV-based vaccine elicits long-lasting immune protection in mice against distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants

A single dose of a recombinant murine CMV vaccine expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein provides long-lasting immunity against multiple variants in mice.

Pharmacological modulators of epithelial immunity uncovered by synthetic genetic tracing of SARS-CoV-2 infection responses

The paper identifies pharmacological modulators of epithelial immunity by analyzing SARS-CoV-2 infection responses using synthetic genetic reporters and drug screens.

RIG-I activation primes and trains innate antiviral immune memory

RIG-I activation primes and trains innate immune responses, enhancing non-specific antiviral protection in immune and non-immune cells.

Fibroblastic cells are a site of mouse cytomegalovirus in vivo lytic replication and latent persistence oppositely regulated by Stat1

This study shows that fibroblastic cells support both lytic and latent mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection, with Stat1 regulating the switch between these states.

Metabolic plasticity of serine metabolism is crucial for cGAS/STING-signalling and innate immune response to viral infections in the gut

The paper identifies metabolic changes in serine metabolism linked to cGAS/STING-signalling and immune response in gut inflammation.

A third vaccination with a single T cell epitope protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of neutralizing antibodies

A third dose of a single T cell epitope vaccine protects mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection without neutralizing antibodies by enhancing effector-memory and tissue-resident memory T cells.

Turnover of MCMV-expanded CD8+ T-cells is similar to that of memory phenotype T-cells and independent of the magnitude of the response

The paper compares the turnover rates of CMV-specific CD8+ T-cells to memory phenotype CD8+ T-cells, finding they are similar regardless of response magnitude.

A SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody selected from COVID-19 patients by phage display is binding to the ACE2-RBD interface and is tolerant to most known recently emerging RBD mutations

The paper describes the selection of a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody from COVID-19 patients using phage display, showing it binds the ACE2-RBD interface and remains effective against emerging RBD mutations.

Antiviral activity of influenza A virus defective interfering particles against SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro through stimulation of innate immunity

This study shows that influenza A virus defective interfering particles inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by enhancing innate immunity through JAK/STAT signaling.

Differential serotonin uptake mechanisms at the human maternal-fetal interface

This study identifies distinct serotonin uptake mechanisms in human placental and fetal cells, showing high-affinity uptake in trophoblasts and low-affinity uptake in endothelial cells and platelets.

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Adaptation to Available Cellular Proteases

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 adapts to Vero E6 cells by losing the furin cleavage motif in spike protein, but retains wildtype sequences, enabling reverse adaptation when passaged on human lung cells.

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing human recombinant antibodies selected from pre-pandemic healthy donors binding at RBD-ACE2 interface

The paper identifies potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from pre-pandemic human donors that bind the RBD-ACE2 interface, showing high neutralization efficacy in vitro.

Mucosal CD8+ T cell responses induced by an MCMV based vaccine vector confer protection against influenza challenge

This paper shows that intranasal immunization with an MCMV-based vaccine vector induces lung-resident memory CD8+ T cells that protect against influenza challenge.

Off-target effects of Cre recombinase reveal limits of adoptive T cell transfers and persistent proliferation of effector CD8 T-cells

The paper shows that effector memory T-cells (TEM) proliferate during persistent CMV infection, maintaining memory inflation, while central memory T-cells (TCM) do not proliferate as much.