M. Sasaki

Liver-specific LXR inhibition represses reverse cholesterol transport in cholesterol-fed mice

This study shows that liver-specific LXR inhibition reduces HDL levels and reverse cholesterol transport in cholesterol-fed mice by decreasing LXR-target gene expression.

Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti does not affect its vectorial capacity for Dirofilaria immitis

This study shows Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti does not impact its vectorial capacity for Dirofilaria immitis, supporting its use in dengue control.

Lysyl oxidase regulates epithelial differentiation and barrier integrity in eosinophilic esophagitis

This study shows LOX promotes epithelial differentiation and barrier integrity in EoE by activating the BMP pathway through increased BMP2 and reduced follistatin.

Native spike flexibility revealed by BSL3 Cryo-ET of active SARS-CoV-2 virions

This study uses cryo-ET to analyze native, active SARS-CoV-2 virions, revealing a transient open-trimer prefusion state and hidden spike flexibility with implications for vaccine design.

The mechanism of Atg15-mediated membrane disruption in autophagy

This study identifies Atg15 as the sole vacuolar phospholipase required for autophagic body membrane disruption, showing its activation by Pep4 and Prb1 and broad substrate specificity.

Combination therapy with oral antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs improves the efficacy of delayed treatment in severe COVID-19

This study shows that combining an oral antiviral with a corticosteroid improves treatment outcomes in delayed SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters compared to monotherapy.

Naupliar exposure to acute warming does not affect ontogenetic patterns in respiration, body size, or development time in the cosmopolitan copepod Acartia tonsa

This study exposes nauplii of Acartia tonsa to acute warming and finds no lasting effects on respiration, body size, or development time during ontogeny.

Morphogenesis of bullet-shaped rabies virus particles requires a functional interplay between the viral matrix protein and ESCRT-I component TSG101

This study identifies the interaction between rabies virus matrix protein and TSG101 as essential for bullet-shaped virion formation and efficient budding.

2-Thiouridine is a broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside analogue against positive-strand RNA viruses

This study identifies 2-thiouridine as a broad-spectrum antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 and other positive-strand RNA viruses by inhibiting viral RNA synthesis.

Constitutive Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential CanonicalType 6 (TRPC6) by O-GlcNAcylation at Threonine-221

This study identifies O-GlcNAcylation at Thr221 as a constitutive inhibitor of TRPC6 channel conductance and NFAT signaling, showing its conservation and functional importance across TRPC family members.

Discovery of Chlorofluoroacetamide-Based Covalent Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease

The paper identifies a new class of covalent inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease with chlorofluoroacetamide warhead, showing potent antiviral activity comparable to nirmatrelvir.

Oral administration of S-217622, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor, decreases viral load and accelerates recovery from clinical aspects of COVID-19

This study shows that oral S-217622 reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral load and improves recovery in hamsters, with activity against multiple variants.

Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 variant

This study compares the virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 and BA.1 variants, finding BA.2 has higher transmissibility, different antigenicity, greater replicative capacity, and higher pathogenicity in hamsters.

Discovery of S-217622, a Non-Covalent Oral SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibitor Clinical Candidate for Treating COVID-19

This paper describes the discovery of S-217622, an oral non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitor showing antiviral activity and favorable pharmacokinetics in preclinical studies.

SARS-CoV-2 bearing a mutation at the S1/S2 cleavage site exhibits attenuated virulence and confers protective immunity

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the furin cleavage site are less virulent and induce protective immunity in hamsters.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the S1/S2 cleavage site are generated in vitro during propagation in TMPRSS2-deficient cells

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at the S1/S2 cleavage site emerge in TMPRSS2-deficient cells, leading to reduced cell tropism and plaque size.

Activity-specificity trade-off gives PI5P4Kβ a nucleotide preference to function as a GTP-sensing kinase.

This study identifies the TRNVF motif as responsible for PI5P4Kβ's GTP binding and extended specificity to ITP and XTP, showing how its GTP preference allows it to function as a GTP sensor despite low cellular concentrations of ITP and XTP.