S. Melamed

Coordination between cytoskeletal organization, cell contraction and extracellular matrix development, is depended on LOX for aneurysm prevention

This study shows LOX is essential for coordinating cytoskeletal organization, cell contraction, and ECM development to prevent aneurysms.

Diversification of molecular pattern recognition in bacterial NLR-like proteins

The paper shows that KpAvs2 recognizes a different phage protein, Ksap1, during infection compared to heterologous co-expression assays.

Cryo-EM structure of the RADAR supramolecular anti-phage defense complex

The paper determines the cryo-EM structure of the RADAR complex, showing RdrB targets mononucleotides and catalyzes ATP-to-ITP conversion to limit phage replication.

A conserved family of immune effectors cleaves cellular ATP upon viral infection

This study identifies a conserved family of immune effectors that degrade ATP and dATP during viral infection, halting phage propagation and suggesting a conserved innate immune strategy across life.

Initiation of fibronectin fibrillogenesis is an enzyme-dependent process

This study identifies fibronectin oxidation by lysyl-oxidase enzymes as a force-independent nucleation step initiating fibrillogenesis, which is critical for cell adhesion and mechanosensing.

Discovery of phage determinants that confer sensitivity to bacterial immune systems

The paper identifies phage determinants that confer sensitivity to bacterial immune systems by analyzing 192 phage mutants escaping 19 defense systems.

Monkeypox DNA correlates with virus infectivity in clinical samples

The paper correlates Monkeypox DNA content with virus infectivity in clinical samples and defines a PCR threshold for non-infectious virus.

An expanding arsenal of immune systems that protect bacteria from phages

This study identifies 21 new bacterial defense systems against phages through genomic analysis and experiments, revealing novel protein domains and toxin-antitoxin mechanisms involved in anti-phage immunity.

Multiple phage resistance systems inhibit infection via SIR2-dependent NAD+ depletion

The paper shows DSR proteins deplete NAD+ during phage infection, inhibiting propagation, and identifies SIR2 domains as effector NADases in bacterial immunity.

σ28-dependent small RNA regulation of flagella biosynthesis

The paper identifies four σ28-dependent sRNAs regulating flagella biosynthesis in E. coli, showing varied effects on flagellin levels, flagella number, and motility.

Nonclinical Safety and Immunogenicity of an rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S vaccine in mice, hamsters, rabbits and pigs

This study evaluates the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S vaccine in multiple animal species, finding no adverse effects and a robust immune response.

Monitoring group activity of hamsters and mice as a novel tool to evaluate COVID-19 progression, convalescence and rVSV-ΔG-spike vaccination efficacy

This study uses group activity monitoring in hamsters and mice to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection, convalescence, and vaccine efficacy.

Antiviral defense via nucleotide depletion in bacteria

This study identifies bacterial proteins that deplete specific deoxynucleotides to inhibit phage replication, mirroring the human SAMHD1 antiviral mechanism.

SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain fusion protein efficiently neutralizes virus infection

This paper develops RBD-Ig fusion proteins that efficiently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo, outperforming ACE2-Ig.

A lipid nanoparticle RBD-hFc mRNA vaccine protects hACE2 transgenic mice against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study evaluates an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in hACE2 transgenic mice, showing 70% protection against a lethal infection.

α-catenin links integrin adhesions to F-actin to regulate ECM mechanosensing and rigidity-dependence

This study shows α-catenin links integrin adhesions to F-actin, regulating ECM mechanosensing and rigidity dependence through interactions with vinculin and effects on adhesion maturation and force transmission.

Mice with Induced Pulmonary Comorbidities Display Severe Lung Inflammation and Mortality following Exposure to SARS-CoV-2

This study shows that CD-1 mice with induced pulmonary comorbidities develop severe lung inflammation and high mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Post-exposure protection of SARS-CoV-2 lethal infected K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by neutralizing human monoclonal antibody

This study shows that the human monoclonal antibody MD65 can rescue 100% of SARS-CoV-2 infected mice when administered up to 3 days post-exposure.

The coding capacity of SARS-CoV-2

This study maps the full coding capacity of SARS-CoV-2 using ribosome profiling, identifying 23 novel translated ORFs and revealing viral translation dominance over host translation.

A single dose of recombinant VSV-{triangleup}G-spike vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge

This study develops a recombinant VSV-ΔG-spike vaccine that provides single-dose protection against SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters by inducing neutralizing antibodies and preventing lung pathology.

Tiger team: a panel of human neutralizing mAbs targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike at multiple epitopes

This paper isolates and characterizes a panel of human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike at multiple epitopes, suggesting their potential for combined post-exposure therapy.

Antiviral activity of Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA virus infections

The study evaluates two GCS inhibitors for antiviral activity against four enveloped RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, showing broad-spectrum efficacy and improved survival in infected mice.