Geraldo Aleixo Silva Passos

The paper compares CRISPR-Cas9 RNP and nickase systems for inducing Aire gene mutations in murine mTECs, finding recurrent mutations with RNP but not nickase.

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to show that the Omicron variant's S477N mutation enhances spike-ACE2 binding, contributing to its higher infectivity compared to Delta.

The paper identifies miR-155 as a posttranscriptional regulator of Aire and TRA genes in mTECs, affecting chemotaxis.

The paper investigates the role of Aire in regulating lncRNA transcription in mTECs and identifies synergistic interactions with thymocyte adhesion.

In silico mutagenesis and interface analysis indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 Spike N501Y substitution increases intermolecular contacts with human ACE2 residues Y41 and K353.