This study identifies evolutionary constraints linking Zika virus NS5 replication and interferon antagonism by analyzing fitness landscapes and attenuation in mice.

Nature Communications · Oct 28, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

The Hao-Fountain syndrome gene USP7 restricts neurotropic orthoflavivirus entry through cell intrinsic control of endosomal dynamics

Boris Bonaventure, Kyna Reyes, Marie France Martin, Heng Pan, R. Blake Richardson, Eva Bednarski, Alison W. Ashbrook, Allison Sowa, William G.M. Janssen, Oded Danziger, Anastasija Čupić, Lisa Miorin, Charles M. Rice, Jean K. Lim, Brad R. Rosenberg, , Jeffrey R. Johnson

This study identifies USP7 as a gene that restricts neurotropic orthoflavivirus entry by controlling endosomal dynamics, with mutations in USP7 increasing susceptibility to ZIKV infection.

bioRxiv · Sep 10, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Construction of a CMV promoter-driven Langat virus cDNA clone and reporter viruses

Anna I. Hermacinski, R. Blake Richardson, Eva Bednarski, Madihah Salim, Amit Kumar Garg, Jean K. Lim, Matthew J. Evans

The paper constructs a CMV promoter-driven Langat virus cDNA clone and reporter viruses for studying replication, gene function, and pathogenesis.

bioRxiv · Nov 13, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

Broad-spectrum RNA antiviral inspired by ISG15-/- deficiency

Yemsratch T. Akalu, Roosheel S. Patel, Justin D. Taft, Rodrigo Cañas‐Arranz, Ashley Richardson, Sofija Buta, Marta Martín-Fernández, Rebecca L. Pearl, Gayatri Mainkar, Andrew P. Kurland, Haylen Rosberger, Diana D. Kang, Ann Anu Kurian, Keerat Kaur, Jennie B. Altman, , Dusan Bogunovic

The paper identifies a set of 10 ISGs that confer broad-spectrum antiviral resistance and demonstrates their efficacy in protecting against multiple viruses in vivo.

Science Translational Medicine · Aug 13, 2025Peer-reviewedImmunology