Vito Mennella

Volume EM reveals three-dimensional architecture of the desmosome in epithelial cells and tissue models

This study uses volume EM to reveal the three-dimensional structure of desmosomes in epithelial cells and identifies novel features like discontinuities in the outer dense plaque.

3D nanoscale architecture of the respiratory epithelium reveals motile cilia-rootlets-mitochondria axis of communication

This study reveals a communication axis between motile cilia, rootlets, and mitochondria in respiratory epithelium, enhancing ciliary motility and ATP production.

RPGR regulates motile cilia by interfering with actin dynamics

This study shows RPGR variants impair motile cilia in airway multiciliated cells by causing apical F-actin accumulation, leading to reduced ciliation, shorter cilia, and impaired cilia beat.

A novel isoform of ACE2 is expressed in human nasal and bronchial respiratory epithelia and is upregulated in response to RNA respiratory virus infection

The paper identifies a novel short ACE2 isoform expressed in respiratory epithelia that is upregulated by interferon and RNA virus infection but not SARS-CoV-2, and shows reduced SARS-CoV-2 binding affinity.