Lauriane Kergoat

Host response against SARS-CoV-2 infection is impacted by allosteric modulation of cholinergic and purinergic receptors

Ivermectin's protection in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters depended partly on both α7 nicotinic and P2X4 receptors; in co-cultures its effects were α7nAChR-independent, and P2X4 blockade prevented CXCL10 induction at 48 hpi.

SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b exploits mitochondrial recruitment to TOMM70 for proteasomal protection and tunes inflammatory remodeling during lung infection

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b uses TOMM70 to avoid proteasomal degradation, reduces inflammation, and is not essential for viral replication or lung pathology.

Monoclonal antibodies targeting the rabies virus glycoprotein promotes viral clearance and Fc-dependent neuroprotection in the infected brain

This study evaluates monoclonal antibodies RVC20 and RVC58 for treating symptomatic rabies in mice, showing that intravenous and intramuscular administration can clear viral infection and improve survival, with RVC58 achieving 80% survival.

RABV L protein plays a role in immune escape through its methyltransferase activity

This study shows that the K-D-K-E motif in RABV L protein's methyltransferase domain is crucial for immune evasion by altering viral and host RNA methylation, increasing sensitivity to interferon, and reducing pathogenicity.

Human brain cell types shape host-rabies virus transcriptional interactions revealing a preexisting pro-viral astrocyte subpopulation

The paper investigates how rabies virus interacts with different human brain cell types, identifying a pro-viral astrocyte subpopulation that enhances viral transcription.

Hamsters with long Covid exhibits a neurodegenerative signature in the brainstem

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infects and persists in hamster brainstem, causing neurodegenerative and immunometabolic changes linked to neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms.

The SARS-CoV-2 envelope PDZ Binding Motif acts as a virulence factor disrupting host's epithelial cell-cell junctions

This study shows that the SARS-CoV-2 E protein's PDZ-binding motif enhances virulence by disrupting epithelial barriers and inflammation, but not neuroinvasion.

Neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent phenomena upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

The paper investigates whether neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection by analyzing clinical, olfactory, and neuroinflammatory responses in infected golden hamsters.

COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction reveals SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion and persistence in the olfactory system

This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 infection in the olfactory system, showing viral persistence and inflammation linked to prolonged loss of smell in COVID-19 patients.