This study evaluates cross-protection of Ebola and Sudan vaccines against Bundibugyo virus using a surrogate challenge model in mice, finding partial protection and suggesting non-neutralizing mechanisms play a role.

bioRxiv · Jun 11, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Thymidine kinase-expressing yellow fever 17D reporter virus facilitates prodrug activation and bioorthogonal labelling of infected cells

Michael Bright Yakass, Sander Jansen, Viktor Lemmens, Lorena Sánchez-Felipe, Johan H. Neyts, Nathan W. Luedtke, Osbourne Quaye, Kai Dallmeier

This study develops a yellow fever 17D reporter virus expressing thymidine kinase to enable prodrug activation and bioorthogonal labeling of infected cells for tracking viral replication and tissue tropism.

Heliyon · Mar 30, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Dengue virus harnesses mosquito Syntenin to load and secrete viral RNA into salivary exosomes

Florian Rachenne, Norman Schneider, Félix Rey-Cadilhac, Idalba Serrato-Pomar, Lauryne Pruvost, Laura Di Pietro, Jacques Dainat, Audrey Vernet, Chantal Cazevieille, Aurélie Ancelin, Joséphine Lai‐Kee‐Him, Sander Jansen, Elliott F. Miot, Jérémy Fraering, Laurianne Simon, , Julien Pompon

This study identifies how dengue virus uses mosquito Syntenin to package and secrete viral RNA into salivary exosomes, revealing a mechanism for viral RNA incorporation into extracellular vesicles.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Mar 16, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Sex determination of Syrian hamster pups using placental tissues

Yana Kumpanenko, Lindsey Piessens, Victor Neven, Kai Dallmeier, Yeranddy Aguiar Alpizar

This paper identifies a molecular marker for sex determination in Syrian hamster pups using placental tissues, achieving 85% specificity in sex classification.

bioRxiv · Nov 22, 2025 · PreprintGenetics

A high-throughput cell-based platform for Rhinovirus C research and antiviral drug discovery.

Heyrhyoung Lyoo, Yeranddy Aguiar Alpizar, Céline Sablon, Toon Röpke, Jasmine Paulissen, Madina Rasulova, Nathalie Thys, C. Chang Yun, Nam‐Chul Cho, Kai Dallmeier, Pieter Leyssen, Soo Bong Han, Johan H. Neyts, Hendrik Jan Thibaut

This paper develops a high-throughput imaging platform for RV-C research and antiviral drug discovery, identifying inhibitors through compound screening.

bioRxiv · Oct 28, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

Antigenic imprinting dominates humoral responses to new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in a hamster model of COVID-19

Joran Degryse, Elke Maas, Ria Lassaunière, Katrien Geerts, Yana Kumpanenko, Birgit Weynand, Piet Maes, Johan H. Neyts, Hendrik Jan Thibaut, Yeranddy Aguiar Alpizar, Kai Dallmeier

This study shows that antigenic imprinting limits neutralizing antibody responses to new SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamsters, suggesting challenges for vaccine efficacy against emerging subvariants.

Microorganisms · Dec 14, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology

Ex vivo midgut cultures of Aedes aegypti are efficiently infected by mosquito-borne alpha- and flaviviruses

Ana Lucia Rosales Rosas, Lanjiao Wang, Sara Goossens, Arno Cuvry, Li-Hsin Li, Nânci Santos-Ferreira, Alina Soto, Kai Dallmeier, Joana Rocha‐Pereira, Leen Delang

This paper demonstrates that ex vivo midgut cultures of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can be efficiently infected by mosquito-borne alpha- and flaviviruses and used to test antiviral compounds.

bioRxiv · Aug 9, 2022 · PreprintMolecular Biology

Drug development of an affinity enhanced, broadly neutralizing heavy chain-only antibody that restricts SARS-CoV-2 in rodents

Bert Schepens, Loes van Schie, Wim Nerinckx, Kenny Roose, Wander Van Breedam, Daria Fijałkowska, Simon Devos, Wannes Weyts, Sieglinde De Cae, Sandrine Vanmarcke, Chiara Lonigro, Hannah Eeckhaut, Dries Van Herpe, Jimmy Borloo, ANDREZA ESTEFANY DA SILVA OLIVEIRA, , Xavier Saelens

The paper describes the development of a broadly neutralizing antibody, XVR011, effective against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in animal models.

bioRxiv · Mar 8, 2021 · PreprintMolecular Biology