This study identifies IL-17A signaling as a critical factor promoting CHIKV infection and cardiac inflammation, showing that its inhibition reduces viral replication and cardiac damage.

bioRxiv · Aug 9, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Disulfide cross-linked redox-sensitive peptide condensates are efficient cell delivery vehicles of molecular cargo.

Malay Mondal, Windfield S. Swetman, Shazeed-Ul Karim, Sabin Shrestha, Ashe M. Davis, Fengwei Bai, Faqing Huang, Tristan D. Clemons, Vijayaraghavan Rangachari

This study demonstrates that disulfide-cross-linked peptide condensates efficiently deliver various molecular cargos, including DNA and mRNA, into HeLa cells with higher transfection efficiency than commercial agents.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Oct 8, 2025Peer-reviewedBiophysics

Processing of Genomic RNAs by Dicer in Bat Cells Limits SARS-CoV-2 Replication

Iyanuoluwani J. Owolabi, Shazeed-Ul Karim, Sweta Khanal, Sergio Valdivia, Christopher Frenzel, Fengwei Bai, Alex Sutton Flynt

The paper shows that Dicer processes SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNAs in bat cells, limiting viral replication, and highlights distinct antiviral mechanisms in bats compared to other mammals.

Virology Journal · Mar 25, 2025Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology