SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

This study characterizes the C-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein binding to TRS RNA with high affinity and forming higher-order assemblies through experimental assays.

This study identifies CK2 as a critical host factor for SARS-CoV-2 replication and shows that the bivalent inhibitor AB668 effectively inhibits multiple coronaviruses.

This paper develops a fluorescently tagged pangolin coronavirus for neutralization assays and identifies cepharanthine's antiviral activity at viral entry.

This study shows that elderly individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 maintain neutralizing antibodies against recent variants, with reduced immune imprinting from ancestral variants after booster doses.

This study evaluates CMX990, a coronavirus Mpro inhibitor, showing broad antiviral activity against multiple coronaviruses and superior pharmacologic properties compared to existing inhibitors.

This study reports the structures of a mammalian gamma-CoV spike in closed and open conformations, revealing conserved mechanisms of spike dynamics and lipid binding's role in stabilizing the closed state.

This study identifies immune-related gene expression differences in paediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other lower respiratory tract infections.

The paper predicts ACE2 receptor binding potential of emerging betacoronaviruses using structural prediction and molecular dynamics, identifying Zhejiang2013 as a potential ACE2 binder.

This study identifies Nsp3-mediated dephosphorylation of the N protein by PP1/gamma as essential for SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNA synthesis.

The paper shows how SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly Omicron, evolved proteolytic controls at the Spike furin cleavage site to enhance transmission while reducing lower respiratory tract pathogenicity.

This paper evaluates co-administration of two intranasal parainfluenza virus vectors expressing distinct SARS-CoV-2 S antigens in hamsters, showing broad and durable immunity against Omicron/BA.5 challenge.

The paper identifies two clusters of residues in the SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 N-terminal domain that are critical for distinguishing between host and viral mRNA targets and mediating mRNA decay.

This study identifies NONO as a host factor that epigenetically regulates DPP4 expression, facilitating MERS-CoV replication by modulating histone modifications at the DPP4 locus.

This paper identifies two strategies to modulate the Orf9b-Tom70 interaction by screening for small molecules that either stabilize Orf9b dimer or block its binding to Tom70, with potential to restore interferon signaling against SARS-CoV-2.

This study identifies mutations in the MERS-CoV S protein that reduce soluble DPP4 binding and confer resistance to sDPP4 while maintaining entry into cells with high DPP4 levels.

The paper models how delayed immune responses and prolonged infections increase the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 variants with fitness-enhancing mutations.

This paper introduces a novel vaccination strategy combining systemic vaccination with URT inflammatory stimulation to induce mucosal immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.

The paper develops a large language model to predict SARS-CoV-2-specific TCRs and shows their correlation with antibody levels post-vaccination.

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2's ORF8 protein reprograms macrophages to enhance viral infection of lung epithelial cells, contributing to lung pathology in COVID-19.

This study evaluates antibody evasion and ACE2 receptor engagement of SARS-CoV-2 variant RW.1.1, finding reduced receptor binding but no increased serum resistance compared to other variants.

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 maturation involves N protein-vgRNA condensates that are selectively enveloped by membranes due to RNA-dependent material properties.

This study identifies Aminopeptidase N as the receptor for hedgehog merbecoviruses and shows restricted cross-species receptor use.

This study identifies and characterizes human monoclonal antibodies targeting conserved coronavirus spike S2 epitopes, revealing distinct antiviral functions and Fc-dependent protective mechanisms.

This study identifies a two-pronged mechanism by which CMX521 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase through biochemical assays and single-molecule techniques.

This study identifies the host soluble inositol phosphate pathway as critical for coronavirus replication and demonstrates a multi-target inhibitor that effectively suppresses viral replication in cells and mice.

This paper develops a bireporter recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 strain for tracking viral infections and testing antivirals and neutralizing antibodies in vitro and in vivo.

This study examines how SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro variants maintain catalytic activity despite distant substitutions, revealing structural adaptations that preserve function.

This study identifies hr2.016, a potent and broad SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, and shows its neutralization depends on kinetic stability and avidity.

This study evaluates the antiviral potential of bisphosphonates and treprostinil in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 but finds no direct antiviral activity.