| 1. |
- Nilsson, Emma C, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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The GD1a glycan is a cellular receptor for adenoviruses causing epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (Letter)
- 2011
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In: Nature Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1078-8956 .- 1546-170X. ; 17:1, s. 105-109
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Adenovirus type 37 (Ad37) is a leading cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), a severe and highly contagious ocular disease. Whereas most other adenoviruses infect cells by engaging CD46 or the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR), Ad37 binds previously unknown sialic acid-containing cell surface molecules. By glycan array screening, we show here that the receptor-recognizing knob domain of the Ad37 fiber protein specifically binds a branched hexasaccharide that is present in the GD1a ganglioside and that features two terminal sialic acids. Soluble GD1a glycan and GD1a-binding antibodies efficiently prevented Ad37 virions from binding and infecting corneal cells. Unexpectedly, the receptor is constituted by one or more glycoproteins containing the GD1a glycan motif rather than the ganglioside itself, as shown by binding, infection and flow cytometry experiments. Molecular modeling, nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray crystallography reveal that the two terminal sialic acids dock into two of three previously established sialic acid-binding sites in the trimeric Ad37 knob. Surface plasmon resonance analysis shows that the knob-GD1a glycan interaction has high affinity. Our findings therefore form a basis for the design and development of sialic acid-containing antiviral drugs for topical treatment of EKC.
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| 2. |
- Liu, Jing-Xia, et al.
(author)
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Immunolocalisation of GQ1b and related gangliosides in human extraocular neuromuscular junctions and muscle spindles
- 2009
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In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. - : Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 50:7, s. 3226-3232
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: To examine the distribution of anti-GQ1b, -GT1a and -GD1b antibody binding in human extraocular muscles (EOMs), axial and limb muscles and muscle spindles and thereby test the hypothesis that their distinctive ganglioside composition provides the molecular basis for selective involvement of EOMs and muscle spindles in Miller Fisher syndrome.Methods: Muscle samples from adult human EOMs, vastus lateralis, biceps brachii, lumbrical, psoas and deep muscles of the neck were processed for immunohistochemistry, with monoclonal antibodies against ganglioside GQ1b, GT1a and GD1b. Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were detected by a-bungarotoxin binding and by acetycholinesterase reaction.Results: The vast majority of motor endplates of human EOMs richly bound anti-GQ1b, -GT1a, and -GD1b ganglioside antibodies. Anti-GQ1b, -GT1a, and -GD1b ganglioside antibody bindings to NMJs in human limb and axial muscle were very scarce but the nerve terminals inside muscle spindles and in direct contact with intrafusal fibers were labeled with anti- GQ1b, -GT1a and -GD1b ganglioside antibodies.Conclusions: The abundant and synaptic-specific binding of anti-GQ1b, -GT1a, and -GD1b ganglioside antibodies and the rich capillary supply in the human EOMs may partly explain the selective paralysis of these muscles in Miller Fisher syndrome.
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| 3. |
- Persson, B. David, et al.
(author)
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BAF45b is required for efficient zika virus infection of HAP1 cells
- 2021
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In: Viruses. - : MDPI. - 1999-4915. ; 13:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The 2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic illustrates the impact of flaviviruses as emerging human pathogens. For unknown reasons, ZIKV replicates more efficiently in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) than in postmitotic neurons. Here, we identified host factors used by ZIKV using the NCI-60 library of cell lines and COMPARE analysis, and cross-analyzed this library with two other libraries of host factors with importance for ZIKV infection. We identified BAF45b, a subunit of the BAF (Brg1/Brm-associated factors) protein complexes that regulate differentiation of NPCs to post-mitotic neurons. ZIKV (and other flaviviruses) infected HAP1 cells deficient in expression of BAF45b and other BAF subunits less efficiently than wildtype (WT) HAP1 cells. We concluded that subunits of the BAF complex are important for infection of ZIKV and other flavivirus. Given their function in cell and tissue differentiation, such regulators may be important determinants of tropism and pathogenesis of arthropod-borne flaviviruses.
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| 4. |
- Wilder-Smith, Annelies, et al.
(author)
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The legacy of ZikaPLAN: a transnational research consortium addressing Zika
- 2021
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In: Global Health Action. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 14
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Global health research partnerships with institutions from high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries are one of the European Commission's flagship programmes. Here, we report on the ZikaPLAN research consortium funded by the European Commission with the primary goal of addressing the urgent knowledge gaps related to the Zika epidemic and the secondary goal of building up research capacity and establishing a Latin American-European research network for emerging vector-borne diseases. Five years of collaborative research effort have led to a better understanding of the full clinical spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome in children and the neurological complications of Zika virus infections in adults and helped explore the origins and trajectory of Zika virus transmission. Individual-level data from ZikaPLAN`s cohort studies were shared for joint analyses as part of the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium, the European Commission-funded Zika Cohorts Vertical Transmission Study Group, and the World Health Organization-led Zika Virus Individual Participant Data Consortium. Furthermore, the legacy of ZikaPLAN includes new tools for birth defect surveillance and a Latin American birth defect surveillance network, an enhanced Guillain-Barre Syndrome research collaboration, a de-centralized evaluation platform for diagnostic assays, a global vector control hub, and the REDe network with freely available training resources to enhance global research capacity in vector-borne diseases.
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| 5. |
- Wilder-Smith, Annelies, et al.
(author)
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ZikaPLAN : addressing the knowledge gaps and working towards a research preparedness network in the Americas
- 2019
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In: Global Health Action. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Zika Preparedness Latin American Network (ZikaPLAN) is a research consortium funded by the European Commission to address the research gaps in combating Zika and to establish a sustainable network with research capacity building in the Americas. Here we present a report on ZikaPLAN`s mid-term achievements since its initiation in October 2016 to June 2019, illustrating the research objectives of the 15 work packages ranging from virology, diagnostics, entomology and vector control, modelling to clinical cohort studies in pregnant women and neonates, as well as studies on the neurological complications of Zika infections in adolescents and adults. For example, the Neuroviruses Emerging in the Americas Study (NEAS) has set up more than 10 clinical sites in Colombia. Through the Butantan Phase 3 dengue vaccine trial, we have access to samples of 17,000 subjects in 14 different geographic locations in Brazil. To address the lack of access to clinical samples for diagnostic evaluation, ZikaPLAN set up a network of quality sites with access to well-characterized clinical specimens and capacity for independent evaluations. The International Committee for Congenital Anomaly Surveillance Tools was formed with global representation from regional networks conducting birth defects surveillance. We have collated a comprehensive inventory of resources and tools for birth defects surveillance, and developed an App for low resource regions facilitating the coding and description of all major externally visible congenital anomalies including congenital Zika syndrome. Research Capacity Network (REDe) is a shared and open resource centre where researchers and health workers can access tools, resources and support, enabling better and more research in the region. Addressing the gap in research capacity in LMICs is pivotal in ensuring broad-based systems to be prepared for the next outbreak. Our shared and open research space through REDe will be used to maximize the transfer of research into practice by summarizing the research output and by hosting the tools, resources, guidance and recommendations generated by these studies. Leveraging on the research from this consortium, we are working towards a research preparedness network.
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