2021
Aedes aegypti SNAP and a calcium transporter ATPase influence dengue virus dissemination
Marin-Lopez A, Jiang J, Wang Y, Cao Y, MacNeil T, Hastings AK, Fikrig E. Aedes aegypti SNAP and a calcium transporter ATPase influence dengue virus dissemination. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009442. PMID: 34115766, PMCID: PMC8195420, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009442.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary gland proteinsSuccessful viral transmissionNew mammalian hostDengue virusWild habitatsHabitat expansionGland proteinsA. aegypti vectorMammalian hostsUbiquitous expressionDENV infectionGene expressionMosquito midgutProtein componentsATPase proteinVector proteinProteinSalivary glandsBlood mealViral cycleAedes aegypti mosquitoesSusceptible hostsAedes aegyptiMosquitoesHost
2020
Single cell immune profiling of dengue virus patients reveals intact immune responses to Zika virus with enrichment of innate immune signatures
Zhao Y, Amodio M, Vander Wyk B, Gerritsen B, Kumar MM, van Dijk D, Moon K, Wang X, Malawista A, Richards MM, Cahill ME, Desai A, Sivadasan J, Venkataswamy MM, Ravi V, Fikrig E, Kumar P, Kleinstein SH, Krishnaswamy S, Montgomery RR. Single cell immune profiling of dengue virus patients reveals intact immune responses to Zika virus with enrichment of innate immune signatures. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2020, 14: e0008112. PMID: 32150565, PMCID: PMC7082063, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZika virusCell subsetsDengue virusConcurrent dengue infectionInnate cell responsesInnate immune signaturesVirus-infected individualsDivergent clinical outcomesMosquito-borne human pathogenIntact immune responsePre-existing infectionInnate cell typesSingle-cell immune profilingPublic health importanceCell typesImmune signaturesVirus patientsWest Nile virusAcute patientsClinical outcomesImmune profilingDengue infectionImmune statusFunctional statusImmune cells
2018
A potent prolyl tRNA synthetase inhibitor antagonizes Chikungunya and Dengue viruses
Hwang J, Jiang A, Fikrig E. A potent prolyl tRNA synthetase inhibitor antagonizes Chikungunya and Dengue viruses. Antiviral Research 2018, 161: 163-168. PMID: 30521835, PMCID: PMC6345585, DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.11.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDengue virusSignificant morbiditySafe vaccineSynthetase inhibitionEndemic areasSynthetase inhibitorFlavivirus genusMosquito-bornePotent antagonistHost factorsGroup of pathogensVirusMultiple virusesChikungunyaHematophagous arthropod vectorsAedes sppArthropod vectorsEpidemic pathogensAdditional approachesMorbidityPathogensVaccineAntagonistMortalityHuman population
2016
Aedes aegypti D7 Saliva Protein Inhibits Dengue Virus Infection
Conway MJ, Londono-Renteria B, Troupin A, Watson AM, Klimstra WB, Fikrig E, Colpitts TM. Aedes aegypti D7 Saliva Protein Inhibits Dengue Virus Infection. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016, 10: e0004941. PMID: 27632170, PMCID: PMC5025043, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004941.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary gland extractsDengue virus infectionD7 proteinDengue virus type 1Virus type 1DENV envelope proteinAegypti salivaLymph nodesDENV infectionDENV virionsVirus infectionRelevant arbovirusesType 1InfectionHost skinBlood feedingEnvelope proteinNovel roleBinding assaysSalivaAedes aegyptiGland extractsPrimary vectorHPLC fractionsFeedingA novel mosquito ubiquitin targets viral envelope protein for degradation and reduces virion production during dengue virus infection
Troupin A, Londono-Renteria B, Conway MJ, Cloherty E, Jameson S, Higgs S, Vanlandingham DL, Fikrig E, Colpitts TM. A novel mosquito ubiquitin targets viral envelope protein for degradation and reduces virion production during dengue virus infection. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta 2016, 1860: 1898-1909. PMID: 27241849, PMCID: PMC4949077, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.05.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein degradationUbiquitin proteinGene expressionProtein expression constructsSite-directed mutagenesisViral protein degradationInnate immune signalingDengue virusProteasomal degradationProtein interactionsExpression constructsMosquito cellsSignificant human diseaseMicroarray analysisImmune signalingViral envelope proteinsVirus infectionHuman diseasesBlood feedingAmino acidsProteinMultiple functionsQRT-PCRVirion productionAntiviral function
2015
Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein
Londono-Renteria B, Troupin A, Conway MJ, Vesely D, Ledizet M, Roundy CM, Cloherty E, Jameson S, Vanlandingham D, Higgs S, Fikrig E, Colpitts TM. Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein. PLOS Pathogens 2015, 11: e1005202. PMID: 26491875, PMCID: PMC4619585, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDENV infectionVirus infectionDengue virusCysteine-rich venom proteinsSpecific antiviral therapyDengue virus infectionMosquito-borne flavivirusAedes aegypti cellsAntiviral therapyFlavivirus infectionMultiple flavivirusesTherapeutic measuresNew treatmentsAedes aegyptiInfectionGene targetsSerious human diseasesAegypti cellsMosquito vectorsVaccineVenom proteinsFlavivirusesHuman diseasesMosquitoesAntiserum inhibits
2011
Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Binds Core Histones and Inhibits Nucleosome Formation in Human Liver Cells
Colpitts TM, Barthel S, Wang P, Fikrig E. Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Binds Core Histones and Inhibits Nucleosome Formation in Human Liver Cells. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e24365. PMID: 21909430, PMCID: PMC3164731, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024365.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDENV infectionDENV CHuman liver cellsDengue virusLiver cellsDengue virus infectionTime-dependent mannerSpecific antiviralsVirus infectionInfectionAlters levelsSerious human diseasesInteresting new roleViral RNANuclear presenceMature virus particlesVirus particlesHuman diseasesFlaviviral replicationCellsCellular responsesCapsid proteinStructural proteinsVaccineAn In Vivo Transfection Approach Elucidates a Role for Aedes aegypti Thioester-Containing Proteins in Flaviviral Infection
Cheng G, Liu L, Wang P, Zhang Y, Zhao YO, Colpitts TM, Feitosa F, Anderson JF, Fikrig E. An In Vivo Transfection Approach Elucidates a Role for Aedes aegypti Thioester-Containing Proteins in Flaviviral Infection. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e22786. PMID: 21818390, PMCID: PMC3144946, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022786.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2006
Antiviral Peptides Targeting the West Nile Virus Envelope Protein
Bai F, Town T, Pradhan D, Cox J, Ashish, Ledizet M, Anderson JF, Flavell RA, Krueger JK, Koski RA, Fikrig E. Antiviral Peptides Targeting the West Nile Virus Envelope Protein. Journal Of Virology 2006, 81: 2047-2055. PMID: 17151121, PMCID: PMC1797586, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01840-06.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusMurine blood-brain barrierEnvelope proteinBlood-brain barrierPeptide 9West Nile encephalitisWNV envelope proteinCentral nervous systemWest Nile virus envelope proteinCDNA phage display libraryBrain parenchymaVirus envelope proteinHuman encephalitisViral envelope proteinsWNV infectionControl animalsPeptide-1Nervous systemRelated flavivirusesDengue virusAntiviral activityNew therapeuticsInhibition concentrationAntiviral peptidesNile virus
2003
Immunoassay Targeting Nonstructural Protein 5 To Differentiate West Nile Virus Infection from Dengue and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Infections and from Flavivirus Vaccination
Wong SJ, Boyle RH, Demarest VL, Woodmansee AN, Kramer LD, Li H, Drebot M, Koski RA, Fikrig E, Martin DA, Shi PY. Immunoassay Targeting Nonstructural Protein 5 To Differentiate West Nile Virus Infection from Dengue and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Infections and from Flavivirus Vaccination. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2003, 41: 4217-4223. PMID: 12958248, PMCID: PMC193845, DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.9.4217-4223.2003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSt. Louis encephalitis virus infectionEncephalitis virus infectionWest Nile virusWNV infectionVirus infectionFlavivirus vaccinationWest Nile virus infectionNatural WNV infectionWNV structural proteinsDetection of antibodiesBlood transfusionRecent infectionOrgan transplantationSerologic assaysImmune responseDengue virusInfectionProtein 3Nonstructural protein 3Nile virusNatural transmissionProtein 5Structural proteinsLack specificityFrequent epidemics