Featured Publications
Architecture of the Flaviviral Replication Complex PROTEASE, NUCLEASE, AND DETERGENTS REVEAL ENCASEMENT WITHIN DOUBLE-LAYERED MEMBRANE COMPARTMENTS*
Uchil P, Satchidanandam V. Architecture of the Flaviviral Replication Complex PROTEASE, NUCLEASE, AND DETERGENTS REVEAL ENCASEMENT WITHIN DOUBLE-LAYERED MEMBRANE COMPARTMENTS*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2003, 278: 24388-24398. PMID: 12700232, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m301717200.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsViral genomic RNAVesicle packetsMembrane compartmentsGenomic RNADouble-membrane compartmentsInner membrane vesiclesViral RNA speciesHost cell membraneHeavy membrane fractionNonionic detergent extractsRNA speciesReplicative intermediate RNAViral NS3Replication complexPrior trypsin treatmentMicrococcal nucleaseComplex proteaseMembranous sitesReplicative form RNASpecialized structuresActive proteinIntermediate RNAMembrane vesiclesMembrane fractionForm RNAPhylogenetic analysis of Japanese encephalitis virus: envelope gene based analysis reveals a fifth genotype, geographic clustering, and multiple introductions of the virus into the Indian subcontinent.
Uchil P, Satchidanandam V. Phylogenetic analysis of Japanese encephalitis virus: envelope gene based analysis reveals a fifth genotype, geographic clustering, and multiple introductions of the virus into the Indian subcontinent. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2001, 65: 242-51. PMID: 11561712, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.242.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAedesAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBase SequenceCell LineCluster AnalysisDNA, ComplementaryEncephalitis Virus, JapaneseEncephalitis, JapaneseEvolution, MolecularGenes, envGenetic VariationGenotypeHumansIndiaMolecular Sequence DataPhylogenyReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA, ViralSequence Homology, Amino AcidSequence Homology, Nucleic AcidSwineThe Fc-effector function of COVID-19 convalescent plasma contributes to SARS-CoV-2 treatment efficacy in mice
Ullah I, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Symmes K, Cloutier M, Ducas E, Tauzin A, Laumaea A, Grunst M, Dionne K, Richard J, Bégin P, Mothes W, Kumar P, Bazin R, Finzi A, Uchil P. The Fc-effector function of COVID-19 convalescent plasma contributes to SARS-CoV-2 treatment efficacy in mice. Cell Reports Medicine 2022, 4: 100893. PMID: 36584683, PMCID: PMC9799175, DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100893.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 convalescent plasmaFc effector functionsSARS-CoV-2 controlFc effector activityInnate immune cellsCCP efficacyHACE2 miceConvalescent plasmaImmunoglobulin levelsPlasma therapyImmune cellsTreatment efficacyDelays mortalityIgG fractionFc functionLow neutralizingTherapySecond lineMortalityMicePlasma contributesEfficacyFC activityProphylaxisIgGIn vivo imaging of retrovirus infection reveals a role for Siglec-1/CD169 in multiple routes of transmission
Haugh KA, Ladinsky MS, Ullah I, Stone HM, Pi R, Gilardet A, Grunst MW, Kumar P, Bjorkman PJ, Mothes W, Uchil PD. In vivo imaging of retrovirus infection reveals a role for Siglec-1/CD169 in multiple routes of transmission. ELife 2021, 10: e64179. PMID: 34223819, PMCID: PMC8298093, DOI: 10.7554/elife.64179.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSentinel macrophagesSiglec-1/CD169Immune surveillance functionCommon host factorMesenteric sacsPeyer's patchesGastrointestinal tractOral routeReporter virusRetrovirus transmissionRetrovirus infectionFrontline cellsRetroviral pathogenesisHost factorsBioluminescence imagingVirus entryIncoming virusInfectionRetrovirus life cycleCD169Early eventsMacrophagesMultiscale imaging approachVirusSurveillance functionLive imaging of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice reveals that neutralizing antibodies require Fc function for optimal efficacy
Ullah I, Prévost J, Ladinsky MS, Stone H, Lu M, Anand SP, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Symmes K, Benlarbi M, Ding S, Gasser R, Fink C, Chen Y, Tauzin A, Goyette G, Bourassa C, Medjahed H, Mack M, Chung K, Wilen CB, Dekaban GA, Dikeakos JD, Bruce EA, Kaufmann DE, Stamatatos L, McGuire AT, Richard J, Pazgier M, Bjorkman PJ, Mothes W, Finzi A, Kumar P, Uchil PD. Live imaging of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice reveals that neutralizing antibodies require Fc function for optimal efficacy. Immunity 2021, 54: 2143-2158.e15. PMID: 34453881, PMCID: PMC8372518, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.08.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 convalescent subjectsSARS-CoV-2 infectionBioluminescence imagingK18-hACE2 miceLive bioluminescence imagingNatural killer cellsFc effector functionsSARS-CoV-2Convalescent subjectsKiller cellsPotent NAbsImmune protectionInflammatory responseEffector functionsNasal cavityNaB treatmentOptimal efficacyFc functionDepletion studiesMiceNAbsCOVID-19Direct neutralizationInfectionAntibodiesA Protective Role for the Lectin CD169/Siglec-1 against a Pathogenic Murine Retrovirus
Uchil PD, Pi R, Haugh KA, Ladinsky MS, Ventura JD, Barrett BS, Santiago ML, Bjorkman PJ, Kassiotis G, Sewald X, Mothes W. A Protective Role for the Lectin CD169/Siglec-1 against a Pathogenic Murine Retrovirus. Cell Host & Microbe 2018, 25: 87-100.e10. PMID: 30595553, PMCID: PMC6331384, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.11.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesCell ProliferationDendritic CellsDisease Models, AnimalErythroblastsFemaleInterferon Type ILectinsLymph NodesMacrophagesMaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, Inbred C57BLProtective AgentsRetroviridaeRetroviridae InfectionsSialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 1SpleenT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicViral LoadConceptsCD169/SiglecEffective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responseProtective roleCytotoxic T lymphocyte responsesLymph node infectionT lymphocyte responsesHigh viral loadSusceptible mouse strainsMarginal zone metallophilic macrophagesPermissive lymphocytesCytotoxic CD8Lymphocyte responsesViral loadSubcapsular sinusComplex infectionMurine modelViral disseminationMetallophilic macrophagesRed pulpCell responsesSystemic spreadMouse strainsPathogenesisCells 1CD169Retroviruses use CD169-mediated trans-infection of permissive lymphocytes to establish infection
Sewald X, Ladinsky MS, Uchil PD, Beloor J, Pi R, Herrmann C, Motamedi N, Murooka TT, Brehm MA, Greiner DL, Shultz LD, Mempel TR, Bjorkman PJ, Kumar P, Mothes W. Retroviruses use CD169-mediated trans-infection of permissive lymphocytes to establish infection. Science 2015, 350: 563-567. PMID: 26429886, PMCID: PMC4651917, DOI: 10.1126/science.aab2749.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusLymph nodesMurine leukemia virusCD169/SiglecSecondary lymphoid tissuesPermissive lymphocytesDendritic cellsImmunodeficiency virusSynaptic contactsLymphoid tissueRobust infectionVirological synapsesI-type lectinsRetroviral spreadViral spreadUninfected cellsInfectionLeukemia virusVirusMacrophagesCellsRetrovirusesCell-cell contactCD169LymphocytesTRIM5 is an innate immune sensor for the retrovirus capsid lattice
Pertel T, Hausmann S, Morger D, Züger S, Guerra J, Lascano J, Reinhard C, Santoni FA, Uchil PD, Chatel L, Bisiaux A, Albert ML, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Mothes W, Pizzato M, Grütter MG, Luban J. TRIM5 is an innate immune sensor for the retrovirus capsid lattice. Nature 2011, 472: 361-365. PMID: 21512573, PMCID: PMC3081621, DOI: 10.1038/nature09976.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntiviral Restriction FactorsCapsidCarrier ProteinsCell LineEnzyme ActivationHEK293 CellsHIV-1HumansImmunity, InnateLipopolysaccharidesMAP Kinase Kinase KinasesNF-kappa BProtein BindingReceptors, Pattern RecognitionRetroviridaeSignal TransductionTranscription Factor AP-1Transcription FactorsTripartite Motif ProteinsUbiquitinUbiquitin-Conjugating EnzymesUbiquitin-Protein LigasesTRIM E3 Ligases Interfere with Early and Late Stages of the Retroviral Life Cycle
Uchil PD, Quinlan BD, Chan WT, Luna JM, Mothes W. TRIM E3 Ligases Interfere with Early and Late Stages of the Retroviral Life Cycle. PLOS Pathogens 2008, 4: e16. PMID: 18248090, PMCID: PMC2222954, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0040016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnti-Retroviral AgentsApoptosisAvian leukosis virusCell SurvivalGag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency VirusGene Expression Regulation, ViralGene SilencingHeLa CellsHIVHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansLeukemia Virus, MurineMiceRetroviridaeUbiquitin-Protein LigasesVirus ReplicationConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virus-1Viral life cycleMurine leukemia virusAvian leukosis virusImmunodeficiency virus-1Antiretroviral activityHIV entryTRIM proteinsAntiviral activityLater stagesVirus 1TRIM11Virus releaseViral releaseLeukemia virusRetroviral life cycleHEK293 cellsLeukosis virusVirusComprehensive screenReleaseCellsProteinTRIM15 is a focal adhesion protein that regulates focal adhesion disassembly
Uchil PD, Pawliczek T, Reynolds TD, Ding S, Hinz A, Munro JB, Huang F, Floyd RW, Yang H, Hamilton WL, Bewersdorf J, Xiong Y, Calderwood DA, Mothes W. TRIM15 is a focal adhesion protein that regulates focal adhesion disassembly. Journal Of Cell Science 2014, 127: 3928-3942. PMID: 25015296, PMCID: PMC4163643, DOI: 10.1242/jcs.143537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFocal adhesion proteinsFocal adhesionsCell migrationAdhesion proteinsMulti-adaptor proteinTripartite motif (TRIM) protein familyFocal adhesion dynamicsFocal adhesion turnoverFocal adhesion componentsCoiled-coil domainImpaired cell migrationII-independent mannerLD2 motifAdhesion turnoverActin cytoskeletonProtein familyAdhesion dynamicsCellular functionsDynamic turnoverMacromolecular complexesRegulatory componentsFocal contactsAdhesion componentsExtracellular matrixTRIM15
2024
Electron tomography visualization of HIV-1 virions trapped by fusion inhibitors to host cells in infected tissues.
Ladinsky M, Zhu L, Ullah I, Uchil P, Kumar P, Kay M, Bjorkman P. Electron tomography visualization of HIV-1 virions trapped by fusion inhibitors to host cells in infected tissues. Journal Of Virology 2024, e0143224. PMID: 39475277, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01432-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV-1 virionsHIV-1 target cellsHIV-1Fusion inhibitorsTarget cellsBone marrow/liver/thymus miceHIV-1 pseudovirionsCo-receptorHost cell membraneTZM-bl cellsPre-hairpin intermediateVascular endothelial cellsCell surfaceHumanized miceTZM-blCell membraneInfected tissuesEnvEndothelial cellsViral envelopeBind host receptorsHost receptorsInhibitorsCo-receptor proteinsPresence of virionsBeta Spike-Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particle Vaccine Confers Broad Protection against Other VOCs in Mice
Ullah I, Symmes K, Keita K, Zhu L, Grunst M, Li W, Mothes W, Kumar P, Uchil P. Beta Spike-Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particle Vaccine Confers Broad Protection against Other VOCs in Mice. Vaccines 2024, 12: 1007. PMID: 39340037, PMCID: PMC11435481, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmune responseVirus-like particlesBeta spikesCross-protective immune responsesSARS-CoV-2 immunitySARS-CoV-2Effective immune responseEffective humoral immune responseHumoral immune responseAncestral spikeT cellsVaccination regimenSARS-CoV-2 virus-like particlesVaccine platformMouse modelVariant spike proteinsOmicron spikeBeta variantDisease burdenNon-infectiousReduce virus spreadImmunityVariant spikesFusion glycoproteinSpike proteinProof-of-concept studies with a computationally designed Mpro inhibitor as a synergistic combination regimen alternative to Paxlovid
Papini C, Ullah I, Ranjan A, Zhang S, Wu Q, Spasov K, Zhang C, Mothes W, Crawford J, Lindenbach B, Uchil P, Kumar P, Jorgensen W, Anderson K. Proof-of-concept studies with a computationally designed Mpro inhibitor as a synergistic combination regimen alternative to Paxlovid. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2320713121. PMID: 38621119, PMCID: PMC11046628, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320713121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect-acting antiviralsSARS-CoV-2Lack of off-target effectsIn vitro pharmacological profileTreatment of patientsDevelopment of severe symptomsPharmacological propertiesDrug-drug interactionsSARS-CoV-2 infectionProof-of-concept studySARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup>.Combination regimenImmunocompromised patientsLead compoundsSARS-CoV-2 main proteaseOral doseActive drugTreat infectionsPharmacological profileSARS-CoV-2 MPotential preclinical candidateOff-target effectsPatientsComplete recoveryCapsule formulationBioluminescence imaging reveals enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice with combinatorial regimens
Ullah I, Escudie F, Scandale I, Gilani Z, Gendron-Lepage G, Gaudette F, Mowbray C, Fraisse L, Bazin R, Finzi A, Mothes W, Kumar P, Chatelain E, Uchil P. Bioluminescence imaging reveals enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice with combinatorial regimens. IScience 2024, 27: 109049. PMID: 38361624, PMCID: PMC10867665, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDirect-acting antiviralsEfficacy of direct-acting antiviralsVirus clearanceSARS-CoV-2Bioluminescence imagingSuppressed viral loadK18-hACE2 miceRapid virus clearanceNeutralizing antibody treatmentSARS-CoV-2 clearanceEvaluate therapeutic efficacyCOVID-19 convalescent plasmaMonotherapy regimensCombinatorial regimensAntibody treatmentViral loadSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Lung pathologyPandemic potentialRespiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Therapeutic arsenalConvalescent plasmaTreatment efficacySyndrome coronavirus 2
2023
HIV-1 Env trimers asymmetrically engage CD4 receptors in membranes
Li W, Qin Z, Nand E, Grunst M, Grover J, Bess J, Lifson J, Zwick M, Tagare H, Uchil P, Mothes W. HIV-1 Env trimers asymmetrically engage CD4 receptors in membranes. Nature 2023, 623: 1026-1033. PMID: 37993716, PMCID: PMC10686830, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06762-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV-1 Env trimersCD4 moleculeHuman immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infectionEnv trimersAntibody-mediated immune responsesEnv-CD4 interactionVirus-1 infectionVaccine immunogen designViral envelope glycoproteinsHIV-1Immune responseCD4 receptorImmunogen designEnvelope glycoproteinVirus-like particlesCD4EnvHost cell membraneImmunogenicity and Pre-Clinical Efficacy of an OMV-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
Grandi A, Tomasi M, Ullah I, Bertelli C, Vanzo T, Accordini S, Gagliardi A, Zanella I, Benedet M, Corbellari R, Di Lascio G, Tamburini S, Caproni E, Croia L, Ravà M, Fumagalli V, Di Lucia P, Marotta D, Sala E, Iannacone M, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil P, Cherepanov P, Bolognesi M, Pizzato M, Grandi G. Immunogenicity and Pre-Clinical Efficacy of an OMV-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1546. PMID: 37896949, PMCID: PMC10610814, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101546.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSARS-CoV-2 vaccinesSARS-CoV-2Outer membrane vesiclesImmune responseSARS-CoV-2 elicitsSARS-CoV-2 variantsPotent immune responsesEffective immune responsePre-clinical efficacyDiverse SARS-CoV-2 variantsInherent adjuvanticityVaccinated miceIntranasal challengeVaccine dosesNeutralization titresEffective vaccineVirus infectionVaccination campaignHeterologous antigensVaccineVirus replicationSpike proteinInfectivity assaysTitresPotential needAntiviral HIV-1 SERINC restriction factors disrupt virus membrane asymmetry
Leonhardt S, Purdy M, Grover J, Yang Z, Poulos S, McIntire W, Tatham E, Erramilli S, Nosol K, Lai K, Ding S, Lu M, Uchil P, Finzi A, Rein A, Kossiakoff A, Mothes W, Yeager M. Antiviral HIV-1 SERINC restriction factors disrupt virus membrane asymmetry. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 4368. PMID: 37474505, PMCID: PMC10359404, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39262-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Xu D, Jiang W, Wu L, Gaudet R, Park E, Su M, Cheppali S, Cheemarla N, Kumar P, Uchil P, Grover J, Foxman E, Brown C, Stansfeld P, Bewersdorf J, Mothes W, Karatekin E, Wilen C, MacMicking J. PLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature 2023, 619: 819-827. PMID: 37438530, PMCID: PMC10371867, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06322-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-terminal β-barrel domainSpike-mediated fusionCell-autonomous defenseLarge-scale exome sequencingΒ-barrel domainGenome-wide CRISPRSARS-CoV-2 infectionHost cell cytosolScramblase activityPhospholipid scramblaseLive SARS-CoV-2 infectionHuman lung epitheliumPLSCR1SARS-CoV-2 USASingle-molecule switchingSARS-CoV-2 variantsExome sequencingHuman populationRestriction factorsViral RNANew SARS-CoV-2 variantsSARS-CoV-2Robust activityLung epitheliumDefense factorsVaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models
Lorenzo M, Marín-López A, Chiem K, Jimenez-Cabello L, Ullah I, Utrilla-Trigo S, Calvo-Pinilla E, Lorenzo G, Moreno S, Ye C, Park J, Matía A, Brun A, Sánchez-Puig J, Nogales A, Mothes W, Uchil P, Kumar P, Ortego J, Fikrig E, Martinez-Sobrido L, Blasco R. Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1006. PMID: 37243110, PMCID: PMC10220993, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11051006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVaccine candidatesStrong T cell responsesAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2Prime-boost regimensT cell responsesFull-length SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinEffective COVID-19 vaccineGolden Syrian hamstersSARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinCOVID-19 vaccineRecombinant MVA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2S proteinBrain infectionMVA vaccinesCell-cell fusionAmino acid substitutionsVaccine platformHamster modelEnzyme 2Recombinant MVAVaccine vectorAnimal modelsRobust immunity
2022
Molecular basis for antiviral activity of two pediatric neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD
Chen Y, Prévost J, Ullah I, Romero H, Lisi V, Tolbert W, Grover J, Ding S, Gong S, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Gasser R, Benlarbi M, Vézina D, Anand S, Chatterjee D, Goyette G, Grunst M, Yang Z, Bo Y, Zhou F, Béland K, Bai X, Zeher A, Huang R, Nguyen D, Sherburn R, Wu D, Piszczek G, Paré B, Matthies D, Xia D, Richard J, Kumar P, Mothes W, Côté M, Uchil P, Lavallée V, Smith M, Pazgier M, Haddad E, Finzi A. Molecular basis for antiviral activity of two pediatric neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD. IScience 2022, 26: 105783. PMID: 36514310, PMCID: PMC9733284, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105783.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReceptor-binding domainSARS-CoV-2 patientsK18-hACE2 micePlasma neutralization activitySARS-CoV-2 variantsSARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domainSpike receptor-binding domainProphylactic administrationNAb responsesPediatric patientsPotent NAbsLethal challengeNeutralizing antibodiesNeutralization activityDelta VOCEffector activityAntiviral mechanismAntiviral activityClinical interventionsPatientsNAbsAntibodiesEpitopesMolecular determinantsMolecular basis