2024
Proof-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 formulationCell surface RNAs control neutrophil recruitment
Zhang N, Tang W, Torres L, Wang X, Ajaj Y, Zhu L, Luan Y, Zhou H, Wang Y, Zhang D, Kurbatov V, Khan S, Kumar P, Hidalgo A, Wu D, Lu J. Cell surface RNAs control neutrophil recruitment. Cell 2024, 187: 846-860.e17. PMID: 38262409, PMCID: PMC10922858, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell surfaceMammalian homologOuter cell surfaceRNA transportGlycan modificationsMammalian cellsSID-1Cellular functionsRecruitment to inflammatory sitesGlycoRNARNAMurine neutrophilsFunctional significanceNeutrophil recruitmentNeutrophil recruitment to inflammatory sitesBiological importanceCellsNeutrophil adhesionReduced neutrophil adhesionHomologyGlycansGenesInflammatory sitesRecruitmentEndothelial cells
2023
Exploiting a rodent cell block for intrinsic resistance to HIV-1 gene expression in human T cells
Behrens R, Rajashekar J, Bruce J, Evans E, Hansen A, Salazar-Quiroz N, Simons L, Ahlquist P, Hultquist J, Kumar P, Sherer N. Exploiting a rodent cell block for intrinsic resistance to HIV-1 gene expression in human T cells. MBio 2023, 14: e00420-23. PMID: 37676006, PMCID: PMC10653828, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00420-23.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCyclin T1Species-specific differencesViral gene expressionGene expressionHost proteinsIntron-containing viral RNAsBroad-spectrum resistanceHost cell biologyCRISPR/Cas9 geneLatency reversal agentsIsogenic cell linesHuman T cellsEfficient HIV-1 transcriptionHIV-1 gene expressionCell linesViral RNA transcriptionT cellsSpecies-specific regionsCell-intrinsic defectHIV-1 virion productionHousekeeping proteinsNuclear exportRNA transcriptionCell biologyCas9 gene
2022
The 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 activityProphylaxisIgGHIV-1 Vpu restricts Fc-mediated effector functions in vivo
Prévost J, Anand S, Rajashekar J, Zhu L, Richard J, Goyette G, Medjahed H, Gendron-Lepage G, Chen H, Chen Y, Horwitz J, Grunst M, Zolla-Pazner S, Haynes B, Burton D, Flavell R, Kirchhoff F, Hahn B, Smith A, Pazgier M, Nussenzweig M, Kumar P, Finzi A. HIV-1 Vpu restricts Fc-mediated effector functions in vivo. Cell Reports 2022, 41: 111624. PMID: 36351384, PMCID: PMC9703018, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111624.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityEffector functionsFc-mediated effector functionsHIV-1-infected cellsWild-type virusCorrelates of protectionRV144 vaccine trialHIV-1 infectionNon-neutralizing antibodiesFc effector functionsCell surface CD4Viral envelope glycoproteinsViral loadHumanized miceHumoral responseVaccine trialsCellular cytotoxicityHIV-1 VpuVpu expressionEnvelope glycoproteinInfected cellsNnAbsVirusVpuAdministrationA Fc-enhanced NTD-binding non-neutralizing antibody delays virus spread and synergizes with a nAb to protect mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection
Beaudoin-Bussières G, Chen Y, Ullah I, Prévost J, Tolbert WD, Symmes K, Ding S, Benlarbi M, Gong SY, Tauzin A, Gasser R, Chatterjee D, Vézina D, Goyette G, Richard J, Zhou F, Stamatatos L, McGuire AT, Charest H, Roger M, Pozharski E, Kumar P, Mothes W, Uchil PD, Pazgier M, Finzi A. A Fc-enhanced NTD-binding non-neutralizing antibody delays virus spread and synergizes with a nAb to protect mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Reports 2022, 38: 110368. PMID: 35123652, PMCID: PMC8786652, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110368.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralAntibody-Dependent Cell CytotoxicityCOVID-19COVID-19 SerotherapyDisease Models, AnimalEpitopesHumansImmunization, PassiveImmunoglobulin Fab FragmentsImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsMiceProtein BindingProtein ConformationSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
2021
Live 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 neutralizationInfectionAntibodiesModulating HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein conformation to decrease the HIV-1 reservoir
Rajashekar JK, Richard J, Beloor J, Prévost J, Anand SP, Beaudoin-Bussières G, Shan L, Herndler-Brandstetter D, Gendron-Lepage G, Medjahed H, Bourassa C, Gaudette F, Ullah I, Symmes K, Peric A, Lindemuth E, Bibollet-Ruche F, Park J, Chen HC, Kaufmann DE, Hahn BH, Sodroski J, Pazgier M, Flavell RA, Smith AB, Finzi A, Kumar P. Modulating HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein conformation to decrease the HIV-1 reservoir. Cell Host & Microbe 2021, 29: 904-916.e6. PMID: 34019804, PMCID: PMC8214472, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.04.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibody-Dependent Cell CytotoxicityAntiviral AgentsCD4 AntigensCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesCell LineEnv Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency VirusEpitopesFemaleGlycoproteinsHEK293 CellsHIV InfectionsHIV-1HumansImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsKiller Cells, NaturalMaleMiceMice, SCIDModels, AnimalProtein ConformationVirus ReplicationConceptsAntibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicityHIV-1 reservoirFc effector functionsViral reboundHumanized miceHIV-1HIV-1-infected individualsHIV-1-infected cellsAutologous HIV-1Natural killer cellsCD4-mimetic compoundsHIV-1 replicationSmall CD4-mimetic compoundsART interruptionFunctional cureNK cellsKiller cellsCellular cytotoxicityTherapeutic utilityInfected individualsCD4mcVirus reservoirMiceViral envelopeAntibody recognition
2019
Longitudinal bioluminescent imaging of HIV-1 infection during antiretroviral therapy and treatment interruption in humanized mice
Ventura JD, Beloor J, Allen E, Zhang T, Haugh KA, Uchil PD, Ochsenbauer C, Kieffer C, Kumar P, Hope TJ, Mothes W. Longitudinal bioluminescent imaging of HIV-1 infection during antiretroviral therapy and treatment interruption in humanized mice. PLOS Pathogens 2019, 15: e1008161. PMID: 31805155, PMCID: PMC6917343, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008161.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV-1 infectionHumanized miceCombination antiretroviral therapy regimenViral spreadHIV-1 infection dynamicsNon-invasive bioluminescentAntiretroviral therapy regimenHIV-1 reporterSame lymphoid tissuesInfected cell populationCART withdrawalInfection recrudescenceAntiretroviral therapyTreatment interruptionTherapy regimenLymphoid tissueInfection dynamicsART treatmentBioluminescent imagingInfectionViral infection dynamicsInfected cellsCell populationsMiceBioluminescent signalA Positioning Device for the Placement of Mice During Intranasal siRNA Delivery to the Central Nervous System.
Ullah I, Chung K, Beloor J, Lee SK, Kumar P. A Positioning Device for the Placement of Mice During Intranasal siRNA Delivery to the Central Nervous System. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2019 PMID: 31475960, DOI: 10.3791/59201.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCentral nervous systemBlood-brain barrierNervous systemIntranasal drug deliveryBody temperatureMin rest periodMouse body temperatureCNS uptakeReceptor-binding domainRabies virus glycoproteinCNS deliveryAnesthetized miceDominant handNondominant handMiceInhalationDelivery of siRNASiRNA approachDelivery of drugsRest periodHeating padMouse headAdministrationVirus glycoproteinForward position
2018
Small Interfering RNA-Mediated Control of Virus Replication in the CNS Is Therapeutic and Enables Natural Immunity to West Nile Virus
Beloor J, Maes N, Ullah I, Uchil P, Jackson A, Fikrig E, Lee SK, Kumar P. Small Interfering RNA-Mediated Control of Virus Replication in the CNS Is Therapeutic and Enables Natural Immunity to West Nile Virus. Cell Host & Microbe 2018, 23: 549-556.e3. PMID: 29606496, PMCID: PMC6074029, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.03.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusWNV infectionCell-mediated immune responsesLate-stage therapySubsequent WNV infectionWNV-infected miceLong-term immunityNile virusWNV E proteinViral burdenIntranasal routeVirus clearanceVirus infectionImmune responseMice succumbPeripheral tissuesNatural immunitySurvival rateDisease resultsDay 9Virus replicationInfectionImmunityCNSVirus
2017
From in silico hit to long-acting late-stage preclinical candidate to combat HIV-1 infection
Kudalkar SN, Beloor J, Quijano E, Spasov KA, Lee WG, Cisneros JA, Saltzman WM, Kumar P, Jorgensen WL, Anderson KS. From in silico hit to long-acting late-stage preclinical candidate to combat HIV-1 infection. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 115: e802-e811. PMID: 29279368, PMCID: PMC5789948, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717932115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV-1 drugsDrug-resistant HIV-1 strainsHIV-1 drug-resistant strainsPreclinical candidateDrug-resistant HIV-1HIV-1-infected T cellsDaily treatment regimensActive antiretroviral therapyT cell lossSynergistic antiviral activityHIV-1 infectionAnti-HIV-1 agentsCombination drug regimensHIV-1 strainsMajor therapeutic challengeHIV-1 pandemicPlasma drug concentrationsDrug-resistant strainsVivo pharmacokinetic behaviorAntiretroviral therapyDrug regimensTherapeutic challengeViral loadTreatment regimensSingle dose
2016
Improvements and Limitations of Humanized Mouse Models for HIV Research: NIH/NIAID “Meet the Experts” 2015 Workshop Summary
Akkina R, Allam A, Balazs AB, Blankson JN, Burnett JC, Casares S, Garcia JV, Hasenkrug KJ, Kashanchi F, Kitchen SG, Klein F, Kumar P, Luster AD, Poluektova LY, Rao M, Sanders-Beer BE, Shultz LD, Zack JA. Improvements and Limitations of Humanized Mouse Models for HIV Research: NIH/NIAID “Meet the Experts” 2015 Workshop Summary. AIDS Research And Human Retroviruses 2016, 32: 109-119. PMID: 26670361, PMCID: PMC4761823, DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0258.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman leukocyte antigenHumanized mouse modelHuman immunodeficiency virusMouse modelCell engraftmentHuman hematopoietic cell engraftmentNIH/NIAIDHIV immune responsesImmunodeficient mouse strainsHematopoietic cell engraftmentHuman T cellsHIV reservoirXenogeneic graftImmunodeficiency syndromeHumanized miceImmunodeficiency virusLymphoid structuresLeukocyte antigenNew imaging techniquesT cellsImmune responseImmunodeficient miceHost responseHIV researchInfectious diseases
2015
Retroviruses 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 contactCD169LymphocytesBroad CTL response is required to clear latent HIV-1 due to dominance of escape mutations
Deng K, Pertea M, Rongvaux A, Wang L, Durand CM, Ghiaur G, Lai J, McHugh HL, Hao H, Zhang H, Margolick JB, Gurer C, Murphy AJ, Valenzuela DM, Yancopoulos GD, Deeks SG, Strowig T, Kumar P, Siliciano JD, Salzberg SL, Flavell RA, Shan L, Siliciano RF. Broad CTL response is required to clear latent HIV-1 due to dominance of escape mutations. Nature 2015, 517: 381-385. PMID: 25561180, PMCID: PMC4406054, DOI: 10.1038/nature14053.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcute DiseaseAnimalsAnti-HIV AgentsCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesChronic DiseaseEpitopes, T-LymphocyteFemaleGag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency VirusGenes, DominantGenes, ViralHIV InfectionsHIV-1HumansMaleMiceMutationRNA, ViralT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicViral LoadVirus LatencyVirus Replication
2008
T Cell-Specific siRNA Delivery Suppresses HIV-1 Infection in Humanized Mice
Kumar P, Ban HS, Kim SS, Wu H, Pearson T, Greiner DL, Laouar A, Yao J, Haridas V, Habiro K, Yang YG, Jeong JH, Lee KY, Kim YH, Kim SW, Peipp M, Fey GH, Manjunath N, Shultz LD, Lee SK, Shankar P. T Cell-Specific siRNA Delivery Suppresses HIV-1 Infection in Humanized Mice. Cell 2008, 134: 577-586. PMID: 18691745, PMCID: PMC2943428, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV infectionAntiviral siRNAsT cellsAnimal modelsCD4 T-cell countCD4 T-cell lossPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsSuppress HIV-1 infectionHu-HSC miceHu-PBL miceT-cell countsT cell lossHIV-1 infectionBlood mononuclear cellsNaive T cellsPreclinical animal modelsSuitable animal modelHumanized miceInfected miceMononuclear cellsSuppress viremiaCell countCell lossTherapeutic potentialHematopoietic stem cells
2007
Transvascular delivery of small interfering RNA to the central nervous system
Kumar P, Wu H, McBride JL, Jung KE, Hee Kim M, Davidson BL, Kyung Lee S, Shankar P, Manjunath N. Transvascular delivery of small interfering RNA to the central nervous system. Nature 2007, 448: 39-43. PMID: 17572664, DOI: 10.1038/nature05901.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBlood-Brain BarrierBrainCell LineDrug Delivery SystemsEncephalitis Virus, JapaneseEncephalitis, JapaneseGene SilencingGenetic VectorsGlycoproteinsGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHeLa CellsHumansLentivirusLiposomesMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, Inbred C57BLMice, Inbred NODMice, SCIDMolecular Sequence DataNeuronsOligopeptidesRabies virusReceptors, NicotinicRecombinant ProteinsRNA, Small InterferingSuperoxide DismutaseSuperoxide Dismutase-1Viral ProteinsConceptsRVG-9RBlood-brain barrierRabies virus glycoproteinNeuronal cellsTransvascular deliveryFatal viral encephalitisCentral nervous systemTherapeutic moleculesIntravenous treatmentViral encephalitisInflammatory cytokinesAntiviral siRNAIntravenous injectionNervous systemAcetylcholine receptorsNeurological diseasesAnti-peptide antibodiesChimaeric peptidesNoninvasive approachDelivery of siRNABrainSiRNAMiceVirus glycoproteinRobust protection