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Mihaescu G, Chifiriuc MC, Filip R, Bleotu C, Ditu LM, Constantin M, Cristian RE, Grigore R, Bertesteanu SV, Bertesteanu G, Vrancianu CO. Role of interferons in the antiviral battle: from virus-host crosstalk to prophylactic and therapeutic potential in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1273604. [PMID: 38288121 PMCID: PMC10822962 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1273604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalians sense antigenic messages from infectious agents that penetrate the respiratory and digestive epithelium, as well as signals from damaged host cells through membrane and cytosolic receptors. The transduction of these signals triggers a personalized response, depending on the nature of the stimulus and the host's genetics, physiological condition, and comorbidities. Interferons (IFNs) are the primary effectors of the innate immune response, and their synthesis is activated in most cells within a few hours after pathogen invasion. IFNs are primarily synthesized in infected cells, but their anti-infective effect is extended to the neighboring cells by autocrine and paracrine action. The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in 2019 was a stark reminder of the potential threat posed by newly emerging viruses. This pandemic has also triggered an overwhelming influx of research studies aiming to unveil the mechanisms of protective versus pathogenic host immune responses induced by SARS-CoV-2. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of IFNs as vital players in the battle against SARS-CoV-2 infection. We will briefly characterize and classify IFNs, present the inductors of IFN synthesis, their sensors, and signaling pathways, and then discuss the role of IFNs in controlling the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its clinical outcome. Finally, we will present the perspectives and controversies regarding the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of IFNs in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigore Mihaescu
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Life, Medical and Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences Section, Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana Filip
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Microbiology Department, Suceava Emergency County Hospital, Suceava, Romania
| | - Coralia Bleotu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Department, Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lia Mara Ditu
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marian Constantin
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana-Elena Cristian
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Grigore
- ENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila and Coltea Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Serban Vifor Bertesteanu
- ENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila and Coltea Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gloria Bertesteanu
- ENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila and Coltea Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- DANUBIUS Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
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2
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Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Canine and Feline Serum Samples Collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong and Korea. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020582. [PMID: 36851796 PMCID: PMC9967295 DOI: 10.3390/v15020582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people worldwide since its emergence in 2019. Knowing the potential capacity of the virus to adapt to other species, the serological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in susceptible animals is important. Hong Kong and Seoul are two of Asia's most densely populated urban cities, where companion animals often live in close contact with humans. Sera collected from 1040 cats and 855 dogs during the early phase of the pandemic in Hong Kong and Seoul were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an ELISA that detects antibodies against the receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein. Positive sera were also tested for virus neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization (sVNT) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Among feline sera, 4.51% and 2.54% of the samples from Korea and Hong Kong, respectively, tested ELISA positive. However, only 1.64% of the samples from Korea and 0.18% from Hong Kong tested positive by sVNT, while only 0.41% of samples from Korea tested positive by PRNT. Among canine samples, 4.94% and 6.46% from Korea and Hong Kong, respectively, tested positive by ELISA, while only 0.29% of sera from Korea were positive on sVNT and no canine sera tested positive by PRNT. These results confirm a low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in companion animals in Korea and Hong Kong. The discordance between the RBD-ELISA and neutralization tests may indicate possible ELISA cross-reactivity with other coronaviruses, especially in canine sera.
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3
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Valenzuela-Fernández A, Cabrera-Rodriguez R, Ciuffreda L, Perez-Yanes S, Estevez-Herrera J, González-Montelongo R, Alcoba-Florez J, Trujillo-González R, García-Martínez de Artola D, Gil-Campesino H, Díez-Gil O, Lorenzo-Salazar JM, Flores C, Garcia-Luis J. Nanomaterials to combat SARS-CoV-2: Strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1052436. [PMID: 36507266 PMCID: PMC9732709 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1052436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which severely affect the respiratory system and several organs and tissues, and may lead to death, have shown how science can respond when challenged by a global emergency, offering as a response a myriad of rapid technological developments. Development of vaccines at lightning speed is one of them. SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks have stressed healthcare systems, questioning patients care by using standard non-adapted therapies and diagnostic tools. In this scenario, nanotechnology has offered new tools, techniques and opportunities for prevention, for rapid, accurate and sensitive diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. In this review, we focus on the nanotechnological applications and nano-based materials (i.e., personal protective equipment) to combat SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection, organ damage and for the development of new tools for virosurveillance, diagnose and immune protection by mRNA and other nano-based vaccines. All the nano-based developed tools have allowed a historical, unprecedented, real time epidemiological surveillance and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, at community and international levels. The nano-based technology has help to predict and detect how this Sarbecovirus is mutating and the severity of the associated COVID-19 disease, thereby assisting the administration and public health services to make decisions and measures for preparedness against the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 and severe or lethal COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Valenzuela-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Romina Cabrera-Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Laura Ciuffreda
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Silvia Perez-Yanes
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Judith Estevez-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Julia Alcoba-Florez
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Trujillo-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Departamento de Análisis Matemático, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - Helena Gil-Campesino
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Oscar Díez-Gil
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - José M. Lorenzo-Salazar
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Carlos Flores
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fernando Pessoa Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jonay Garcia-Luis
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
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4
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Voskarides K. SARS-CoV-2: tracing the origin, tracking the evolution. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:62. [PMID: 35303887 PMCID: PMC8931788 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01208-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is uncertain. Findings support a "bat origin" but results are not highly convincing. Studies found evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was around for many years before the pandemic outbreak. Evidence has been published that the progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 already had the capability to bind strongly to the human ACE2 receptor. This may be an indication that many other animal viruses are capable to jump to humans, having already affinity for a human receptor. This is quite worrying since current ecosystems' collapse brings people to high proximity with animals, increasing probabilities for random viral transitions. On the other hand, future adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 is of great concern. Virus-host interactions are complicated and unfortunately, we still do not have accurate tools for predicting viruses' future evolution. Viral adaptation is a multifactorial process and probably SARS-CoV-2 will not become soon, as we wish, a harmless infection. However, humanity is currently under the largest vaccination program and it's of great interest to see if vaccinations will change the evolutionary game against the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Voskarides
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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5
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Barroso-Arévalo S, Barneto A, Ramos ÁM, Rivera B, Sánchez R, Sánchez-Morales L, Pérez-Sancho M, Buendía A, Ferreras E, Ortiz-Menéndez JC, Moreno I, Serres C, Vela C, Risalde MÁ, Domínguez L, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Large-scale study on virological and serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs in Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e759-e774. [PMID: 34724350 PMCID: PMC8661836 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The disease produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently one of the primary concerns worldwide. Knowing the zoonotic origin of the disease and that several animal species, including dogs and cats, are susceptible to viral infection, it is critical to assess the relevance of pets in this pandemic. Here, we performed a large-scale study on SARS-CoV-2 serological and viral prevalence in cats and dogs in Spain in order to elucidate their role and susceptibility. Samples from animals in contact with COVID-19 positive people and/or compatible symptoms (n = 492), as well as from random animals (n = 1024), were taken. Despite the large number of animals analyzed, only 12 animals (eight dogs and four cats), which represents 0.79% of the total analyzed animals (n = 1516), were positive for viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in which viral isolation was possible in four animals. We detected neutralizing antibodies in 34 animals, four of them were also positive for PCR. This study evidences that pets are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in natural conditions but at a low level, as evidenced by the low percentage of positive animals detected, being infected humans the main source of infection. However, the inclusion of animals in the surveillance of COVID-19 is still recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ángel Manuel Ramos
- Interdisciplinary Mathematics Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Analysis, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Rivera
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Sánchez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Sánchez-Morales
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Pérez-Sancho
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Buendía
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Ferreras
- SaBio Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (UCLM-CSIC), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Microbial Immunology Unit, National Center for Microbiology, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Consuelo Serres
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María Ángeles Risalde
- Research Group in Animal Health and Zoonoses (GISAZ), Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain.,Infectious Diseases Unit, Clinical Virology and Zoonosis Group, Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, Andalusia, Spain
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Jbeli R, Jelassi A. Current vaccine technology with an emphasis on recombinant measles virus as a new perspective for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. EURO-MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRATION 2021; 6:61. [PMID: 34250222 PMCID: PMC8254859 DOI: 10.1007/s41207-021-00263-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that emerged in China has spread to more than 212 countries to date. COVID-19 can cause serious acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Therefore, research advances on the associated SARS-coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) may enable the scientific community to establish effective vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections by increasing understanding of viral pathogenesis. Measles virus (MV) expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) represents a promising class of biotherapeutic agents to combat this virus. The potential of such recombinant viruses has been well recognized for the treatment of many diseases. We summarize and review herein a potential therapeutic intervention strategy against COVID-19 infection based on MVSchw2-SARS-S and MVSchw2-SARS-Ssol with the aim of assessing the suitability of recombinant MV as a potential new candidate SARS vaccine. Such analysis of COVID-19 pathogenesis could also help establish appropriate therapeutic targets for the production of specific antiviral agents against this newly emerged pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rim Jbeli
- Department of Biology Sicences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Awatef Jelassi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, LR 99 ES 11, Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis Elmanar, Tunis, Tunisia
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7
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do Vale B, Lopes AP, Fontes MDC, Silvestre M, Cardoso L, Coelho AC. Bats, pangolins, minks and other animals - villains or victims of SARS-CoV-2? Vet Res Commun 2021; 45:1-19. [PMID: 33464439 PMCID: PMC7813668 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09787-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute Respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has become unstoppable, spreading rapidly worldwide and, consequently, reaching a pandemic level. This review aims to provide the information available so far on the likely animal origin of SARS-CoV-2 and its possible hosts/reservoirs as well as all natural animal infections and experimental evidence using animal models. Horseshoe bats from the species Rhinolophus affinis seem to be a natural reservoir and pangolins (Manis javanica) appear to be an intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2. Humans remain the most likely spreading source of SARS-CoV-2 to other humans and also to domestic, zoo and farm animals. Indeed, human-to-animal transmission has been reported in cats, dogs, tigers, lions, a puma and minks. Animal-to-human transmission is not a sustained pathway, although mink-to-human transmission remains to be elucidated. Through experimental infections, other animals seem also to be susceptible hosts for SARS-CoV-2, namely ferrets, some non-human primate species, hamsters and transgenic mice, while dogs, pigs and poultry are resistant. A One Health perspective must be implemented in order to develop epidemiological surveillance and establish disease control mechanisms to limit zoonotic transmission. Moreover, research in this field is important to better understand SARS-CoV-2 and to obtain the long-awaited vaccine and specific treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz do Vale
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria da Conceição Fontes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Mário Silvestre
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Zootechnics, ECAV, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
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Abstract
Proteins are commonly used as molecular targets against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. However, pathogens can evolve rapidly permitting their populations to increase in protein diversity over time and thus escape to the activity of a molecular therapy. Subsequently, in order to design more durable and robust therapies as well as to understand viral evolution in a host and subsequent transmission, it is central to understand the evolution of pathogen proteins. This understanding can enable the detection of protein regions that can be potential targets for therapies and predict the emergence of molecular resistance against therapies. In this direction, two articles published recently in the Journal of Molecular Evolution investigated the evolution of proteomes of diverse flaviviruses, including Zika virus, Dengue virus and West Nile virus. Here I discuss the importance of considering the evolution of viral proteins, with the use of as realistic as possible models and methods that mimic protein evolution, to improve the design of antiviral therapies.
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