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Karakoese Z, Ingola M, Sitek B, Dittmer U, Sutter K. IFNα Subtypes in HIV Infection and Immunity. Viruses 2024; 16:364. [PMID: 38543729 PMCID: PMC10975235 DOI: 10.3390/v16030364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN), immediately triggered following most viral infections, play a pivotal role in direct antiviral immunity and act as a bridge between innate and adaptive immune responses. However, numerous viruses have evolved evasion strategies against IFN responses, prompting the exploration of therapeutic alternatives for viral infections. Within the type I IFN family, 12 IFNα subtypes exist, all binding to the same receptor but displaying significant variations in their biological activities. Currently, clinical treatments for chronic virus infections predominantly rely on a single IFNα subtype (IFNα2a/b). However, the efficacy of this therapeutic treatment is relatively limited, particularly in the context of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Recent investigations have delved into alternative IFNα subtypes, identifying certain subtypes as highly potent, and their antiviral and immunomodulatory properties have been extensively characterized. This review consolidates recent findings on the roles of individual IFNα subtypes during HIV and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) infections. It encompasses their induction in the context of HIV/SIV infection, their antiretroviral activity, and the diverse regulation of the immune response against HIV by distinct IFNα subtypes. These insights may pave the way for innovative strategies in HIV cure or functional cure studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Karakoese
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (Z.K.); (U.D.)
- Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Martha Ingola
- Medical Proteome Center, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.I.); (B.S.)
| | - Barbara Sitek
- Medical Proteome Center, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.I.); (B.S.)
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, 44892 Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (Z.K.); (U.D.)
- Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Sutter
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (Z.K.); (U.D.)
- Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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Karakoese Z, Le-Trilling VTK, Schuhenn J, Francois S, Lu M, Liu J, Trilling M, Hoffmann D, Dittmer U, Sutter K. Targeted mutations in IFNα2 improve its antiviral activity against various viruses. mBio 2023; 14:e0235723. [PMID: 37874130 PMCID: PMC10746204 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02357-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The potency of interferon (IFN)α to restrict viruses was already discovered in 1957. However, until today, only IFNα2 out of the 12 distinct human IFNα subtypes has been therapeutically used against chronic viral infections. There is convincing evidence that other IFNα subtypes are far more efficient than IFNα2 against many viruses. In order to identify critical antiviral residues within the IFNα subtype sequence, we designed hybrid molecules based on the IFNα2 backbone with individual sequence motifs from the more potent subtypes IFNα6 and IFNα14. In different antiviral assays with HIV or HBV, residues binding to IFNAR1 as well as combinations of residues in the IFNAR1 binding region, the putative tunable anchor, and residues outside these regions were identified to be crucial for the antiviral activity of IFNα. Thus, we designed artificial IFNα molecules, based on the clinically approved IFNα2 backbone, but with highly improved antiviral activity against several viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Karakoese
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Translational HIV Research, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Jonas Schuhenn
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
| | - Sandra Francois
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
| | - Mengji Lu
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mirko Trilling
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Daniel Hoffmann
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Research Group Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Translational HIV Research, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kathrin Sutter
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Virology, Essen, Germany
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Translational HIV Research, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Pujantell M, Skenteris NT, Claussen JM, Grünhagel B, Thiele RJ, Altfeld M. Sex-dependent differences in type I IFN-induced natural killer cell activation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1277967. [PMID: 38162640 PMCID: PMC10757368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1277967] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are important antiviral effector cells and also involved in tumor clearance. NK cells express IFNAR, rendering them responsive to Type I IFNs. To evaluate Type I IFN-mediated modulation of NK cell functions, individual Type I IFNs subtypes were assessed for their ability to activate NK cells. Different Type I IFN subtypes displayed a broad range in the capacity to induce and modulate NK cell activation and degranulation, measured by CD69 and CD107a expression in response to leukemia cell line K562. When including biological sex as a variable in the analysis, transwell co-cultures of NK cells with either male- or female-derived PBMCs or pDCs stimulated with the TLR7/8 agonist CL097 showed that NK cells were more activated by CL097-stimulated cells derived from females. These sex-specific differences were linked to higher CL097-induced IFNα production by pDCs derived from females, indicating an extrinsic sex-specific effect of Type I IFNs on NK cell function. Interestingly, in addition to the extrinsic effect, we also observed NK cell-intrinsic sex differences, as female NK cells displayed higher activation levels after IFNα-stimulation and after co-culture with CL097-stimulated pDCs, suggesting higher activation of IFNα-signaling transduction in female NK cells. Taken together, the results from these studies identify both extrinsic and intrinsic sex-specific differences in Type I IFN-dependent NK cell functions, contributing to a better understanding of sex-specific differences in innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pujantell
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Benjamin Grünhagel
- Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rebecca-Jo Thiele
- Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Altfeld
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
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Malyshkina A, Bayer W, Podschwadt P, Otto L, Karakoese Z, Sutter K, Bruderek K, Wang B, Lavender KJ, Santiago ML, Leipe PM, Elsner C, Esser S, Brandau S, Gunzer M, Dittmer U. Immunotherapy-induced cytotoxic T follicular helper cells reduce numbers of retrovirus-infected reservoir cells in B cell follicles. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011725. [PMID: 37883584 PMCID: PMC10602292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) transformed HIV from a life-threatening disease to a chronic condition. However, eliminating the virus remains an elusive therapy goal. For several decades, Friend virus (FV) infection serves as a murine model to study retrovirus immunity. Similar to HIV, FV persists at low levels in lymph nodes B cell follicles avoiding elimination by immune cells. Such immune-privileged reservoirs exclude cytotoxic T cells from entry. However, CXCR5+ T cells are permitted to traffic through germinal centers. This marker is predominantly expressed by CD4+ follicular helper T cells (Tfh). Therefore, we explored immunotherapy to induce cytotoxic Tfh, which are rarely found under physiological conditions. The TNF receptor family member CD137 was first identified as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. We demonstrated that FV-infected mice treatment with αCD137 antibody resulted in an induction of the cytotoxic program in Tfh. The therapy significantly increased numbers of cytotoxic Tfh within B cell follicles and contributed to viral load reduction. Moreover, αCD137 antibody combined with ART delayed virus rebound upon treatment termination without disturbing the lymph node architecture or antibody responses. Thus, αCD137 antibody therapy might be a novel strategy to target the retroviral reservoir and an interesting approach for HIV cure research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Malyshkina
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Wibke Bayer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Philip Podschwadt
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lucas Otto
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Zehra Karakoese
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Translational HIV Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Sutter
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Translational HIV Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Bruderek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Baoxiao Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kerry J. Lavender
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Mario L. Santiago
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Pia Madeleine Leipe
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Carina Elsner
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Esser
- Institute for Translational HIV Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sven Brandau
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gunzer
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Translational HIV Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Moreau TRJ, Bondet V, Rodero MP, Duffy D. Heterogeneity and functions of the 13 IFN-α subtypes - lucky for some? Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2250307. [PMID: 37367434 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Type I IFNs are critical for host responses to viral infection and are also implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. Multiple subtypes exist within the type I IFN family, in particular 13 distinct IFN-α genes, which signal through the same heterodimer receptor that is ubiquitously expressed by mammalian cells. Both evolutionary genetic studies and functional antiviral assays strongly suggest differential functions and activity between the 13 IFN-α subtypes, yet we still lack a clear understanding of these different roles. This review summarizes the evidence from studies describing differential functions of IFN-α subtypes and highlights potential reasons for discrepancies between the reports. We examine both acute and chronic viral infection, as well as autoimmunity, and integrate a more recent awareness of the importance of anti-IFN-α autoantibodies in shaping the type I IFN responses in these different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R J Moreau
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, Paris, France
- Translational Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Bondet
- Translational Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu P Rodero
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, Paris, France
| | - Darragh Duffy
- Translational Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Barnes SA, Audsley KM, Newnes HV, Fernandez S, de Jong E, Waithman J, Foley B. Type I interferon subtypes differentially activate the anti-leukaemic function of natural killer cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1050718. [PMID: 36505400 PMCID: PMC9731670 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1050718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have an intrinsic ability to detect and eliminate leukaemic cells. Cellular therapies using cytokine-activated NK cells have emerged as promising treatments for patients with advanced leukaemia. However, not all patients respond to current NK cell therapies, and thus improvements in efficacy are required. Type I interferons (IFN-I) are a family of potent immunomodulatory cytokines with a known ability to modulate NK cell responses against cancer. Although the human IFN-I family comprises 16 distinct subtypes, only IFNα2 has been widely explored as an anti-cancer agent. Here, we investigated the individual immunomodulatory effects each IFNα subtype and IFNβ had on NK cell functionality to determine whether a particular subtype confers enhanced effector activity against leukaemia. Importantly, IFNα14 and IFNβ were identified as superior activators of NK cell effector function in vitro. To test the ability of these subtypes to enhance NK cell activity in vivo, IFN-I stimulation was overlaid onto a standard ex vivo expansion protocol to generate NK cells for adoptive cell therapy. Interestingly, infusion of NK cells pre-activated with IFNα14, but not IFNβ, significantly prolonged survival in a preclinical model of leukaemia compared to NK cells expanded without IFN-I. Collectively, these results highlight the diverse immunomodulatory potencies of individual IFN-I subtypes and support further investigation into the use of IFNα14 to favourably modulate NK cells against leukaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha A. Barnes
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Katherine M. Audsley
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Newnes
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Sonia Fernandez
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Emma de Jong
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Jason Waithman
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Bree Foley
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia,*Correspondence: Bree Foley,
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Xie X, Karakoese Z, Ablikim D, Ickler J, Schuhenn J, Zeng X, Feng X, Yang X, Dittmer U, Yang D, Sutter K, Liu J. IFNα subtype-specific susceptibility of HBV in the course of chronic infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1017753. [PMID: 36311794 PMCID: PMC9616162 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1017753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a major health problem worldwide and remains hard to be cured. Therapy with interferon (IFN) α is an important method for the clinical treatment of chronic hepatitis B. IFNα exhibits direct antiviral effects as well as immunomodulatory activities, which can induce sustained antiviral responses in part of the treated chronic hepatitis B patients. Numerous IFNα subtypes with high sequence identity between 76-96% exist which are characterized by diverse, non-redundant biological activities. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the clinically approved IFNα2 is not the most effective subtype for the anti-HBV treatment among all IFNα subtypes. So far very little is known about the IFNα subtype expression pattern during early HBV infection and the IFNα subtype-specific susceptibility during persistent HBV infection as well as its related cellular mechanism. Here we determined the Ifna subtype mRNA expression during acute and chronic HBV infection by using the well-established hydrodynamic injection (HDI) mouse model and we revealed a transient but strong expression of a panel of Ifna subtypes in the spleen of HBV persistent replication mice compared to HDI controls. Immunotherapy with distinct IFNα subtypes controlled chronic HBV infection. IFNα subtype-mediated antiviral response and immune activation were comprehensively analyzed in an AAV-HBV persistent infection murine model and murine IFNα2 was identified as the most effective subtype in suppression of HBV replication. Further analysis of the immune response revealed a strong immunomodulatory activity of murine IFNα2 on splenic and intrahepatic NK and T cell activation during persistent HBV infection. Taken together, our data provide IFNα subtype-specific differences in the antiviral and immunomodulatory effector responses and a strong expression of all IFNα subtypes in the spleen during persistent HBV infection in mice. This knowledge will support the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for chronic hepatitis B infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, China
| | - Zehra Karakoese
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dilhumare Ablikim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Julia Ickler
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jonas Schuhenn
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Xiaoqing Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuemei Feng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuecheng Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kathrin Sutter
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Kathrin Sutter, ; Jia Liu,
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Kathrin Sutter, ; Jia Liu,
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