Antiviral Network of Proteins published in Nature Immunology
Congratulations to Philipp Hubel and co-authors – our work on the innate immune network got published in Nature Immunology!
The body’s defense strategies against viral infections are as diverse as the attacks themselves. We conducted a survey to systematically investigate the interactions of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which are at the center of coordinating the antiviral immune response. Through integrating data obtained by affinity purification followed by mass spectrometry (AP/MS), published datasets and functional validation experiments, we found many unknown interactions of ISGs, which sheds light on the overall organization of the innate immune system.
Have a look at the paper: “A protein-interaction network of interferon-stimulated genes extends the innate immune system landscape”
Andreas gets ERC Consolidator Grant!
The human body has sophisticated defense systems against various threats. During viral infections, certain proteins change their turnover rates and their interactions with the other molecules.
The goal of the grant “Protein Dynamics in Antiviral Processes (ProDAP)” that was awarded by ERC is to systematically analyze the influence of protein interactions and protein stability on the antiviral immune system. Initial results suggest that the organism ability to change both of these factors plays an essential role in regulating the immune system and fighting viral pathogens. Targeting the activity of these proteins could open up avenues to new treatments.
So we are hiring! Please check our open positions if you want to be a part of this ambitious project.
Congrats to Dr. Bea!
Novel mechanism of Interferon Suppression in Sandfly
Novel mechanism of Interferon Suppression in Sandfly
Our collaborators Jenny Würth and Friedemann Weber identified a yet undescribed mechanism how Non-structural protein small (NSs) of Sandfly fever Sicilian phlebovirus perturbes type-I interferon induction: NSs directly associates to the DNA binding domain of the transcription factor IRF3 and thereby prevents induction of type-I interferon genes. Now published in Journal of Virology – Congratulations to Jenny!
Our Zika study published in Nature!
Zika virus is a tropical virus transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. In most cases the infected individuals do not show any sign of the disease, however the virus can persist in the genital tract of infected males for several months and be sexually transmitted to the other individuals. When the virus infects pregnant women, it is directly transmitted to the fetus which develops severe neurological malformations.
Our study identified hundreds of cellular proteins (here depicted as lego bricks) whose functions are disturbed in Zika-infected cells, laying the foundation for understanding and eliminating this global threat.
Cell Death through Oxeiptosis
Cell Death through Oxeiptosis
As a follow up to our recent oxeiptosis paper, Pietro’s and Andreas’ commentary on oxeiptosis is published in “Cell Death and Differentiation”
Cell Death and Differentiation (2018) 25(7):1191-1193
Thogotovirus targets de novo recruitement of innate immunity genes
Thogotovirus targets de novo recruitement of innate immunity genes
PLoS Pathogens (2018) 14(4):e1006980
Oxeiptosis – a novel type of cell death
Oxeiptosis – a novel type of cell death
Big Congrats to Cathleen – she discovered Oxeiptosis – a novel type of cell death – now published in Nature Immunology! Oxeiptosis is an apoptosis-like cell death that responds to reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS activates the sensor protein KEAP1 and induces a caspase-independent cell death program that involves the phosphatase PGAM5 and its target protein AIFM1. Oxeiptosis is important to limit inflammation caused by influenza A virus infection and therefore functionally resembles an apoptosis-like cell death pathway that functions in the absence of caspases. Great work! Congratulations!
Nature Immunology (2018) 19(2):130-140