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
An essential role of PI3K in the control of West Nile virus infection
Wang L, Yang L, Fikrig E, Wang P. An essential role of PI3K in the control of West Nile virus infection. Scientific Reports 2017, 7: 3724. PMID: 28623344, PMCID: PMC5473900, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03912-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virus infectionPI3K inhibitorsPI3KVirus infectionImmune responseK inhibitorsType I IFN responseAntiviral immune responseI IFN responseCatalytic subunit p110δTNF-α protein productionPrimary mouse macrophagesFlaviviral infectionsAntiviral immunityIFN responseViral titersClass I PI3KAntiviral roleMRNA expressionPI3K activityIFNProtein expressionInfectionMouse macrophagesCell proliferation
2016
Interleukin-17A Promotes CD8+ T Cell Cytotoxicity To Facilitate West Nile Virus Clearance
Acharya D, Wang P, Paul AM, Dai J, Gate D, Lowery JE, Stokic DS, Leis AA, Flavell RA, Town T, Fikrig E, Bai F. Interleukin-17A Promotes CD8+ T Cell Cytotoxicity To Facilitate West Nile Virus Clearance. Journal Of Virology 2016, 91: 10.1128/jvi.01529-16. PMID: 27795421, PMCID: PMC5165211, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01529-16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrainCytotoxicity, ImmunologicFemaleGene ExpressionHumansInterleukin-17MiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeuronsPrimary Cell CultureReceptors, Interleukin-17Recombinant ProteinsSurvival AnalysisT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicTreatment OutcomeViral LoadVirus ReplicationWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusConceptsT cell cytotoxicityRecombinant IL-17AWest Nile virus infectionWNV-infected miceIL-17AT cellsViral burdenWNV infectionCell cytotoxicityInterleukin-17AVirus infectionMicrobial infectionsIL-17A-deficient miceT cell-mediated clearanceHigh viral burdenT-cell axisLethal WNV infectionSurvival of miceDay 6 postinfectionT cell functionWild-type miceDiverse immune functionsIL-17A.Proinflammatory cytokinesAutoimmune diseasesTLR8 Couples SOCS-1 and Restrains TLR7-Mediated Antiviral Immunity, Exacerbating West Nile Virus Infection in Mice
Paul AM, Acharya D, Le L, Wang P, Stokic DS, Leis AA, Alexopoulou L, Town T, Flavell RA, Fikrig E, Bai F. TLR8 Couples SOCS-1 and Restrains TLR7-Mediated Antiviral Immunity, Exacerbating West Nile Virus Infection in Mice. The Journal Of Immunology 2016, 197: 4425-4435. PMID: 27798161, PMCID: PMC5123688, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600902.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusAntiviral immunityWNV infectionWest Nile virus infectionOverexpression of TLR7Induced IFNsWild-type controlsSuppressor of cytokineTLR7 expressionNeuronal deathVirus infectionHuman TLR7TLR7TLR8InfectionMiceX proteinReduced expressionImmunityNile virusSOCS-1RNA knockdownIFNNovel roleProapoptotic genes
2014
Systems Immunology Reveals Markers of Susceptibility to West Nile Virus Infection
Qian F, Goel G, Meng H, Wang X, You F, Devine L, Raddassi K, Garcia MN, Murray KO, Bolen CR, Gaujoux R, Shen-Orr SS, Hafler D, Fikrig E, Xavier R, Kleinstein SH, Montgomery RR. Systems Immunology Reveals Markers of Susceptibility to West Nile Virus Infection. MSphere 2014, 22: 6-16. PMID: 25355795, PMCID: PMC4278927, DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00508-14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virus infectionVirus infectionMyeloid dendritic cellsMarker of susceptibilityPotential therapeutic strategySeverity of infectionSevere neurological diseaseOlder patientsAcute infectionDendritic cellsCXCL10 expressionDetectable yearsImmunity-related genesStratified cohortWNV infectionTherapeutic strategiesPathogenic mechanismsAnimal studiesNeurological diseasesDisease severityVivo infectionPredictive signatureInfectionProminent alterationsPrimary cellsImmune Markers Associated with Host Susceptibility to Infection with West Nile Virus
Qian F, Thakar J, Yuan X, Nolan M, Murray KO, Lee WT, Wong SJ, Meng H, Fikrig E, Kleinstein SH, Montgomery RR. Immune Markers Associated with Host Susceptibility to Infection with West Nile Virus. Viral Immunology 2014, 27: 39-47. PMID: 24605787, PMCID: PMC3949440, DOI: 10.1089/vim.2013.0074.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusSevere infectionsImmune markersIL-4IL-4 levelsSerum cytokine levelsSerum IL-4Nile virusSignificant risk factorsImmune system statusPeripheral blood cellsSevere neurological diseaseCytokine levelsAntibody levelsImmune statusRisk factorsHealthy subjectsStratified cohortWNV infectionNeurological diseasesInfectionAltered expression levelsBlood cellsAltered gene expression patternsHost susceptibility
2013
ELF4 is critical for induction of type I interferon and the host antiviral response
You F, Wang P, Yang L, Yang G, Zhao YO, Qian F, Walker W, Sutton R, Montgomery R, Lin R, Iwasaki A, Fikrig E. ELF4 is critical for induction of type I interferon and the host antiviral response. Nature Immunology 2013, 14: 1237-1246. PMID: 24185615, PMCID: PMC3939855, DOI: 10.1038/ni.2756.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell LineCells, CulturedDNA-Binding ProteinsHEK293 CellsHeLa CellsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansImmunoblottingInterferon Regulatory Factor-3Interferon Regulatory Factor-7Interferon-betaMembrane ProteinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMicroscopy, ConfocalProtein BindingReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA InterferenceSignal TransductionSurvival AnalysisTranscription FactorsTranscriptional ActivationWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusIdentification of Genes Critical for Resistance to Infection by West Nile Virus Using RNA-Seq Analysis
Qian F, Chung L, Zheng W, Bruno V, Alexander RP, Wang Z, Wang X, Kurscheid S, Zhao H, Fikrig E, Gerstein M, Snyder M, Montgomery RR. Identification of Genes Critical for Resistance to Infection by West Nile Virus Using RNA-Seq Analysis. Viruses 2013, 5: 1664-1681. PMID: 23881275, PMCID: PMC3738954, DOI: 10.3390/v5071664.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommon gene pathwaysNovel cellular responsesDifferential gene expressionRNA-seq analysisWest Nile virusGene expression analysisPrimary human macrophagesGene isoformsHigh-throughput methodRNA-seqGene pathwaysExpression analysisGenes CriticalKnock-downGene expressionCellular responsesGene changesResistant individualsBiological settingsHuman macrophagesGenesCritical roleAvailable treatmentsHealthy donorsViral infection
2012
West Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection
Colpitts TM, Conway MJ, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E. West Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 2012, 25: 635-648. PMID: 23034323, PMCID: PMC3485754, DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00045-12.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSemaphorin 7A Contributes to West Nile Virus Pathogenesis through TGF-β1/Smad6 Signaling
Sultana H, Neelakanta G, Foellmer HG, Montgomery RR, Anderson JF, Koski RA, Medzhitov RM, Fikrig E. Semaphorin 7A Contributes to West Nile Virus Pathogenesis through TGF-β1/Smad6 Signaling. The Journal Of Immunology 2012, 189: 3150-3158. PMID: 22896629, PMCID: PMC3496209, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRole of Sema7AWNV infectionSemaphorin 7ATGF-β1Lethal West Nile virus infectionViral pathogenesisBlood-brain barrier permeabilityWest Nile Virus PathogenesisWest Nile virus infectionMurine cortical neuronsPrimary human macrophagesViral burdenWNV pathogenesisCortical neuronsBarrier permeabilityFlaviviral infectionsVirus infectionVirus pathogenesisNervous systemImmune systemPathogenesisInfectionHuman macrophagesSema7AMiceIL-22 Signaling Contributes to West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis
Wang P, Bai F, Zenewicz LA, Dai J, Gate D, Cheng G, Yang L, Qian F, Yuan X, Montgomery RR, Flavell RA, Town T, Fikrig E. IL-22 Signaling Contributes to West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e44153. PMID: 22952908, PMCID: PMC3429482, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044153.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWild-type miceCentral nervous systemIL-22Viral loadNeutrophil migrationType miceWest Nile virus encephalitisSimilar viral loadsLethal WNV infectionIL-22 signalingHost immune responseWNV neuroinvasionVirus encephalitisCXCR2 ligandsLeukocyte infiltrateProinflammatory cytokinesChemokine receptorsImmune responseWNV infectionViral infectionNervous systemSignaling contributesExtracellular pathogensNon-redundant roleWT leukocytesAntibodies against the Envelope Glycoprotein Promote Infectivity of Immature Dengue Virus Serotype 2
da Silva Voorham JM, Rodenhuis-Zybert IA, Nuñez N, Colpitts TM, van der Ende-Metselaar H, Fikrig E, Diamond MS, Wilschut J, Smit JM. Antibodies against the Envelope Glycoprotein Promote Infectivity of Immature Dengue Virus Serotype 2. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e29957. PMID: 22431958, PMCID: PMC3303773, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029957.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntibody-dependent enhancementImmature DENVAnti-prM antibodiesStructural proteins prMSevere dengue diseaseDengue virus antibodiesDengue virus serotype 2Dose-dependent mannerImmature particlesStandard virus preparationsVirus preparationsVirus antibodiesPrecursor membrane proteinVirus serotype 2Lethal infectionMouse modelDengue diseaseImmune serumDENV particlesProtein prMInfection studiesAntibodiesEnhanced infectivityInfectionSerotype 2Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of West Nile Virus Genotype NY99 by Culex salinarius and Genotypes NY99 and WN02 by Culex tarsalis
Anderson JF, Main AJ, Cheng G, Ferrandino FJ, Fikrig E. Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of West Nile Virus Genotype NY99 by Culex salinarius and Genotypes NY99 and WN02 by Culex tarsalis. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2012, 86: 134-139. PMID: 22232464, PMCID: PMC3247122, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0473.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Humoral immune responses in humanized BLT mice immunized with West Nile virus and HIV‐1 envelope proteins are largely mediated via human CD5+ B cells
Biswas S, Chang H, Sarkis PT, Fikrig E, Zhu Q, Marasco WA. Humoral immune responses in humanized BLT mice immunized with West Nile virus and HIV‐1 envelope proteins are largely mediated via human CD5+ B cells. Immunology 2011, 134: 419-433. PMID: 22044090, PMCID: PMC3230796, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2011.03501.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHumoral immune responseImmune responseBLT miceB cellsB lymphocytesVaccine-induced humoral immune responsesVaccine-induced immune responsesVaccine-induced antibody responsesNon-obese diabetic/T cell-independent pathwayHIV-1 envelope proteinSecondary immune responseSingle intramuscular immunizationSpecific IgM levelsViral envelope antigensB cell subsetsAntigen-specific human antibodiesFollicular B cellsCytokines/growth factorsEnvelope proteinHuman B lymphocytesHuman lymphoid systemMature follicular B cellsWest Nile virus envelope proteinHuman T lymphocytesInnate immune control of West Nile virus infection
Arjona A, Wang P, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E. Innate immune control of West Nile virus infection. Cellular Microbiology 2011, 13: 1648-1658. PMID: 21790942, PMCID: PMC3196381, DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01649.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusWNV infectionAntiviral innate immune mechanismsLong-term neurologic sequelaeWest Nile virus infectionRe-emerging zoonotic pathogenInnate immune controlInnate immune mechanismsLife-threatening meningoencephalitisInnate immune systemNeurologic sequelaeImmune controlInflammatory mediatorsImmune mechanismsMammalian hostsVirus infectionCurrent evidenceViral infectionAntiviral effectorsImmune systemFlaviviridae familyAntiviral mechanismInfectionNile virusJAK-STATAlterations in the Aedes aegypti Transcriptome during Infection with West Nile, Dengue and Yellow Fever Viruses
Colpitts TM, Cox J, Vanlandingham DL, Feitosa FM, Cheng G, Kurscheid S, Wang P, Krishnan MN, Higgs S, Fikrig E. Alterations in the Aedes aegypti Transcriptome during Infection with West Nile, Dengue and Yellow Fever Viruses. PLOS Pathogens 2011, 7: e1002189. PMID: 21909258, PMCID: PMC3164632, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002189.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene expressionDiverse cellular processesPupal cuticle proteinsExpression of genesMosquito gene expressionYellow fever virusFlaviviral infectionsMosquito genesCuticle proteinsCellular processesBioinformatics analysisMosquito cellsExpression profilesMicroarray analysisDDR genesMetabolic processesHuman diseasesGenesTranscriptomic signaturesWest NileFever virusPeptidase activityWNV envelope proteinTranscriptomeAedes aegypti mosquitoesUse of a tandem affinity purification assay to detect interactions between West Nile and dengue viral proteins and proteins of the mosquito vector
Colpitts TM, Cox J, Nguyen A, Feitosa F, Krishnan MN, Fikrig E. Use of a tandem affinity purification assay to detect interactions between West Nile and dengue viral proteins and proteins of the mosquito vector. Virology 2011, 417: 179-187. PMID: 21700306, PMCID: PMC3166580, DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2011.06.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCadherinsCulicidaeDengue VirusInsect ProteinsInsect VectorsProtein BindingViral ProteinsWest Nile virusConceptsWest Nile virus infectionWest NileMosquito vectorsWest Nile virus envelope proteinMosquito proteinsSignificant morbidityFlavivirus infectionDengue viral proteinsVirus envelope proteinVirus infectionMosquito factorsDengue virusNovel targetInfectionMosquito cellsDengueEnvelope proteinMyosin light chain kinaseViral proteinsFlavivirusesLight chain kinasePI3-kinaseChain kinaseNS2B proteinCells
2010
A Paradoxical Role for Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of West Nile Virus
Bai F, Kong KF, Dai J, Qian F, Zhang L, Brown CR, Fikrig E, Montgometry R. A Paradoxical Role for Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of West Nile Virus. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2010, 202: 1804-1812. PMID: 21050124, PMCID: PMC3053000, DOI: 10.1086/657416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusPolymorphonuclear leukocytesWNV infectionNile virusHigh viremiaViral clearanceEarly deathEarly infectionControl groupProtective roleBiphasic responseInnate immunityViral pathogenesisInfectionMiceViremiaPathogenesisParadoxical roleEfficient replicationVirusCXCL1CXCL2ChemokinesCXCR2NeutrophilsCaspase-12 controls West Nile virus infection via the viral RNA receptor RIG-I
Wang P, Arjona A, Zhang Y, Sultana H, Dai J, Yang L, LeBlanc PM, Doiron K, Saleh M, Fikrig E. Caspase-12 controls West Nile virus infection via the viral RNA receptor RIG-I. Nature Immunology 2010, 11: 912-919. PMID: 20818395, PMCID: PMC3712356, DOI: 10.1038/ni.1933.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCaspase 12Cells, CulturedDEAD Box Protein 58DEAD-box RNA HelicasesDNA-Binding ProteinsFibroblastsImmunity, InnateInterferon Type IMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNeuronsReceptors, VirusSignal TransductionTranscription FactorsUbiquitinationUbiquitin-Protein LigasesWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusA C-Type Lectin Collaborates with a CD45 Phosphatase Homolog to Facilitate West Nile Virus Infection of Mosquitoes
Cheng G, Cox J, Wang P, Krishnan MN, Dai J, Qian F, Anderson JF, Fikrig E. A C-Type Lectin Collaborates with a CD45 Phosphatase Homolog to Facilitate West Nile Virus Infection of Mosquitoes. Cell 2010, 142: 714-725. PMID: 20797779, PMCID: PMC2954371, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.07.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAedesAnimalsCulexHumansInsect ProteinsLectins, C-TypeLeukocyte Common AntigensVirus InternalizationWest Nile virusConceptsWest Nile virusWNV infectionWest Nile virus infectionArthropod-borne flavivirusBlood-feeding processVirus infectionHuman CD45Viral disseminationC-type lectinInfectionViral entryViral attachmentMosquito homologCalcium-dependent mannerNile virusMolecular understandingVivo experimentsSame pathwayNatural vector