Florence Larrous

Dec 16, 2023 | jbc.org | Byrareddy S.N |Florence Larrous

AbstractThe carboxy terminal tail of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) envelope protein (E) contains a PDZ-binding motif (PBM) which is crucial for coronavirus pathogenicity. During SARS-CoV-2 infection, the viral E protein is expressed within the Golgi apparatus membrane of host cells with its PBM facing the cytoplasm. In this work we study the molecular mechanisms controlling the presentation of the PBM to host PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) domain-containing proteins.

Dec 4, 2023 | nature.com | Victoire Perraud |Flavio Alvarez |Alba Vieites-Prado |Seonhee Kim |Lauriane Kergoat |Anthony Coleon | +6 more

Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40228-7, published online 26 July 2023The original version of this Article contained an error in the summary of the presented work in the discussion section.

Aug 30, 2023 | nature.com | Luca Piccoli |James Case |Young-Jun Park |Kaitlin R Sprouse |Jessica Bassi |Christian Saliba | +25 more

AbstractCurrently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants have acquired convergent mutations at hot spots in the receptor-binding domain1 (RBD) of the spike protein. The effects of these mutations on viral infection and transmission and the efficacy of vaccines and therapies remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that recently emerged BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5 variants bind host ACE2 with high affinity and promote membrane fusion more efficiently than earlier Omicron variants.

Aug 30, 2023 | nature.com | Luca Piccoli |James Case |Young-Jun Park |Kaitlin R Sprouse |Jessica Bassi |Christian Saliba | +25 more

AbstractCurrently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants have acquired convergent mutations at hot spots in the receptor-binding domain1 (RBD) of the spike protein. The effects of these mutations on viral infection and transmission and the efficacy of vaccines and therapies remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that recently emerged BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5 variants bind host ACE2 with high affinity and promote membrane fusion more efficiently than earlier Omicron variants.

Jul 26, 2023 | nature.com | Victoire Perraud |Flavio Alvarez |Alba Vieites-Prado |Seonhee Kim |Lauriane Kergoat |Anthony Coleon | +6 more

AbstractAnosmia was identified as a hallmark of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, however, with the emergence of variants of concern, the clinical profile induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection has changed, with anosmia being less frequent.