[Editorial] Negligible role of suppressed HIV in sexual transmission

WHO launched the policy brief The Role of HIV Viral Suppression in Improving Individual Health and Reducing Transmission at the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane, Australia . It has long been known that undetectable (typically a VL of <200 copies per mL) means that people living with HIV (PLHIV) are… Continue reading [Editorial] Negligible role of suppressed HIV in sexual transmission

Conserved HIV-1 V3 loop helix offers potential for broad neutralization

Using designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) technology, we discovered an α-helical conformation of the third variable (V3) loop on the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein that renders the virus susceptible to broad neutralization at an intermediate entry stage after binding the CD4 receptor. Our results highlight the potential of post-attachment neutralization and enable… Continue reading Conserved HIV-1 V3 loop helix offers potential for broad neutralization

Structural basis of HIV-1 Vif-mediated E3 ligase targeting of host APOBEC3H

Abstract Human APOBEC3 (A3) cytidine deaminases are antiviral factors that are particularly potent against retroviruses. As a countermeasure, HIV-1 uses a viral infectivity factor (Vif) to target specific human A3s for proteasomal degradation. Vif recruits cellular transcription cofactor CBF-β and Cullin-5 (CUL5) RING E3 ubiquitin ligase to bind different A3s distinctively, but how this is… Continue reading Structural basis of HIV-1 Vif-mediated E3 ligase targeting of host APOBEC3H

Inhibition of tumor intrinsic BANF1 activates antitumor immune responses via cGAS-STING and enhances the efficacy of PD-1 blockade

Background BANF1 is well known as a natural opponent of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) activity on genomic self-DNA. However, the roles of BANF1 in tumor immunity remain unclear. Here, we investigate the possible impact of BANF1 on antitumor immunity and response to immunotherapy. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas public data were analyzed to evaluate the… Continue reading Inhibition of tumor intrinsic BANF1 activates antitumor immune responses via cGAS-STING and enhances the efficacy of PD-1 blockade

TP53 gain-of-function mutation modulates the immunosuppressive microenvironment in non-HPV-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background TP53, the most mutated gene in solid cancers, has a profound impact on most hallmarks of cancer. Somatic TP53 mutations occur in high frequencies in head and neck cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Our study aims to understand the role of TP53 gain-of-function mutation in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in… Continue reading TP53 gain-of-function mutation modulates the immunosuppressive microenvironment in non-HPV-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma