Adenovirus is a common virus that causes infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, eyes and gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals. Researchers at Umeå University study molecular mechanisms of infection in order to understand how adenovirus causes disease.
The researchers in Umeå, together with research groups from Germany, the UK and Hungary, have now discovered a new type of mechanism used by a rare adenovirus type to attack cells.
Human Adenovirus type 52 (HAdV-52) is one of the few adenoviruses that has two different types of fiber proteins on its surface, which are ‘used’ by the virus for the attachment to target cells. In collaboration with researchers in the Glycosciences Laboratory at Imperial College in London, who are world leading in the research field of glycobiology, the scientists have shown that the shorter fiber binds to an unusual type of carbohydrate-based receptor, polysialic acid (a long chain of repeated sialic acids). Annasara Lenman working with Niklas Arnberg has subsequently corroborated that HAdV-52 binds to polysialic acid on target cells, and that this leads to infection. In collaboration with experts in structural biology at the University of Tübingen, the interaction between the short fiber and polysialic acid has been mapped at the atomic level.
“We knew earlier that the short fiber binds to sialic acid, but not how the underlying carbohydrate chain was constructed,” explains Annasara Lenman postdoc at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) at Umeå University.
As polysialic acid is overexpressed on cancer cells in the brain and lungs, our findings could open new possibilities to use HAdV-52 for treatment for the corresponding types of cancer.
For a long time, adenovirus and other viruses have been considered suitable weapons for the treatment of different types of cancer. Viruses can kill cancer cells themselves, but in recent years it has also been understood that a virus infection in a tumor can activate the immune system against the cancer cells. You can also “arm” viruses with different genes that can for example counteract the development of resistance against different drugs. A major challenge has been to target viruses specifically against the cancer cells.
“Most adenoviruses tested so far have only one type of cell-binding fiber. HAdV-52 has two different fibers, one of which has a natural predilection for cancerous cells that express polysialic acid. This opens up a more effective harnessing of viruses against the right kind of cells”, Annasara Lenman explains.
The results can also be of importance in other research areas:
“Perhaps the most important function of polysialic acid is its contribution to the brain’s development. However, one has not known much about how polysialic acid interacts with its environment. Our research makes it pertinent to investigate whether polysialic acidplays a part in brain development by interacting with specific cellular molecules.” says Annasara Lenman.
Learn more: Treatment of cancer could become possible with adenovirus
The Latest on: Adenovirus
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Adenovirus ” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Adenovirus
- USDA declares Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded chicken productson April 26, 2024 at 11:47 am
The products, which appear pre-browned and cooked, are often cooked from a frozen state, which increases the chance that the raw chicken component may not reach a safe internal temperature.
- Risk of uveitis recurrence higher in year after COVID vaccinationon April 26, 2024 at 9:17 am
The odds of the condition were increased among recipients of all four studied vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen.
- Candel Therapeutics Announces Upcoming Presentations at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meetingon April 25, 2024 at 5:01 am
Inc. (Candel or the Company) (Nasdaq: CADL), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multimodal biological immunotherapies to help patients fight cancer, today announced that ...
- Is the FDA Pressing Pause on More Cancer Trials? It's Hard to Tellon April 24, 2024 at 6:41 am
Clinical trial holds delay therapies getting to market and may be on the rise in oncology. But there's a lot the public doesn't know about how often these holds happen and why.
- Increase in canine hepatitis has organisations urging pet owners to vaccinateon April 24, 2024 at 4:24 am
The infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) disease has a 95% death rate in unvaccinated animals or if they receive the treatment too late.
- Theolytics secures funds to advance oncolytic adenovirus therapyon April 18, 2024 at 4:09 am
Theolytics has concluded a funding round securing a total of £19m ($24.5m) to advance its oncolytic adenovirus therapy, THEO-260.
- Fish and Game suspects Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease as culprit in Upper Snake moose mortalitieson April 17, 2024 at 2:02 pm
The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. IDAHO FALLS (Idaho Fish and Game) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game has investigated a recent surge in moose mortalities ...
- Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome: A Common Childhood Rashon April 17, 2024 at 8:11 am
Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, sometimes called papular acrodermatitis of childhood, is a rash that typically affects young kids. Here’s what you need to know.
- Only One Harm From mRNA COVID Vaccines, Report Determineson April 16, 2024 at 2:05 pm
Independent reviewers confirmed a causal relationship between the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis, and also determined that, more broadly, intramuscular shots can cause a series of ...
via Bing News