News
2024
Immunity review - 20 years of RIG-I research In collaboration with Prof. Takashi Fujita and Prof. Mitsutoshi Yoneyama, Prof. Hiroki Kato publishes an intriguing review with the title "Physiological functions of RIG-I like receptors," in the journal Immunity. The authors explore the advancements made over the past two decades about the critical role of RIG-I like receptors (RLRs) in the innate immune system. The intriguing role in anti-viral defence on the one hand and autoimmune diseases and cancer on the other hand offers a multitude of potential therapeutic opportunities by directly or indirectly targeting RLRs. Further research is needed and will for sure reveal further mesmerizing insights. ♦
New publication in the journal „Science Advances“ We proudly announce the publication “Aberrant RNA sensing in regulatory T cells causes systemic autoimmunity” of our lab member Domnica Luca in the renowned Journal “Science Advances”. Domnica could discover the molecular mechanism underlying the development of the autoimmune disease Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) upon mutations in the genes ADAR1 and IFIH1 (encoding MDA5). Deletion of Adar1 or gain-of-function mutations of MDA5 lead to apoptosis of peripheral regulatory T cells (Treg), loss of homeostasis and the development of severe autoimmune symptoms. We congratulate Domnica to this great piece of work! ♦
2023
Dr. Yuta Tsukamoto received Young Researchers Excellent Presentation Award We proudly announce that Yuta has been one of the winners of the Young Researchers Excellent Presentation Award in 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Virology (Sendai, Japan, Sep 2023). We congratulate him on this great and well deserved achievement. ♦
Open Philanthropy has awarded us with a grant of USD 2,200,000 to support optimization of a host-directed Influenza A antiviral Open Philanthropy announced in their annual grant report the funding of our joint project with Prof. Christa Müller (Pharmaceutical & Medical Chemistry, University Bonn ♦). Together, we aim to find new antiviral compounds to combat endemic and pandemic viral infections like Influenza A and B and others. ♦
Recent review publication in the current journal of Cell Chemical Biology We proudly announce the review publication of our dear colleague Yuta Tsukamoto in the current journal of Cell Chemical Biology. Based on his latest Science paper, Yuta now highlights the importance and potential of “Targeting cap1 RNA methyltransferases as an antiviral strategy”. We congratulate him and his co-authors to this outline about the game-changing options in the treatment of viral infections. Publication: Targeting cap1 RNA methyltransferases as an antiviral strategy. Cell Chemical Biology. 2023 Dec 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol. 2023.11.011 ♦
Recent Publication at Kyoto University Our cooperation partner Jung Hyun Im, member of the Fujita Laboratory at Kyoto University, was able to publish his scientific results in the journal Scientific Reports. We sincerely congratulate him and are pleased to have supported his work. He was able to show that the binding kinetics of double-stranded RNA molecules and RIG-I strongly depend on the size of the bound RNA molecule and could be an important factor in the initiation of effective antiviral signal transduction. Publication: Mechanisms of length-dependent recognition of viral double-stranded RNA by RIG-I. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 18;13(1):6318. ♦
Research highlight in nature reviews drug discovery "Inhibiting cap snatching" Yuta's recent paper has already been commented by Sarah Crunkhorn. Have a look at the article "Inhibiting cap snatching". ♦ Publication: Inhibition of cellular RNA methyltransferase abrogates influenza virus capping and replication. Science 379. ♦
Publication with our Collaborator Akihito Kira in the Journal European PMC Congratulations to our collaborator Akihito Kira for his publication in the journal European PMC on March 2nd. He was able to shed more light on the mechanism of extracellular vesicle formation and extrusion and we are very pleased that several of our lab members were able to participate in this scientific work. Publication: Extracellular vesicle formation mediated by local phosphatidylserine exposure promotes efficient cell extrusion. EPMC. preprint 2023 Mar 02. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-257262/v2 ♦
Publication in the top journal "SCIENCE" - New compound inhibits influenza virus replication We are delighted to announce the publication of our most recent paper in the top journal “SCIENCE”! The scientific results demonstrate that the replication of influenza viruses can be limited by a compound that inhibits the body's own methyltransferase MTr1, which has been identified by the team led by Prof. Hiroki Kato. We congratulate our Postdoc Dr. Yuta Tsukamoto, 1st Author, to this excellent scientific work and give our thanks to all those who participated in this achievement! Publication: Inhibition of cellular RNA methyltransferase abrogates influenza virus capping and replication. Science 379. ♦ Press release: English ♦ German ♦ Twitter ♦ IAV replication in the presence or absence of MTr1: - The host RNA is methylated by MTr1 to a mature cap1 RNA. The influenza virus snatches the cap part of the mature host RNA to start viral replication. MTr1-deficient cells or cells treated with MTr1 inhibitors do not lead to IAV replication. © Image (created with BioRender.com): Yuta Tsukamoto/UKB
2022
Publication at the Journal of Experimental Medicine We congratulate Tina Schumann from the AG Behrendt to a fantastic publication in the Journal of Experimental Medicine! We are very happy, that we experimentally could support her work. She investigated the impact of the phosphohydrolase SAMHD1 and the cGAS/STING pathway in the context of DNA damages and could show their importance in physiological and pathophysiological innate immune priming.
SARS-CoV-2 publication in EMBO journal In thight collaboration with Prof. Thomas Gramberg at the virology department of the university clinics erlangen, we could publish this paper. The scientific results demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 viral 2'-O-methyltransferases Nsp16 firstly shields the viral RNA from recognition by MDA5 and secondly from interferon-induced antiviral responses.
Melatonin influences EMCV infections Together with our collegues in japan we could publish a collaborative paper about the impact of the sleep hormon melatonin on the viral infection with EMCV. It was demonstrated that the viral particle uptake into macrophages as well as the cytoskeletal regulation was suppressed by melatonin.
Recent publication by the "Cellular Virology" team It's not all about RIG-I like receptors and extracellular vesicles ... it can also be a Toll-like receptor, sometimes. Today, the Cellular Virology team publishes a paper on the immunomodulatory effect of 2'-O-ribose methylation on TLR7 and TLR8 activation in IJMS.
Most recent publication at Kyoto University Congratulations to Lianne Emralino to the accepted paper in the Journal of Immunology. Lianne is PhD-student at Kyoto University, one of our close collaborations. She last visited our lab in March 2019 and we are happy to announce her publication in the Journal of Immunology. She could characterize the pathogenic impact of the R822Q mutation in MDA5.
Another well deserved publication at Kyoto University We are happy to announce the publication of Sumin Lee´s paper dealing with the regulatory function of MDA5 in an interferonopathy mouse model. Sumin is PhD-student at Kyoto University, one of our close collaborations. She visited our lab last in May and December 2018 and we happily announce her publication. ♦
Publication with our Japanese collaborations In tight collaboration with our Japanese colleagues, we could publish this paper. The scientific results demonstrate essential molecules in the process of RNA-mediated apoptosis of virally infected cells leading to the arrest of virus production. ♦
Publication in the top journal NATURE! We congratulate Fotis Karagiannis in Chris Wilhelm´s group to this excellent scientific work and happily collaborated and participated at this publication. He could highlight the impact of impaired ketogenesis as a relevant factor in severe COVID-19 infections. The importance of these results are emphasized by the publication in the top journal NATURE! ♦
Recent publication at The EMBO journal We proudly present our paper in tight collaboration with Andreas Pichlmair´s group at the TU Munich. In here, we could demonstrate that the concomitant targeting of host and viral methyltransferases can effectively suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. ♦
2021
TRR237 Retreat at Schloss Ahrenthal Hiroki, Stephanie, and Domnica are attending the TRR237 retreat at Schloss Ahrenthal. Three days of listening to interesting science, meeting nice people and building helpful collaborations, staying in a castle, and going on the first business trip since the Corona pandemic began-you really can spend your time in more unpleasant ways.
New Team member "Cellular Virology" Today we officially welcome our new Team member Fiona, who joins our team as a Research Assistant for the next two months. Fiona has already completed her training as a Biological Technical Assistant with Stephanie in Munich and published a method for the separation of EVs and HBV. We are very happy to have you with us now, Fiona!
