The CRISPR functional genomics toolkit for virology. CRISPR perturbation libraries (KO, CRISPRi, CRISPRa, and base/prime editing) are applied to diverse model systems, including cell lines/primary cells, organoids, and in vivo models, followed by viral challenge or other selective pressures. Phenotypes are quantified using sequencing-based guide enrichment, single-cell profiling, imaging, and multi-omics readouts to identify host factors and pathways that modulate infection and antiviral responses.

New in #JVirology! A summary of the conceptual and technical advances that connect CRISPR functional genomics to synthetic antiviral design, including emerging principles and constraints: asm.social/2T7

Barcode diversity is maintained in the URT but declines with increased distance from and branching of the main airways.

In a guinea pig model, H5N1 replicated in the nose, trachea and lungs when delivered intranasally, by aerosol or by transmission. In contrast, H3N2 stayed mostly in the nose, suggesting mode of exposure modulates within-host spatial dynamics. #JVirology: asm.social/2PE

Summary of host protease subversion by viruses to escape the antiviral activities of antibodies. Yellow background shows the role of soluble decoys in luring neutralization, promoting immune dysfunction, or revealing epitopes, which generate non-neutralizing antibodies. Blue background illustrates how protease-induced conformational changes modify/hide neutralizing epitopes. Green background summarizes how viral subversion of host proteases lowers effector functions against viruses or infected cells.

#MicrobiologyMonday: Viral infections can hijack host proteases to reduce antibody effectiveness. These proteases lob off viral antigens expressed on host cell membranes, creating soluble decoys that bind antibodies & reduce neutralization. #JVirology: asm.social/2Pn

Depiction of norovirus major capsid protein, VP1. (A) Model of the norovirus virion. One VP1 dimer is indicated within a square. (B) Representation of the VP1 dimer showing the two structural domains, P and S. The P domain is subdivided into P1 and P2 domains. Same representation of the VP1 dimer showing the secondary structures (C), the variability (D), and antigenic sites (E). Variability was calculated using 500 (from a total of 3,108) sequences randomly selected (50/variant) from viruses circulating during 1995–2022 and Shannon Entropy (13, 14). The HBGAs are shown as sticks. The structural model of the VP1 dimer was acquired from the Protein Database (PDB: 7K6V), and the figures were rendered using UCSF Chimera (15, 16).

Norovirus vaccine development is complicated by genetic and antigenic diversity. In #JVirology, researchers discuss variable and conserved B cell epitopes of GII.4 human noroviruses (the predominate genotype) with an eye toward vaccine development. asm.social/2MR

Summary of metabolic pathways altered by viral proteins.

How do viral proteins reshape the metabolic milieu of host cells during infections? This #JVirology review offers mechanistic insights, which may reveal novel therapeutic targets. Read the article: asm.social/2Ml

Morphological features of ushikuvirus particles and CPE of infected cells. (a) A phase-contrast microscope image of the non-infected vermamoeba cells. (b) A phase-contrast microscope image of the ushikuvirus-infected vermamoeba cells showing CPE at 5 dpi. Each circle represents a different phase of the cell: globular (white), fusiform (red), and rounded (blue) shapes. (c, d) Cryo-EM images of ushikuvirus particles. (e) A c-TEM image of the ushikuvirus particle in infected vermamoeba cells at 5 dpi. Scale bars: a and b, 50 nm; c, d, and e, 100 µm.

This #JVirology study describes a newly isolated giant virus, ushikuvirus, a close relative of clandestinovirus with a unique capsid surface structure and host cell interactions. Get the details: asm.social/2Iq

Excited to be a part of this inaugural class! 🎉 My very first paper was in #JVirology and I’ve been a fan ever since. 🦠

Meet JVI's New Voices in Virology!

🎉 #JVirology is pleased to announce the selectees for our inaugural New Voices in Virology collection! Chosen from 275+ applicants, these early-career scientists stood out for their creative proposals & strong career trajectories. ➡️ Meet the New Voices: asm.social/2HY

LinkedIn This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

4. A new review paper in #JVirology (@asm.org) from senior author Don Gammon and his colleagues at UT Southwestern Med Center examining interferon-independent antiviral responses.

Dr. Gammon is another great RSG awardee supported by ACS!

Read the paper here: lnkd.in/eF77CEKm

Applications of organoids in viral research. (A) Organoids enable the study of infectious diseases through co-culturing with viruses. (B) Organoids can be genetically engineered using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knockout (KO) cancer-related genes, such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and tumor protein p53 (P53). Through targeted knockout or activation of specific genes, including transcription factors, CRISPR/Cas9 enables precise regulation of PSC differentiation. For example, disrupting inhibitory genes like bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) or activating neurogenic genes like SRY-box transcription factor 1 (Sox1) facilitates neural differentiation. (C and D) Organoids further support the development of antivirals and vaccines. Created with https://BioRender.com.

Microbiology Monday: Organoids—cellular orbs that mimic real tissue structure and function—are revolutionizing how we study viral pathogenesis, screen antiviral drugs and accelerate vaccine development. 🧫 Learn more in #JVirology: asm.social/2zZ

Conceptual framework of a traditional food market system

Traditional food markets (TFMs) play a vital role in societies across the globe, though present risks. In #JVirology, researchers explore the the dual role of TFMs as essential societal hubs and hotspots for zoonotic diseases. Read now: asm.social/2wK

Comparison of the characteristics of particular DNA tumor viruses.

#MicrobiologyMonday: Genomic integration of oncogenic DNA viruses can:

🧬 Disrupt normal genes.
🧬 Activate cancer-associated genes.
🧬 Increase genomic instability.

Studying such integration helps inform therapeutic breakthroughs. #JVirology: asm.social/2wa

AAV vector design. (A) Organization of the wild-type AAV genome, highlighting the replication/packaging, viral capsid, and accessory protein genes. (B) Recombinant AAV transgene design, showing the standard structure for vaccine design.

Best known for its use in gene therapy, adeno-associated virus (AAV) is also a surprisingly versatile vaccine platform. This #JVirology review highlights engineering efforts to improve vaccine efficacy, plus advantages/disadvantage of AAV-based vaccines. asm.social/2vK

Host factor (red boxes) involvement across stages of avian influenza virus infection: (1) viral attachment to the host cell surface achieved by the binding of viral hemagglutinin to the host sialic acid receptors, (2) internalization of bound virions using clathrin-mediated endocytosis via specific receptors, (3) endosomal acidification triggers conformational change of cleaved hemagglutinin to facilitate membrane fusion and viral. uncoating, (4) viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes released into the cytoplasm are translocated to the nucleus, (5) transcription of viral mRNAs, (6) replication of the viral genome, (7) translation of viral mRNAs to produce viral proteins, (8) encapsidation of the replicated viral genome segments forming vRNP complexes, (9) assembly of viral proteins and packaging of vRNP, and (10) budding of new virions and release from host cell surface following cleavage of sialic acid receptors by viral neuraminidase.

This #JVirology review provides explores the genes & MHC haplotypes that may be important in developing an avian influenza virus-resilient or -resistant chicken through either classical genetic selection, gene editing or transgenic technologies. Read now: asm.social/2uU

Experimental aerosol system set up. The aerosol exposure system consists of an air pump (flow rate 13.3 L/min), the Buxco mass dosing controller, Aeroneb lab control module, Aeroneb lab nebulizer unit, the Mass dosing exposure chamber, SKC BioSampler, BioLite+ High vol sample pump, SKC vacuum pump, liquid traps, HEPA-CAP filters, and multiple sizes of plastic tubing and tubing adapters. FLUAV was aerosolized directly into the exposure chamber using the Aeroneb nebulizer. Virus-laden aerosols were collected from one output port into the SKC BioSampler, followed by a liquid trap and HEPA filter before entering a vacuum pump. In a second output port, tubes are connected to a liquid trap and HEPA filter before entering a vacuum pump. Each experiment consisted of a 15 min exposure followed by a 5 min purge before removing the cells from the exposure chamber. Cells were placed in the same orientation and location for each exposure.

Airborne transmission is essential for influenza virus infection/spread, yet most studies use liquid inoculum for infection. In #JVirology: an in vitro chamber system designed to examine the aerosol infectivity of influenza viruses in different cell types. asm.social/2sd

MNV capsid structure and antibody complexes

Immune protection from norovirus infection is notoriously transient in both humans and mice. Why? New research in #JVirology suggests the “activated” form of the virus found in gut conditions is not recognized by antibodies created in the circulation. asm.social/2qg

Sera from humans imprinted with Wuhan-Hu-1 or XBB* variants. (A) Sets of sera used in this study. The titles over each sera set use “N” to indicate the number of sera for which deep mutational scanning experiments were performed. For a detailed description of individual sera, see Table S1. (B) Amino acid mutations in the D614G and XBB.1.5 spike relative to the original Wuhan-Hu-1 spike. (C) Neutralization of pseudoviruses expressing the spike from D614G or XBB.1.5 by each set of sera. For the Wuhan-Hu-1-imprinted and XBB*-infected adult sera set, neutralization assays were performed on four representative sera; for all other sera sets, they were performed on all sera in the set. Neutralization assays were performed on standard 293T-ACE2 cells that express high levels of ACE2 (24).

In #JVirology: infants who have been infected once with a recent SARS-CoV-2 strain make neutralizing antibodies that target different regions of the viral spike than adults or children who have been exposed to both older and more recent strains. asm.social/2lQ

From Birds to Boroughs: Detection of Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza Virus in New York City March 28, 2025 Christine Marizzi, Ph.D., Director of Community Science, BioBus, adjunct assistant professor, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Philip Meade, Ph.D., Postdoctoral fellow, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Kailani Gaynor, New York City Virus Hunters alumni, student, Brandeis University Sadia Choudhury, New York City Virus Hunters alumni, student, New York University Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Ph.D. (moderator), Co-Editor in Chief, Journal of Virology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Time is running out to sign up for the next #JVirology Seminar! Learn how the BioBus NYC Virus hunters track emerging diseases in wild birds, the power of community science and tips on media, science communication & working with youth in research. Register now: asm.org/Webinars/Journ…

SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in lung and peripheral blood. Natural infection induces expansion of multispecific CD8+ T cells in the lung and peripheral blood, whereas (mRNA) vaccination primarily induces spike-specific CD8+ T cells in the periphery. After peak response, virus-specific memory CD8+ T cells are formed, which persist in the lungs and blood.

#MicrobiologyMonday: Antiviral CD8+ T cells help clear SARS-CoV-2 and contribute to long-term immunity. However, while CD8+ T cells play an essential protective role, an overactive response can potentially worsen severe COVID-19 symptoms. #JVirology: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Expression strategy of betacoronavirus internal protein. (A) Schematic diagram depicting the genome organization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is used as an example to illustrate the expression of the I protein (9b). (B) Schematic diagram showing the expression of the N and I proteins. Subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) expressing the N protein is depicted.

Betacoronaviruses express a small internal (I) protein that is encoded by the same subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) as the nucleocapsid (N) protein. In #JVirology, researchers summarize knowledge on these I proteins, with emphasis on their role and function. asm.social/2fA #microsky

EMT is activated within infectious centers. HAE infected with MeV–mCherry were fixed at 3 and 7 days post-infection. HAE were immunostained for βCAT (A), ZO-1 (B), or ECAD (C). Confocal images of three infectious centers were collected per donor (n = 3). Representative images are shown. Corresponding z-stacks are shown below each image. Blue = DAPI. (D) Percent junctional protein breakdown was calculated by dividing total area of breakdown for each cytoskeletal protein by the total area of the infectious center. Paired Student’s t-tests. *P < 0.05.

#MicrobiologyMonday: Measles virus spreads among human airway epithelial (HAE) cells to form clusters called "infectious centers." Changes in HAE morphology promote infectious centers detachment, which can promote viral transmission. #JVirology: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...