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The rise of drug resistance to antivirals poses a significant global concern for public health; therefore, there is a pressing need to identify novel compounds that can effectively counteract strains resistant to current antiviral treatments. In light of this, researchers have been exploring new approaches, including the investigation of natural compounds as alternative sources for developing potent antiviral therapies. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the antiviral properties of the organic-soluble fraction of a root exudate derived from the tomato plant Solanum lycopersicum in the context of herpesvirus infections. Our findings demonstrated that a root exudate from Solanum lycopersicum exhibits remarkable efficacy against prominent members of the family Herpesviridae , specifically herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (EC 50 25.57 µg/mL, SI > 15.64) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (EC 50 9.17 µg/mL, SI 32.28) by inhibiting a molecular event during the herpesvirus replication phase. Moreover, the phytochemical fingerprint of the Solanum lycopersicum root exudate was characterized through mass spectrometry. Overall, these data have unveiled a novel natural product with antiherpetic activity, presenting a promising and valuable alternative to existing drugs.

This study seeks to offer a contribution to the method of subtyping major depressed patients by exploring the possible relationships between circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), different peripheral inflammatory/metabolic markers in the blood and clinical characteristics. Thirty-nine patients, thoroughly diagnosed according to the DSM-5 criteria, underwent a comprehensive set of evaluations encompassing structured interviews, rating scales and a panel of blood tests. Correlation and comparison analyses were carried out by means of non-parametric statistical tests. Concurrently, a principal component analysis was performed to explain biochemical variance. The findings of our research unveiled that leukocyte counts, their ratios and other inflammatory parameters are positively correlated with depression scores. Moreover, we found variations within the BDNF pools of depressed patients. Specifically, higher levels of platelet-poor plasma BDNF (PPP-BDNF) were correlated with augmented inflammatory markers in patients showing specific episode characteristics, whereas reduced platelet BDNF (PLT-BDNF) provided a better indication of the changes that were linked to a diagnosis of long-term depression. Our findings suggest that PPP-BDNF and PLT-BDNF might differentiate depression conditions. They also imply usefulness in appraising peripheral biomarker profiles in patients for a deeper characterization of major depressive episodes. At the same time, it is plausible that they might constitute novel avenues for developing more tailored therapeutic strategies for patients with MDs.

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen and is associated with severe diseases in immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, HCMV infection is the most frequent cause of congenital malformation in developed countries. Although nucleoside analogs have been successfully employed against HCMV, their use is hampered by the occurrence of serious side effects. There is thus an urgent clinical need for less toxic, but highly effective, antiviral drugs. Strigolactones (SLs) are a novel class of plant hormones with a multifaceted activity. While their role in plant-related fields has been extensively explored, their effects on human cells and their potential applications in medicine are far from being fully exploited. In particular, their antiviral activity has never been investigated. In the present study, a panel of SL analogs has been assessed for antiviral activity against HCMV. We demonstrate that TH-EGO and EDOT-EGO significantly inhibit HCMV replication in vitro, impairing late protein expression. Moreover, we show that the SL-dependent induction of apoptosis in HCMV-infected cells is a contributing mechanism to SL antiviral properties. Overall, our results indicate that SLs may be a promising alternative to nucleoside analogs for the treatment of HCMV infections.

In the last decades, the human papillomavirus (HPV) emerged as an etiological cause of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), especially in the oropharynx. The role of two intracellular DNA sensors, which belong to the PYHIN family (interferon-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and absent in melanoma 2 protein (AIM2)), has been analyzed in relation to HPV infection and head and neck carcinogenesis. In particular, IFI16 and AIM2 expression depends on HPV infection in HNSCC. They represent viral restriction factors and are key components of the intrinsic immunity activated against different viruses, including HPV. This review analyzed and summarized the recent findings about the role of PYHIN proteins in HPV + and HPV - HNSCC.