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Abstract Tailed bacteriophages (order, Caudovirales) account for the majority of all phages. However, the long flexible tail of siphophages hinders comprehensive investigation of the mechanism of viral gene delivery. Here, we report the atomic capsid and in-situ structures of the tail machine of the marine siphophage, vB_DshS-R4C (R4C), which infects Roseobacter. The R4C virion, comprising 12 distinct structural protein components, has a unique five-fold vertex of the icosahedral capsid that allows genome delivery. The specific position and interaction pattern of the tail tube proteins determine the atypical long rigid tail of R4C, and further provide negative charge distribution within the tail tube. A ratchet mechanism assists in DNA transmission, which is initiated by an absorption device that structurally resembles the phage-like particle, RcGTA. Overall, these results provide in-depth knowledge into the intact structure and underlining DNA delivery mechanism for the ecologically important siphophages.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a major etiological agent of swine infectious diseases responsible for significant economic losses in the swine industry. The authors report the structures of the PRV A-capsid and C-capsid, shedding light on PRV’s assembly mechanism.

Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) is the causative agent of varicella and herpes zoster (HZ) and can pose a significant challenge to human health globally. The initial VZV infection—more common in children—causes a self-limiting chicken pox. However, in later life, the latent VZV can become reactivated in these patients, causing HZ and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a serious and painful complication. VZV glycoprotein E (gE) has been developed into a licensed subunit vaccine against HZ (Shingrix). However, its efficacy relies on the concomitant delivery of a robust adjuvant (AS01B). Here, we sought to create a new immunogen for vaccine design by displaying the VZV–gE on the baculovirus surface (Bac–gE). Correct localization and display of gE on the engineered baculovirus was verified by flow cytometry and immune electron microscopy. We show that Bac–gE provides excellent antigenicity against VZV and induces not only stronger gE-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses but also higher levels of VZV–specific neutralizing antibodies as compared with other vaccine strategies in mice. Collectively, we show that the baculovirus display of VZV–gE confers ideal humoral and cellular immune responses required for HZ vaccine development, paving the way for a baculovirus-based vaccine design.

The immune checkpoint CD276 protein, belonging to the B7 family molecules, could interact with important signaling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT)signaling pathway, resulting to the regulation of tumor energy metabolism, inhibition of the anti-tumor activity of immune cells, promotion of tumor angiogenesis, and the assistance of tumor immune escape and metastasis. CD276 also potentially related to tumor stemness and chemotherapy resistance closely. Several antibody drugs and cell therapy methods targeting at CD276 have been proved in clinical trials. CD276 can also be used as a biomarker for tumor diagnosis and subtyping. The upstream regulatory mechanisms of CD276 include transcriptional level regulation mediated by non-coding RNA and transcription factors, and post-translational modification level regulation mediated by methylation and glycosylation.

The article focuses on discovery and structural characterization of a therapeutic antibody against coxsackievirus A10 which emerged as major pathogen of hand, foot, and mouth disease and herpangina in children. It mentions comparisons of the near-atomic cryo–electron microscopy structures of the three forms of CVA10 capsid and their complexes. It also mentions atomic structures of neutralizing antibody of CVA10 inform strategies for designing vaccines and therapeutics against CVA10 infections.