Latent infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer. During latent EBV infections, the glycine-alanine repeat (GAr) domain of the EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1) inhibits translation of EBNA1 mRNA, thereby suppressing the production of antigenic peptides that the human immune system recognises as foreign. Here, Blondel et al. establish a yeast-based assay that recapitulates GAr-mediated suppression of EBNA1 mRNA translation and use it to identify doxorubicin and its active analogues as compounds that specifically interfere with GAr-mediated suppression of translation. Importantly, in mammalian cells, doxorubicin and its analogues stimulate EBNA1 expression in a GAr-dependent manner and overcome the GAr-dependent restriction of antigen presentation. Together, these results validate the yeast-based assay as an effective cell-based screening approach for compounds that interfere with EBV immune evasion and that might, therefore, provide treatments for EBV-related diseases, including cancer. Page 435
DMM Journal Meeting 2023: Infectious Diseases Through an Evolutionary Lens
We are delighted to announce that our 2023 Journal Meeting ‘Infectious Diseases Through an Evolutionary Lens’ will be held from 17-19 October 2023 in London, UK. Find out more and register your interest here.
A multi-omics approach provides insight into DUX4-induced stresses
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is caused by misexpression of the DUX4 transcription factor. Christopher Brennan et al. take a multi-omics approach to show that MAP kinase pathways are activated in response to DUX4 expression and that this contributes to DUX4-mediated cell death.
COVID-19’s next top model
Jeong and colleagues infect K18-hACE2 mice and Syrian golden hamsters with SARS-CoV-2 to obtain comprehensive insights into COVID-19 pathogenicity in these preclinical models. This article has been highlighted as our Editor’s Choice.
Apply for a DMM Conference Travel Grant
Aimed at early-career researchers wanting to attend in-person and virtual meetings, the next application deadline for a DMM Conference Travel Grant is 3 March 2023. Find out more and hear from past recipients about their experience of the grant.
The future of model organism research
We recently published a series of articles that consider how researchers can best leverage model organisms to improve our understanding of human health and disease. You can find a summary with links to the individual articles here.
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