Timothée Bruel

Impact of cellular proteases on the function of antiviral antibodies | Journal of Virology Viruses and their hosts have been co-evolving in a continual arms race for fitness and survival, respectively (1). In humans, the innate and adaptive arms of immunity intimately interact to control in...

🚀 New review out!

How viruses hijack host proteases to evade antibodies: shedding decoys, reshaping antigens & cutting Fc-effector pathways.

👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

#Virology #Immunology

Keratinocyte VISTA attenuates UV light-induced skin injury by suppressing cutaneous type I interferon (IFN-I) response https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.04.692370v1

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.07.692769v1

Spike conformational and glycan heterogeneity associated with furin cleavage causes incomplete neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 - Nature Communications The tightly closed conformation of the Spike helps SARS-CoV-2 evade the immune system. This cryptic conformation is shaped by increased mannosidic glycosylation and furin cleavage shielding conformati...

Spike conformational and glycan heterogeneity associated with furin cleavage causes incomplete neutralization of SARS-CoV-2

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Eliminating interactions with the viral Fc receptor improves antibody-mediated protection against neonatal HSV infection in mice HSV-specific antibodies demonstrate improved activity in vitro and in vivo when the IgG Fc domain is rendered insensitive to the viral Fc receptor.

Eliminating interactions with the viral Fc receptor improves antibody-mediated protection against neonatal HSV infection in mice www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Human antibody targeting of coronavirus spike S2 subunit is associated with protection mediated by Fc effector functions | Journal of Virology Bats and pangolins are natural reservoirs of betacoronaviruses (β-CoVs) and continue to pose a significant risk for future outbreaks through zoonotic transmissions. This highlights the need for effect...

Human antibody targeting of coronavirus spike S2 subunit is associated with protection mediated by Fc effector functions journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Effects and mechanisms of monoclonal and polyclonal human antibodies in protection of humanized mice from HIV-1 challenge https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.12.688003v1

The methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 inhibits cGAS-associated signaling @natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Repeated COVID-19 vaccine boosters elicit variant-specific memory B cells in humans The first exposure to a pathogen or an antigen profoundly impacts immune responses upon subsequent encounter with related pathogens. This immune imprinting explains that infection or vaccination with ...

Our latest work on #COVID immunity and imprinting in humans.
Led by Ale Tortorici and Kaiti Sprouse with @aminaddetia.bsky.social and several others!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Bat sarbecovirus WIV1-CoV bears an adaptive mutation that alters spike dynamics and enhances ACE2 binding Author summary Recent epidemic-causing coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, originated in bats. Large numbers of such viruses circulate in bats and pose clear and present risks to humans. However, our...

Bat sarbecovirus WIV1-CoV bears an adaptive mutation that alters spike dynamics and enhances ACE2 binding

journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

« A lineage that is virtually unchanged since 1976 challenges assumptions about Ebola's evolution and exposes the blind spots of surveillance. »

#NewResearch

Dipeptidase 1 is a functional receptor for a porcine coronavirus

@virusfusion007.bsky.social @jeremydufloo.bsky.social

#microsky

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Dipeptidase 1 is a functional receptor for a porcine coronavirus - Nature Microbiology Characterization of dipeptidase 1 as a receptor for porcine haemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus reveals the versatility of embecovirus receptor binding domains and receptor usage.

Dipeptidase 1 is a functional receptor for a porcine coronavirus
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia - Nature Medicine Large-scale longitudinal health records reveal consistent association of varicella-zoster virus reactivation with dementia.

« Our findings strongly implicate VZV reactivation as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. »

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with increased antibody breadth and potency against diverse sarbecovirus strains https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.03.679858v1

Human MX1 orchestrates the cytoplasmic sequestration of neosynthesized influenza A virus vRNPs | PNAS Interferon-inducible Myxovirus resistance 1 (MX1) proteins are known to restrict influenza A virus (IAV) transcription/replication process. Herein,...

After years in the making, Joe McKellar @viroscope.bsky.social’s final PhD paper is finally out today in PNAS! 🎉 🎉🎉
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

New paper (micro) from our lab : “No evidence for human or rodent deltavirus replication in yeast”. A collaboration with Dom helmlinger’s lab .

Epstein–Barr virus exploits desmocollin 2 as the principal epithelial cell entry receptor - Nature Microbiology A genome-wide CRISPR screen helps to identify the Epstein–Barr virus receptor desmocollin 2 for primary epithelial cell infection. Additional infection assays revealed that desmocollin 3 also aids infection.

Read the associated research article here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Epstein–Barr virus exploits desmocollin 2 as the principal epithelial cell entry receptor - Nature Microbiology A genome-wide CRISPR screen helps to identify the Epstein–Barr virus receptor desmocollin 2 for primary epithelial cell infection. Additional infection assays revealed that desmocollin 3 also aids infection.

Epstein–Barr virus exploits desmocollin 2 as the principal epithelial cell entry receptor @natmicrobiol.nature.com Microbiol
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Congrats to @summabibby.bsky.social @naphakm.bsky.social Daniel Watterson et al. here at SCMB on the first high-res cryo-EM structures of yellow fever virus! Striking vaccine vs virulent particle differences and a single R380 residue shaping antigenicity & neutralisation. doi.org/10.1038/s414...

HIV infection of CD4 T cells drives KLF2 and p53 signaling, which downregulate MYC and proliferation pathways, resulting in proviral transcriptional silencing to enhance latent reservoir formation @natmicrobiol.nature.com @saba-valadkhan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

« Chromatin profiling revealed that IRF1 and IRF2 occupy the same ISG regulatory sites, but as a weaker transcriptional activator, IRF2 limited ISG transcription by IRF1. »

How to repress with an activator. What a stunning study. Reaching that level of mechanistic details is very inspiring!

The anti-virus T cell response dominates the anti-cancer response in oncolytic virus therapy https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.22.677905v1

Establishment of reverse genetics systems for Colorado tick fever virus. Remind me never to complain about monopartite reverse genetics systems.
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

LRP8 is a receptor for tick-borne encephalitis virus - Nature LRP8, an apolipoprotein E and reelin receptor with high expression in the brain, is a receptor for tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Big news in tick-borne flaviviruses:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A transatlantic joint lab model for interdisciplinary research - Nature Microbiology A cross-continental joint lab model brings together diverse knowledge, skill sets, working cultures and ideas to tackle the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of research questions in the current...

#Comment

A cross-continental joint lab model brings together diverse knowledge, skill sets, working cultures and ideas to tackle the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of research questions in the current science landscape.

#MicroSky #AcademicChatter

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An immune-competent lung-on-a-chip for modelling the human severe influenza infection response @natbiomedeng.nature.com @vanderbilt.edu
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Non-neutralizing antibodies to influenza A matrix-protein-2-ectodomain are broadly effective therapeutics and resistant to viral escape mutations Non-neutralizing antibodies to influenza A are broadly protective and resist viral escape, offering strong therapeutic potential.

Non-neutralizing antibodies to influenza A matrix-protein-2-ectodomain are broadly effective therapeutics and resistant to viral escape mutations www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Vientovirus capsid protein mimics autoantigens and contributes to autoimmunity in Sjögren’s disease - Nature Microbiology Salivary virome profiling revealed distinct virome profiles in Sjögren’s disease and a role for Vientovirus in triggering autoimmunity through molecular mimicry.

Vientovirus capsid protein mimics autoantigens and contributes to autoimmunity in Sjögren’s disease

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Understanding the future risk of bat coronavirus spillover into humans: correlating sarbecovirus receptor usage, host range, and antigenicity. Sarbecoviruses interact with their receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), via the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike, the immunodominant target for neutralising antibodies. Understandin...

Really excited to have been a small part of this work investigating sarbecovirus host range, receptor usage and antigenicity!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.03.673949v1