Prof. Prasenjit Guchhait’s lab in Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India, has developed a promising antiviral drug for dengue treatment in collaboration with Dr. Shailendra Asthana’s lab in Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad. The study was published recently by Gaur KK and Asuru TR et al in the reputed journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in most parts of South-East Asia and the Western Pacific region, causing epidemics of encephalitis with a high case fatality rate. While a tissue culture-derived JEV vaccine is available, no antiviral therapy exists. The JEV NS5 protein has RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Together with several host and viral proteins, it constitutes the replication complex necessary for virus replication. Investigating NS5’s interactions with host proteins offers potential avenues for antiviral development.

Proposed model explaining changes in different metabolites in eskimo1 compared to wild type: The xylan hypo-acetylation in the eskimo1 inflorescence stem may cause increased soluble acetate that can induce the synthesis of the phytohormones JA. JA can further induce aliphatic GSL accumulation and reduce methionine levels (indirectly). Lower levels of isothiocyanates could be because of major reprogramming in GSL metabolism.

This study reveals a critical role of mitochondrial calcium (Ca2+) uptake in vertebrate pigmentation. The authors identify that the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) complex plays a crucial role in driving skin pigmentation. Finally, they highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting MCU to treat pigmentary disorders.