Mosquito saliva enhances virus infection through sialokinin-dependent vascular leakage

Viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes are an increasingly important global cause of disease. Defining common determinants of host susceptibility to this large group of het-erogenous pathogens is key for informing the rational design of panviral medicines. Infection of the vertebrate host with these viruses is enhanced by mosquito saliva, a complex mixture of salivary-gland-derived factors and microbiota. We show that the enhancement of infection by saliva was dependent on vascular function and was independent of most antisaliva immune responses, including salivary microbiota. Instead, the Aedes gene product sialokinin mediated the enhancement of virus infection through a rapid reduction in endothelial barrier integrity. Sialokinin is unique within the insect world as having a vertebrate-like tachykinin sequence and is absent from Anopheles mosquitoes, which are incompetent for most arthropod-borne viruses, whose saliva was not proviral and did not induce similar vascular permeability. Therapeutic strategies targeting sialokinin have the potential to limit disease severity following infection with Aedes mosquito-borne viruses.</p

Mitochondrial protein BNIP3 regulates Chikungunya virus replication in the early stages of infection

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a human pathogen causing outbreaks of febrile illness for which vaccines and specific treatments remain unavailable. Autophagy-related (ATG) proteins and autophagy receptors are a set of host factors that participate in autophagy, but have also shown to function in other unrelated cellular pathways. Although autophagy is reported to both inhibit and enhance CHIKV replication, the specific role of individual ATG proteins remains largely unknown. Here, a siRNA screen was performed to evaluate the importance of the ATG proteome and autophagy receptors in controlling CHIKV infection. We observed that 7 out of 50 ATG proteins impact the replication of CHIKV. Among those, depletion of the mitochondrial protein and autophagy receptor BCL2 Interacting Protein 3 (BNIP3) increased CHIKV infection. Interestingly, BNIP3 controls CHIKV independently of autophagy and cell death. Detailed analysis of the CHIKV viral cycle revealed that BNIP3 interferes with the early stages of infection. Moreover, the antiviral role of BNIP3 was found conserved across two distinct CHIKV genotypes and the closely related Semliki Forest virus. Altogether, this study describes a novel and previously unknown function of the mitochondrial protein BNIP3 in the control of the early stages of the alphavirus viral cycle.</p

Individual cybercrime offenders

Weulen Kranenbarg, M., Laan, A. van der, Poot, C. de, Verhoeven, M., Wagen, W. van der, Weijters, G. (2017). Individual Cybercrime Offenders. In E.R. Leukfeldt (Ed.), Research Agenda: The Human Factor in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity. Den Haag: Eleven International Publishing

Mitochondrial protein BNIP3 regulates Chikungunya virus replication in the early stages of infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a human pathogen causing outbreaks of febrile illness for which vaccines and specific treatments remain unavailable. Autophagy-related (ATG) proteins and autophagy receptors are a set of host factors that participate in autophagy, but have also shown to function in other unrelated cellular pathways. Although autophagy is reported to both inhibit and enhance CHIKV replication, the specific role of individual ATG proteins remains largely unknown. Here, a siRNA screen was performed to evaluate the importance of the ATG proteome and autophagy receptors in controlling CHIKV infection. We observed that 7 out of 50 ATG proteins impact the replication of CHIKV. Among those, depletion of the mitochondrial protein and autophagy receptor BCL2 Interacting Protein 3 (BNIP3) increased CHIKV infection. Interestingly, BNIP3 controls CHIKV independently of autophagy and cell death. Detailed analysis of the CHIKV viral cycle revealed that BNIP3 interferes with the early stages of infection. Moreover, the antiviral role of BNIP3 was found conserved across two distinct CHIKV genotypes and the closely related Semliki Forest virus. Altogether, this study describes a novel and previously unknown function of the mitochondrial protein BNIP3 in the control of the early stages of the alphavirus viral cycle

Under pressure: Nudging increases healthy food choice in a virtual reality supermarket, irrespective of system 1 reasoning

Previous research has shown that nudging can effectively support people's healthy food choices. Yet, to date knowledge about the psychological premises of nudging is limited, highlighting the need for closer scrutiny to determine how and when nudging is most effective. In the current study, we assessed whether the presumed effect of nudging on healthy food choice is enhanced under time pressure, a condition probing alleged system 1 reasoning. Food choice was studied in a realistic virtual reality supermarket where healthier alternatives were nudged by making them more salient. We additionally explored possible differences in decision-making experiences related to nudging or time pressure. The study took place at a science festival where visitors could decide to participate in a study. Participants (n = 99) had to purchase four products, each from a different product category that was provided on a shopping list. In the nudging condition, one healthier option within each product category was nudged by making it more salient. While a main effect of nudging was found, showing in increased healthy food choices, this effect was not further qualified by time pressure, suggesting that the effectiveness of nudging is not enhanced under system 1 conditions. Relatedly, people who were and who were not aware of the nudges showed similar effects of nudging on healthy food choice. Furthermore, no differences in decision-making experiences showed, suggesting that people have similar experiences regarding impulsive and reflective decision-making irrespective of whether they are being nudged or put under time pressure. All in all, our findings are in line with recent viewpoints on the premises of nudges, suggesting that alleged system 1 conditions are not a prerequisite for nudging to be effective

Under pressure:Nudging increases healthy food choice in a virtual reality supermarket, irrespective of system 1 reasoning

Previous research has shown that nudging can effectively support people's healthy food choices. Yet, to date knowledge about the psychological premises of nudging is limited, highlighting the need for closer scrutiny to determine how and when nudging is most effective. In the current study, we assessed whether the presumed effect of nudging on healthy food choice is enhanced under time pressure, a condition probing alleged system 1 reasoning. Food choice was studied in a realistic virtual reality supermarket where healthier alternatives were nudged by making them more salient. We additionally explored possible differences in decision-making experiences related to nudging or time pressure. The study took place at a science festival where visitors could decide to participate in a study. Participants (n = 99) had to purchase four products, each from a different product category that was provided on a shopping list. In the nudging condition, one healthier option within each product category was nudged by making it more salient. While a main effect of nudging was found, showing in increased healthy food choices, this effect was not further qualified by time pressure, suggesting that the effectiveness of nudging is not enhanced under system 1 conditions. Relatedly, people who were and who were not aware of the nudges showed similar effects of nudging on healthy food choice. Furthermore, no differences in decision-making experiences showed, suggesting that people have similar experiences regarding impulsive and reflective decision-making irrespective of whether they are being nudged or put under time pressure. All in all, our findings are in line with recent viewpoints on the premises of nudges, suggesting that alleged system 1 conditions are not a prerequisite for nudging to be effective

BNIP3 involvement in CHIKV infectivity is independent of cellular death pathways.

U2OS cells were reverse-transfected with siBNIP3 or siScramble for 48 h. Cells were infected with 5’GFP-CHIKV-LR at the indicated MOI for 10 and 16 h. (A) Gating strategy and (B) bar plots showing the frequencies of Annexin V-, FVD- and double positive cells measured by flow cytometry in GFP+ (infected) cells. Data represents mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. NT denotes for non-transfected, siScram for siScramble. Student’s test: no symbol implies non-statistically significant.</p