David H. Walker
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View article: SARS-CoV-2 EndoU-ribonuclease regulates RNA recombination and impacts viral fitness
SARS-CoV-2 EndoU-ribonuclease regulates RNA recombination and impacts viral fitness Open
Coronaviruses (CoVs) maintain large RNA genomes that frequently undergo mutations and recombination, contributing to their evolution and emergence. In this study, we find that SARS-CoV-2 has greater RNA recombination frequency than other h…
View article: Probable scrub typhus-like infection in Colombia: seroconversion and serological reactivity to Orientia spp. among patients with acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Villeta municipality
Probable scrub typhus-like infection in Colombia: seroconversion and serological reactivity to Orientia spp. among patients with acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Villeta municipality Open
This study provides serological evidence of Orientia circulation among febrile patients in Villeta, Colombia, including clear cases of seroconversion. Western blot validated reactivity against immunodominant proteins. Findings suggest a lo…
View article: Vaccination-induced neutralizing antibodies in immunocompetent hosts correlate with protection against rickettsiae
Vaccination-induced neutralizing antibodies in immunocompetent hosts correlate with protection against rickettsiae Open
We previously demonstrated that a single-dose immunization with a live-attenuated Rickettsia parkeri mutant 3A2 confers complete protection against murine spotted fever rickettsioses. In this study, we investigated whether vaccination-elic…
View article: Survey of Fleas and Ticks for Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia typhi in the El Paso Community and Other Areas in Texas, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Survey of Fleas and Ticks for Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia typhi in the El Paso Community and Other Areas in Texas, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Open
This survey was conducted with the aim of determining the public health risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and murine typhus in the urban and peri-urban areas of El Paso, as well as other areas in Texas, southern New Mexico, and Ciudad J…
View article: Convergent evolution in nucleocapsid facilitated SARS-CoV-2 adaptation for human infection
Convergent evolution in nucleocapsid facilitated SARS-CoV-2 adaptation for human infection Open
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) independently acquired mutations in the highly variable 203–205 amino acid region of the nucleocapsid (N) protein including R203K + G204R (foun…
View article: The furin cleavage site is required for pathogenesis, but not transmission, of SARS-CoV-2
The furin cleavage site is required for pathogenesis, but not transmission, of SARS-CoV-2 Open
The SARS-CoV-2 spike, key to viral entry, has two features that differentiate it from other sarbecoviruses: the presence of a furin cleavage site (FCS; PRRAR sequence) and an extended S1/S2 loop characterized by an upstream QTQTN amino aci…
View article: Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis Resembling Sweet Syndrome: A Differential Diagnosis for Critical Discussion
Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis Resembling Sweet Syndrome: A Differential Diagnosis for Critical Discussion Open
Introduction: Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are tick-transmitted infections caused by Gram-negative, obligately intracellular bacteria in the genus Rickettsia. They present as an acute undifferentiated febrile illness, and they a…
View article: mRNA-delivered neutralizing antibodies confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 variant in the lower and upper respiratory tract
mRNA-delivered neutralizing antibodies confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 variant in the lower and upper respiratory tract Open
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been developed as effective biological countermeasures against a range of human diseases. The high cost of antibody production and manufacturing limits its clinical application and widespread use. The mRNA…
View article: Variant mutation G215C in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid enhances viral infection via altered genomic encapsidation
Variant mutation G215C in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid enhances viral infection via altered genomic encapsidation Open
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and their respective phenotypes represents an important set of tools to understand basic coronavirus biology as well as the public health implications of individual mutations in variants of concern. Whi…
View article: The furin cleavage site is required for pathogenesis, but not transmission of SARS-CoV-2
The furin cleavage site is required for pathogenesis, but not transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Open
The SARS-CoV-2 spike, key to viral entry, has two features that differentiate it from other sarbecoviruses: the presence of a furin cleavage site (FCS; PRRAR sequence) and an extended S1/S2 loop characterized by an upstream QTQTN amino aci…
View article: Development of a rapid antigen-based lateral flow assay for tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses
Development of a rapid antigen-based lateral flow assay for tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses Open
Tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses (SFRs) continue to cause severe illness and death in otherwise-healthy individuals due to lack of a timely and reliable diagnostic laboratory test. We recently identified a diagnostic biomarker for SF…
View article: SARS-CoV-2 EndoU-ribonuclease regulates RNA recombination and impacts viral fitness
SARS-CoV-2 EndoU-ribonuclease regulates RNA recombination and impacts viral fitness Open
Coronaviruses (CoVs) maintain large RNA genomes that frequently undergoes mutations and recombination, contributing to their evolution and emergence. In this study, we find that SARS-CoV-2 has greater RNA recombination frequency than other…
View article: A Novel, Universal Targeting Receptor-Adaptor CAR Platform Demonstrates Versatile, Flexible, and Controlled Tumor Inhibition in an Ipsc-Derived T-Cell
A Novel, Universal Targeting Receptor-Adaptor CAR Platform Demonstrates Versatile, Flexible, and Controlled Tumor Inhibition in an Ipsc-Derived T-Cell Open
Despite positive outcomes in some hematological oncology patients, several barriers to current autologous CAR T-cell therapies exist that prevent broader clinical success. These include tumor antigen escape, on-target off-tumor toxicities,…
View article: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: A Call to Action
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: A Call to Action Open
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an ongoing public health crisis in Mexico, particularly in states bordering the United States. The national highest incidence and mortality of RMSF occur in this region, resulting in a case-fatality r…
View article: Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a neglected tropical disease in Latin America
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a neglected tropical disease in Latin America Open
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a severe and extraordinarily lethal infectious disease, has emerged as a widespread public health crisis among predominantly vulnerable populations in several countries of Latin America, particularly ev…
View article: Establishment of a multisite umbrella cohort study protocol to describe the epidemiology and aetiologies of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Latin America
Establishment of a multisite umbrella cohort study protocol to describe the epidemiology and aetiologies of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Latin America Open
Introduction Acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses (AUFIs) impose a large burden in the tropics. Understanding of AUFI’s epidemiology is limited. Insufficient diagnostic capacity hinders the detection of outbreaks. The lack of interconn…
View article: Broad protection and respiratory immunity of dual mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 variants
Broad protection and respiratory immunity of dual mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 variants Open
A broadly protective vaccine for COVID-19 is needed to end the pandemic and to prevent its future recurrence. While the first-generation, spike-based vaccines are effective against early SARS-CoV-2 strains, the convergent evolution of the …
View article: ERA5‐Based Significant Tornado Environments in Canada Between 1980 and 2020
ERA5‐Based Significant Tornado Environments in Canada Between 1980 and 2020 Open
This study uses ERA5 close‐proximity soundings and associated convective parameters to characterize significant tornadic storm (F/EF2 + ) environments between 1980 and 2020 in parts of Canada. It is shown that ERA5 convective parameters ar…
View article: Variant mutation in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid enhances viral infection via altered genomic encapsidation
Variant mutation in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid enhances viral infection via altered genomic encapsidation Open
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and their respective phenotypes represents an important set of tools to understand basic coronavirus biology as well as the public health implications of individual mutations in variants of concern. Whi…
View article: Data used in the study titled "Significant Tornado Environments In Canada Using ERA5-Derived Convective Parameters"
Data used in the study titled "Significant Tornado Environments In Canada Using ERA5-Derived Convective Parameters" Open
These data include: (1) Observation-derived convective parameters at four Canadian sounding stations based on 1990-2020 data, and ERA5-derived convective parameters at grid points nearest to the same four Canadian sounding stations on 1990…
View article: Data used in the study titled "Significant Tornado Environments In Canada Using ERA5-Derived Convective Parameters"
Data used in the study titled "Significant Tornado Environments In Canada Using ERA5-Derived Convective Parameters" Open
These data include: (1) Observation-derived convective parameters at four Canadian sounding stations based on 1990-2020 data, and ERA5-derived convective parameters at grid points nearest to the same four Canadian sounding stations on 1990…
View article: SARS-CoV-2 hijacks fragile X mental retardation proteins for efficient infection
SARS-CoV-2 hijacks fragile X mental retardation proteins for efficient infection Open
Viruses interact with numerous host factors to facilitate viral replication and to dampen antiviral defense mechanisms. We currently have a limited mechanistic understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 binds host factors and the functional role of t…
View article: Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters
Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters Open
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 rapidly spread worldwide and replaced BA.1/BA.2 in many countries, becoming globally dominant. BA.5 has unique amino acid substitutions in the spike protein that both mediate immune escape from neutra…
View article: Interaction between host G3BP and viral nucleocapsid protein regulates SARS-CoV-2 replication
Interaction between host G3BP and viral nucleocapsid protein regulates SARS-CoV-2 replication Open
G3BP1/2 are paralogous proteins that promote stress granule formation in response to cellular stresses, including viral infection. G3BP1/2 are prominent interactors of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coron…
View article: Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variant nsp6 enhance type-I interferon antagonism
Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variant nsp6 enhance type-I interferon antagonism Open
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve after its emergence. Given its importance in viral infection and vaccine development, mutations in the viral Spike gene have been studied extensively; however…