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Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) encodes a small hydrophobic (SH) protein, whose function in the life cycle of the virus is unknown. Recent channel activity measurements of the protein suggest that like other viroporins, SH may assemble into a homo-oligomeric ion channel. To further our understanding of this potentially important protein, a new strategy was implemented in order to model the transmembrane oligomeric bundle of the protein. Global searching molecular dynamic simulations of SH proteins from eight different viral strains, each at different oligomeric states, as well as different lengths of the putative transmembrane domain, were undertaken. Taken together, a total of 45 different global molecular dynamic simulations pointed to a single pentameric structure for the protein that was found in all of the different variants. The model of the structure obtained is a channel-like homopentamer whose minimal transmembrane pore diameter is 1.46 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV), and human adenoviruses (HAdVs) cause a substantial morbidity burden globally., Objective: We sought to estimate morbidity burden, assess seasonality, and determine factors associated with these respiratory viruses in Kenya., Methods: The data were obtained from Kenyan sites included in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. We defined the proportion of morbidity burden by descriptive analysis and visualized time-series data for January 2007-December 2013. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with infection outcomes., Results: The morbidity burden for HRSV was 3.1%, HPIV 5.3% and HAdVs 3.3%. Infants were more likely to be infected than other age groups. HRSV exhibited seasonality with high occurrence in January-March (odds ratio[OR] = 2.73) and April-June (OR = 3.01). Hot land surface temperature (≥40 °C) was associated with HRSV infections (OR = 2.75), as was warmer air temperature (19-22.9 °C) (OR = 1.68), compared with land surface temperature (<30) and cooler air temperature (<19 °C) respectively. Moderate rainfall (150-200 mm) areas had greater odds of HRSV infection (OR = 1.32) than low rainfall (<150 mm)., Conclusion: HRSV, HPIV and HAdVs contributed to morbidity burden, and infants were significantly affected. HRSV had a clear seasonal pattern and were associated with climate parameters, unlike HPIV and HAdVs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have an inappropriate influence on conducting this study., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Chemokines are crucial inflammatory mediators needed during an immune response to clear pathogens. However, their excessive release is the main cause of hyperinflammation. In the recent COVID-19 outbreak, chemokines may be the direct cause of acute respiratory disease syndrome, a major complication leading to death in about 40% of severe cases. Several clinical investigations revealed that chemokines are directly involved in the different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we review the role of chemokines and their receptors in COVID-19 pathogenesis to better understand the disease immunopathology which may aid in developing possible therapeutic targets for the infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Licorice is a common herb which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. More than 20 triterpenoids and nearly 300 flavonoids have been isolated from licorice. Recent studies have shown that these metabolites possess many pharmacological activities, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and other activities. This paper provides a summary of the antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice. The active components and the possible mechanisms for these activities are summarized in detail. This review will be helpful for the further studies of licorice for its potential therapeutic effects as an antiviral or an antimicrobial agent.