SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 regulates translation start site fidelity to promote infection (preprint)

A better mechanistic understanding of virus-host interactions can help reveal vulnerabilities and identify opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Of particular interest are essential interactions that enable production of viral proteins, as those could target an early step in the virus lifecycle. Here, we use subcellular proteomics, ribosome profiling analyses and reporter assays to detect changes in polysome composition and protein synthesis during SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) infection. We identify specific translation factors and molecular chaperones whose inhibition impairs infectious particle production without major toxicity to the host. We find that CoV2 non-structural protein Nsp1 selectively enhances virus translation through functional interactions with initiation factor EIF1A. When EIF1A is depleted, more ribosomes initiate translation from an upstream CUG start codon, inhibiting translation of non-structural genes and reducing viral titers. Together, our work describes multiple dependencies of CoV2 on host biosynthetic networks and identifies druggable targets for potential antiviral development.

Application of Endoscopic Specialty Internet Platform to Continuing Medical Education for Clinical Endoscopes During COVID-19 Epidemic (preprint)

Background: To explore the use of digestive endoscopy professional Internet platform by domestic endoscopists and its application effect on endoscopists' continuing medical education, analyze the related problems of continuing medical education under this mode, and put forward targeted improvement suggestions. Methods Based on the doctor circle app platform, a questionnaire was sent to all members who successfully registered on the Internet platform of Hebei biliary and pancreatic endoscopy diagnosis and treatment alliance. The questionnaire lasted 30 days from the beginning to the end. The questionnaire survey results were collected and counted for grouping comparison. Results By the deadline, 703 completed questionnaires had been received. After the registered doctors joined the platform, 469 (66.7%) had a significant impact on their own endoscopic operation level, and 354 (50.3%) felt a significant improvement in the diagnosis level of biliary and pancreatic related diseases. The application effect of the platform on students' continuing medical education was affirmed by the vast majority of registered doctors; The clinical specialty of registered doctors, the length of time they joined the platform, the time they participated in the platform activities each time, and whether they watched the course playback after the platform live broadcast course were the main factors affecting the application effect of continuing medical education (P