TY  - JOUR
AU  - Schmier, Sonja
AU  - Mostafa, Ahmed
AU  - Haarmann, Thomas
AU  - Bannert, Norbert
AU  - Ziebuhr, John
AU  - Veljković, Veljko
AU  - Dietrich, Ursula
AU  - Pleschka, Stephan
PY  - 2015
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/616
AB  - Newly emerging influenza A viruses (IAV) pose a major threat to human health by causing seasonal epidemics and/or pandemics, the latter often facilitated by the lack of pre-existing immunity in the general population. Early recognition of candidate pandemic influenza viruses (CPIV) is of crucial importance for restricting virus transmission and developing appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic strategies including effective vaccines. Often, the pandemic potential of newly emerging IAV is only fully recognized once the virus starts to spread efficiently causing serious disease in humans. Here, we used a novel phylogenetic algorithm based on the informational spectrum method (ISM) to identify potential CPIV by predicting mutations in the viral hemagglutinin (HA) gene that are likely to (differentially) affect critical interactions between the HA protein and target cells from bird and human origin, respectively. Predictions were subsequently validated by generating pseudotyped retrovirus particles and genetically engineered IAV containing these mutations and characterizing potential effects on virus entry and replication in cells expressing human and avian IAV receptors, respectively. Our data suggest that the ISM-based algorithm is suitable to identify CPIV among IAV strains that are circulating in animal hosts and thus may be a new tool for assessing pandemic risks associated with specific strains.
T2  - Scientific Reports
T1  - In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses
VL  - 5
DO  - 10.1038/srep11434
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Schmier, Sonja and Mostafa, Ahmed and Haarmann, Thomas and Bannert, Norbert and Ziebuhr, John and Veljković, Veljko and Dietrich, Ursula and Pleschka, Stephan",
year = "2015",
abstract = "Newly emerging influenza A viruses (IAV) pose a major threat to human health by causing seasonal epidemics and/or pandemics, the latter often facilitated by the lack of pre-existing immunity in the general population. Early recognition of candidate pandemic influenza viruses (CPIV) is of crucial importance for restricting virus transmission and developing appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic strategies including effective vaccines. Often, the pandemic potential of newly emerging IAV is only fully recognized once the virus starts to spread efficiently causing serious disease in humans. Here, we used a novel phylogenetic algorithm based on the informational spectrum method (ISM) to identify potential CPIV by predicting mutations in the viral hemagglutinin (HA) gene that are likely to (differentially) affect critical interactions between the HA protein and target cells from bird and human origin, respectively. Predictions were subsequently validated by generating pseudotyped retrovirus particles and genetically engineered IAV containing these mutations and characterizing potential effects on virus entry and replication in cells expressing human and avian IAV receptors, respectively. Our data suggest that the ISM-based algorithm is suitable to identify CPIV among IAV strains that are circulating in animal hosts and thus may be a new tool for assessing pandemic risks associated with specific strains.",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
title = "In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses",
volume = "5",
doi = "10.1038/srep11434"
}

Schmier, S., Mostafa, A., Haarmann, T., Bannert, N., Ziebuhr, J., Veljković, V., Dietrich, U.,& Pleschka, S.. (2015). In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses. in Scientific Reports, 5.
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11434

Schmier S, Mostafa A, Haarmann T, Bannert N, Ziebuhr J, Veljković V, Dietrich U, Pleschka S. In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses. in Scientific Reports. 2015;5.
doi:10.1038/srep11434 .

Schmier, Sonja, Mostafa, Ahmed, Haarmann, Thomas, Bannert, Norbert, Ziebuhr, John, Veljković, Veljko, Dietrich, Ursula, Pleschka, Stephan, "In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses" in Scientific Reports, 5 (2015),
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11434 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Veljković, Veljko
AU  - Glišić, Sanja
AU  - Veljković, Nevena V.
AU  - Bojić, Tijana
AU  - Dietrich, Ursula
AU  - Perović, Vladimir R.
AU  - Colombatti, Alfonso
PY  - 2014
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/229
AB  - Despite plausible evidence for beneficial effects of the vaccination against influenza in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) very limited studies have been carried out to explain the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon. Using the informational spectrum method (ISM), a virtual spectroscopy method for analysis of protein-protein interactions, the bradykinin 2 receptor (BKB2R) was identified as a principal host protein which could mediate molecular processes underlying the cardioprotective effect of influenza vaccines. Based on this finding we suggest that some antibodies elicited by influenza vaccines act as agonists, which activate a BKB2R-associated signaling pathway contributing to the protection against CVD. The ISM analysis of 14 influenza viruses, which were used as components of seasonal vaccines, revealed four vaccine viruses A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1), A/NewCaledonia/20/1999(H1N1), A/Christchurch/28/2003(H3N2) and A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2), which could be suited best for further studies on the cardioprotective effect of influenza vaccines. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
T2  - Vaccine
T1  - Influenza vaccine as prevention for cardiovascular diseases: Possible molecular mechanism
VL  - 32
IS  - 48
SP  - 6569
EP  - 6575
DO  - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.007
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Veljković, Veljko and Glišić, Sanja and Veljković, Nevena V. and Bojić, Tijana and Dietrich, Ursula and Perović, Vladimir R. and Colombatti, Alfonso",
year = "2014",
abstract = "Despite plausible evidence for beneficial effects of the vaccination against influenza in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) very limited studies have been carried out to explain the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon. Using the informational spectrum method (ISM), a virtual spectroscopy method for analysis of protein-protein interactions, the bradykinin 2 receptor (BKB2R) was identified as a principal host protein which could mediate molecular processes underlying the cardioprotective effect of influenza vaccines. Based on this finding we suggest that some antibodies elicited by influenza vaccines act as agonists, which activate a BKB2R-associated signaling pathway contributing to the protection against CVD. The ISM analysis of 14 influenza viruses, which were used as components of seasonal vaccines, revealed four vaccine viruses A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1), A/NewCaledonia/20/1999(H1N1), A/Christchurch/28/2003(H3N2) and A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2), which could be suited best for further studies on the cardioprotective effect of influenza vaccines. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",
journal = "Vaccine",
title = "Influenza vaccine as prevention for cardiovascular diseases: Possible molecular mechanism",
volume = "32",
number = "48",
pages = "6569-6575",
doi = "10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.007"
}

Veljković, V., Glišić, S., Veljković, N. V., Bojić, T., Dietrich, U., Perović, V. R.,& Colombatti, A.. (2014). Influenza vaccine as prevention for cardiovascular diseases: Possible molecular mechanism. in Vaccine, 32(48), 6569-6575.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.007

Veljković V, Glišić S, Veljković NV, Bojić T, Dietrich U, Perović VR, Colombatti A. Influenza vaccine as prevention for cardiovascular diseases: Possible molecular mechanism. in Vaccine. 2014;32(48):6569-6575.
doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.007 .

Veljković, Veljko, Glišić, Sanja, Veljković, Nevena V., Bojić, Tijana, Dietrich, Ursula, Perović, Vladimir R., Colombatti, Alfonso, "Influenza vaccine as prevention for cardiovascular diseases: Possible molecular mechanism" in Vaccine, 32, no. 48 (2014):6569-6575,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.007 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Perović, Vladimir R.
AU  - Muller, Claude P.
AU  - Niman, Henry L.
AU  - Veljković, Nevena V.
AU  - Dietrich, Ursula
AU  - Tosic, Dusan D.
AU  - Glišić, Sanja
AU  - Veljković, Veljko
PY  - 2013
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5491
AB  - Years of endemic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A subtype H5N1 virus in poultry and high numbers of infections in humans provide ample opportunity in Egypt for H5N1-HPAIV to develop pandemic potential. In an effort to better understand the viral determinants that facilitate human infections of the Egyptian H5N1-HPAIVvirus, we developed a new phylogenetic algorithm based on a new distance measure derived from the informational spectrum method (ISM). This new approach, which describes functional aspects of the evolution of the hemagglutinin subunit 1 (HA1), revealed a growing group G2 of H5N1-HPAIV in Egypt after 2009 that acquired new informational spectrum (IS) properties suggestive of an increased human tropism and pandemic potential. While in 2006 all viruses in Egypt belonged to the G1 group, by 2011 these viruses were virtually replaced by G2 viruses. All of the G2 viruses displayed four characteristic mutations (D43N, S120(D,N), (S,L)129 Delta and I151T), three of which were previously reported to increase binding to the human receptor. Already in 2006-2008 G2 viruses were significantly (p LT 0.02) more often found in humans than expected from their overall prevalence and this further increased in 2009-2011 (p LT 0.007). Our approach also identified viruses that acquired additional mutations that we predict to further enhance their human tropism. The extensive evolution of Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV towards a preferential human tropism underlines an urgent need to closely monitor these viruses with respect to molecular determinants of virulence.
T2  - PLOS One
T1  - Novel Phylogenetic Algorithm to Monitor Human Tropism in Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV Reveals Evolution toward Efficient Human-to-Human Transmission
VL  - 8
IS  - 4
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0061572
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Perović, Vladimir R. and Muller, Claude P. and Niman, Henry L. and Veljković, Nevena V. and Dietrich, Ursula and Tosic, Dusan D. and Glišić, Sanja and Veljković, Veljko",
year = "2013",
abstract = "Years of endemic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A subtype H5N1 virus in poultry and high numbers of infections in humans provide ample opportunity in Egypt for H5N1-HPAIV to develop pandemic potential. In an effort to better understand the viral determinants that facilitate human infections of the Egyptian H5N1-HPAIVvirus, we developed a new phylogenetic algorithm based on a new distance measure derived from the informational spectrum method (ISM). This new approach, which describes functional aspects of the evolution of the hemagglutinin subunit 1 (HA1), revealed a growing group G2 of H5N1-HPAIV in Egypt after 2009 that acquired new informational spectrum (IS) properties suggestive of an increased human tropism and pandemic potential. While in 2006 all viruses in Egypt belonged to the G1 group, by 2011 these viruses were virtually replaced by G2 viruses. All of the G2 viruses displayed four characteristic mutations (D43N, S120(D,N), (S,L)129 Delta and I151T), three of which were previously reported to increase binding to the human receptor. Already in 2006-2008 G2 viruses were significantly (p LT 0.02) more often found in humans than expected from their overall prevalence and this further increased in 2009-2011 (p LT 0.007). Our approach also identified viruses that acquired additional mutations that we predict to further enhance their human tropism. The extensive evolution of Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV towards a preferential human tropism underlines an urgent need to closely monitor these viruses with respect to molecular determinants of virulence.",
journal = "PLOS One",
title = "Novel Phylogenetic Algorithm to Monitor Human Tropism in Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV Reveals Evolution toward Efficient Human-to-Human Transmission",
volume = "8",
number = "4",
doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0061572"
}

Perović, V. R., Muller, C. P., Niman, H. L., Veljković, N. V., Dietrich, U., Tosic, D. D., Glišić, S.,& Veljković, V.. (2013). Novel Phylogenetic Algorithm to Monitor Human Tropism in Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV Reveals Evolution toward Efficient Human-to-Human Transmission. in PLOS One, 8(4).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061572

Perović VR, Muller CP, Niman HL, Veljković NV, Dietrich U, Tosic DD, Glišić S, Veljković V. Novel Phylogenetic Algorithm to Monitor Human Tropism in Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV Reveals Evolution toward Efficient Human-to-Human Transmission. in PLOS One. 2013;8(4).
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061572 .

Perović, Vladimir R., Muller, Claude P., Niman, Henry L., Veljković, Nevena V., Dietrich, Ursula, Tosic, Dusan D., Glišić, Sanja, Veljković, Veljko, "Novel Phylogenetic Algorithm to Monitor Human Tropism in Egyptian H5N1-HPAIV Reveals Evolution toward Efficient Human-to-Human Transmission" in PLOS One, 8, no. 4 (2013),
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061572 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Đorđević, Ana
AU  - Veljković, Milena
AU  - Antoni, Sascha
AU  - Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, Maria
AU  - Krikorian, Dimitrios
AU  - Zevgiti, Stella
AU  - Dietrich, Ursula
AU  - Veljković, Nevena V.
AU  - Branch, Donald R.
PY  - 2007
UR  - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3295
AB  - The C-terminus of the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 represents a functionally important domain, as it encompasses amino acids directly involved in the binding to the CD4 receptor and in post-receptor binding events. Previous studies have suggested that antibodies with specific affinity to a 23 amino acids-long NTM polypeptide, derived from this HIV-1 gp120 domain, may be involved in the control of HIV disease progression. In the current work, we searched for NTM-recognizing antibodies in specific cohorts of HIV-1 infected individuals, including long-term non-progressors (LTNP) and progressors. For this purpose, we employed a previously defined bioinformatics criterion for design of an NTM peptide mimetic to select an octapeptide, NTMs (FTDNAKTI), which is more suitable for use in a solid-state enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that NTMs-reactive antibodies are significantly more prevalent (p LT 0.01) in LTNP as compared to progressors and healthy control subjects, indicating their association with non-progressive infection. The presence of antibodies recognizing the second conserved region of the HIV-1 gp120 derived peptide, NTMs, in LTNP sera suggest that these antibodies could be of considerable interest for development of anti-HIV immune-based therapies and vaccines.
T2  - Current HIV Research
T1  - The presence of antibodies recognizing a peptide derived from the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 correlates with non-progressive HIV infection
VL  - 5
IS  - 5
SP  - 443
EP  - 448
DO  - 10.2174/157016207781662470
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Đorđević, Ana and Veljković, Milena and Antoni, Sascha and Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, Maria and Krikorian, Dimitrios and Zevgiti, Stella and Dietrich, Ursula and Veljković, Nevena V. and Branch, Donald R.",
year = "2007",
abstract = "The C-terminus of the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 represents a functionally important domain, as it encompasses amino acids directly involved in the binding to the CD4 receptor and in post-receptor binding events. Previous studies have suggested that antibodies with specific affinity to a 23 amino acids-long NTM polypeptide, derived from this HIV-1 gp120 domain, may be involved in the control of HIV disease progression. In the current work, we searched for NTM-recognizing antibodies in specific cohorts of HIV-1 infected individuals, including long-term non-progressors (LTNP) and progressors. For this purpose, we employed a previously defined bioinformatics criterion for design of an NTM peptide mimetic to select an octapeptide, NTMs (FTDNAKTI), which is more suitable for use in a solid-state enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that NTMs-reactive antibodies are significantly more prevalent (p LT 0.01) in LTNP as compared to progressors and healthy control subjects, indicating their association with non-progressive infection. The presence of antibodies recognizing the second conserved region of the HIV-1 gp120 derived peptide, NTMs, in LTNP sera suggest that these antibodies could be of considerable interest for development of anti-HIV immune-based therapies and vaccines.",
journal = "Current HIV Research",
title = "The presence of antibodies recognizing a peptide derived from the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 correlates with non-progressive HIV infection",
volume = "5",
number = "5",
pages = "443-448",
doi = "10.2174/157016207781662470"
}

Đorđević, A., Veljković, M., Antoni, S., Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, M., Krikorian, D., Zevgiti, S., Dietrich, U., Veljković, N. V.,& Branch, D. R.. (2007). The presence of antibodies recognizing a peptide derived from the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 correlates with non-progressive HIV infection. in Current HIV Research, 5(5), 443-448.
https://doi.org/10.2174/157016207781662470

Đorđević A, Veljković M, Antoni S, Sakarellos-Daitsiotis M, Krikorian D, Zevgiti S, Dietrich U, Veljković NV, Branch DR. The presence of antibodies recognizing a peptide derived from the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 correlates with non-progressive HIV infection. in Current HIV Research. 2007;5(5):443-448.
doi:10.2174/157016207781662470 .

Đorđević, Ana, Veljković, Milena, Antoni, Sascha, Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, Maria, Krikorian, Dimitrios, Zevgiti, Stella, Dietrich, Ursula, Veljković, Nevena V., Branch, Donald R., "The presence of antibodies recognizing a peptide derived from the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 correlates with non-progressive HIV infection" in Current HIV Research, 5, no. 5 (2007):443-448,
https://doi.org/10.2174/157016207781662470 . .