Max Fels
@mfels.bsky.social
Branco Weiss and Moderna Global Fellow at DFCI/HMS. On the lookout for the strangest viruses out there. 🐸
https://brancoweissfellowship.org/fellow/fels/
https://brancoweissfellowship.org/fellow/fels/
Congrats Jason! Really well deserved!
October 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Congrats Jason! Really well deserved!
I’m grateful to everyone who worked on this project with me–Aidan, Richard, @yoitsjasmine.bsky.social , @molbiolgv.bsky.social , and Chantal. As always, huge thanks to @kranzuschlab.bsky.social and Amy for making it possible for me to work on these kinds of questions!
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I’m grateful to everyone who worked on this project with me–Aidan, Richard, @yoitsjasmine.bsky.social , @molbiolgv.bsky.social , and Chantal. As always, huge thanks to @kranzuschlab.bsky.social and Amy for making it possible for me to work on these kinds of questions!
This unique viral replication strategy shows that you can build sophisticated translation regulation through a very simple cap-binding complex. Perhaps there are contexts in which cellular organisms also make use of similar strategies?
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This unique viral replication strategy shows that you can build sophisticated translation regulation through a very simple cap-binding complex. Perhaps there are contexts in which cellular organisms also make use of similar strategies?
But why do these viruses not just rely on the host cap-binding complex? We found that mimivirus replication is unusually resistant to abiotic stresses in a way that depends on viral translation factors. Could it be an adaptation to the unusual stresses faced by the amoeba host?
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
But why do these viruses not just rely on the host cap-binding complex? We found that mimivirus replication is unusually resistant to abiotic stresses in a way that depends on viral translation factors. Could it be an adaptation to the unusual stresses faced by the amoeba host?
How does the viral cap-binding complex specifically promote viral translation? Viral mRNAs carry a unique 5′ UTR motif: a conserved +1A followed by AU-rich sequences. A crystal structure of vIF4E shows exactly how this mRNA cap is recognized!
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
How does the viral cap-binding complex specifically promote viral translation? Viral mRNAs carry a unique 5′ UTR motif: a conserved +1A followed by AU-rich sequences. A crystal structure of vIF4E shows exactly how this mRNA cap is recognized!
This effect becomes obvious when looking at viral factories by TEM. Early in infection these large structures form independent of the viral cap-binding complex, but when this complex is disrupted viral particles cannot assemble.
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This effect becomes obvious when looking at viral factories by TEM. Early in infection these large structures form independent of the viral cap-binding complex, but when this complex is disrupted viral particles cannot assemble.
We call these proteins viral IF4A, IF4E, and IF4G. They 1) form a complex, 2) are essential for viral replication, and 3) act as bona fide translation factors, promoting synthesis of viral structural proteins late in infection.
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
We call these proteins viral IF4A, IF4E, and IF4G. They 1) form a complex, 2) are essential for viral replication, and 3) act as bona fide translation factors, promoting synthesis of viral structural proteins late in infection.
In amoeba infected by mimivirus, the prototypical giant DNA virus, we found dozens of viral proteins bound to ribosomes—including three that are homologous to the eukaryotic mRNA cap-binding complex (eIF4A, eIF4E, eIF4G).
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
In amoeba infected by mimivirus, the prototypical giant DNA virus, we found dozens of viral proteins bound to ribosomes—including three that are homologous to the eukaryotic mRNA cap-binding complex (eIF4A, eIF4E, eIF4G).
Giant DNA viruses encode a stunning number of proteins that were long thought unique to living organisms. Among them: translation factors, the master regulators of protein synthesis. But are these viral proteins functional?
October 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Giant DNA viruses encode a stunning number of proteins that were long thought unique to living organisms. Among them: translation factors, the master regulators of protein synthesis. But are these viral proteins functional?
Congrats! Beautiful work
July 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Congrats! Beautiful work
Cool work! Will you add phages or viruses of the rest of eukaryotes?
December 21, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Cool work! Will you add phages or viruses of the rest of eukaryotes?