Immunology of Infectious Disease News 4.32 August 16, 2016 | |
| |
TOP STORYThe binding of autoantibodies (autoAbs) to interferon (IFN)-γ in people with mycobacterial diseases has become an emerging medical concern. The authors showed that these autoAbs target a major epitope in a region crucial for IFN-γ receptor activation to impair IFN-γ-mediated activities. The amino acid sequence of this epitope is highly homologous to a stretch in the Noc2 protein of Aspergillus spp., which was cross-reactive with autoAbs from patients. [Nat Med] Abstract | |
| |
PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Investigators defined the phenotype and transcriptional program of a subset of antigen-specific B cells, which they have called ‘activated B cells,’ that were distinct from antibody-secreting cells and were committed to the memory B cell lineage. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release Researchers used major histocompatibility complex-related protein I (MR1) tetramer staining and ex vivo analysis with mycobacteria-infected MR1-deficient cells to demonstrate the presence of functional human MR1-restricted T cells that lack TRAV1-2. [Nat Commun] Full Article Scientists hypothesized that epigenetic regulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes contributes to a shift toward a dysfunctional T cell phenotype which may impact on their ability to clear mycobacterial infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers investigated the role of adhesion- and degranulation-promoting adapter protein in promoting CD8 T cell responses to a systemic infection. [J Immunol] Abstract HIVInvestigators analyzed data from four cohorts of HIV+ patients, allowing them to study IP-10 levels before infection, as well as during controlled and uncontrolled viremia. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article HIV-2 represents an attenuated form of HIV, where many infected individuals remain “aviremic” without antiretroviral therapy. However, aviremic HIV-2 disease progression exits, and in the current study scientists examined if specific pathological characteristics of CD4+ T cells are linked to such outcome. [AIDS] Abstract Scientists tested the antibody (Ab) response from novel prime-boost vaccination with a chimpanzee-derived adenovirus (AdC) vector expressing a subtype C envelope (Env) gp140 combined with either a serologically distinct AdC vector expressing gp140 of a different subtype C isolate or an alum-adjuvanted, partially trimeric gp145 from yet another subtype C isolate. [AIDS] Abstract Researchers evaluated the frequency, phenotypes, and responses of peripheral T follicular helper-like cells to superantigen and recall antigen stimulation in 10 healthy and 34 chronically infected treatment-naive HIV-1+ individuals. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract Scientists describe interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor (IL-7R) and IL-7 before and after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in late presenting HIV-infected individuals, and the impact on immune recovery and T cell subset distribution after initiation of cART. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News. | |
| |
REVIEWSThe authors clarify that inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and genital herpes (HSV-2) entry continues to be a promising target for drug development because nanotechnology can transform the field of HIV/HSV-2 prevention by improving the efficacy of the currently available antiviral treatments. [Med Res Rev] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immunology of infectious disease research field. | |
| |
SCIENCE NEWSNovaDigm Therapeutics announced positive data from the company’s Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating its NDV-3A immunotherapeutic vaccine in women with RVVC. [Press release from NovaDigm Therapeutics discussing research presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Annapolis] Press Release | |
| |
INDUSTRY NEWSMount Sinai and Stony Brook Announce Affiliation Stony Brook Medicine and the Mount Sinai Health System announced that they are entering into an affiliation agreement that includes collaboration on research, academic programs and clinical care initiatives, effective immediately. The institutions launched the partnership to heighten academic and research synergies and to promote discovery, provide expanded clinical trials for both institutions, and achieve breakthroughs in understanding and treating disease. [Stony Brook Medicine] Press Release SystemOne Wins USAID Grand Challenge Grant for Combating Zika and Future Threats SystemOne announced that it will be among the award recipients for the Combating Zika and Future Threats Grand Challenge from The US Agency for International Development (USAID). [SystemOne] Press Release Vedanta Biosciences announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,415,079. The patent broadly covers pharmaceutical compositions and mixtures of Clostridium live bacterial strains and builds on Vedanta’s patent issuances in Japan. [Vedanta Biosciences] Press Release Novartis announced that six scientists will receive the 2016 Novartis Prizes for Immunology at the upcoming 16th International Congress of Immunology in Melbourne, Australia. [Novartis] Press Release Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore, in collaboration with the City University of New York (CUNY), have received a $9.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to lead research in Central Africa to improve clinical care and health outcomes for patients with HIV. [Albert Einstein College of Medicine] Press Release | |
| |
POLICY NEWSEMA Adopts New Biologic, Biosimilar Pharmacovigilance Guidance The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced new recommendations for monitoring the safety of biologics and biosimilars. The guidance will take effect on August 16th 2016. [Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society] Editorial | Guideline A Tale of Two Governments: The Politician Behind Argentina’s Science Growth Lino Barañao, the only minister to stay in power after last year’s elections, lays out his plans. [Nature News] Editorial Spiking Genomic Databases with Misinformation Could Protect Patient Privacy Large genomic databases are indispensable for scientists looking for genetic variations associated with diseases. But they come with privacy risks for people who contribute their DNA. A 2013 study showed that hackers could use publicly available information on the Internet to identify people from their anonymized genomic data. [Nature News] Editorial UK Government Gives Brexit Science Funding Guarantee British scientists say they’re relieved by a government promise to guarantee them funding for existing EU research projects, even after the country leaves the European Union. But the reassurance only partly allays concerns about Brexit’s effect on UK science. [Nature News] Editorial Candidate Cancer Drug Suspected After Death of Three Patients at an Alternative Medicine Clinic A new type of cancer drug developed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, but not yet tested in clinical trials may have triggered the deaths of three patients who were undergoing an alternative cancer treatment by a nonmedical practitioner in Germany. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
| |
EVENTSNEW 2016 Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
| |
JOB OPPORTUNITIESResearch Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Senior Scientist – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Faculty Position – Immunology (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal Immunology (University of Utah) Research Chair – Immunology and Infectious Disease (University of Edinburgh) Scientist – Infectious Disease (Infectious Disease Research Institute) PhD Positions – Infection Biology and Immunology (ZIBI Graduate School) Senior Researcher – Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur) Postdoctoral Fellow – Infectious Disease (Metabiota) Postdoctoral Fellow – Malaria Genetics (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immune Response to Infection (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
| |
Have we missed an important article or publication in Immunology of Infectious Disease News? Click here to submit! Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here. | |
|
Home Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 4.32 | Aug 17 2016