Immunology of Infectious Disease News 5.27 July 12, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYOpen and Closed Structures Reveal Allostery and Pliability in the HIV-1 Envelope Spike Scientists present high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of subtype B B41 SOSIP envelope glycoprotein trimers in complex with CD4 and antibody 17b, or with antibody b12, at resolutions of 3.7 Å and 3.6 Å, respectively. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Neurodevelopmental Protein Musashi-1 Interacts with the Zika Genome and Promotes Viral Replication Investigators report that the neural RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 (MSI1) interacts with the Zika genome and enables viral replication. Zika infection disrupts the binding of MSI1 to its endogenous targets, thereby deregulating expression of factors implicated in neural stem cell function. [Science] Abstract Researchers used a mouse model of ocular surface disease to reveal that commensals were present in the ocular mucosa and had functional immunological consequences. They isolated one such candidate commensal, Corynebacterium mastitidis, and showed that this organism elicited a commensal-specific interleukin-17 response from γδ T cells in the ocular mucosa that was central to local immunity. [Immunity] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Endosomal NOX2 Oxidase Exacerbates Virus Pathogenicity and Is a Target for Antiviral Therapy The authors identified that the primary enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species, NOX2 oxidase, is activated by single stranded RNA and DNA viruses in endocytic compartments resulting in endosomal hydrogen peroxide generation, which suppresses antiviral and humoral signaling networks via modification of a unique, highly conserved cysteine residue on Toll-like receptor-7. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press release Scientists found that MojV-G displays a six-bladed β-propeller fold bearing limited similarity to known paramyxoviral attachment glycoproteins, in particular at host receptor-binding surfaces. They confirmed the inability of MojV-G to interact with known paramyxoviral receptors in vitro, indicating an independence from well-characterized ephrinB2/B3, sialic acid and CD150-mediated entry pathways. [Nat Commun] Full Article Researchers evaluated the impact of premature cell death of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by Caspase-1- and RipK3-signaling pathways on CD8+ T-cell priming during infection of mice with Salmonella typhimurium. Their results indicate that Caspase1 and RipK3 synergize to rapidly eliminate infected APCs, which does not influence the initial activation of CD8+ T cells. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Viral Activation of Heparanase Drives Pathogenesis of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 The authors demonstrated that heparanase (HPSE), a host enzyme, is the molecular trigger for multiple pathologies associated with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection. In human corneal epithelial cells, HSV-1 infection upregulates HPSE in a manner dependent on HSV-1 infected cell protein 34.5. HPSE then relocates to the nucleus to regulate cytokine production, inhibits wound closure, enhances viral spread, and thus generates a toxic local environment. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Scientists showed that single short peptides of 8-mer from Latent Membrane Protein 2 of Epstein Barr Virus can bind HLA-A*11:01 and stimulate CD8+ cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article Constitutive Resistance to Viral Infection in Human CD141+ Dendritic Cells By analyzing the susceptibility of primary human dendritic cells (DC) subsets to viral infections, researchers report that CD141+ DCs have an innate resistance to infection by a broad range of enveloped viruses, including HIV and influenza virus. In contrast, CD1c+ DCs are susceptible to infection, which enables viral antigen production but impairs their immune functions and survival. [Sci Immunol] Full Article HIVScientists tested the protective properties of ABX464, a first-in-class anti-HIV drug candidate currently in phase II clinical trials. ABX464 treatment strongly attenuated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and produced a long-term protection against prolonged DSS-exposure after drug cessation. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release Scientists investigated extensively the NKG2C+ NK cells at the time of primary HIV infection and its evolution after three months of early antiretroviral therapy (combination antiretroviral therapy). Multiparametric cytometry combined with bioinformatics was used to determine subsets. NKbright NKG2C+ progenitor, NKdim NKG2C+ effector and NKdim NKG2C+CD57+ memory-like populations were identified. [Clin Transl Immunology] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News. | |
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REVIEWSCaspases Control Antiviral Innate Immunity The authors focus on the cutting-edge discoveries regarding the multifaceted roles of caspases in antiviral innate immunity. [Cell Mol Immunol] Full Article Antibody Therapies for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections Researchers summarize some recent advances in identification and characterization of monoclonal antibodies suitable as drug candidates for clinical evaluation, and review some promising candidates in the development pipeline. [npj Vaccines] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immunology of infectious disease research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSMerck announced that new data will be presented including late-breaker abstracts from two Phase III pivotal clinical trials. [Press release from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. discussing research to be presented at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017)] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSZoliflodacin, a novel first-in-class oral antibiotic and one of the only treatments in development to address the rapidly-growing threat of drug-resistant gonorrhea will enter pivotal trials, thanks to a new partnership between the not-for-profit Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership and Entasis Therapeutics. [Entasis Therapeutics] Press Release Untreatable Gonorrhoea on the Rise Worldwide Gonorrhoea is becoming as incurable as it was in the 1920s, before the first drugs to treat it were discovered. More than 60% of countries surveyed around the world have reported cases that resist last-resort antibiotics, according to an announcement by the World Health Organization. The announcement included information about a new gonorrhoea drug in development. [Nature] Editorial | Publication | |
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POLICY NEWSWhite House’s Dwindling Science Office Leaves Major Research Programs in Limbo US President Donald Trump has pledged to shrink the federal government, and he seems to be starting with science. Nearly six months after taking office, Trump has not chosen a science adviser, and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy has dwindled from around 130 staff members under former president Barack Obama to 35. [Nature News] Editorial In a Rare Move, FDA Reverses Course on Drug Developed by CEO with Ties to Trump The Food and Drug Administration has changed its tune on an experimental drug for a deadly rare disease, withdrawing a request that the company developing it run another clinical trial. The unusual move comes after President Trump met with the company’s CEO — and promised to speed up what he called a “slow and burdensome” process for drug approvals. [STAT news] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW HIV Immunity and Eradication, a Herrenhausen Symposium Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Disease-Specific Immunology/Vaccinology (Brown University) Postdoctoral Position – Cell Biology and Innate Immunity (Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden) Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Immunology of Infectious Diseases (University of Oxford) Research Associate – HIV Immunology (University College London) Postdoctoral Scientist – HIV-1 and Malaria Vaccine Research (Center for Infectious Disease Research) Postdoctoral Position – HIV in T Cells (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) Scientist – Immunology, Infectious Diseases (Regeneron) Lab Aide – Infectious Disease Sciences Program (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.
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Home Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.27 | Jul 12 2017