Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.04 | Jan 31 2018

TOP STORY

Study Links Gut-Homing Protein Levels with HIV Infection Risk, Disease Progression

Scientists showed a relationship between the proportion of key immune cells that display high levels of a gut-homing protein called alpha-4 beta-7 at the time of HIV infection and health outcomes. [Press release from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Press Release | Abstract

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Safety and Pharmacokinetics of the Fc-Modified HIV-1 Human Monoclonal Antibody VRC01LS: A Phase I Open-Label Clinical Trial in Healthy Adults

The human broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody VRC01LS was safe and well tolerated when delivered intravenously or subcutaneously. The half-life was more than four-fold greater when compared to wild-type VRC01 historical data. The reduced clearance and extended half-life may make it possible to achieve therapeutic levels with less frequent and lower-dose administrations. [PLoS Med] Full Article

CD209a Synergizes with Dectin-2 and Mincle to Drive Severe Th17 Cell-Mediated Schistosome Egg-Induced Immunopathology

Investigators showed that CD209a-deficient CBA mice display decreased Th17 responses and are protected from severe immunopathology. In vitro, CD209a augmented the egg-induced IL-1β and IL-23 production initiated by the related C-type lectin receptors Dectin-2 and Mincle. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Role of KLRG1 in Human CD4⁺ T Cell Immunity against Tuberculosis

KLRG1 is a marker of terminally differentiated CD8⁺ T cells in viral infection, but its role in human tuberculosis infection remains elusive. KLRG1 expression on CD4⁺ T cells was significantly increased in active tuberculosis patients compared with healthy controls and non-tuberculosis patients. [J Infect Dis] Full Article

A Novel Epstein–Barr Virus-Latent Membrane Protein-1-Specific T-Cell Receptor for TCR Gene Therapy

Researchers describe a T-cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer regimen to rapidly and reliably generate T-cells specific to Epstein–Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1), which is a potential target for T-cell-based immunotherapy. Both human CD8 and CD4 T-cells expressing the LMP1-TCR provoked high levels of cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity towards peptide-pulsed and LMP1-expressing tumor cells. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

CD11b⁺ Dendritic Cell-Mediated Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Th1 Activation Is Counterregulated by CD103⁺ Dendritic Cells via IL-10

Using a murine model of pulmonary M. tuberculosis infection, the authors found that slow arrival of M. tuberculosis-bearing migratory CD11b⁺ and CD103⁺ conventional dendritic cells at the draining lymph nodes preceded the much-delayed Th1 immunity and protection in the lung. [J Immunol] Abstract

Antibody-Mediated Enhancement Aggravates Chikungunya Virus Infection and Disease Severity

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection was investigated in the presence of CHIKV-specific antibodies in both primary human cells and a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Enhanced attachment of CHIKV to the primary human monocytes and B cells was observed while increased viral replication was detected in RAW264.7 cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Monoclonal and Oligoclonal TCR AV and BV Gene Usage in CD4⁺ T Cells from Pigs Immunized with C-Strain CSFV Vaccine

Investigators aimed to analyze the association between the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratype of αβ T cell receptor (TCR) in CD4⁺ T cells and C-strain vaccine; and to find conserved CDR3 amino acid motifs in specific TCR α- and β-chains. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cholera Toxin Enhances IL-17A Production in Both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ Cells via a cAMP/PKA-Mediated IL-17A Promoter Activation

Scientists took advantage of a small molecule PKA inhibitor and different cAMP analogs: a PKA-specific activator, a EPAC-specific activator, and a PKA inhibitor, to elucidate the signaling cascade of cAMP in IL-17A regulation in T cells. They found that cholera toxin induces IL-17A production and IL-17A promoter activity in activated CD4⁺ T cells via a cAMP/PKA pathway. [Immunology] Abstract

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Passive Immunotherapy of Viral Infections: ‘Super-Antibodies’ Enter the Fray

Antibodies have been used for more than 100 years in the therapy of infectious diseases, but a new generation of highly potent and/or broadly cross-reactive human monoclonal antibodies (sometimes referred to as ‘super-antibodies’) offers new opportunities for intervention. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

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Data Highlighting Advaxis’ Antigen Delivery Platform Accepted for Multiple Presentations

Advaxis, Inc. announced that three abstracts highlighting the company’s Listeria-based immunotherapy in combination with antibody-based immunotherapies have been accepted for poster presentation. [Press release from Advaxis, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2018 Keystone Symposia on Cancer Immunotherapies: Combinations, Montreal] Press Release

Kinetic River Corp. Completes Phase I SBIR Grant from the National Institutes of Health

Kinetic River Corp. announced the successful completion of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project funded by the National Institutes of Health. [Kinetic River Corp. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Takeda’s Zika Vaccine Candidate Receives U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to TAK-426, Takeda’s purified, inactivated, alum-adjuvanted, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate. [Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited] Press Release

Strides Shasun Receives USFDA Approval for Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets

Strides Shasun Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Strides Pharma Global Pte. Ltd. has received approval for Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate tablets, 300 mg from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA). [Strides Shasun Limited] Press Release

Faced with Failing Antibiotics, Scientists Are Using Killer Viruses to Fight Superbugs

Patients in danger of dying from uncontrollable bacterial infections could find new allies: killer viruses known as phages. Armed with advances in DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence, a few startups are turning these natural enemies of bacteria into promising alternatives to antibiotics. [MIT Technology Review] Editorial

US Government Rethinks How to Retire Research Chimps

The research chimpanzees owned or supported by the US National Institutes of Health are ready to retire — but nearly 300 are still stuck in three US research facilities, awaiting spots at the country’s only federally funded sanctuary. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture (ACTC) 2018
May 21-23, 2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Microbiology & Immunology (Johns Hopkins University)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Microbiology and Immunology (SUNY Upstate Medical University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Malaria and Other Chronic Infectious Diseases (James Cook University)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Clinical Vaccine Development (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Immunology (The Infectious Disease Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Scientist – HCV Vaccine Model Development (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology/Infection Biology/Vaccinology (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Molecular Immunology and Infection Biology (CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences)

Postdoctoral Training Opportunity – Infection and Immunity (Institut Pasteur of Shanghai – Chinese Academy of Sciences)

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