Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.17 | May 8 2019

TOP STORY

Membrane Metalloprotease TRABD2A Restricts HIV-1 Progeny Production in Resting CD4⁺ T Cells by Degrading Viral Gag Polyprotein

Researchers found that the cell membrane metalloprotease TRAB domain-containing protein 2A (TRABD2A) inhibited production in resting CD4⁺ T cells by degrading the virion structural precursor polyprotein Gag at the plasma membrane. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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IL-26 Contributes to Host Defense against Intracellular Bacteria

IL-26, when added to human monocyte-derived macrophages infected with Mycobacterium leprae, entered the infected cell, colocalized with the bacterium, and reduced bacteria viability. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

T Cell Receptor Grafting Allows Virological Control of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells from healthy donors and from chronic hepatitis B patients became polyfunctional effector cells when grafted with HBV-specific T cell receptors and eliminated HBV from infected HepG2-NTCP cell cultures. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

IFITMs Mediate Viral Evasion in Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Scientists showed that interferon‐induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) promote viral escape from the neutralizing antibody response in clinical cohorts of hepatitis C virus‐infected patients. [Hepatology] Abstract

Standard Dose Intradermal Influenza Vaccine Elicits Similar Cellular Immune Responses When Compared to Intramuscular Vaccine in HIV-Infected or Uninfected Men

Serological, antigen-specific B cell and IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α secreting T cell responses were assessed in 79 HIV-infected and 79 HIV-uninfected men. [J Infect Dis] Full Article

Identification of LncRNA‐155 Encoded by MIR155HG as a Novel Regulator of Innate Immunity against Influenza A Virus Infection

The authors observed that expression of long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA)‐155 was markedly upregulated during influenza A virus infection both in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Microbiol] Abstract

Platelet Function in HIV Plus Dengue Coinfection Associates with Reduced Inflammation and Milder Dengue Illness

Investigators report that dengue and HIV coinfection progress with reduced inflammation and milder disease progression with lower risk of vascular instability. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Schistosoma mansoni Cyclophilin A Epitope 107-121 Induces a Protective Immune Response against Schistosomiasis

Researchers characterized the cyclophilin A, initially described as Smp17.7, analyzed its allergenic potential using in vitro functional assays, and evaluated its ability to induce protection in mice when administered as an antigen using different vaccine formulations and strategies. [Mol Immunol] Abstract

A CCR5⁺ Memory Subset within HIV-1-Infected Primary Resting CD4⁺ T Cells Is Permissive for Replication-Competent, Latently Infected Viruses In Vitro

Primary resting CD4⁺ naïve T cells, CCR5⁻ memory T (T_M) cells, and CCR5⁺ T_M cells isolated by flow cytometry were infected simultaneously with CXCR4-tropic and CCR5-tropic HIV-1, which harbored different reporter genes, and were cultured in the resting condition. [BMC Res Notes] Full Article

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New Insights for Vaccine Development against Clostridium difficile Infections

The authors discuss novel immunotherapeutic approaches that aid the immune system to target C. difficile and how these can be improved. [Anaerobe] Abstract

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Novavax Announces Presentation of Phase III Data from RSV Maternal Immunization Program

Novavax, Inc. announced that Flor M. Muñoz, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor of Pediatrics Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine and Medical Director, Transplant Infectious Diseases, Texas Children’s Hospital, presented data from the company’s global Phase III clinical trial of ResVax™. [Press release from Novavax, Inc. discussing research presented at the 37^th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), Ljubljana] Press Release

Merck Announces Results from Phase II Trial of Investigational 15-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (V114) in Infants

Merck announced results from a Phase II trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of V114, the company’s investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, as compared to the currently available 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy infants 6-12 weeks of age. [Press release from Merck & Co., Inc. discussing research presented at the 37^th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), Ljubljana] Press Release

FDA Approves the First Vaccine for Dengue Fever, but with Major Restrictions

The FDA approved the first vaccine against dengue fever, one that protects against a common disease but has generated significant controversy due to evidence it can increase the risk of severe infection in some people. [STAT News] Editorial

Dynavax Announces First Patient Enrolled in Study of HEPLISAV-B^® [Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Adjuvanted)] in Adults with End-Stage Renal Disease

Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced the enrollment of the first patient in the company’s open-label, single-arm study of HEPLISAV-B in adults with end-stage renal disease who are initiating or undergoing hemodialysis. [Dynavax Technologies Corporation] Press Release

Major Grant Fuels Hunt for Universal Flu Vaccine

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will use a $30 million federal grant—the second-largest the center has ever received—to accelerate the chase for one of medicine’s most elusive goals: a universal influenza vaccine. [Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center] Press Release

International $6 Million Grant to Study HIV/TB Coinfection in Kids

To explore exactly how HIV puts children at greater risk of contracting and dying from tuberculosis (TB), an international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Hawaii at Mānoa, have secured a five-year, $6.2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. [University of Pittsburgh] Press Release

DRC Expands Ebola Vaccine Campaign as Cases Mount Rapidly

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will expand its use of the experimental Ebola vaccine that more than 110,000 have already received to try to stop an unusually stubborn outbreak of the disease. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Black Academics Publish One-Fifth of South Africa’s Research

The proportion of scientific articles published by academics in South Africa who are black, colored or of Indian origin has risen almost tenfold since the end of apartheid, to about one-third, finds a report on scholarly publishing in the country. [Nature News] Editorial

White House to Convene Committee to Address Research Obstacles

The leaders of the White House Office of Science and Technology, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s science division have formed a committee “to address issues facing the US research community,” President Donald Trump’s administration announced. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW British Society for Immunology (BSI) Congress 2019
December 2-5, 2019
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Junior Professor – Mucosal Infection Biology (Aachen University)

NEW Research Assistant – Outbreak Pathogen Vaccine Trials (University of Oxford)

Research Scientist – Immunology/HBV (Gilead Sciences, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Associate – Influenza Pathogenesis and Cell Death (Fox Chase Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Malaria Immunology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Position – Vaccine Research (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Project Assistant – Emerging Pathogens (University of Oxford)

Research Scholar – HIV Research (Northern California Institute for Research and Education)

Postdoctoral Fellows – HIV Research (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Qualified Person – BioManufacturing (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Malaria (Seattle Children’s)

Staff Scientist – Transcriptional Control in Development and Disease (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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