Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.48 | Dec 11 2019

TOP STORY

Targeted Selection of HIV-Specific Antibody Mutations by Engineering B Cell Maturation

Researchers designed two HIV-1 envelope immunogens that bound precursor B cells of either a CD4 binding site or V3-glycan bnAb lineage. In vitro, these immunogens bound more strongly to bnAb precursors once the precursor acquired the desired improbable mutations. [Science] Abstract

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A Generalized HIV Vaccine Design Strategy for Priming of Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Responses

Using the strongly HCDR3-dependent bnAb BG18 that binds a conserved site on HIV envelope as a high-value target and a proof of principle, scientists demonstrated a method to identify pools of potential broadly neutralizing antibody precursors in an ultradeep human antibody sequence database, guided by key genetic features that enable bnAb structural recognition of the antigen. [Science] Abstract

Gut-Innervating Nociceptor Neurons Regulate Peyer’s Patch Microfold Cells and SFB Levels to Mediate Salmonella Host Defense

Investigators found that nociceptor neurons critically mediated host defense against the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

A Recombinant Platform for Flavivirus Vaccines and Diagnostics Using Chimeras of a New Insect-Specific Virus

The authors describe a new insect-specific flavivirus, Binjari virus, which was found to be remarkably tolerant for exchange of its structural protein genes with those of other pathogenic vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses. [Sci Transl Med] Full Article

Challenging Immunodominance of Influenza-Specific CD8⁺ T Cell Responses Restricted by the Risk-Associated HLA-A*68:01 Allomorph

Scientists elucidated the HLA-A*68:01⁺CD8⁺ T cell response directed toward an extended influenza-derived nucleoprotein peptide and showed that only ~35% individuals had immunodominant A68/NP145⁺CD8⁺ T cell responses. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis Exploits Multiple Host Nitrogen Sources during Growth in Human Macrophages

Investigators developed ¹⁵N-flux spectral ratio analysis to explore Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)’s nitrogen metabolism; they demonstrated that intracellular Mtb had access to multiple amino acids in the macrophage, including glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, alanine, glycine, and valine; and they identified glutamine as the predominant nitrogen donor. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Compromised Metabolic Reprogramming Is an Early Indicator of CD8⁺ T Cell Dysfunction during Chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

The authors examined how chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and M. bovis BCG infections rewire metabolic circuits and alter effector functions in lung CD8⁺ T cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

A Multi-Genotype Therapeutic Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Elicits Potent T Cell Responses to Conserved Regions of Early Proteins

ChAdOx1-5GHPV3/MVA-5GHPV3 induced higher magnitude and more durable human papillomavirus (HPV)-specific T cell responses than other regimens. Vaccine-induced T cells were polyfunctional and persisted at high frequencies for at least six weeks. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Possible Role of Highly Activated Mucosal NK Cells against Viral Respiratory Infections in Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Researchers determined T and NK cell numbers together with NK activation status in nasopharyngeal aspirates in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients and healthy controls using multiparametric flow cytometry. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Structure of HIV-2 Nef Reveals Features Distinct from HIV-1 Involved in Immune Regulation

Investigators report the crystal structure of HIV-2 Nef core. The dileucine sorting motif formed a helix bound to neighboring molecules, and moreover, isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated that the CD3 endocytosis motif could directly bind to HIV-2 Nef, ensuring AP-2 mediated endocytosis for CD3. [iScience] Abstract

Pandemic Influenza Virus Vaccines Boost Hemagglutinin Stalk-Specific Antibody Responses in Primed Adult and Pediatric Cohorts

The authors used chimeric cH6/1, full length H2 and H18 HA antigens in an ELISA to measure anti-stalk antibodies in recipients participating in clinical trials of A/H1N1, A/H5N1 and A/H9N2 vaccines. The vaccines induced high titers of anti-H1 stalk antibodies in adults and children, with higher titers elicited by AS03-adjuvanted vaccines. [NPJ Vaccines] Full Article

T Cell Fate following Salmonella Infection Is Determined by a STING-IRF1 Signaling Axis in Mice

Investigators identified interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 1 as a critical effector of sensor stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-mediated microbial DNA sensing that is responsible for T_H17 cell generation in the mucosal immune system. [Commun Biol] Full Article

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T Cell Antifungal Immunity and the Role of C-Type Lectin Receptors

The authors present an overview of current knowledge of antifungal T cell immune responses, with emphasis on the role of C-type lectins, and discuss how these receptors modulate these responses at different levels. [Trends Immunol] Abstract

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Osivax Enters Agreement with US National Institutes of Health to Test Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate

Osivax announced that it has entered into an agreement with the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to further advance the development of its lead universal flu vaccine candidate, OVX836. [Osivax] Press Release

Carb-X Supports Expanded Program for Helixbind’s Direct-Detection Platform for Identifying and Characterizing Bloodstream Infections

HelixBind, Inc. announced the expansion of its funding and support from CARB-X, (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Accelerator), a global partnership funding the development of promising new antibacterial treatment, prevention and diagnostic products. [HelixBind, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Autoimmune Technologies Announces New Subsidiary to Develop Novel Antibody and Allogeneic Somatic Stem Cell Therapeutics for the Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis and Other Infectious Disease

Autoimmune Technologies LLC has established a new subsidiary, Stadius Biopharma LLC, to focus on proprietary anti-infective antibody therapeutics for diseases that are inadequately addressed by current standard-of-care medicines. [Autoimmune Technologies LLC] Press Release

Emergex Successfully Completes Preclinical Testing of Its Lead ‘Set-Point’ Vaccine Candidate for Dengue Fever and Other Flaviviruses

Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited announced the successful completion of preclinical testing of its lead vaccine candidate for dengue fever. [Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited] Press Release

China Splashes Millions on Hundreds of Home-Grown Journals

China is taking dramatic steps to improve the quality and international reputation of its home-grown science journals. Publishers of hundreds of Chinese titles will receive generous government funding as part of a major five-year plan to elevate the country’s publications to among the world’s best. [Nature News] Editorial

Congress Set to Form Groups to Protect US Research Security

Congress is expected to approve an annual defense bill as early as this week that would create two federal bodies aimed at preventing foreign government influence in scientific research. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Noncoding RNAs – Mechanism, Function and Therapies
January 12-16, 2020
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – HIV (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Fellow – Immune Response to Tuberculosis (University College London)

Senior Lecturer – Infectious Disease and Microbiomes (University of Liverpool)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cerebral Malaria (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Positions – HIV (University of New South Wales)

Faculty Position – Infectious Disease Research (Tsinghua University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Associates – Virology and Vaccine Development (University of Minnesota)

Scientist – Infectious Disease (Infectious Disease Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position/PhD Student – Infectious Diseases, Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunology (Purdue University)

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