Human Immunology News Volume 2.32 | Aug 26 2014

Diversity and Clonal Selection in the Human T-Cell Repertoire
Scientists used next-generation sequencing and nonparametric statistical analysis to estimate a lower bound for the total number of different T-cell receptor beta (TCRB) sequences in human repertoires. They arrived at surprisingly high minimal estimates of 100 million unique TCRB sequences in naïve CD4 and CD8 T-cell repertoires of young adults. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Induction of Broadly Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses to the Influenza HA Stem Region following H5N1 Vaccination in Humans
Human broadly neutralizing antibodies directed against highly conserved epitopes in the stem region of influenza virus HA have been recently characterized. However, it remains unknown what the baseline levels are of antibodies and memory B cells that are directed against these conserved epitopes. It is also not known to what extent anti-HA stem B-cell responses get boosted in humans after seasonal influenza vaccination. The authors address these two outstanding questions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Tr-1-Like CD4⁺CD25^–CD127^-/lowFOXP3^– Cells Are the Main Source of Interleukin 10 in Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Due to Leishmania braziliensis
Researchers show that the main sources of interleukin 10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. braziliensis are CD4⁺CD25^–CD127^-/lowFOXP3^– cells. [J Infect Dis] Abstract

The Regulatory Effect of UL-16 Binding Protein-3 Expression on the Cytotoxicity of NK Cells in Cancer Patients
Scientists investigated the effect of UL16-binding protein 3 (ULBP3) expression on the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. High expression of ULBP3 on the cell surface of tumor cells augmented NK group 2, member D-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Circulating Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells Are Activated in Vibrio cholerae O1 Infection and Associated with Lipopolysaccharide Antibody Responses
Researchers found that blood mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are activated during cholera, and that in children, blood MAIT cells are decreased in number during the course of disease. They also found that the MAIT cell response correlates with the antibody response to V. cholerae O1 lipopolysaccharide, which in the past has been shown to be an important determinant of protection. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

Characterization of CD8⁺CD57⁺ T Cells in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Although T cells are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, it is unclear which subpopulation of T cells contributes to pathogenesis in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Investigators studied the immunological characteristics and clinical impact of CD8⁺CD57⁺ T cells in acute MI patients. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Monitoring the Initiation and Kinetics of Human Dendritic Cell-Induced Polarization of Autologous Naive CD4⁺ T Cells
Scientists developed a TCR-restricted assay to compare different pathogen-triggered human dendritic cells (DCs) for their capacities to instruct functional differentiation of autologous, naive CD4⁺ T cells. They demonstrate that this methodology can be applied to compare differently matured DC in terms of kinetics, direction, and magnitude of the naive CD4⁺ T cell response. [PLoS One] Full Article

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IL-6 Biology: Implications for Clinical Targeting in Rheumatic Disease
The authors cover novel, emerging aspects of the biology of IL-6, which might lead to more specific blockade of IL-6 signaling without compromising the protective function of this cytokine in the body’s defense against infections. [Nat Rev Rheumatol] Full Article

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Houston Methodist Researchers Using NIH Grant to Examine Molecular Basis of Transplant Rejection
Transplant immunologists at the Houston Methodist Research Institute will receive about $1.6 million over four years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study pathological antibodies produced from activated memory B cells during the chronic rejection of organ transplants. [Houston Methodist] Press Release

Advaxis and Merck Form Collaboration to Evaluate Investigational Combination of Two Novel Immunotherapy Candidates for Advanced Prostate Cancer
Advaxis, Inc. has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Merck to evaluate the combination of Advaxis’s Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy, ADXS-PSA, with Merck’s investigational anti PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab. [Advaxis, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Allows Marketing of First ZnT8Ab Autoantibody Test to Help Diagnose Type 1 Diabetes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed marketing of the first zinc transporter 8 autoantibody (ZnT8Ab) test that can help determine if a person has Type 1 diabetes and not another type of diabetes. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Scientist – Pathways/Targets in the Blood Transcriptome of Human Tuberculosis (Medical Research Council)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Host-Fungal Interactions (University of Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Position – Macrophage Functions (Cochin Institute)

Senior Manager – Inflammation, Fibrosis Biomarkers (Gilead Sciences)

Professor – Medicine, Microbiology and Immunobiology (Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Heart Transplantation Immunology (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Human Immunology (University of Pennsylvania)

Principal Investigator Positions – Systems & Synthetic Biology (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer)

Scientist – Recombinant Molecules and Antibodies (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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