Human Immunology News Volume 3.11 | Mar 24 2015

Cytomegalovirus Infection Drives Adaptive Epigenetic Diversification of NK Cells with Altered Signaling and Effector Function
The authors describe the emergence of diverse subsets of human natural killer (NK) cells selectively lacking expression of signaling proteins after human cytomegalovirus infection. [Immunity] Abstract

Human Skin Is Protected by Four Functionally and Phenotypically Discrete Populations of Resident and Recirculating Memory T Cells
Scientists discriminated resident from recirculating T cells in human-engrafted mice and lymphoma patients using alemtuzumab, a medication that depletes recirculating T cells from skin, and then analyzed these T cell populations in healthy human skin. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

Regulatory vs. Inflammatory Cytokine T-Cell Responses to Mutated Insulin Peptides in Healthy and Type 1 Diabetic Subjects
Investigators report CD4 T-cell responses to a mutated insulin B-chain peptide in new-onset and established type 1 diabetes as well as control subjects dependent on HLA-DQ genotype. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Full Article

Autoantigen BiP-Derived HLA-DR4 Epitopes Differentially Recognized by Effector and Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The proliferation and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-DR4-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients in response to immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP)-derived peptides were examined by ³H-thymidine uptake and ELISA. [Arthritis Rheumatol] Abstract

Presence of Circulating Her-2-Reactive CD8⁺ T-Cells Is Associated with Lower Frequencies of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Regulatory T Cells, and Better Survival in Elderly Breast Cancer Patients
Investigators assessed the frequency of peripheral regulatory T-cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in relation to in vitro T-cell responses to Her-2 antigen in 40 untreated breast cancer patients 65 to 87 years of age at diagnosis. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

The Immunosuppressive Enzyme IL4I1 Promotes FoxP3⁺ Regulatory T Lymphocyte Differentiation
Researchers explored the effect of IL4I1 on naïve CD4⁺ T-cell differentiation. They showed that IL4I1 stimulates the generation of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells in vitro from human and mouse T cells. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Naive CD8⁺ T-Cell Precursors Display Structured TCR Repertoires and Composite Antigen-Driven Selection Dynamics
Researchers used high-definition cell isolation from umbilical cord blood samples to establish the baseline frequency, phenotype and T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire of CD8⁺ T-cell precursor populations specific for a range of viral and self-derived antigens. [Immunol Cell Biol] Full Article

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Argos Therapeutics Director of Immunology to Present at HIV Vaccines Meeting
Dr. Mark DeBenedette, the company’s director of immunology, reviewed immunologic outcomes from a double blind placebo controlled Phase IIb clinical trial of AGS-004, the company’s investigational immunotherapy for the treatment of HIV. [Press release from Argos Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the Keystone Symposium HIV Vaccines Meeting, Banff] Press Release

Lycera to Present at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting
Lycera Corp. announced that the company will present preclinical research from its novel cancer immunotherapy program. [Press release from Lycera Corp. discussing research to be presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release | Abstract

Advaxis’s Lm-LLO Immunotherapy Platform to be Featured in Three Poster Presentations
Advaxis, Inc. announced that three abstracts revealing new data for Advaxis’s proprietary Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy platform have been selected for poster presentations. [Press release from Advaxis, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

Transgene Announces New Pre-Clinical Data with TG4010 in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and TG3003 (Humanized mAb Anti-CD115)
Transgene announced that new pre-clinical data with two of its immunotherapy programs will be presented. [Press release from Transgene discussing research to be presented at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

RedHill Biopharma to Present at the 3^rd Annual Autoimmune & Inflammation Leaders’ Forum
Ira Kalfus, MD, RedHill’s Medical Director, will present a case study utilizing therapy targeting Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis and the study rationale for RedHill’s ongoing RHB-104 Phase III Crohn’s disease development program. [Press release from RedHill Biopharma Ltd. discussing research to be presented at the 3^rd Annual Autoimmune & Inflammation Leaders’ Forum, Boston] Press Release

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A Vaccine against Placental Malaria Made with ExpreS²ion Biotechnologies’ Protein Expression Technology, ExpreS², Is Ready to Start Human Tests in Germany and Benin
ExpreS²ion Biotechnologies announced the release by its partners at University of Copenhagen, of a vaccine candidate against the form of malaria that strikes pregnant women, for testing in humans. [ExpreS²ion Biotechnologies] Press Release

Advaxis Announces First Patient Treated in Phase I/II Dose-Escalation Study of ADXS-HPV for Recurrent Cervical Cancer
Advaxis, Inc. announced that the first patient was dosed in a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating higher doses and repeat cycles of ADXS-HPV, an investigational Lm-LLO immunotherapy, for the treatment of patients with recurrent cervical cancer. [Advaxis, Inc.] Press Release

Cell Medica Granted Orphan Drug Designation for Novel Cellular Therapy; Treats First Lymphoma Patient in Phase II Trial
Cell Medica announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation to the company’s cancer immunotherapy treatment, referred to as CMD-003, under development for Epstein-Barr Virus positive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. [Cell Medica] Press Release

Immunovaccine Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial of DPX-Survivac Immunotherapy in Recurrent Lymphoma
Immunovaccine Inc. announced that it has treated the first patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma in a Phase II clinical study of its lead cancer immunotherapy DPX-Survivac. [Immunovaccine Inc.] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (University of Leeds)

Manufacturing Manager – Cell Therapy (Opexa Therapeutics)

Senior Research Officer – Immunology (Glenmark Pharmaceuticals S.A.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Human Immunology (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard)

Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

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