Human Immunology News Volume 3.29 | Jul 28 2015

The Prognostic Landscape of Genes and Infiltrating Immune Cells across Human Cancers
By applying CIBERSORT, a computational approach for inferring leukocyte representation in bulk tumor transcriptomes, investigators identified complex associations between 22 distinct leukocyte subsets and cancer survival. For example, tumor-associated neutrophil and plasma cell signatures emerged as significant but opposite predictors of survival for diverse solid tumors, including breast and lung adenocarcinomas. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release

Human NK Cell Repertoire Diversity Reflects Immune Experience and Correlates with Viral Susceptibility
Researchers found that contrary to adaptive immune cells, human natural killer (NK) cell diversity is lower at birth than in adults. Moreover, diversification as a result of antiviral response decreases the flexibility of future antiviral responses. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release | Video

Generation of Knock-In Primary Human T Cells Using Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins
Scientists report efficient genome engineering in human CD4⁺ T cells using Cas9:single-guide RNA ribonucleoproteins (Cas9 RNPs). Cas9 RNPs paired with homology-directed repair template oligonucleotides generated a high frequency of targeted genome modifications in primary T cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Treatment with Anti-OX40L or Anti-TSLP Does Not Alter the Frequency of T Regulatory Cells in Allergic Asthmatics
Scientists assessed the effects of two monoclonal antibody therapies (anti-OX40L and anti-TSLP) on T regulatory cell frequency using a human model of allergic asthma. [Allergy] Abstract

Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase Bioactivity in Human CD4⁺ T-Cell Activation and Immune Responses
The authors detail immune, pivotal roles of acid sphingomyelinase in adaptive immune T-cell responses, and propose that these pathways might provide novel targets for the therapy of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Human Infant Memory B Cell and CD4⁺ T Cell Responses to HibMenCY-TT Glyco-Conjugate Vaccine
Researchers aimed to determine if the number of Meningococcal (Men) C- and Y- specific memory B cells and; number and quality of tetanus toxoid (TT) carrier-specific memory CD4⁺ T cells are associated with polysaccharide-specific IgG post HibMenCY-TT vaccination. [PLoS One] Full Article

Exposure to Negatively Charged-Particle Dominant Air-Conditions on Human Lymphocytes In Vitro Activates Immunological Responses
Researchers investigated whether exposure to negatively charged-particle dominant indoor air-conditions in vitro affects immune conditions. [Immunobiology] Abstract

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Controversies Concerning Thymus-Derived Regulatory T Cells: Fundamental Issues and a New Perspective
The authors provide a new model of Tregs and Foxp3, a feedback control perspective, which views Tregs as a component of the system that controls T-cell activation, rather than as a distinct genetically programmed lineage. This perspective provides new insights into the roles of self-reactivity, T cell–antigen-presenting cell interaction and T-cell activation in Foxp3-mediated immune regulation. [Immunol Cell Biol] Full Article

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Sanofi and Regeneron Launch Major New Immuno-Oncology Collaboration
Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have entered into a new global collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize new antibody cancer treatments in the emerging field of immuno-oncology. [Sanofi] Press Release

TapImmune Announces Finalization of License Agreement with Mayo Clinic to Commercialize a Folate Receptor Alpha Vaccine for Multiple Cancer Indications
TapImmune, Inc. announced that the company has exercised its option agreement with Mayo Clinic. TapImmune has signed a worldwide exclusive license agreement to commercialize a proprietary folate receptor alpha vaccine technology for all cancer indications. [TapImmune, Inc.] Press Release

Aeterna Zentaris Grants Option to Develop and Commercialize Oral Allogenic Cancer Vaccine Technology
Aeterna Zentaris Inc. announced that it has granted to German life sciences entrepreneurs with a proven track-record of funding the development and commercialization of biotechnology an option to license the company’s live recombinant oral allogenic tumor vaccine technology, including AEZS-120, the most advanced product candidate for prostate cancer which is ready to enter a Phase I clinical trial. [Aeterna Zentaris Inc.] Press Release

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Initiates Clinical Trial of INO-5150 DNA Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase I trial to evaluate Inovio’s DNA immunotherapy in men with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer. The launch of this human trial follows strong pre-clinical results revealing that INO-5150 generated robust CD8⁺ T cell responses in animal studies including non-human primates. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Harry Eagle Scholar Awards for Postdoctoral Candidates (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (Rutgers University)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientific Marketing Specialist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Biology (Editas Medicine)

Senior Research Associate (Editas Medicine)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Immunology (New York University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Cellectis Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Immunology (University of Utah School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Antibody Engineering/Immuno-Oncology (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

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