Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 1.25 | Sep 4 2013

Hydrodynamic Immunization Leads to Poor CD8 T-Cell Expansion, Low Frequency of Memory Cytotonic T Lymphocytes and Ineffective Antiviral Protection
Scientists compared the induction of CD8 T cells by two different DNA immunization methods for T-cell differentiation, function, memory programming and their distribution within relevant tissues in a highly controlled fashion. They used hydrodynamic tail vein injection of plasmid to establish liver-specific LCMV-gp antigen transient expression, and studied CD8 T cells induced using the P14 transgenic mouse model. [Cancer Gene Ther] Full Article

Characterization of Regulatory T Cell (Treg) Function in Patients Infected with Leishmania braziliensis
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients may experience impaired Treg function, causing excessive Th1 responses and tissue damage. To address this hypothesis, the authors characterized the function of circulating Tregs in L. braziliensis infected CL patients and compared them to Tregs from uninfected controls and sub-clinical subjects. [Hum Immunol] Abstract

Chitinase 3-Like 1 Regulates Cellular and Tissue Responses via IL-13 Receptor α2
Investigators demonstrated that chitinase 3-like 1 (Chi3l1) binds to interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) and that Chi3l1, IL-13Rα2, and IL-13 are in a multimeric complex. They also showed that Chi3l1 activates macrophage mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein kinase B/AKT, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and regulates oxidant injury, apoptosis, pyroptosis, inflammasome activation, antibacterial responses, melanoma metastasis, and TGF-β1 production via IL-13Rα2-dependent mechanisms. [Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

HIV

Unique Characteristics of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Reactivation of Latent HIV-1 in Bcl-2-Transduced Primary Resting CD4+ T Cells
The authors evaluated the potency and kinetics of histone deacetylase inhibitors in a primary cell model of HIV-1 latency that involves resting CD4+ T cells. [J Antimicrob Chemother] Abstract

Synthetic Glycopolypeptides as Potential Inhibitory Agents for Dendritic Cells and HIV-1 Trafficking
The binding kinetics of synthetic glycopolypeptides to the dendritic cell lectin DC-SIGN and their inhibition potential for DC-SIGN interactions with the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 were investigated. [Macromol Rapid Commun] Abstract | Press Release

Immuno-Regulatory T Cells May Be Involved in Preserving CD4 T Cell Counts in HIV-Infected Long Term Non-Progressors and Controllers
HIV-infected controllers control viral replication and maintain normal CD4 T cell counts. Long Term Non-Progressors (LTNP) also maintain normal CD4 T cell counts, but have on-going viral replication. Researchers hypothesized that immuno-regulatory mechanisms are involved in preserved CD4 T cell counts in controllers and LTNP. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract

Role of P-Glycoprotein in the Efflux of Raltegravir from Human Intestinal Cells and CD4+ T-Cells as an Interaction Target for Anti-HIV Agents
Transepithelial raltegravir transport was examined using renal LLC-PK1 cells stably transfected with P-glycoprotein. Transepithelial transport of raltegravir in Caco-2 cell monolayers, and intracellular accumulation of raltegravir in the MT-2 and MT-4 (CD4+ T-) cells were measured in the presence or absence of anti-HIV agents. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Obstacles to Ideal Anti-HIV Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Responses
This review addresses the potential of a two-pronged attack, where latently infected cells are induced to express HIV antigens and then eliminated by natural killer cells via an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mechanism, with the goal of inducing a cure. [Vaccine] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the infectious disease research field.

No Adverse Effects in Volunteers following Phase I Clinical Trial of Sumagen AIDS Vaccine
Sumagen Canada Inc and Western University announced that the Phase I Clinical Trial of the first and only preventative HIV vaccine based on a genetically modified killed whole virus has been successfully completed with no adverse effects in all patients. [Western University] Press Release

UofL Accepting Patients in Study of Vaccine Designed to Prevent Bacterial Infection
The University of Louisville (UofL) has been selected as a study site for a clinical trial researching a vaccine to prevent infection from a bacterium that primarily affects older patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities who also have taken broad-spectrum antibiotics. [University of Louisville] Press Release

Stem Cell Agency Awards More than $40 Million in New Research Grants
The agency’s governing Board the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee approved $40 million in funding for researchers at 10 institutions including Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, Human BioMolecular Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, The Gladstone Institutes, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, The Salk Institute, Numerate, Inc. and UC Irvine as part of its Early Translational IV Research awards. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

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