Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 2.10 | Mar 19 2014

NK Cell Intrinsic Regulation of MIP-1α by Granzyme M
During Listeria monocytogenes infection, researchers observed markedly reduced secretion of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α) in livers of Granzyme M-deficient mice, which resulted in significantly impaired natural killer (NK) cell recruitment. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

IL-12 and IL-27 Regulate the Phagolysosomal Pathway in Mycobacteria-Infected Human Macrophages
Scientists showed that supplying interleukin (IL)-12 and neutralizing IL-27 enhanced acidification and fusion of mycobacterial-containing phagosomes with lysosomes. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

Human Metapneumovirus M2-2 Protein Inhibits Innate Immune Response in Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
The authors found that human dendritic cells (DC) infected with a virus lacking M2-2 protein expression produced higher levels of cytokines, chemokines and IFNs, compared to cells infected with wild-type virus, suggesting that M2-2 protein inhibits innate immunity in human DC. [PLoS One] Full Article

Secreted Candida parapsilosis Lipase Modulates the Immune Response of Primary Human Macrophages
Investigators compared the response of human peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages to a wild type as well as a lipase deficient C. parapsilosis strain that has been previously established in their lab. Although macrophages phagocytosed both strains with similar efficiency, lipase mutants were killed more efficiently according to fluorescent microscopic analysis. [Virulence] Abstract

HIV

Polyfunctional Fc-Effector Profiles Mediated by IgG Subclass Selection Distinguish RV144 and VAX003 Vaccines
Researchers showed that the RV144 regimen elicited nonneutralizing antibodies with highly coordinated Fc-mediated effector responses through the selective induction of highly functional immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3). By contrast, VAX003 elicited monofunctional antibody responses influenced by IgG4 selection, which was promoted by repeated AIDSVAX B/E protein boosts. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Vaccine-Induced Env V1-V2 IgG3 Correlates with Lower HIV-1 Infection Risk and Declines Soon after Vaccination
Investigators demonstrated that HIV-1-specific immunoglobulin G 3 (IgG3) distinguished two HIV-1 vaccine efficacy studies (RV144 and VAX003 clinical trials) and correlated with decreased risk of HIV-1 infection in a blinded follow-up case-control study with the RV144 vaccine. HIV-1-specific IgG3 responses were not long-lived, which was consistent with the waning efficacy of the RV144 vaccine. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Immune Suppression by Neutrophils in HIV-1 Infection: Role of PD-L1/PD-1 Pathway
The authors showed that neutrophils in the blood of HIV-1-infected individuals express high levels of program death ligand 1 (PD-L1). PD-L1 is induced by HIV-1 virions, TLR-7/8 ligand, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and IFNα. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Reduction of the HIV Protease Inhibitor-Induced ER Stress and Inflammatory Response by Raltegravir in Macrophages
Scientists examined the effect of raltegravir on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activation and lipid accumulation in cultured mouse macrophages, primary mouse macrophages, and human THP-1-derived macrophages, and further determined whether the combination of raltegravir with existing HIV protease inhibitor would potentially exacerbate or prevent the previously observed activation of inflammatory response and foam cell formation. [PLoS One] Full Article

Vaccines to Prevent Leishmaniasis
The authors review the understanding of host immunity following Leishmania infection and also discuss recent advances in the development of vaccines to prevent leishmaniasis, highlighting a new promising approach that targets the parasite hemoglobin receptor. [Clin Transl Immunol] Full Article

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

Translating Success – Three Centers Launched to Battle Infectious Pathogens
Three five-year grants totaling up to $15 million per year from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, will allow Harvard Medical School researchers to move discoveries about TB and emerging infections closer to applications in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. [Harvard Medical School] Press Release

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Fight against HIV/AIDS: Launch of Enhanced Action Plan in EU and Neighbouring Countries for 2014-2016
The European Commission put forward an Action Plan on HIV/AIDS which prolongs and extends existing EU action in this area, building on the achievements of the Action Plan 2009-2013. The new Action Plan places a greater focus on keeping HIV/AIDS high on the political agenda, tackling HIV-related stigma and discrimination and achieving better access to voluntary testing. [European Comission] Press Release

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Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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NEW PhD Position – Virology (Hannover Medical School)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – AIDS Research (Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology of Infection (CNRS – Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology)

Faculty Position – Vaccine Immunology (Cornell University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Institut für Klinische Chemie und Pathobiochemie Klinikum rechts der Isar)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Interleukin-12 Family Members (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

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